Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days

Posted on by Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days, or Sri Lanka 13 days tour, is one of the most popular trip packages in Sri Lanka, with many international visitors, primarily Europeans, booking this trip. Sri Lanka’s 13-day vacation package includes a fascinating mix of beach vacations, wildlife tours, temple visits, Sri Lanka hill country, cultural displays, Sri Lanka’s southern shore, and historic monument visits. This blog article, with a well-planned 13-day travel schedule, comprises a collection of key tourist destinations. This lengthy blog article aims to present a well-documented and tried-and-true tour schedule for a great two-week Sri Lanka vacation package. So far, we (Seerendipity Tours) have prepared this Sri Lanka two-week itinerary for a large number of foreign and local travellers, and we have gotten mostly positive feedback on the trip.

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According to Forbes, Sri Lanka is one of the top destinations to visit in 2023. Juliana Broste, a 12x Heartland Emmy Award-winning travel filmmaker and host who showcases adventures and enjoyable things to do across the world, picked the tropical travel location. “It’s no secret that Sri Lanka has had a difficult time,” says Juliana Broste of Forbes. “Even with inflation, visitors will find Sri Lanka to be a spectacular, affordable destination well worth the trip.” “Run around the island and you’ll see why this land keeps you guessing—from the hustle and bustle of Colombo to beautiful beaches, rice fields, waterfalls, plains, and mountains,” Broste added.

Places to see on a Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days

I had planned to publish my Sri Lanka trip itinerary for a long time, but due to my hectic schedule, I had to postpone it several times. Finally, I was able to include all of my ideas for a Sri Lanka itinerary of 13 days in this blog article. I wanted to create this blog article since I get a lot of emails from people asking things like “What is the best program for a two-week trip to Sri Lanka?” or “What is the best program for 13 days in Sri Lanka?”

Most people believe that travelling in Sri Lanka is tough and confusing at first… a chaotic traffic system, insufficient information about travel routes, and, most importantly, a lot of uncertainty on the island. Even while travelling in Sri Lanka appears to be challenging, it is not in fact so with good planning. After completing this 13 days Sri Lanka itinerary, you will realize how simple it is to travel in Sri Lanka with the appropriate itinerary.

This Sri Lanka 13 days itinerary has been meticulously crafted in order to give travellers an unforgettable experience. So far, Seerendipity Tours has prepared this Sri Lanka 13 days itinerary for many foreign visitors, and the trip has gotten extremely positive feedback.

Sri Lanka grand tour, a 14-day private Sri Lanka tour offers the perfect introduction for visitors to Sri Lanka. Your customizable 14 days tour itinerary includes the cultural triangle, Sri Lanka hill country, wildlife safari, south coast and west coast beaches. From US$ 895 per person.

What is the ideal itinerary for a 13-day visit to Sri Lanka?

The 13-day Sri Lanka tour is mostly done on two primary itineraries,

  • 13-day Sri Lanka tour on the Northern route
  • 13-day Sri Lanka tour on the southern route

Sri Lanka’s southern route is the most popular for a 13-day tour of the country; hence most visitors who embark on this 13-day tour use this route. However, a few clients who travel on the island choose the northern route, although the quantity is insignificant. If you pick the northern circuit for your 13-day Sri Lanka vacation, you will miss out on some of the most popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, like the southern coast, west coast, Sri Lanka hill region, and wildlife reserves like Yala, Galle fort, and Whale watching.

When is the ideal time to visit Sri Lanka for 13 days?

Sri Lanka is ideal for a vacation at any time of year. As a result, you may take a 13-day tour in Sri Lanka at any time of the year. However, depending on the weather, you must pick either the southern or northern route for your 13-day itinerary in Sri Lanka. The southern route is the finest for a 13-day journey from November to April. If the journey is taking place between April and October, the northern route is the best option.

What are the top 18 things to do in Sri Lanka in 13 days?

