Short hill-country break
Six days through the hill country from Kandy to Ella — temples, tea and the train — ending near the airport for an easy departure.
A compact hill-country trip for travellers with less than a week, or for repeat visitors who skipped the highlands last time. It follows the classic sequence of Kandy, tea country and Ella, and ends with a night near the airport so your departure day is stress-free.
The final drive is long, but broken with stops; if you have more time we can add Sigiriya at the start or a beach at the end.
Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Negombo
Airport welcome and drive to Kandy; evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth.
Botanical gardens in the morning, then into tea country with a factory visit.
The scenic train from Nanu Oya to Ella while your driver takes the luggage.
Sunrise on Little Adam’s Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge and a relaxed afternoon.
A long drive back towards the airport, broken with stops, for a final evening by the sea.
Short transfer to the airport.
We suggest hotels at the level you choose — good-value, comfortable, boutique or premium — and explain why each one suits the route. You can swap any hotel before anything is booked.
You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle sized for your group and luggage, with the same driver or chauffeur guide throughout. Licensed site guides can be added at major heritage sites.
Driest January–April.
Availability depends on season and your dates — we confirm before adding anything. Tick the ones you like in the form below.
Ella is the heart of tea country and the classic hill-country railway.
Kandy – Nanu Oya – Ella · 3 – 7 hours depending on section
Ella · 2 – 3 hours
Hill country · 1 – 2 hours
Kandy is the home of Kandyan dance and a good place to learn Sri Lankan cooking.
Kandy · 1 hour
Kandy, Sigiriya, Ella or Galle · 2 – 3 hours
Ideal for a first or last day close to the airport.
Negombo · 1 hr 30 min – 2 hours
Domestic flight and helicopter options are sometimes available; we check schedules on request.
Adjust anything below, or just tell us your dates. A consultant replies personally — this is not a booking and nothing is charged.
Updated . Travel conditions change — we confirm details when we plan your trip.
8 days · Best first trip
Eight days that string together Sri Lanka’s greatest hits — Sigiriya, Kandy, tea country, the Ella train and a Yala safari — at a pace that still leaves room to breathe.
Private tour · price on request
10 days · Golden hours and great light
A route planned around light: Pidurangala at sunrise, tea pickers in morning mist, the Nine Arch Bridge, Yala at dawn and Galle at dusk.
Private tour · price on request
8 days · Heritage and tea country
An eight-day focus on Sri Lanka’s ancient cities and cool highlands, with two nights each in Sigiriya, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.
Private tour · price on request
Day tours that fit around this itinerary.
Half day · from Negombo
A relaxed half day near the airport: a lagoon boat ride through mangroves, the fish market, the Dutch canal and St Mary’s Church.
Half day · from Negombo
An early-morning look at Negombo’s fishing life: boats coming in, the auction, and a traditional outrigger on the lagoon.
Half day · from Kandy
Kandy’s highlights in a half day: the Temple of the Tooth, the lake, the Royal Botanical Gardens and a cultural show.
Full day · from Kandy
A day trip from Kandy into the high tea country: waterfalls, a working tea factory, Nuwara Eliya’s colonial town and Seetha Eliya.
