5 days in Sri Lanka: Kandy and the ancient cities
5 days, 535 km and about 14 hours of driving in total. A car with driver for the whole trip is $350 (2–3 people) or $475 in a van (up to 8), at the shoulder rate (July, August); December to February is 10% more and May to June 10% less. That is the vehicle, the driver, his food and his room, and fuel — not hotels. Five days lets you add Kandy to the Cultural Triangle without turning the trip into a series of transfers. It is the shortest itinerary where the island starts to feel like more than one place. Prices last verified September 2026.
The route, day by day
| When | Where | Stay | Drive from the last stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | KandyCultural Triangle | 1 night | 107 km2h 49m |
| Day 2 | Dambulla Cave TempleCultural Triangle | On the waya stop, not a night | 72 km1h 54m |
| Days 2–3 | SigiriyaCultural Triangle | 2 nights | 23 km0h 36m |
| Day 4 | PolonnaruwaCultural Triangle | 1 night | 60 km1h 35m |
| Day 5 | Colombo Airportfly home | — | 213 km5h 36m |
Open this exact route in the planner → Change the nights or add a stop, and the hours per day, the price and five years of rain data for your month update as you go.
Priced on 5 days on the road at $70 a day for a car, because your driver is committed to you whether the vehicle moves or not. The 535 km alone would come to $219, so the days are the higher and fairer number here. 2 of the 5 legs are distances we have measured on the road; the rest are modelled from road geometry and our own average pace of 38 km/h. Drive times are modelled, not logged — our drivers are recording real ones and these numbers get replaced as they come in.
Why this shape
Kandy first, on the way north from the airport, so the three-hour drive happens on the day you are jet-lagged anyway.
One night in Kandy is enough for the evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth and a walk round the lake. Two nights is better if you want Peradeniya gardens as well — that makes it a 6-day trip.
Then north to Dambulla and Sigiriya on a short, flat road, and Polonnaruwa as a bicycle day before you turn back.
What we left out, and why
Every itinerary is a subtraction. These are the ones we made, so you can put them back if we chose wrong.
- The hill countryNuwara Eliya is five hours from Sigiriya. Adding it turns two of your five days into driving.
- PinnawalaIt sits on the Kandy road and a lot of itineraries include it by reflex. Travellers are divided on the ethics; we would rather take you to the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe on a longer trip. Ask if you want it added.
- AnuradhapuraAn hour and a half past Sigiriya, and it needs most of a day to make sense.
When to go, and what it costs then
Fine year round. January to March is the driest and busiest. The inter-monsoon storms in October and November are short and usually afternoon-only.
Our prices move with demand, and we publish the rule rather than hiding it. The bands below are set from Sri Lanka’s own 2025 arrivals figures — 2,362,521 visitors across the year, from 258,928 in December down to 132,919 in May. Demand swings 1.95×. We move price by 20 points.
| Month | Arrivals 2025 | Band | Car | Van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 252,761 | Peak | $385 | $522 |
| February | 240,217 | Peak | $385 | $522 |
| March | 229,298 | High | $368 | $499 |
| April | 174,608 | Low | $332 | $451 |
| May | 132,919 | Trough | $315 | $428 |
| June | 138,241 | Trough | $315 | $428 |
| July | 200,244 | Shoulder | $350 | $475 |
| August | 198,235 | Shoulder | $350 | $475 |
| September | 158,971 | Low | $332 | $451 |
| October | 165,193 | Low | $332 | $451 |
| November | 212,906 | High | $368 | $499 |
| December | 258,928 | Peak | $385 | $522 |
The full month-by-month breakdown, including which coast is dry when, is on its own page.
Change it
This is one arrangement of a road, not the only one. Open the route builder, tap the stops you want, set the nights, and the kilometres, the days and the price move as you go — using exactly the numbers on this page.
The places on this route
KandyDambulla Cave TempleSigiriyaPolonnaruwa
What individual legs cost
Questions people ask
Should we fit the train in?
Not on five days. The scenic hill line runs from Kandy south through Nuwara Eliya to Ella, which is the opposite direction from the ancient cities. It belongs on a seven-day trip or longer.
Is one night in Kandy enough?
For the temple and the lake, yes. If you want the botanical gardens, a gem workshop and an unhurried morning, take two — and see the 6-day route.
What is included in the price?
The vehicle, the driver, his meals and his accommodation, fuel and air conditioning. Not included: hotels, expressway tolls (passed on at cost), park and site tickets, and anything you buy. We take no commission from any hotel, shop or showroom, and we will not deliver you to one that pays for arrivals.
How do we pay?
In cash at the end, in rupees, dollars, euros or pounds. Nothing up front, and the price is agreed in writing on WhatsApp before you fly.
Send us this route on WhatsApp →
Prices last verified September 2026. We check them monthly and change the date only when we have actually looked.