  • Anuradhapura
  • Polonnaruwa
  • The cave temple of Colombo Dambulla
  • The rock fortification of Sigiriya
  • Spice garden at Matale
  • Temple of the Tooth Relic Kandy and Kandyan cultural performance
  • The Royal Botanic Garden Kandy
  • Tea plantation and factory
  • Gregory Lake, Victoria Park Nuwara Eliya, Sita temple
  • Horton Plains National Park
  • Seetha Temple
  • Ramboda waterfall
  • Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala
  • National Park Yala
  • Mirissa Beach (viewing whales)
  • Galle Fort
  • Beach in Galle Fort Bentota
  • Colombo

What are the main highlights of a 13-day itinerary in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanak 13-day trip is a well-balanced tour schedule that incorporates the majority of the island’s key tourist sites. It mostly addresses the following topics.

  • Exploring the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka 4-5 days
  • Exploring the hill country of Sri Lanka for 2-3 days
  • Exploring nature and the south coast of Sri Lanka 2-3
  • Exploring Sri Lanka’s west coast and relaxing on the beach for 5-6 days
  • Sri Lankan 13-day cultural trip in Sri Lanka

The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka is included in most multi-day tours of the country, and a vacation to Sri Lanka would be incomplete without it. As a result, most 13-day Sri Lanka vacations include the cultural triangle. The cultural triangle is significant because it is home to hundreds of Stupas, Dagobas, temples, palaces, gardens, lakes, and other historic monuments that demonstrate the advanced know-how used by ancient engineers and artisans. The Cultural Triangle is usually the first stop on a 13-day Sri Lanka vacation, and visitors spend a few days there while seeing the historic structures.

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This 10-day private Colombo package includes 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Golden Temple of Dambulla, Galle Fort, and Temple of the tooth relic with Sri Lanka mountain resorts, southern national parks, and western and southern beach resorts.

What historical locations are covered in the 13-day itinerary for Sri Lanka?

Depending on the client’s interest in history and religion, the cultural triangle tour might take between 2-3 days. The cultural and historical cities listed below are covered in the 13-day Sri Lanka itinerary.

  • Anuradhapura
  • Polonnaruwa
  • Sigiriya
  • Dambulla
  • Kandy

Sri Lanka itinerary for 13 days-Sri Lanka hill country

On this 13-day Sri Lanka itinerary, travellers proceed to Sri Lanka Hill after exploring the cultural and historical wonders of the cultural triangle. Some of the most beautiful sites in Sri Lanka may be found in the hill country. Large tea plantations, green-capped mountains, rivers, streams, tumbling waterfalls, and stunning sceneries may all be found in the mountainous hill area. The appealing hill area is especially known for its healing atmosphere, and many local tourists visit Nuwara Eliya on short holidays to avoid the blazing heat of Sri Lanka’s low land.

What are the major hill country locations covered in the 13-day itinerary for Sri Lanka?

There are several sites to visit in the hill area; however, on our Sri Lanka 13-day trip itinerary, we only schedule stops in important tourist destinations such as Ella, Horton Plains, and Nuwara Eliya. Depending on the interests of the travellers, it may also be combined with visits to Bandarawell, Ambewela, and Galway Forest.

13-day Ella Horton Plains trip in Sri Lanka southern Sri Lanka itinerary

Wildlife trips in Sri Lanka are popular in southern Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is the most visited national park in Sri Lanka, with more than 75% of visitors coming to experience thrilling wildlife trips. Yala is one of the greatest sites in the world to watch wild animals, particularly the elusive leopard. Travellers who plan a 13-day vacation in Sri Lanka will spend one or two days on the southern shore after experiencing the hill area. Aside from animal excursions, other popular activities on the south coast include water sports, beach hopping, and whale watching.

Itinerary-West coast trip of Sri Lanka for 13 days Sri Lankan

The beach stay on Sri Lanka’s west coast is the final phase of the 13-day journey. You may have spent roughly 8 days of your 13-day journey by the time you get on the west coast. The 13-day Sri Lanka schedule is designed such that important tourist attractions are covered in the first few days of the trip, and the last few days are designated for a relaxed beach stay. On this 13-day vacation, the travellers slept in beach resorts on the west coast for around 6-7 days, including Bentota, Hikkaduwa, and Kalutara.

