Beach Holidays
Sri Lanka's great advantage as a beach destination is that it always has a good coast open. Two monsoons hit opposite sides of the island at opposite times, so from roughly December to March the south and west coasts are at their best, and from May to September the east coast is. Booking the wrong coast for the month is the single most common mistake independent travellers make here, and it is the easiest one for us to prevent.
The south-west is the developed side — Bentota for watersports and river safaris, Hikkaduwa for reefs, Unawatuna for a sheltered curve of sand within reach of Galle, Mirissa for whale watching and the best small-hotel scene on the coast, Tangalle for space and quiet. It is an easy stretch to combine with the Cultural Triangle and the hill country, since the drive down from the interior is manageable in an afternoon.
The east is quieter, wider and newer to tourism. Pasikuda has shallow, still water that stays waist-deep a long way out, which makes it unusually good with small children. Trincomalee has better snorkelling and a genuinely interesting town. Arugam Bay, further south, is the surf capital of the island and has a season all of its own.
Most guests split a trip rather than sit still for two weeks — a few days inland for wildlife and heritage, then the coast. All of the itineraries below can be re-routed to whichever coast suits your travel dates.
Every itinerary below runs privately with your own vehicle and chauffeur-guide, and every one of them can be adjusted to your dates, pace and budget.
7 Days / 6 NightsColombo, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala National Park
Seven days paced for travellers who would rather see four places properly than eight in passing. Driving days are short and leisure time is built in: Pinnawala and Kandy, the highlands around Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains, Ella, a morning jeep safari at Yala, and a finish on the calm west-coast beaches at Bentota.
from $ 363* per person
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6 Days / 5 NightsSri Lanka Highlights & Arugam Bay
Experience the ultimate 6-day adventure blending culture, wildlife, and beachside bliss. Start in Negombo, explore elephants in Pinnawala, soak in Kandy’s cultural charm, ride the waves in Arugam Bay, embark on a thrilling Yala safari, and unwind in the tropical paradise of Mirissa before returning to Colombo. Perfect for surfers, beach lovers, and adventure seekers seeking both relaxation and excitement.
from $ 380* per person
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6 Days / 5 NightsColombo, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala National Park
Six days that fit culture, hill country, wildlife and a beach into one week without squeezing any of them out. Pinnawala's elephants on the way inland, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy, tea estates through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, Ella's viewpoints and waterfalls, a jeep safari at Yala, then a night on the south coast at Mirissa.
from $ 382* per person
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4 Days / 3 NightsMirissa, Bentota & Southern Coast
A refreshing coastal escape designed for travelers seeking comfort, warm tropical beaches, and unforgettable ocean views. Enjoy Mirissa’s whale watching, Bentota’s lagoon landscapes, and the vibrant southern coast while relaxing at handpicked seaside resorts.
from $ 399* per person
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7 Days / 6 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
A full week and a full anticlockwise loop of the island. The Cultural Triangle first, with the painted cave temples at Dambulla and the climb up Sigiriya Rock; then Pinnawala and Kandy, the tea country above Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, and Ella. A jeep safari at Yala leads down to the south coast, and the final day runs west through Mirissa and Unawatuna to Galle Fort.
from $ 410* per person
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7 Days / 6 NightsSigiriya, Kandy & Bentota – Sri Lanka
A fun-filled family holiday across Sri Lanka’s cultural heart, wildlife-rich jungles, and sun-kissed beaches. This 7-day adventure blends exciting safaris, iconic landmarks, gentle nature experiences, and relaxing coastal downtime — perfect for kids, teens, and adults alike. Discover ancient kingdoms, watch wild elephants roam freely, ride through lush landscapes, and unwind along the beaches of Bentota for an unforgettable family getaway.
from $ 455* per person
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8 Days / 7 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Eight days across the island's four distinct landscapes, with two nights on the south coast so the beach becomes a rest rather than a stopover. Dambulla's cave temples and Sigiriya Rock, Pinnawala and Kandy, the tea hills through Nuwara Eliya to Ella, a jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and the ramparts of Galle Fort.
from $ 497* per person
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9 Days / 8 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Nine days with a full day held back for Kandy and two nights at Mirissa, so the Cultural Triangle, the hill country and the south coast each get the time they need. Dambulla and Sigiriya, Pinnawala, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea estates and Ella, a jeep safari at Yala, and Galle Fort on the way home.
