Quick answer
Following a whole Australian tour of Sri Lanka usually means four to seven weeks, split into legs: white-ball games in Colombo at the R Premadasa Stadium and at Pallekele near Kandy, sometimes Dambulla or Hambantota, and Tests in Galle and occasionally Colombo or Pallekele. The 2022 tour, for example, ran from early June to mid-July. Plan a base for each leg, a driver for the moves between them, and at least one rest week off the cricket.
Key takeaways
- Full Australian tours of Sri Lanka have lasted roughly four to seven weeks, with T20s, ODIs and Tests.
- The 2022 tour ran from early June to mid-July, with T20s and ODIs in Colombo and Pallekele and two Tests in Galle.
- Colombo to Kandy takes about three to four hours, and Colombo to Galle about two hours.
- White-ball legs usually have games every two or three days; Test legs have gaps of three or four days.
- Most fans who follow a whole tour take at least one block of days away from the cricket.
How a whole tour fits together
A whole Australian tour of Sri Lanka is usually several mini-series in a row. Recent tours have started with T20 internationals and ODIs, often split between Colombo and Pallekele, and ended with two or three Tests, mostly at Galle, sometimes with one in Colombo or at Pallekele. Some tours have used Dambulla or Hambantota for white-ball games.
The 2022 tour, for example, ran from early June to mid-July: three T20s and five ODIs in Colombo and Pallekele, then two Tests in Galle. The 2016 tour was longer, with three Tests first and the white-ball games after. Every tour is different, so the plan starts with the schedule.
Confirm venues and dates with Sri Lanka Cricket and Cricket Australia before booking anything.
- →White-ball legs: Colombo, Pallekele, sometimes Dambulla or Hambantota.
- →Test legs: mostly Galle, sometimes Colombo or Pallekele.
- →Length: roughly four to seven weeks.
The white-ball legs
White-ball legs move quickly, with games every two or three days and day-night starts at about 2.30 pm or later. In Colombo, base yourself in Colombo Fort or along the Galle Road; at Pallekele, in Kandy, about 30 to 40 minutes from the ground.
The move between Colombo and Kandy takes about three to four hours by road, or about 2.5 to 3 hours by train. Use free days for Kandy's Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya, and in Colombo for Pettah, Gangaramaya and Mount Lavinia.
If a leg uses Dambulla or Hambantota, stay in Sigiriya or Tissamaharama and use the mornings for Sigiriya or a Yala safari.
- →Colombo base: Fort or Galle Road.
- →Pallekele base: Kandy.
- →Dambulla base: Sigiriya; Hambantota base: Tissamaharama.
The Test legs
Test legs move slowly, with five-day matches and three or four days between them. In Galle, stay in the fort or on the beach at Unawatuna or Ahangama, and use the gaps for Mirissa's whales in an early-year series, Yala, or the coast.
A Colombo Test means a city stay near the Sinhalese Sports Club or the P Sara Oval, with the National Museum and Galle Face Green close by. A Pallekele Test means a return to Kandy, with the hills close.
- →Galle: fort or beach, gaps for whales or Yala.
- →Colombo: city stay, museums and seafront.
- →Pallekele: Kandy and the hills.
Taking a week off the cricket
Following every ball of a seven-week tour is exhausting. Most fans who follow a whole tour skip at least a few days, often between the white-ball and Test legs. That is the time for the hill country, by train from Kandy to Ella, or for the Cultural Triangle, with Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa.
In a mid-year tour, a few days on the east coast, at Trincomalee, Nilaveli or Pasikudah, is a dry, calm break while the southwest is in its monsoon. In an early-year tour, the south coast is at its best and can be enjoyed between Tests.
Lankan Stays & Trails plans whole-tour trips leg by leg, with a single driver for the moves, hotels near each ground and a rest week built in.
- →Hill country: Kandy to Ella by train.
- →Cultural Triangle: Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa.
- →East coast: mid-year beach break.
Moving between legs
The moves between legs are the biggest logistical challenge. A private driver for the whole tour, or for each move, keeps it simple, with door-to-door transfers, stops on the way and no luggage to carry. Trains are scenic but need booking and station transfers.
Plan each move for the morning after a game, not straight after a night match, and arrive at least the evening before the next game.
- →A driver for the whole tour, or for each move.
- →Move the morning after a game.
- →Arrive the evening before the next.
Practicalities for a long tour
A long tour needs a little more planning than a short trip. Laundry is cheap and easy in most hotels, so pack light. Keep a stock of sunscreen, rehydration salts and basic medicines, and take a day off when the heat catches up with you.
Check that your ETA and travel insurance cover the full length of the stay, and that your phone plan or local SIM will last.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an Australian tour of Sri Lanka?
Full Australian tours of Sri Lanka, with T20s, ODIs and Tests, have lasted roughly four to seven weeks. The 2022 tour ran from early June to mid-July. Shorter tours, such as the 2025 trip with two Tests and two ODIs, last about two to three weeks.
Where does Australia play on a tour of Sri Lanka?
Recent Australian tours have played white-ball games at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and at Pallekele near Kandy, sometimes at Dambulla or Hambantota, and Tests mostly at Galle, sometimes at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo or Pallekele. Venues change each tour.
Can you follow every match of a tour?
You can, but it means four to seven weeks of travel and cricket in the heat. Most fans follow one format, or follow the whole tour but skip a few days between legs for the hill country, the Cultural Triangle or a beach. Plan each move with a driver.
How do you get between cricket venues in Sri Lanka?
A private driver is the easiest way between venues, with door-to-door transfers and stops on the way. Colombo to Kandy takes about three to four hours, Colombo to Galle about two hours, and Kandy to Dambulla about two to two and a half hours.
What should you see on a long cricket tour?
On a long tour, see Galle Fort, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle, the hill country by train, a Yala or Udawalawe safari, and, depending on the season, Mirissa's whales or the east coast beaches.
Does Lankan Stays & Trails plan whole-tour trips?
Yes. Whole-tour trips are planned leg by leg, with hotels near each ground, a driver for the moves between venues, sightseeing on free days and a rest week away from the cricket. Match tickets are bought separately through official channels.
What is the best way to rest on a long cricket tour?
Take at least a few days off between the white-ball and Test legs, ideally in the hill country, the Cultural Triangle or on a beach. Book a pool hotel for at least one leg, keep mornings slow on match days and drink plenty of water.