What beaches are included in the 13-day itinerary for Sri Lanka?

Here are some of Sri Lanka’s best beaches. Your Sri Lanka 13-day itinerary will almost certainly include a beach vacation in one of these locations.

  • Bentota
  • Unawatuna Ahungalla
  • Hikkaduwa
  • Wadduwa
  • Kalutara
  • Negombo

What is the ideal itinerary for a 13-day visit to Sri Lanka?

Day 1: Arrive at Colombo (dubbed the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”).

Day 2: Visiting Anuradhapura and Dambulla Temple

Day 3: Tour of Sigiriya Rock and Rural Village tour

Day 4: visiting Spice Garden, a tooth relic shrine, and a Kandyan cultural show

Day 5: Kandy city tour and Royal Botanical Garden

Day 6: Nuwara Eliya tea gardens

Day 7: Tour of Horton Plains National Park

Day 8: Yala National Park Jeep Safari

Day 9: Mirissa Beach

Day 10: Whale watching in Mirissa and Galle Fort tour

Day 11+12: Relaxation at the Beach Resort Bentota

Day 13: Departure

When is the ideal time to do the 13-day Sri Lanka tour?

The journey takes in a considerable portion of Western Sri Lanka as well as the southern coast of the island. At the same time, this trip package includes several locations in both the cultural triangle and the central mountain region. As a result, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is from November to April, when all of the regions indicated above have pleasant and sunny weather.

Sri Lanka 13-day trip map

Obtaining a Sri Lanka Visa for the 13 days Itinerary tour

A foreign tourist planning a trip to Sri Lanka must get a visa to visit the island; select nations, such as Singapore, Seychelles, and the Maldives, are exempt from visas; however, most countries are not exempt from visas. The simplest approach to acquiring a visa is to apply for an e-visa, which requires the applicant to fill out an application form and pay online. The visa is processed and sent to the applicant in around two working days.

However, there are a few prerequisites to meet in order to apply for the visa, such as having a passport that is valid for at least 180 days and having a return airline ticket. Tourists from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Ghana need to apply for a visa at the Sri Lankan overseas ministry.

The visa charge for visitors from SAARC countries (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is US$20, whereas the fee for visitors from other countries is US$35.

Travellers from the following countries are exempt from paying the ETA fee waiver scheme.

1. Singapore 2. Seychelles 3. Maldives

Make transportation arrangements for the 13-day Sri Lanka tour

Travelling in Sri Lanka may be a challenging process that might jeopardize your vacation if not well planned. This Sri Lanka two-week trip includes a private car, which is the finest way to see the island. To appreciate the spectacular beauty in the highlands, train travel from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya or from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is advised. Please email us at admin@seerendipitytours.com if you would want us to plan the train journey and book the tickets for you.

Finding lodging for a 13-day vacation to Sri Lanka

This 13-day itinerary in Sri Lanka may be created with any sort of hotel category, such as 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star, based on your vacation budget and needs. Breakfast and supper at the hotel each day, as well as lunch and beverages, should be self-funded.

European food is accessible in all regions visited on our two-week route in Sri Lanka, and you can easily locate restaurants serving sanitary food that have been authorized by the tourist board. Supermarkets are also located around the island, where you can easily purchase fruits, chips, crackers, and beverages.

Clothing suggestions for your 13-day vacation to Sri Lanka

The light cotton dress is ideal for Sri Lanka, where the temperature averages 33 degrees Celsius. The average humidity in the nation is also quite high, hovering about 90%. During the 13 days in Sri Lanka, there are several religious places to visit. When visiting a Buddhist temple, suitable attire is required, and there are a few guidelines to follow; learn more about the Sri Lanka Buddhist temple dress code.

How much does a 13-day trip to Sri Lanka cost?

This two-week trip in Sri Lanka with a 4-star hotel costs US$ 900 per person based on twin sharing double (travelling two people, sleeping in one double room). All admission fees, ground transportation, lodging with daily breakfast and supper, an English-speaking tour guide, and all government taxes are included in the price.

Can I arrange my own accommodations for my 13-day tour?

