Sri Lanka - Der Norden
Greeted with a warm “Ayubowan”, you will be welcomed with open arms. Reconstruction is well advanced, and peace has prevailed since 2009. Open your hearts to this kind and hospitable people, and marvel at sweeping green rice fields, water buffalo, deep-blue bays and colourful temples. While Tamils in the north are Hindu, most people in central and southern Sri Lanka are Buddhist. Discover a country with a remarkable history, peaceful religions and an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna.
Top offers matching your selection
Sri Lanka – The North – Standard Hotels
- Accommodation in standard hotels
- Half board (8 breakfasts, 7 dinners)
- All journeys in air-conditioned vehicles
- English-speaking driver-guide
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
Itinerary subject to change and dependent on arrival and departure times in Colombo:
Day 1: Negombo
Meet and greet at the airport, followed by a transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the famous fort complex. In the evening, there is an opportunity to enjoy a drink at sunset. Overnight in Negombo. (no meals)
Day 2: Negombo – Anuradhapura (approx. 170 km, approx. 4.5 hours)
Explore the ruins of the former palaces, monasteries, monuments and more in Anuradhapura. Visit Mihintale, one of the island’s oldest Buddhist sites. Overnight in Anuradhapura. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 3: Anuradhapura – Jaffna (approx. 200 km, approx. 4 hours)
After breakfast, visit Mihintale and climb the rock. Continue to Jaffna. The evening is at leisure. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 4: Jaffna
After breakfast, travel to Kurikadduwan Pier to visit Nagadeepa Temple. Nainativu, or Nagadeepa, is a small but significant island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. After the visit, return to Jaffna. In the late afternoon, visit Jaffna’s Dutch Fort, followed by a stroll around the central market. Overnight in Jaffna. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 5: Jaffna
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Jaffna (approx. 5–6 hours). Jaffna is the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. Overnight in Jaffna. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 6: Jaffna – Trincomalee (approx. 250 km, approx. 6 hours)
Travel to the east coast, stopping en route to visit the open-air war museum at Puthukkudiyriuppu. Arrive in Thiriyai in the early evening. Overnight north of Trincomalee. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 7: Trincomalee – Sigiriya (approx. 95 km, approx. 3 hours)
Explore Trincomalee’s old harbour and the Koneshwaram Temple, set on a hill. Travel to Sigiriya and climb the world-famous Lion Rock. Walk up to the 200 m-high plateau, where the remains of King Kassapa’s 5th-century AD fortress can be found. Overnight north of Sigiriya. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 8: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Minneriya – Sigiriya
Visit the ancient royal city of Polonnaruwa, dating from the 12th century AD. Arrive at Minneriya National Park in the late afternoon. Set off on a game drive along narrow tracks through the park in search of birds, deer and the herds of wild elephants that live here. Overnight in Sigiriya. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 9: Sigiriya – Dambulla (approx. 15 km, approx. 30 minutes)
Visit the Dambulla cave temples, which can be reached by an easy climb to a height of approx. 160 m. Your onward journey will continue according to the connecting arrangements you have booked. (Meals: breakfast)
Booking information
Public holiday surcharges are already included in the displayed price.
Sri Lanka – The North – Superior Hotels
- Accommodation in standard hotels
- Half board (8 breakfasts, 7 dinners)
- All journeys in air-conditioned vehicles
- English-speaking driver-guide
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
Itinerary subject to change and dependent on arrival and departure times in Colombo:
Day 1: Negombo
Meet and greet at the airport, followed by a transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the famous fort complex. In the evening, there is an opportunity to enjoy a drink at sunset. Overnight in Negombo. (no meals)
Day 2: Negombo – Anuradhapura (approx. 170 km, approx. 4.5 hours)
Explore the ruins of the former palaces, monasteries, monuments and more in Anuradhapura. Visit Mihintale, one of the island’s oldest Buddhist sites. Overnight in Anuradhapura. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 3: Anuradhapura – Jaffna (approx. 200 km, approx. 4 hours)
After breakfast, visit Mihintale and climb the rock. Continue to Jaffna. The evening is at leisure. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 4: Jaffna
After breakfast, travel to Kurikadduwan Pier to visit Nagadeepa Temple. Nainativu, or Nagadeepa, is a small but significant island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. After the visit, return to Jaffna. In the late afternoon, visit Jaffna’s Dutch Fort, followed by a stroll around the central market. Overnight in Jaffna. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 5: Jaffna
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Jaffna (approx. 5–6 hours). Jaffna is the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. Overnight in Jaffna. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 6: Jaffna – Trincomalee (approx. 250 km, approx. 6 hours)
Travel to the east coast, stopping en route to visit the open-air war museum at Puthukkudiyriuppu. Arrive in Thiriyai in the early evening. Overnight north of Trincomalee. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 7: Trincomalee – Sigiriya (approx. 95 km, approx. 3 hours)
Explore Trincomalee’s old harbour and the Koneshwaram Temple, set on a hill. Travel to Sigiriya and climb the world-famous Lion Rock. Walk up to the 200 m-high plateau, where the remains of King Kassapa’s 5th-century AD fortress can be found. Overnight north of Sigiriya. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 8: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Minneriya – SigiriyaVisit the ancient royal city of Polonnaruwa, dating from the 12th century AD. Arrive at Minneriya National Park in the late afternoon. Set off on a game drive along narrow tracks through the park in search of birds, deer and the herds of wild elephants that live here. Overnight in Sigiriya. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 9: Sigiriya – Dambulla (approx. 15 km, approx. 30 minutes)
Visit the Dambulla cave temples, which can be reached by an easy climb to a height of approx. 160 m. Your onward journey will continue according to the connecting arrangements you have booked. (Meals: breakfast)
Booking information
Public holiday surcharges are already included in the displayed price.
