Quick answer
The reverse 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary drives from the airport to Mirissa on day 1, roughly three to three and a half hours via the Southern Expressway with a stop at Galle Fort, and spends two nights there. It then goes to Yala for one night, Ella for two, takes the train from Ella to Kandy for one night, and ends with three nights at Sigiriya for the rock, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and the elephants. Day 10 is a roughly four-to-five-hour drive from Sigiriya to the airport.
Key takeaways
- The airport to Mirissa drive takes roughly three to three and a half hours via the Southern Expressway, an hour or more shorter than the drive to Sigiriya.
- Night counts stay the same as the standard route, in reverse: Mirissa two, Tissamaharama one, Ella two, Kandy one, Sigiriya three.
- From Ella to Kandy, the left-hand side of the train generally has the better views.
- The last day becomes a roughly four-to-five-hour drive from Sigiriya to the airport, so an evening flight is important.
- The reverse route ends in the heat and early starts of the Cultural Triangle rather than on a beach.
The reverse 10-day route, day by day
The reverse 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary visits the same places for the same number of nights as the standard route, just anticlockwise. It remains a one-way loop with no backtracking.
The biggest differences are on the first and last days: a shorter, easier arrival drive, and a longer drive to the airport at the end.
- →Day 1: airport to Mirissa via Galle Fort, roughly three to three and a half hours of driving.
- →Day 2: whale watching or a beach day.
- →Day 3: Mirissa to Tissamaharama, roughly two and a half to three hours; afternoon Yala safari.
- →Day 4: optional dawn safari, then up to Ella, roughly two to two and a half hours.
- →Day 5: Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak at dawn; Ella Rock or a tea factory.
- →Day 6: the train from Ella to Kandy; evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
- →Day 7: Kandy to Sigiriya, roughly two and a half to three hours; Dambulla on the way.
- →Day 8: Sigiriya Rock at opening; Pidurangala or rest.
- →Day 9: Polonnaruwa and the elephant safari.
- →Day 10: Sigiriya to the airport, roughly four to five hours.
Why some travellers run the 10-day route in reverse
The main reason to reverse the 10-day route is the arrival. After a long-haul flight, a three-hour expressway drive to a beach hotel is far gentler than a four-to-five-hour drive through busy towns to Sigiriya, and two nights on the coast allow a proper recovery before the early starts inland.
Travelling from the northern-hemisphere winter, some people also prefer to acclimatise to the heat by the sea before climbing Sigiriya. And the train from Ella to Kandy is often slightly easier to book than the more popular Kandy to Ella direction.
- →A shorter, easier first day after the flight.
- →Time to recover and adjust to the heat on the beach.
- →Ella to Kandy train seats are sometimes easier to find.
The one day that gets harder
The price of the reverse route is day 10. Instead of an easy morning at Galle Fort and a two-and-a-half-to-three-hour expressway drive, the trip ends with a roughly four-to-five-hour drive from Sigiriya to Bandaranaike International Airport. With an evening flight that is manageable; with a midday flight it is not.
The trip also ends with early starts and dry-zone heat rather than a slow beach day. Some travellers like finishing on the drama of Sigiriya; others miss having the easy days at the end, when energy is lowest.
- →Evening flight: the reverse route works well.
- →Midday flight or earlier: spend night 9 in Negombo instead of Sigiriya.
- →If you want to end rested, stay with the standard direction.
The train from Ella to Kandy
In the reverse direction, the hill-country train runs from Ella to Kandy on day 6, climbing to the highest point of the line near Pattipola before descending through tea country. The journey takes roughly six to seven hours, and the shorter option is to ride from Ella to Nanu Oya and drive on to Kandy.
Travelling towards Kandy, the left-hand side of the train generally has the better valley views in the scenic section. As in the other direction, do not lean out of the doors; falls and collisions with trackside vegetation cause serious injuries.
Who the reverse route suits
The reverse 10-day route suits travellers arriving tired, families whose children need a gentle start, and anyone whose flight lands in the afternoon, since the shorter drive to the coast is easier to finish in daylight.
It suits less well anyone with a midday departure, and travellers who know they will be tired by the end of the trip. Honeymooners are split: some love starting with the beach, others want to finish on it.
Planning the reverse route
Book the Ella to Kandy train for day 6 as soon as reservations open, and choose flights with an evening departure. A late afternoon landing can still reach Mirissa by early evening via the expressway, which is another advantage of this direction.
Lankan Stays & Trails runs the loop in either direction and times the final drive around the flight. Our Coastal Adventures and Iconic Landscapes tour starts near the coast and shows a similar mix of beach, hills and culture in seven days.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to start a Sri Lanka trip on the beach?
It suits travellers who arrive exhausted, since the drive to the south coast is shorter and a couple of beach days help recovery. The standard direction, starting in the Cultural Triangle, suits those who want to end the trip rested. Both use the same stops and nights.
How long is the drive from the airport to Mirissa?
Roughly three to three and a half hours via the Southern Expressway, depending on traffic around Colombo. A stop at Galle Fort on the way adds a couple of hours but makes a good first afternoon if you land in the morning.
Which side of the train is best from Ella to Kandy?
The left-hand side generally has the better valley views travelling from Ella towards Kandy, the mirror of the Kandy to Ella direction. Both sides see plenty of tea country. Second-class seats with opening windows are good for photographs.
How long is the drive from Sigiriya to the airport?
Roughly four to five hours by car, via Dambulla and Kurunegala. Traffic near Negombo can add time. Aim to arrive around three hours before an international departure, which means leaving Sigiriya by late morning for an evening flight.
Is the Ella to Kandy train easier to book?
Sometimes. The Kandy to Ella direction is more popular with visitors, so Ella to Kandy seats can be slightly easier to find, but both sell out in the busy season. Book as soon as reservations open, and keep the Nanu Oya option as a fallback.
Can I end my Sri Lanka trip in Sigiriya?
Yes, with an evening or late-night flight. The four-to-five-hour drive to the airport is the drawback. With a midday or earlier flight, spend the last night in Negombo instead, roughly 20 minutes from the airport.