YES, you may arrange the necessary accommodation for your 13-day Sri Lanka tour. However, booking hotels, sightseeing excursions, transportation, guides, and everything else as a package tour is strongly recommended. When you purchase the trip as a package tour, the costs are reduced by 20-30%. Because hotel providers give local tour operators a discounted rate, which the tour operators normally pass on to the travellers.

Itinerary for a 13-day visit to Sri Lanka

  • Time frame: 13 days
  • Colombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala, and Bentota are on the itinerary.
  • P.P: USD 1200 (excluding flight)
  • Travel Mode: Private car

Day 1 Sri Lanka Tour of 13 days: Arrival in Sri Lanka

The Indian Ocean’s Pearl…. This is what ancient sailors called the island; the island had many various names over the millennia until being christened Sri Lanka in 1972. However, many people around the world still refer to Sri Lanka as Ceylon because the island was given the name Ceylon by British administrators who controlled the island from 1792 to 1948 and the official name of the country remained Ceylon for more than a century, so the word Ceylon is ingrained in the minds of most people around the world.

Most tourists to Sri Lanka arrive at the Katunayake international airport, while around 10% enter the country by the coastline gates, mostly the Colombo harbour. We haven’t booked any activities on the day you arrive in Sri Lanka in this two-week itinerary. Most visitors come after hour-long flights and drives; as a result, most visitors like to take a break right away, as we all know from experience. You won’t receive a true first impression of the island until the next day.

You will be met by a Seerendipity Tours operator and driven to a hotel in Colombo in the city centre. It will take around 45 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Day 2 of a 13-day tour to Sri Lanka includes a morning Colombo city tour and an afternoon visit to the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

After a leisurely breakfast, you depart for the historic city of Anuradhapura, taking in a Colombo city tour along the way.

Sri Lankan 13-day tour to the city of Colombo

Colombo is the island’s commercial centre and one of its most picturesque cities. In the middle of the city’s constant rush and activity, there are several intriguing tourist sites. There are several significant sites, including religious attractions, colonial monuments, parks, cultural sites, and beaches. Colombo, other than a few nightclubs, casinos, discos, and theatres, does not seem to have much to offer nightlife enthusiasts. The city’s pubs and eateries are open till after midnight.

Colombo lies on Sri Lanka’s west coast; you will feel the heat owing to the city’s high temperature, which hovers about 33 degrees Celsius; nevertheless, our completely air-conditioned car keeps you comfortable and makes it simple to deal with the situation. There are various sites where you should step out of the car to have a better view, such as Gangarama Temple, Viharamahadevi Park, Independent Square, Galle Face…, and others.

Due to the southwest monsoon, which soaks southern and western Sri Lanka, including Colombo, it is best to keep an eye on the daily weather prediction while travelling from April to November. During the monsoon, severe rainfall might occur in Colombo, making exploration difficult.

Visiting Anuradhapura on a 13-day tour to Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura is Sri Lanka’s oldest city, dating back to the third century BC. For almost a thousand years, Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka, and the city was home to hundreds of monarchs who controlled the kingdom. Anuradhapura is an ancient city with hundreds of historical sites spread across more than 40 square kilometres. Visitors may see massive structures such as Jetwanarama, which was the third highest brick edifice in the ancient world after the two Giza pyramids. Jetawanrama was the world’s biggest Buddhist structure. Your hop-on-hop-off city tour will take you through several Buddhist temples, palaces, gardens, Buddha statues, and other old structures.

The 13-day Sri Lanka itinerary includes a visit to the Dambulla cave temple.

Following the Colombo city tour, the first excursion on your two-week Sri Lanka itinerary, you drive to Dambulla golden cave shrine.  Dambulla is in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, and the flora and fauna change as you move closer to the dry zone. The drive from Colombo to Dambulla takes around 4 hours, although you’ll definitely stop a few times as you pass through lovely scenery.

Afternoon trek to Dambulla golden cave temple, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the world’s oldest Buddhist temples, dating back to the 1st century BC. After touring the temple, drive to the hotel, which is around 10 kilometres away.

