Wildlife: Minneriya elephants, Yala leopards and Bundala birds

Day 1: Arrive in Negombo

Negombo

• St Mary's Church & Dutch Fort gate · 1 h
• Hamilton (Dutch) Canal boat ride · 2 h

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Negombo → Sigiriya & Dambulla

Sigiriya & Dambulla · Negombo to Sigiriya & Dambulla, Private car ~4h

• Sigiriya Rock Fortress · 3 h. Be at the gate at 7am, before heat and queues. Foreigner ticket is about USD 35; Indian passports get a lower SAARC rate at the counter. ~1,200 steps.

Local tip: Be at the gate at 7am, before heat and queues. Foreigner ticket is about USD 35; Indian passports get a lower SAARC rate at the counter. ~1,200 steps.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Sigiriya & Dambulla

Sigiriya & Dambulla

• Dambulla Cave Temple · 2 h. Tickets are sold at the bottom near the Golden Temple; shoulders and knees covered, shoes off at the caves.
• Minneriya or Kaudulla elephant safari by jeep · 3.5 h. Jul–Sep 'Gathering' brings hundreds of elephants; drivers pick Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park depending on where the herds are.
• Pidurangala Rock sunrise · 2.5 h. Start ~5:30am with a torch; the last stretch is a boulder scramble. Best view of Sigiriya itself.

Local tip: Tickets are sold at the bottom near the Golden Temple; shoulders and knees covered, shoes off at the caves.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Explore Sigiriya & Dambulla

Sigiriya & Dambulla

• Hiriwadunna village tour (cart, canoe and lunch) · 3 h. Touristy but easy with kids; the home-cooked rice and curry lunch is usually vegetarian.
• Polonnaruwa ancient city by bicycle · 5 h. About 1h from Sigiriya. Start early and rent bicycles near the entrance; Gal Vihara is the highlight. SAARC rates apply.

Local tip: Touristy but easy with kids; the home-cooked rice and curry lunch is usually vegetarian.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Sigiriya & Dambulla → Kandy

Kandy · Sigiriya & Dambulla to Kandy, Private car ~2.5h

• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic · 2 h. Wear white or light clothes covering shoulders and knees; the evening puja (~6:30pm) is the most atmospheric.
• Udawattakele forest reserve walk · 2 h

Local tip: Wear white or light clothes covering shoulders and knees; the evening puja (~6:30pm) is the most atmospheric.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Kandy → Ella

Ella · Kandy to Ella, Scenic train ~7h (car ~5h)

• Nine Arch Bridge · 1.5 h. Check the day's train times locally and arrive 20 minutes before one; stay off the tracks when a train is due.
• Ravana Falls · 1 h. 6 km below Ella on the Wellawaya road and linked to the Ramayana; fullest after rain, rocks are slippery.

Local tip: Check the day's train times locally and arrive 20 minutes before one; stay off the tracks when a train is due.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Ella → Yala & Tissamaharama

Yala & Tissamaharama · Ella to Yala & Tissamaharama, Private car ~2.5h

• Yala National Park jeep safari (half day) · 4 h. Leave at 5:30am for the 6am gate. Leopards are most often seen in busy Block 1; ask about Block 5 for fewer jeeps.

Local tip: Leave at 5:30am for the 6am gate. Leopards are most often seen in busy Block 1; ask about Block 5 for fewer jeeps.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Explore Yala & Tissamaharama

Yala & Tissamaharama

• Kataragama temple evening puja · 2 h. Sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims; the evening puja at the Maha Devale is around 6:30pm. Fruit-plate offerings are sold outside.
• Bundala National Park birding safari · 3.5 h. Ramsar wetland 30 min from Tissa; flamingos usually Sep–Mar.
• Sithulpawwa rock temple · 2 h. In the Yala buffer zone; easy to combine with a morning safari.

Local tip: Sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims; the evening puja at the Maha Devale is around 6:30pm. Fruit-plate offerings are sold outside.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Depart from Yala & Tissamaharama

Yala & Tissamaharama

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.