7 days in Sri Lanka: the week that actually works
7 days, 992 km and about 26 hours of driving in total. A car with driver for the whole trip is $490 (2–3 people) or $665 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. One week is the most commonly searched Sri Lanka trip and the most commonly overpacked. This is the version that crosses the island once, in one direction, and finishes at the sea. 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 | Nuwara EliyaHill Country | 1 night | 220 km5h 47m |
| Day 5 | EllaHill Country | 1 night | 60 km1h 35m |
| Day 6 | MirissaSouth & West Coast | 1 night | 224 km5h 54m |
| Day 7 | Colombo Airportfly home | — | 196 km5h 10m |
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 7 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 992 km alone would come to $407, so the days are the higher and fairer number here. 2 of the 7 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
The shape matters more than the list: north from the airport, then south through the hills to the coast, then west along it to fly home. No backtracking.
Two nights at Sigiriya is the one indulgence, and it is the difference between climbing the rock at dawn and climbing it in a queue.
One night each in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Mirissa. It moves, but every drive is under three hours except the first.
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.
- YalaA safari needs a night at Tissamaharama and a 5am start. On seven days it costs you Ella. If wildlife is the point, swap Ella out — Udawalawe is closer and better for elephants.
- GalleForty minutes from Mirissa. If your flight is late enough you can do the fort on the way to the airport at no cost in nights.
- Polonnaruwa and AnuradhapuraBoth are a full day. Seven days does not have a spare one.
When to go, and what it costs then
This route crosses both weather systems. December to March is the safest bet end to end. From June to October the south coast is in the southwest monsoon and we would route you to the east instead.
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 | $539 | $732 |
| February | 240,217 | Peak | $539 | $732 |
| March | 229,298 | High | $514 | $698 |
| April | 174,608 | Low | $466 | $632 |
| May | 132,919 | Trough | $441 | $598 |
| June | 138,241 | Trough | $441 | $598 |
| July | 200,244 | Shoulder | $490 | $665 |
| August | 198,235 | Shoulder | $490 | $665 |
| September | 158,971 | Low | $466 | $632 |
| October | 165,193 | Low | $466 | $632 |
| November | 212,906 | High | $514 | $698 |
| December | 258,928 | Peak | $539 | $732 |
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 EliyaEllaMirissa
What individual legs cost
Colombo Airport to KandyNuwara Eliya to EllaElla to MirissaMirissa to Colombo Airport
Questions people ask
Is one week enough for Sri Lanka?
For one crossing of the island, yes. It is not enough for the north, the east and the south as well — that is a fortnight. The mistake is trying to do the fortnight in a week.
Should we take the train from Kandy to Ella?
It is the best-known train journey in Asia and it wins on experience — six to seven hours against about three by road. On a seven-day trip that is a real cost. Most of our guests ride the Nanu Oya to Ella section instead, which is the scenic half, while we drive the bags.
How much driving is there really?
About 26 hours over the week, with the airport-to-Kandy run the longest single stretch. Every other leg is under three hours.
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.