The tourist will encounter hordes of people at Dambulla golden cave temple; nevertheless, the majority of visitors to the temple are international visitors, with local visitors accounting for only a portion of the total. This is due to Dambulla Golden Temple’s popularity as a tourist attraction rather than a religious place. The visitors face several hikes on their way to the secret sanctuary, which is located among five natural caverns. The temple is situated on a hill, requiring you to ascend hundreds of steep, uneven stairs, frequently without the assistance of a hand path. Some people may find the ascent difficult.

The trek to the temple is difficult yet rewarding. At the temple, tourists may see hundreds of old paintings, frescoes, and statues. The beautiful wall painting depicts numerous stories from Buddha’s life.

Day 3 of a 13-day program in Sri Lanka: Morning hike to Sigiriya Rock, afternoon hamlet visit with cookery lesson.

After breakfast, depart towards the rock stronghold of Sigiriya. Afternoon village tour of Sigiriya, followed by visits to Ibbankatuwa’s ancient burial cemetery and the Pidurangala temple.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress Visit

Sigiriya rock fortification, a fifth-century rock stronghold, draws both international and local visitors. This UNESCO World Heritage monument demonstrates superior technical skills, a solid understanding of hydraulic principles, and the diverse architectural possibilities of ancient engineers. Sigiriya fresco paintings from the 5th century still gleam with their original colours.

This 2000-step hike lasts around an hour and requires a decent pair of shoes and light cotton clothing. Sigiriya historical site is located in Sri Lanka’s arid zone and is surrounded by dense green flora.

Sigiriya is a famous tourist destination, and the panoramic view from the summit of the 500-meter-high monolithic rock is a highlight of most visitors’ Sri Lanka two-week itinerary. Unlike the climb to Dambulla Cave Temple, the hike in Sigiriya is significantly more arduous, and enough liquids are required due to the sweaty, heated temperature.

Tour to Sigiriya Village

After lunch, it is time to learn about Sri Lankan rural life. The Sigiriya village tour is the following itinerary on the Sri Lanka itinerary. Despite the name, the Sigiriya village tour takes place in the laid-back village of Hiriwadunna, which is one of the most isolated and impoverished communities in the dry zone.

The village trip provides an excellent opportunity to learn about rural life and includes a bullock cart ride, boating on the village lake, visits to rice paddies, farms, and rural houses, and a cookery class with a traditional warm Sri Lankan supper.

The ambience is amazing throughout the village tour…The dominant colour is green, and birds create vivid noises from trees that can be heard from afar owing to the peaceful and quiet atmosphere. You will create a Sri Lankan dinner with our chef and then taste a fantastic Sri Lankan feast. After the village tour, travellers will have a great experience, especially nature enthusiasts, gastronomic visitors, and bird watchers.

Burial Ground of Ibbankatuwa

The Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs are another significant historical site in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Because of its historical and cultural significance, the Ibbankatuwa burial ground has been designated as an archaeological protected site in Sri Lanka. The Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs are a few kilometres from the Dambulla Golden Temple and may easily be included in the 13-day Sri Lanka travel itinerary. The burial place dates back to the megalithic prehistoric and protohistoric eras of Sri Lanka, according to archaeological data.

Despite its significance, most visitors do not include this historical monument on their tour itinerary. If you have time, it is advised that you visit this historical monument since it is one of the very few burial grounds that reflect the tradition of people who lived in Sri Lanka many thousands of years ago. Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs is one of the island’s oldest burial cemeteries.

The ancient temple of Pidurangala

Pidirangala ancient temple is another significant site in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Many Buddha sculptures and paintings dating back centuries may be seen at the old temple. This old temple has been a fixture of the Sigiriya ancient site for many decades; nonetheless, it is another landmark that many tourists miss on their Sri Lanka vacation, owing to a lack of time. Due to time limits, Pidurangla may not be on your schedule whether you plan a Sri Lanka one-day tour, a two-day tour, or even a seven-day vacation to Sri Lanka. However, if you take a 13-day tour, you will have time to see the Pidurangala cave temple.

