6 days in Sri Lanka: ancient cities and the first hills
6 days, 686 km and about 18 hours of driving in total. A car with driver for the whole trip is $420 (2–3 people) or $570 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. Six days is where the tea country becomes possible without wrecking the pace. Two nights in Kandy, two at Sigiriya, and a first night in the hills. Prices last verified September 2026.
The route, day by day
| When | Where | Stay | Drive from the last stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | KandyCultural Triangle | 2 nights | 107 km2h 49m |
| Day 3 | Dambulla Cave TempleCultural Triangle | On the waya stop, not a night | 72 km1h 54m |
| Days 3–4 | SigiriyaCultural Triangle | 2 nights | 23 km0h 36m |
| Day 5 | Nuwara EliyaHill Country | 1 night | 220 km5h 47m |
| Day 6 | Colombo Airportfly home | — | 204 km5h 21m |
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 6 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 686 km alone would come to $281, so the days are the higher and fairer number here. 1 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
Two nights in Kandy earns the Peradeniya botanical gardens, which need two unhurried hours and are usually skipped.
Two nights at Sigiriya again, for the dawn climb and Pidurangala at sunset.
Nuwara Eliya at the end, on the way back down, so the trip finishes cool and green rather than in traffic.
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.
- EllaOne more night and it fits — that is the 7-day route. On six days you would arrive and leave the next morning.
- PolonnaruwaChoose it over Nuwara Eliya if ruins interest you more than tea. Same number of days, different trip.
- The coastFour hours from the hills to the sea. Six days is not enough for both ends of the island.
When to go, and what it costs then
Nuwara Eliya is cold at night all year — bring a layer you can reach. April is Sri Lankan New Year and the hill stations fill with domestic holidaymakers; book early or come another month.
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 | $462 | $627 |
| February | 240,217 | Peak | $462 | $627 |
| March | 229,298 | High | $441 | $598 |
| April | 174,608 | Low | $399 | $542 |
| May | 132,919 | Trough | $378 | $513 |
| June | 138,241 | Trough | $378 | $513 |
| July | 200,244 | Shoulder | $420 | $570 |
| August | 198,235 | Shoulder | $420 | $570 |
| September | 158,971 | Low | $399 | $542 |
| October | 165,193 | Low | $399 | $542 |
| November | 212,906 | High | $441 | $598 |
| December | 258,928 | Peak | $462 | $627 |
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 TempleSigiriyaNuwara Eliya
What individual legs cost
Colombo Airport to KandyNuwara Eliya to Colombo Airport
Questions people ask
Can we ride the train from Kandy?
The Kandy to Nuwara Eliya stretch runs to Nanu Oya and is beautiful. It takes about four hours against three by road, and reserved seats sell out well ahead. If you want it, we drive your bags and meet you at Nanu Oya station.
Is Nuwara Eliya worth a night?
For the tea estates and the cold, yes. It is a strange colonial hill station and people either love it or find it twee. Ambewela farms and Lake Gregory fill an afternoon.
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.