from $ 589* per person
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11 Days / 10 NightsSigiriya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ella
Discover Sri Lanka’s most iconic destinations from the cultural heartland to the stunning east and south coasts. Experience Sigiriya, tranquil beaches, crystal-clear waters, scenic train rides, and luxury resorts along the way.
from $ 660* per person
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10 Days / 9 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Ten days covering the island end to end at a pace that leaves room to stop. A full day at Sigiriya including an afternoon safari, a day in Kandy, the climb through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya into Ella, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, and two nights on the south coast at Mirissa before Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 663* per person
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6 Days / 5 NightsSri Lanka East Coast & Pasikudah
Experience the perfect blend of culture, beach luxury, and relaxation on this 6-day journey. Start near Colombo, visit cultural highlights and wildlife parks, then unwind in the turquoise waters of Pasikudah with luxury beachfront stays, spa treatments, and optional excursions. Conclude your journey near the airport for a smooth departure.
from $ 699* per person
View Itinerary6 Days / 5 NightsNegombo, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala National Park, Mirissa
Six days of culture, hill country, wildlife and coast, staged at the island's top hotel grade — beachfront on arrival at Negombo, a valley-view property outside Kandy, a hill-station room above Ella Gap, a lodge on the Yala park boundary and a resort on Weligama Bay to finish. Pinnawala's elephants, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea estates through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, and Galle Fort on the drive to the airport.
from $ 704* per person
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11 Days / 10 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Eleven days with second nights at Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and Mirissa — enough time to walk the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak without watching the clock. The Cultural Triangle and its afternoon safari, Pinnawala and Kandy, the tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, a jeep safari at Yala, and the southern coast from Mirissa to Galle Fort.
from $ 707* per person
View Itinerary7 Days / 6 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Seven days and a full anticlockwise loop of the island, staged at its top hotel grade — beachfront on arrival at Negombo, a lakeside resort in the Cultural Triangle, a valley-view property above Kandy, a hill-station room at Ella, a lodge on the Yala park boundary and a resort on Weligama Bay. Dambulla's painted cave temples and the climb up Sigiriya Rock, Pinnawala and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 779* per person
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12 Days / 11 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Pinnawala, Kandy
Twelve days taking in both of the island's great ancient capitals: Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle around it, and a dedicated day at Polonnaruwa, whose ruins most itineraries drive straight past. From there Kandy, the tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, Ella, a jeep safari at Yala, and the southern beaches through Mirissa to Galle Fort.
from $ 781* per person
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14 Days / 13 NightsColombo, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Pinnawala, Kandy
A fortnight that reaches the parts of the island most itineraries leave out: the sacred city of Anuradhapura, sunrise from Pidurangala, Horton Plains and World's End at 2,100m, and a river safari at Bentota. Around them the essentials — Sigiriya, Dambulla, Pinnawala, Kandy, the tea country, Ella, a jeep safari at Yala, Mirissa and Galle Fort.
from $ 821* per person
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13 Days / 12 NightsColombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Pinnawala, Kandy
Thirteen days, with Nuwara Eliya given a night of its own instead of an hour's photo stop. Dambulla and Sigiriya, a full day at Polonnaruwa, Pinnawala and Kandy, the tea estates and the hill station itself, Ella's bridges and peaks, a jeep safari at Yala, and three days winding along the south coast through Mirissa to Galle Fort.
from $ 831* per person
View Itinerary8 Days / 7 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
The eight-day discovery route staged at the island's top hotel grade, with two nights on Weligama Bay so the coast becomes a rest rather than a stopover — beachfront on arrival at Negombo, a lakeside resort in the Cultural Triangle, a valley-view property above Kandy, a hill-station room at Ella and a lodge on the Yala park boundary. Dambulla's painted cave temples and the climb up Sigiriya Rock, Pinnawala and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya to Ella, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and the ramparts of Galle Fort.