Pidurangala is much more than a Buddhist temple. The temple is surrounded by beautiful green foliage, which is home to several bird species. Most visitors arrive at Pidurangala temple before daybreak to view the spectacular sunrise from the top of the cliff. Pidurangla’s enormous monolithic rock stands nearly 300 meters above the earth, providing stunning views of rice terraces, lakes, rivers, the Sigiriya sanctuary, and picturesque towns.

Day 4 of a 13-day trip to Sri Lanka includes a visit to a spice farm in the morning and a visit to the tooth relic shrine and Kandyan cultural display in the afternoon.

The travel from Sigiriya to Kandy takes around 3 hours, including a 1-hour walking tour of Matale’s spice garden.

A trip to the Spice garden

Halfway between Sigiriya and Kandy, you’ll pass through Matale, a town mostly supported by agricultural industry. Visit a spice garden to learn about the country’s diverse spices, sauces, Ayurvedic herbs, and medical practices.

The road drive to Kandy (approximately 1 hour) continues after the spice garden. Travelling by private car is the ideal method to accomplish this Sri Lanka two-week schedule since it saves travel time. Most travellers choose to utilize private transport on Sri Lanka road trips over public transportation primarily to save time. Even while public transportation is less expensive than private transportation, buses and trains can be quite packed and take a long time to get between cities.

Kandy sightseeing tour

In the afternoon, attend the Kandyan cultural event, which features traditional Sri Lankan dance and song. Later in the day, visit the tooth relic temple, the most revered Buddhist temple on the island and one of the island’s most visited UNESCO world heritage sites. Visit the tooth relic shrine and see the night-time ceremony in front of a large crowd. The night-time ceremony is quite popular among visitors, particularly international visitors.

Day 5 of 13 days Sri Lanka tour: Kandy sightseeing trip in the morning and afternoon visit to the Royal Botanical Garden

After breakfast, carry on with Sri Lanka’s two-week plan and go to downtown Kandy.

Kandy sightseeing tour

Take in a stunning birds-eye view of the city from the upper lake, which is accessible by driving uphill on the mountain that stands west of the city. Upper Lake is an excellent location for photographing the entire city from an overhead perspective.

Kandy market visit

After that, head to downtown Kandy and have a walk through Kandy, where you will encounter a busy market with vendors selling vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat. Outside the market are stores and kiosks offering everything from clothing and shoes to gems and jewellery, handicrafts, and so much more.

Going to the Royal Botanical Garden

The Royal Botanical Garden, one of Kandy’s most popular tourist sites, is only a short drive away in your luxury vehicle. Take a leisurely stroll in the garden and see the diverse collection of trees and plants before retiring to bed.

Day 6 of a 13-day program in Sri Lanka includes visits to magnificent mountains and tea estates

Drive to the tea country after a leisurely breakfast. On the way, we stopped at a tea plantation surrounded by waterfalls and green-capped mountains.

Nuwara Eliya is nestled among lush green woods and tea gardens, but once you set your course south from Kandy, the capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country, it’s not long before the landscape begins to shake itself into foothills, funnelling the road into narrow, steep winding roads that pass the green-capped mountains.

Your engine will soon be straining on the slope of the Gampola, which was formerly a royal metropolis. Ramboda is the next scenic mountain-rich area after Gampola. Ramboda is well-known for its flowing waterfalls. Before approaching Nuwara Eliya, the beautiful serpentine rises 1800 m above sea level at its greatest point.

As you enter Nuwara Eliya, the landscape opens up into desolate high-altitude mountain peaks, a golf course, trout-filled Gregory Lake, Theodor-styled colonial mansions, beautiful gardens, tea plantations, Nuwara Eliya city, and dotted with isolated hamlets filled with small houses where plantation workers live.

Nuwara Eliya is the largest important tea plantation in Sri Lanka, as well as the most popular health resort on the island, thanks to its pleasant environment. A great number of local visitors drive to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sweltering heat of the lowland and to take in the spectacular scenery of the mountains and valleys. This attractive location is enhanced by vast tea plantations, tumbling waterfalls, green-capped mountains, rivers, and sections of woodland.

