Ceylon Circuit / Tours / 10-day itinerary
Most requested · Private driver-guide

A 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary with a private driver.

The shorter version of our Classic Circuit: hill country, the Ella train, a Yala safari and the south coast, with your own vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide the whole way.

  • 10 days
  • 8 stops
  • Fully private
  • Best Dec–Apr
A wild elephant walking along a dirt track on safari in Sri Lanka
The route
  1. Negombo
  2. Kandy
  3. Nuwara Eliya
  4. Ella
  5. Yala
  6. Mirissa
  7. Galle
  8. Colombo
Day by day

Your 10-day itinerary.

🚐 JourneyPickup from Bandaranaike International Airport and private transfer to Negombo.
⏱ DurationApproximately 45 minutes
👁 Sightseeing
  • Explore Negombo's centuries-old fishing village and bustling fish market 🎣
  • If time permits, a leisurely boat ride along the Dutch canal 🛶
  • Sunset stroll along Negombo beach
🌙 OvernightNegombo
🏨
Sample accommodation
Jetwing Blue
🚐 JourneyScenic drive from Negombo through the spice garden heartland to Kandy.
⏱ DurationApproximately 3.5 hours
👁 Sightseeing
  • After breakfast, drive to Kandy — Sri Lanka's cultural capital
  • Visit the sacred golden-roofed Temple of the Tooth Relic 🙏
  • Wander the Kandy lake and old market quarter
  • Evening cultural show — traditional Kandyan drumming and folk dances 💃🥁
🌙 OvernightKandy
🏨
Sample accommodation
The Grand Kandyan
🚐 JourneyDrive from Kandy into the cool hill country toward Nuwara Eliya, via Ramboda.
⏱ DurationApproximately 2.5 hours
👁 Sightseeing
  • Peradeniya Botanical Gardens — over 4,000 plant species 🌺
  • Ramboda Waterfalls en route 🏞️
  • Visit a working tea factory and plantation; try tea picking 🍵🍃
  • Explore "Little England" — the charming Seetha Eliya Temple and colonial town centre 🛕
🌙 OvernightNuwara Eliya
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Sample accommodation
Jetwing St Andrews
🚂 JourneyThe world-famous Nuwara Eliya to Ella train — voted one of the most beautiful rail journeys on earth.
⏱ DurationApproximately 3 hours (varies by service)
👁 Sightseeing
  • Iconic train journey through tea estates and mountain passes
  • Afternoon walk to Nine Arches Bridge — best light at golden hour
  • Explore Ella village and the Ravana Falls
🌙 OvernightElla
🏨
Sample accommodation
Ella Gap Panorama
🚐 JourneyDrive south from the highlands down to the dry zone of Yala.
⏱ DurationApproximately 3 hours
🐾 Safari
  • Afternoon jeep safari in Yala National Park with a guide
  • Sloth bears, elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, peacocks
  • Dawn safari optional on Day 07
🌙 OvernightYala / Tissamaharama
🏨
Sample accommodation
Kithala Resort
🚐 JourneyEarly dawn safari in Yala (optional), then drive west along the southern coast to Mirissa.
👁 Sightseeing
  • Optional dawn jeep safari before departure
  • Arrive Mirissa by mid-morning — beach, swimming, fresh seafood lunch
  • Whale watching boat (seasonal — Dec to Apr): blue whales and sperm whales 🐋
🌙 OvernightMirissa
🏨
Sample accommodation
Mandara Resort Mirissa
🌊 ActivityDay at leisure on the south coast. Mirissa beach is calm and good for swimming; a short drive brings you to Weligama's famous beginner surf bay.
👁 Options
  • Surf lesson at Weligama Bay 🏄
  • Stilt fishermen photography session at dawn
  • Afternoon snorkelling at Mirissa harbour reef
  • Seafood dinner on the beach
🌙 OvernightMirissa
🏨
Sample accommodation
Mandara Resort Mirissa
🚐 JourneyShort coastal drive west to the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort.
👁 Sightseeing
  • Walk the 16th-century Dutch ramparts at golden hour
  • Explore the Fort's boutique galleries, jewellery workshops and cafés
  • Visit the old lighthouse and maritime museum
  • Sunset from the ramparts with a local guide
🌙 OvernightGalle Fort
🏨
Sample accommodation
Amangalla
🚐 JourneyDrive north along the southern expressway to Colombo — a fast, scenic coastal stretch.
👁 Sightseeing
  • Stop at the turtle hatchery at Kosgoda 🐢
  • Arrive Colombo — check in and freshen up
  • Evening walk through Pettah market and the Fort district
  • Dinner at Ministry of Crab or Nuga Gama — let us book ahead
🌙 OvernightColombo
🏨
Sample accommodation
Cinnamon Grand Colombo
🌅 MorningLeisurely breakfast. Final morning at leisure in Colombo — a last coffee in the Fort, a walk along Galle Face Green, or last-minute shopping on Odel.
🚐 TransferPrivate transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport. Journey approximately 45 minutes depending on traffic. We'll time your pickup to your flight.

Want more time? The full 12-day Classic Circuit adds a hiking day in Ella and a slow day in Galle.

Included with every trip

What your private driver-guide covers.

01

Your own vehicle

A private, air-conditioned car or van, just for your group, for the whole trip.

02

An English-speaking driver-guide

The same person from the airport to your last morning.

03

Every transfer

Airport pick-up, drop-off and every drive between stops.

04

WhatsApp support

A real person to message at any point during your trip.

Pricing

Quoted for your trip, not from a price list.

How pricing works

Every trip is quoted individually — for your dates, group size, hotels and vehicle. Send us your details and you'll get a personal quote within 24 hours, on WhatsApp or by email.

What affects the price

  • Group size
  • Season
  • Hotel level
  • Transport
  • Number of days

What we need to quote you

  • Your travel dates
  • Number of travellers
  • Hotel level
  • Interests
  • Where you're flying from
Questions

Before you ask.

Something else on your mind? Ask us directly, a real person replies within 24 hours.

Ask on WhatsApp
01Is the trip private?

Yes. Every trip is private: your own vehicle and driver-guide, no shared coaches or group departures.

02How much does a 10-day trip cost?

Every trip is quoted individually. The price depends on group size, season, hotel level, transport and the number of days. Send your dates and group size and we'll send a personal quote.

03Can I change the route?

Yes. This is a starting sketch. Add or drop stops, swap a beach day for more hill country, or slow it down to the full 12-day Classic Circuit.

04When is the best time to go?

For this route along the west and south coast, December to April. From July to September the east coast is the better alternative, and we can adjust the route.

05How quickly do you reply?

Every enquiry is answered personally within 24 hours, on WhatsApp or by email.

06What deposit do you take?

A 20% deposit confirms your trip. It's fully refundable if you cancel within 14 days of paying it, and the remaining 80% is paid when you arrive in Sri Lanka. Read the terms.

Not quite right?

Similar starting points.

See all tours →
Why you can book with confidence

Plain facts, no badges.

Real trips

Travellers with their local hosts inside a traditional wattle-and-daub village home
Travellers on a safari jeep with a wild elephant herd grazing in the distance, Sri Lanka
Travellers riding in a green tuk-tuk on a countryside road

Photos from our travellers' trips, not stock. See the gallery →

A real reply

24h

Every enquiry answered personally within 24 hours, never by an auto-responder.

Low-risk deposit

20%

Deposit to confirm, fully refundable within 14 days of paying it. Read the terms →

Make it yours

Send your dates. We'll shape the 10 days around you.

Tell us when you're travelling and who's coming. A real person replies within 24 hours with a personal quote.