Sri Lanka 4 Weeks Itinerary – Witness the Splendour

Since Day Three was a long drive from Colombo to Anuradhapura, we have scheduled the Anuradhapura City Tour for Day Four.

Anuradhapura City Tour

Anuradhapura –recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka–was an ancient capital during the 5th century. The city is filled with ruins of majestic palaces, Buddhist temples and sacred pagodas which portrays the rich culture and splendour that prevailed during the reigns of the kings at that time, thus making it a must visit city in Sri Lanka.

Day Five will be about travelling to a new destination in the northern part of the country–Jaffna. We will go to Jaffna, check -in at the hotel and after getting settled properly we will set off on the Jaffna City Tour. Starting from Day Six to Day Eight we will be traveling along the eastern side of the country while making overnight stays at two must visit coastal cities –Trincomalee and Passikuda. We will explore each city and of course we will give ample time to relax on these eye catching beaches on the eastern coast.

Jaffna City Tour

Jaffna – one of the cities located in northern Sri Lanka – is a city with so much display to its visitors. Starting from its rich culture, especially the Hindu traditions and customs, interesting history to its diverse mouth watering cuisines is next level. Calm and soothing beaches, tourist attractions like colonial ruins, the boat ride to the temple located on a nearby island and not only that, the cool drinks and ice creams available in the town will be the best to explore and experience in Jaffna.

Trincomalee City Tour

On Day Six we will travel to Trincomalee from Jaffna and once we reach the city we will check – in ourselves at the hotel. Afterwards we will set off to explore Trincomalee, including some of the popular tourist attractions in the city. Of course we will offer you the time to spend some relaxing time at one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka known as ‘Nilaweli Beach’.

Passikuda Exploration

On Day Seven we will journey to our next coastal destination –Passikuda. We have made sure to give you two days–Day Seven and Day Eight–to relax and make yourself prepared for the upcoming days. Once we travel to Passikuda on Day Seven you will have the entire Day Eight for a full relaxation in the Passikuda beach.

After experiencing three days of beach vibes at Trincomalee and Passikuda we will start traveling away from the coastal areas, to reach Polonnaruwa on Day Nine. Post exploring this ancient capital, we will travel to Sigiriya the next day and spend two days there–Day Ten and Day Eleven.

Polonnaruwa Exploration

Similar to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa–a UNESCO World Heritage Site–was once an ancient capital kingdom during the reign of kings. On Day Nine we will be exploring the ruins of majestic palaces, Buddha statues carved into hard granite, Buddhist pagodas that clearly portray the Sinhalese civilization prevailed those days. Apart from witnessing the magnificent craftmanship the huge man made lakes scattered around Polonnaruwa showcase the intelligent engineering capabilities of Sri Lankans.

Sigiriya Visit

Another example that showcases the intelligent engineering capabilities and the creativity of man during the reign of King Kashyapa ( 5th century )is the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress. As you set foot on this premises you will witness the splendour of this Rock Fortress. Top of the Rock offers all its visitors breathtaking views of the vicinity which is another plus of this place.

Dambulla Experiences

Dambulla Cave Temple –located a few miles away from Sigiriya –is another sacred landmark that holds religious, archaeological and historical significance. Temple is cleverly built inside a cave by taking maximum use of the natural structure of the cave. Although you have to walk a few miles to witness the Cave Temple the magnificent Gold adorned seated Buddha status is a pleasant sight visible to the main road.

After exploring Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla, we will make our overnight stay in Kandy–another kingdom during the reign of kings. Day Twelve is entirely dedicated to the exploration of Kandy. Day Thirteen offers you an experience that is different from what you have experienced so far – A hiking experience to the Knuckles Range with an overstay at an eco – lodge or a camping site. Day Fourteen to Day Sixteen we will journey to Nuwara Eliya and go on an exploration there. We will spend the next two days exploring Ella.

Kandy City Tour

Once we reach Kandy on Day Eleven we will check in ourselves at the hotel and rest for the day. Next day we will set off on the Kandy City Tour to explore some of the must visit tourist attractions that are of either religious and historical significance or iconic locations that portray the beauty of Kandy.

Hiking at Knuckles

On Day Thirteen we will set off from the hotel in Kandy towards the Knuckles Mountain Range–a natural beauty in Sri Lanka. This mountain range, in the central highlands, is named “Knuckles” for its knuckle like peaks rising up over 2000 meters to the sky. The mountain range is filled with green forests, steep slopes and rocky areas making it more adventurous for nature lovers and hikers alike. Also the overnight stay is made more special as you will spend the night t an eco lodge or at a camping site.

Nuwara Eliya Exploration

On Day Fourteen we will start journeying towards a city located in the central highlands–Nuwara Eliya. On the way we will be making a few stops at two locations – Ambuluwawa Tower, Tea Estate and a Tea Factory – to make the ride more easy and relaxed. As you get close to Nuwara Eliya you will start witness the cool and misty climate, thus making you wonder about the climates Sri Lanka can offer you. Day Fifteen will be dedicated to a full exploration of the attractions in Nuwara Eliya. Lastly on Day Sixteen we will have an early breakfast and head towards the Horton Plains for a trekking adventure that serves some of the best natural landscapes in Sri Lanka.

Ella Visit

After Nuwara Eliya, we will head towards another fascinating destination, popular for its lively night life and that is Ella. Similar to Nuwara Eliya, the climate here is also cool and cozy. We will travel to Ella on Day Seventeen and on the way we will make one stop to explore the infamous ‘ Nine Arch Bridge ‘. On Day Eighteen we will continue to explore the iconic attractions located in Ella city. Again we will have a trekking and hiking journey as we plan to visit the most popular location in Ella–Little Adam’s Peak.

On Day Nineteen we will start traveling towards a new destination and that will be Yala –a city located in the south eastern region of Sri Lanka. However, we will rest for the day and continue our Yala exploration on Day Twenty as we start early to head towards the Yala National Park. Also Day Twenty One will be about Nature as we ride to another National Park located in Udawalawe.

Yala National Park

This is a well known sanctuary that is home to a rich biodiversity and natural beauty. The area spans up to 1500 square kilometers, providing shelter to an impressive array of wildlife, including elephants, leopards, spotted deer, wildboars and bird species. The picturesque landscapes surrounding the Park are another feature that adds more natural beauty to this premises.

Udawalawe National Park

Popular for its unique landscapes, including grasslands, open plains and scrub jungles, Udawalawe National Park spans up to 30,000 hectares of land. Udawalawe Reservoir is built close to this park to assist irrigation here. Also this helps for the survival of wildlife as it is a focal point for many animals especially during the dry seasons. Elephants, wild boars, water buffalos, leopards and a wide array of bird species seeks shelter in this magnificent National Park.