For the first time on your two-week Sri Lanka tour, you will face a chilly environment in the highlands, where the temperature may drop to a few degrees below zero after dark. The trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya takes around 2 hours, with stops at the Tea Factory and Ramboda Falls along the way. The trek begins at 500 meters above sea level and concludes at 1800 meters above sea level, so be prepared to absorb temperature fluctuations as well as breathtaking mountain vistas.

Nuwara Eliya sightseeing tour

In the afternoon, go to Nuwara Eliya, a picturesque city that is small and tight and surrounded by mountains. Take a walking tour of the city, stopping by the vegetable market and commercial district.  Later, embark on a sightseeing trip with your guide to view the colonial houses erected by British planters in the 18s, as well as the racetrack, golf course, and Gregory Lake.

Day 7 of a Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days: Horton Plains National Park

Day 7 of a two-week schedule in Sri Lanka begins at sunrise with a visit to Horton Plains National Park. As you must ascend up to 2300 meters above sea level on a deteriorated road today, you will need a 4-wheel drive car. Horton Plains National Park is one of the few remaining sections of forest in the Himalayas, and it is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. Horton Plains National Park includes unique vegetation that cannot be seen anywhere on the island.

The journey begins in the city and progressively ascends to the mountain summit, increasing the distance from the busy metropolis, and passing through small towns and villages along the way. The journey’s conclusion takes place in the woods. After around a 2-hour drive to the park’s entrance, tourists can stroll across the Horton plains and witness a diverse diversity of Fauna and Flora.

The full jungle trip takes around 2 hours if you want to complete the entire circle. Wear conformable shoes and clothing appropriate for a chilly temperature. During the trip, you will see a variety of bird species, butterflies, amphibian species, and animals.

Day 8 of a 13-day Sri Lanka itinerary: Jeep safari in Yala National Park

Leave for Yala in southern Sri Lanka after breakfast. On this Sri Lanka two-week journey, you will go on a Sri Lanka wildlife tour and meet Sri Lankan animals for the first time. The travel from Nuwara Eliya to Yala takes around 4 hours, but along the way, you will see several key sites such as Ravana waterfall, Ella gap, and Sita shrine, which will cause you to halt the car several times.

The adventurous spirit has two alternatives from Nuwara Eliya: driving the 200 km westward to reach the west coast and enjoy magnificent beaches, or travelling down the hills southward along the Ella gap. Both roads are tiny and steeply slope along a meandering route.

Visiting Yala National Park is part of the 13-day journey, so you’ll be travelling south on the Nuwara Eliya-Wellawaya road, which takes you past waterfalls, temples, botanical gardens, and lovely scenery in Sri Lanka. This route follows the southern edge of Sri Lanka’s hill country all the way down to the windswept plains of the southern dry zone.

Afternoon vehicle safari to see wild elephants and leopards in Yala National Park, the island’s most popular wildlife reserve. Yala National Park is the most visited wildlife reserve on the island, with visitors able to see wild elephants, leopards, monkeys, bears, crocodiles, wild buffalo, and a variety of other animals, birds, insects, and amphibian species.

Yala national park safari

A significant number of safari jeeps may be encountered on a safari in prominent Sri Lankan national parks like Yala. More visitors would be encountered during the peak holiday season (November to April) than the rest of the year. Hundreds of safari jeeps might be seen in the park during peak season. However, on a game drive in certain national parks, such as Udawalawe, you will not see safari vehicles as frequently as in Yala and Wilpattu, allowing tourists to have their own wildlife tour, which is very different from the cluster of safari jeeps. If you’ve visited to Yala National Park before, you’ve probably witnessed a swarm of automobiles around animals and hundreds of camera flashes.

Day 9 of a 13-day tour plan in Sri Lanka: Beach hopping in Mirissa

Sri Lanka beaches will be encountered for the first time on this two-week tour in Sri Lanka. You’ve already seen the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, the upcountry of Sri Lanka, and the wildlife of Sri Lanka, and now you’re on your way to the magnificent beaches of Sri Lanka. You’ll probably arrive at the hotel about midday, and the rest of the day is free for beach hopping and enjoying Sri Lanka’s beaches.

