Who this outline is for
Ten days is a sensible first visit: Cultural Triangle, Kandy and tea country, a wildlife park, then the south coast. LankaLux runs this as the Signature Sri Lanka Journey, always adjustable.
A calm ten-day shape
Arrive and sleep near Colombo. Move inland to Sigiriya and the ancient cities. Continue to Kandy, then into tea country toward Nuwara Eliya and Ella, often with a stretch by train. Descend to Yala for a safari, then the coast around Galle and Mirissa before you fly.
That is a sketch, not a prison timetable. A private chauffeur-guide makes the joins between regions human instead of heroic.
If you have fewer or more days
With a week, drop a region rather than rushing all of them. With two weeks, add a second park or more idle beach time. How many days do you need? is the fuller version of that advice.
See the day-by-day
The public Signature page has the detailed daily notes. Use it as inspiration; your dates, hotels and pace will still be written for you as a tailor-made tour.
Safari jeeps and park tickets are arranged separately unless stated. A current offer includes a free jeep (not tickets) at one selected park until the end of October.