from $ 921* per person
View Itinerary9 Days / 8 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
The nine-day explorer route staged at the island's top hotel grade, with two nights in Kandy and two on Weligama Bay so neither the last royal capital nor the south coast is reduced to a stopover — beachfront on arrival at Negombo, a lakeside resort in the Cultural Triangle, a valley-view property above Kandy, a hill-station room at Ella and a lodge on the Yala park boundary. Dambulla and Sigiriya, Pinnawala, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Peradeniya gardens, tea estates through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya to Ella, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 1011* per person
View Itinerary10 Days / 9 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
The ten-day grand circuit staged at the island's top hotel grade, with three two-night stops — a lakeside resort in the Cultural Triangle, a valley-view property above Kandy and a resort on Weligama Bay — so Sigiriya, the last royal capital and the south coast each get a full day rather than a morning. Dambulla's painted caves and the climb up Sigiriya Rock, an afternoon safari at Minneriya, Pinnawala and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya gardens, tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya into Ella, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 1074* per person
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8 Days / 7 NightsNuwara Eliya, Ella, Hambantota & Colombo – Sri Lanka
Celebrate your love with a blissful honeymoon journey through Sri Lanka’s most enchanting landscapes — misty mountains, tea-scented breezes, golden beaches, and magical sunsets. From the cool highlands of Nuwara Eliya to the iconic peaks of Ella and the serene coastal elegance of Hambantota, each moment of this retreat is carefully crafted to spark romance, relaxation, and unforgettable memories. Luxurious stays, candlelit dinners, scenic train rides, and intimate experiences await as you begin your new chapter together.
from $ 1100* per person
View Itinerary11 Days / 10 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
The eleven-day complete circuit staged at the island's top hotel grade, with four two-night stops — a lakeside resort in the Cultural Triangle, a valley-view property above Kandy, a hill-station room at Ella and a resort on Weligama Bay — so the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak happen without watching the clock. Dambulla's painted caves and the climb up Sigiriya Rock, an afternoon safari at Minneriya, Pinnawala and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 1136* per person
View Itinerary12 Days / 11 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Pinnawala, Kandy
The twelve-day heritage route staged at the island's top hotel grade, with three nights on the lake in the Cultural Triangle — enough to climb Sigiriya, run the Minneriya safari and give Polonnaruwa's ruins a full day without repacking. Then a valley-view property above Kandy for two nights, two more at Ella, a lodge on the Yala park boundary and a resort on Weligama Bay. Dambulla's painted caves, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Peradeniya gardens, tea country through Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 1210* per person
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8 Days / 7 NightsNegombo, Kandy, Ella & Kalutara
An intimate honeymoon escape combining Sri Lanka’s golden beaches, cultural heritage, scenic hill country, and luxurious romantic stays. Enjoy private-pool oceanfront accommodation, cultural discoveries in Kandy, iconic Ella viewpoints, and a tranquil beach retreat in Kalutara.
from $ 1300* per person
View Itinerary13 Days / 12 NightsNegombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Pinnawala, Kandy
The thirteen-day ultimate circuit staged at the island's top hotel grade, and the only one in the range that gives Nuwara Eliya a night of its own — spent at a working tea factory at 6,800ft rather than an hour's photo stop. Three nights on the lake in the Cultural Triangle for Sigiriya, Minneriya and a full day at Polonnaruwa, two above Kandy, two at Ella, a lodge on the Yala park boundary and a resort on Weligama Bay. Dambulla's painted caves, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Gregory Lake and Hakgala, Ella's bridges and peaks, a dawn jeep safari at Yala, then Mirissa, Unawatuna and Galle Fort.
from $ 1339* per person
View Itinerary* Prices shown are the starting rate per person in USD, based on the hotels listed in each programme. Final cost varies with travel dates, group size and room availability, and is confirmed in your quote.
Every itinerary here is a starting point. Send us your dates and what you want out of the trip and we will build a costed tailor-made plan, usually within 24 hours.
Get a Free QuoteIt depends on the season and what you want. For December to March, Mirissa and Unawatuna on the south coast are hard to beat, with Tangalle for quiet and Bentota for watersports. For May to September, Pasikuda has the calmest water and Trincomalee the best snorkelling. Arugam Bay is the surf choice from May to September.
There are two. The south and west coasts are driest and calmest from roughly December to March. The east coast — Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Arugam Bay — has its season from roughly May to September. Because the monsoons are opposite, some part of the coast is in season year round.
In season and at the sheltered bays, generally yes — Unawatuna, Pasikuda and Bentota's lagoon side are calm. Out of season the same beaches can have serious rip currents, and many beaches are unpatrolled. We will tell you which stretches at your hotel are safe to swim and when, rather than leaving you to guess.