Sri Lanka - Der Norden in detail
Hotel
Day 1: NEGOMBO
On arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, explore the Dutch garrison town, founded in 1672, and the remains of its famous fort. In the evening, enjoy a drink by the sea as the sun sets. Overnight in Negombo. (No meals)
Day 2: NEGOMBO – ANURADHAPURA
(approx. 170 km, approx. 4.5 hours)
Anuradhapura, the oldest royal city in Ceylon, was the country’s religious and political centre until 1000 AD. See the ruins of its palaces, monasteries and monuments, as well as the dagobas and the famous Bodhi Tree. Afterwards, visit Mihintale on Mount Mahinda, one of the island’s oldest Buddhist sites, with its dagoba dating from the 2nd century AD. This is where Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka. Overnight in Anuradhapura. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 3: ANURADHAPURA – JAFFNA
(approx. 200 km, approx. 4 hours)
After breakfast, visit Mihintale and climb the rock. Mihintale is a historic mountain monastery and is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Its key sights include the Mihintale Stupa, Aradhana Gala and ancient monastic ruins, offering cultural insights and impressive views. Continue to Jaffna. The evening is at leisure. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 4: JAFFNA
After breakfast, travel to Kurikadduwan Pier to visit Nagadeepa Temple. Nainativu, or Nagadeepa, is a small but significant island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. Its name refers to its original inhabitants, the Nayanair or Nāga people. Many locals visit the island for religious purposes, as it is home to ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples. The island can only be reached by local boat. After your visit, return to Jaffna. In the late afternoon, visit Jaffna’s Dutch Fort, then stroll around the city’s central market. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 5: JAFFNA
After breakfast, take a city tour of Jaffna (approx. 5–6 hours). Jaffna is the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province and the administrative centre of Jaffna District. It lies on a peninsula of the same name. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 6: JAFFNA – TRINCOMALEE
(approx. 250 km, approx. 6 hours)
Travel to the east coast. En route, pass the open-air war museum at Puthukkudiyriuppu, where equipment used by Tamil freedom fighters is on display, from small devices to unusual tank and submarine constructions. Arrive in Thiriyai in the early evening. Explore a Buddhist dagoba around 2,000 years old, set on a small hill. Enjoy expansive views across the land and down to the ocean. Overnight north of Trincomalee. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 7: TRINCOMALEE – SIGIRIYA
(approx. 95 km, approx. 3 hours)
Explore the ancient harbour of Trincomalee and the Koneswaram Temple, dedicated to Shiva and set on a hill. Around 2,500 years old, it still draws hundreds of pilgrims each day. Take in sweeping views of the sea and Trincomalee Bay. Then travel to Sigiriya and climb the world-famous Lion Rock. Pass the colourful murals of the beautiful women known as the ‘Cloud Maidens’ on your way up to the 200-metre-high plateau, where the remains of King Kassapa’s 5th-century AD fortress stand. Overnight north of Sigiriya. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 8: SIGIRIYA – POLONNARUWA – MINNERIYA – SIGIRIYA
After breakfast, visit the ancient royal city of Polonnaruwa, dating from the 12th century AD. Explore the archaeological park on foot, with its many remains of residential buildings, palace and garden complexes, well-preserved stupas and temples, and the four Buddha statues carved into the rock at Gal Vihara. Arrive at Minneriya National Park in the late afternoon. Set off on a jeep safari along narrow tracks to spot birds, deer and the herds of elephants roaming freely in the park. Overnight in Sigiriya. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 9: SIGIRIYA – DAMBULLA
(approx. 15 km, approx. 30 minutes)
Today, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, reached by an easy climb to an altitude of around 160 metres. This former retreat of King Walagamba is home to countless Buddhist murals and sculptures. Your onward journey will be arranged according to the connecting services you have booked. (Meals: breakfast)
Programmes are subject to change.
Arrival
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB): approx. 128 km / 154 min
Please note that a fee may apply for collection from a hotel before the tour and for transfer to your onward hotel after the tour.
Additional information
Dogs not permitted.
Travelling with children? We'll be happy to check availability and prices for you – just add their ages at the time of travel in the comments field when you book or enquire.
Hotel rooms at a glance
Depending on your booking, you will stay in standard or superior hotels.
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From 2 People: Double Room
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From 3 People: Double Room
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1 Person: Single Room
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From 2 People: Single Room
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From 3 People: Single Room
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