01
Thursday, 10 April
Colombo → Galle
Western → Southern Province · 2.5h on Southern Expressway
Land at Bandaranaike International Airport and head straight south on Sri Lanka's best road. Arrive Galle by evening. Walk the ocean-facing Fort ramparts at golden hour and settle in for your first proper Sri Lankan dinner inside the UNESCO colonial walls.
LANDCMB Airport — clear customs, meet pre-booked driver
DRIVESouthern Expressway — fast toll road, 2–2.5h to Galle
18:00Galle Fort ramparts — sunset walk along the ocean walls
20:00Dinner inside the Fort. Check into hotel.
Hotels · Galle Area
AmangallaLeyn Baan by TeardropJetwing LighthouseCape WeligamaTallala Retreat
02
Friday, 11 April
Kosgoda · Galle · Rekawa
Southern Coast · Full turtle day
Morning at Kosgoda hatchery — five species, rescued turtles, hatchlings if lucky. Afternoon exploring Galle Fort's cobbled colonial streets, galleries, and cafes. Evening drive to Rekawa for the night watch: guided in silence to within two metres of nesting females laying up to 150 eggs on a pristine, undisturbed beach.
09:00Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery — 45-min tour, ~LKR 2,000/person
11:30Galle Fort — rampart walk, lunch at Pedlar's Inn or The Sun House
16:00Drive to Rekawa / Tangalle area (1.5h). Dinner at hotel.
20:30Rekawa Turtle Watch — guided night watch, no flash, ~LKR 2,000 donation
Hotels · Tangalle / Rekawa
AmanwellaAnantara Peace HavenBuckingham PlaceMaalu Maalu Resort
03
Saturday, 12 April
Udawalawe National Park
Sabaragamuwa Province · ~1h from Tangalle
🎂 Sayka's Birthday
Udawalawe hosts over 500 wild elephants roaming open savannah — the best guaranteed elephant encounter in Asia. Morning private jeep safari. Afternoon at the Elephant Transit Home watching orphaned calves being fed before their return to the wild. Birthday dinner pre-arranged with your lodge.
05:30Drive to Udawalawe entrance (1h from Tangalle)
06:30Morning Safari — 3–4h private jeep. Elephant herds, crocodiles, peacocks, 200+ birds
14:00Elephant Transit Home — watch orphaned calves at scheduled feeding
19:30Birthday dinner — pre-arrange special setup with lodge in advance
Hotels · Udawalawe
Kalu's HideawayCentauria Wild ResortAthgira River CampingThilanka Resort
04
Sunday, 13 April
Yala National Park
Southern Province · ~1.5h from Udawalawe
🎉 Sinhala New Year Eve
Yala holds the highest concentration of leopards in the world. Two safari drives — morning and late afternoon — through Block I. Beyond leopards: sloth bears, elephants, crocodiles, water monitors, and over 200 bird species. New Year Eve — fireworks and celebrations audible from nearby villages as night falls.
06:00Morning Safari — 4h. Leopards best spotted on rocky outcrops before midday heat
11:00Return to lodge, lunch, rest during peak heat hours
15:30Afternoon Safari — 2.5h golden hour at waterholes
18:30New Year Eve — fireworks over the tree line from your lodge
Hotels · Yala Luxury Safari
Wild Coast Tented LodgeChena Huts by UgaCeylon Wild SafarisThe Warden's House
05
Monday, 14 April
Yala → Ella
Southern → Uva Province · ~3h drive
🎊 Sinhala & Tamil New Year
Sri Lanka's biggest national celebration. The drive through villages toward Ella on this day is an experience in itself — firecrackers, traditional games in streets, families everywhere, the smell of kavum and kokis. Temperature drops 10°C as you climb into the hills. First ridgeline views over the Ella valley on arrival.
09:00Drive north toward Ella (~3h). New Year celebrations visible through every village.
12:30Arrive Ella. Check in. First valley views.
15:00Walk Ella town — cafes, viewpoints, charming and small
17:00Ella Rock viewpoint — 20-min walk, panoramic golden hour views
Hotels · Ella (2 nights)
98 Acres ResortJetwing KadurukethaZion ViewElla Flower Garden Resort
06
Tuesday, 15 April
Ella — Full Day
Uva Province · All sights within 5km
The Nine Arch Bridge at sunrise is one of the great photography moments in Asia — the 9:47 AM train crossing is unmissable. Little Adam's Peak is an easy two-hour hike through tea estates with ridgeline views across the entire valley. Afternoon tea factory tour to see the full process from leaf to cup.
06:30Nine Arch Bridge — arrive early. Train crosses at ~9:47 AM. Be there 30 min before.
10:30Little Adam's Peak — easy 2h hike, 360° valley panoramas from the ridge
15:00Tea factory visit — working estate tour, full leaf-to-cup process
17:30Sunset from the 98 Acres terrace over the valley
Same Hotel · 2nd Night in Ella
98 Acres ResortJetwing Kaduruketha
07
Wednesday, 16 April
Train → Kandy → Sigiriya
Hill Country → Central Province
One of the most beautiful train journeys in Asia. Due to storm damage on some sections, take Ella → Ambewella by train (the most scenic stretch: tea plantations, mist valleys, famous bridges), then road to Kandy. Visit the Temple of the Tooth, then drive north to Sigiriya. Book train tickets now — they sell out.
~08:00Train: Ella → Ambewella — sit left side facing forward. 1st or 2nd class observation car.
~10:30Ambewella — driver collects. Road to Kandy (~2h).
14:30Temple of the Tooth — Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine. Cover shoulders and legs. Allow 1.5h.
17:30Drive to Sigiriya area (~1.5h). Dinner and check in.
Hotels · Sigiriya / Dambulla Area
Jetwing Vil UyanaHeritance KandalamaWater Garden SigiriyaUlagalla Resort
08
Thursday, 17 April
Sigiriya → Colombo → Home
Central → Western Province · Late Flight
The fifth-century rock fortress of Sigiriya rises 200m above the jungle. Water gardens, ancient frescoes, the Lion's Paw Gate, 360° summit views. Climb at dawn before the heat. Drive to Colombo for a half day — Galle Face Green promenade, one last Sri Lankan lunch, and the airport.
06:00Sigiriya Rock Fortress — gardens → frescoes → mirror wall → lion paws → summit. Allow 2.5–3h. Entry ~USD 30/person
09:30Optional: Dambulla Cave Temples — 30 min drive, stunning Buddhist frescoes, 150+ statues
11:30Drive south to Colombo (~3.5h)
15:00Galle Face Green — ocean promenade, final Sri Lankan street food
18:00Head to CMB Airport (45 min). Allow 2.5–3h before departure.
If Needed · Colombo
Shangri-La ColomboTaj SamudraCinnamon Grand
