15 Days Sri Lanka Itinerary: North to South Private Tour
Travel the full length of the island, from the Tamil heartland of Jaffna to the palm-fringed beaches of the deep south. Few tours reach the north, which makes this route ideal for travellers who want to see a different side of Sri Lanka. This 15 days Sri Lanka itinerary runs as a private tour with your own vehicle and driver-guide, so you travel at your own pace.
Tour Highlights
Jaffna's Hindu kovils, Dutch fort and local cuisine
Ferry to remote Delft Island with its wild ponies
Mihintale, Sigiriya Lion Rock and Polonnaruwa
Elephant safari at Minneriya and leopard safari at Yala
Scenic hill-country train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Beach days in Mirissa and a Colombo city tour
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Negombo
Meet your private driver at the airport and transfer to Negombo. Explore the fish market and Dutch canal, then watch the sunset over the lagoon.
Day 2: Negombo to Mannar
Drive north to Mannar Island to see the 16th-century fort, an ancient baobab tree and Thiruketheeswaram Hindu temple.
Day 3: Mannar to Jaffna
Continue to Jaffna. Visit Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna Fort and the central market, and try Jaffna crab curry for dinner.
Day 4: Delft Island Day Trip
Ferry to Delft Island for wild ponies, coral-stone walls and Dutch ruins. Stop at the temples of Nainativu on the way back.
Day 5: Point Pedro and the North Coast
Explore Point Pedro, the island's northernmost town, its fishing harbour and the sacred Keerimalai springs.
Day 6: Jaffna to Mihintale and Sigiriya
Head south to Mihintale, where Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka, and climb to the hilltop stupa before continuing to Sigiriya.
Day 7: Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock at sunrise, then cycle the ruins of Polonnaruwa and see the Gal Vihara Buddha carvings.
Day 8: Minneriya Safari to Digana
Take a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park to see wild elephants, then drive to a farm-style eco-lodge near Digana.
Day 9: Kandy
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, then watch a Kandyan dance show.
Day 10: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Drive through tea country to Nuwara Eliya, known as Little England, and tour a working tea factory.
Day 11: Horton Plains and Train to Ella
Hike to World's End and Baker's Falls, then ride the scenic train through the tea hills to Ella.
Day 12: Ella to Yala
Walk up Little Adam's Peak or visit Nine Arches Bridge, then head to Yala for an afternoon leopard safari.
Day 13: Yala to Mirissa via Dondra Head
Visit Dondra Head Lighthouse at the island's southern tip, then relax on Mirissa beach.
Day 14: Mirissa to Colombo
Optional whale watching in season, then drive to Colombo via Galle Fort for a city tour.
Day 15: Departure
Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your flight home.
Why Book This Private Tour
Your own private vehicle and driver-guide for the whole trip
Travel on the dates that suit you
Hotels, pace and stops can be customised
Best Time to Visit
January to March is the best time for this itinerary, with dry weather across the north, the Cultural Triangle and the south coast.
Contact us to tailor this Sri Lanka private tour itinerary to your budget and travel style.