Tour Overview
Few visitors reach the north, which makes it all the more rewarding. Discover Tamil culture, colourful Hindu kovils, Dutch forts, palmyra landscapes and island shrines – and taste the famous Jaffna crab curry.
Where you spend the nights
| Area / base | Nights |
|---|---|
| Anuradhapura | 1 |
| Jaffna | 3 |
| Trincomalee | 1 |
| Total nights | 5 |
Trip at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Tour type | Cultural & Heritage |
| Group size | Private tour: 1–15 guests |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Best season | February – September |
| Approx. road distance | ~1,050 km |
| Guide languages | English, German and Hindi (others on request) |
| Departure dates | Any date – private tour, all year |
Highlights
- Anuradhapura sacred city
- Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
- Jaffna Fort & Public Library
- Island hopping to Nainativu
- Point Pedro – northern tip
- Trincomalee & Koneswaram
Itinerary
Every tour is 100% flexible and customizable. This itinerary is a starting point – we can change the order of the days, add or remove nights, swap activities or extend the tour to match your exact dates, pace and interests.
Hotels and accommodation are not included in the standard tour price. You are free to book your own stays, or let us organise a complete accommodation package for you in your preferred hotel tier (guesthouse, 3★, 4★, 5★ or boutique/villa). We work with hotels across the island and can quote your whole trip as one package.
Please contact us before you place a booking so that we can finalise your customised itinerary and your accommodation plan, confirm availability for your dates and send you a final price.
Family, senior and accessibility friendly. We can arrange an elder-friendly set-up (slower pace, shorter drives, ground-floor rooms, lift-access hotels, wheelchair-friendly vehicles and skip-the-climb alternatives such as the Sigiriya museum and gardens or the Pidurangala base viewpoint) and a child-friendly set-up (child and booster seats, family or connecting rooms, hotels with pools, shorter driving days and kid-friendly meals).
Guides and languages. Our chauffeur-guides work in English, German and Hindi, and we can arrange French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese speaking guides on request.
Meals. The meals shown in the itinerary are what we include when we arrange your accommodation on half board. If you book your own hotels, your meals follow your own hotel booking – tell us which you prefer.
Start dates. This tour is private and runs on any date you choose within its season, subject to availability. It operates in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September – outside those months the conditions make it either impossible or much less rewarding, and we will say so and suggest an alternative rather than take the booking. Tell us your arrival and departure dates and we will build the itinerary around your flights.
Contact us before booking: [info@lankaitinerary.com] · WhatsApp [+94 XX XXX XXXX]
Drive to Anuradhapura (4 hours). Evening visit to the Sri Maha Bodhi.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Anuradhapura · Travel: 4 hrs · Distance: ~170 km
Head north across the A9 highway through Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. Arrive in Jaffna, capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil north. Visit the huge golden Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil for the evening puja (men remove shirts before entering) and taste Jaffna crab curry for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Jaffna · Travel: 4.5 hrs · Distance: ~250 km
Explore Jaffna Fort, the reconstructed Jaffna Public Library, the colourful markets and the Keerimalai spring. Drive to Point Pedro, the northernmost tip of the island, and visit the Casuarina beach.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Jaffna · Travel: Local · Distance: ~65 km
Drive across causeways to the islands and take a ferry to Nainativu (Nagadeepa), a sacred island for both Buddhists and Hindus with the Nagadeepa Vihara and the Nagapooshani Amman Kovil.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Jaffna · Travel: Ferry + drive · Distance: ~75 km
Drive along the coast to Trincomalee via Mullaitivu. Visit Koneswaram Temple at sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Trincomalee · Travel: 4 hrs · Distance: ~240 km
Morning on Nilaveli beach, then drive back to the airport (about 5.5 hours).
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: — · Travel: 5.5 hrs · Distance: ~250 km
Includes / Excludes
Price Includes
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed English-speaking chauffeur-guide (SLTDA)
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (daily breakfast and dinner as standard)
- Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Ferry to Nainativu
- Local SIM card with data for the lead traveller
- Bottled water in the vehicle daily
- All government taxes and service charges
- 24/7 support while you travel
Price Excludes
- Accommodation (not included in the standard price – we can book any hotel tier for you; see 'Accommodation options')
- International flights
- Sri Lanka ETA (visa) – free for 40 nationalities since 25 May 2026; fee applies to others
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Lunches and drinks unless listed
- Camera/video permits at some sites
- Tips for guide, driver and safari trackers (suggested USD 10–15/day for your chauffeur-guide)
- Optional activities (e.g. hot-air balloon, zip-line, extra safaris)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone, shopping)
- Early check-in / late check-out
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The north has been peaceful since 2009 and welcomes tourists. It is less developed, so hotels are simpler than in the south.
Yes. The tour is private for your group with your own vehicle and chauffeur-guide – you won't share with strangers.
Of course. You can add or remove days, change hotels, upgrade to boutique or luxury properties or swap activities. We'll send a revised quote within 24 hours.
The price is per person based on two adults sharing a room in the hotel category shown. Prices vary by season, hotel choice and group size – request a quote for your exact dates.
Send an enquiry or click Book Now. We confirm availability, then you secure the tour with a deposit; the balance is paid before arrival. [Insert your real deposit and payment terms.]