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, depart for Mirissa. The two-hour ride takes you down Sri Lanka’s southern coastal belt, ending at Mirissa, just south of Galle. In comparison to other beaches like Bentota and Hikkaduwa, Mirissa Beach is relatively unpopular for beach vacations. The serene, tranquil, snow-white, broad beaches, on the other hand, contain all the components for a fantastic beach vacation. Mirissa’s torque water is ideal for saltwater swimming.

Day 10 of a Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days: In the morning, go whale watching, then in the afternoon, go to Galle Fort.

The following four days are yours to spend at leisure on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. However, if you do not arrange any fascinating activities over these four days, your beach vacation on your Sri Lanka 13-day itinerary would get tedious. As a result, this 13-day Sri Lanka itinerary includes the two most popular activities in the Mirissa area: a visit to Galle Fort and a whale-watching excursion.

The day begins with the sunrise on day 10, and you travel to the neighbouring Mirissa harbour to catch the whale-watching boat with other visitors. Blue whales, sperm whales, and dolphins may all be seen on Mirissa’s whale-watching cruise. Mirissa is regarded as one of the greatest spots in the world to see whales all year.

The whale-watching excursion lasts 2-4 hours. However, due to deteriorating weather conditions at sea, the whale viewing tour may be cancelled without prior warning in some cases. The course guards regulate marine movements and have the authority to do so in order to avoid disaster.

Galle Fort Tour on Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days

After the whale-watching excursion, continue to the west coast of Sri Lanka through Galle. Another prominent tourist destination on the southern coast, Galle Fort, is a UNESCO world heritage site that draws a great number of visitors.

Galle Fort, which originates from the 15th century, is one of Asia’s best-preserved colonial structures. A trip to southern Sri Lanka would be completed without a stop at the Fort, so we arranged a stop there on our way to the beach resort in Bentota.

Day 11+12of Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days: Sri Lanka 13-day itinerary, beach resort leisure

The final three days of your Sri Lanka travel schedule are set aside for relaxation and leisure before returning home. We know from past experience that most visitors to the island seek peace and quiet on the beach, so we’ve reserved three days for you to relax. If you feel you need extra time to rest, we are happy to customize the trip to meet your needs. If you want to extend the number of days designated for your beach vacation by adding a few more days to the program, we may assist you in making a reservation at a beach hotel for your extension.

Sri Lanka itinerary day 13: Depart for Colombo International Airport for onward trip.

End of Sri Lanka 13 days itinerary

Inquiries about the Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days

If you have any questions about the Sri Lanka 13-day vacation or would want to book this or any tour package in Sri Lanka, please contact us at admin@seerendipitytours.com.

Why should you purchase a 13-day vacation in Sri Lanka with Seerendipity Tours?

Seerendipity Tour is a 100% locally owned Tour Company based in Colombo. Seerendipity Tours’ highly experienced local personnel is a crucial strength, and they can arrange your fantasy Sri Lanka vacation.

The best price for a Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days

When you book a tour with us, you are directly booking the trip with the local firm, eliminating the need for a middleman and ensuring the best pricing. Simply contact us and tell us when you want to visit and what you want to see.

Plan your Sri Lanka itinerary 13 days with experts

Our staff creates a customized program for you that you may modify until you discover the optimal package for you. You may also go through our current trip packages for ideas; all of our ready-made tour packages are customisable and can be adjusted to match all of your needs. Send us an email at admin@seerendipitytours.com, or call us at 0094-77-440977 or WhatsApp at 0094-77-4440977.

About The Author

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

administrator

The focus of this site is Sri Lankan travel. We at Serendipity Tours (Private) Limited, attempting to impart our valuable experience as travellers who have explored most parts of the country over the last decade. We are helping our valuable readers plan their memorable Sri Lanka trip with our travel expertise and experiences. In case you require any additional information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at admin@seerendipitytours.com. In addition, we can plan your vacation package or any other Sri Lankan travel-related needs.

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