8-Day East Coast Tour: Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Polonnaruwa
- 4.8 on Tripadvisor, 332 reviewsTrustpilot: 4.5 of 5, 14 reviews
- Registered company, Reg No PV 00229100
- Operating since 2006 (a family business since 1980)
- Local team: +94 71 524 8524
8 Days 7 Nights
Private Tour
Private group
English
A short trip for people who want the east coast. You drive across from Negombo to Trincomalee for two nights, with a day for the Swami Rock temple, the old fort and the beach, then move down the coast to Pasikudah for two more. One day there is set aside for beach activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling. On the way back west you stop at the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and sleep in Habarana before a last night in Colombo.
We do not promise surfing at Pasikudah, because people go there for its flat, sheltered water. Instead we can arrange paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling, which you pay for locally. You pay for the hotels and a car of your own with an English-speaking chauffeur; entrance tickets and water activities are separate.
Good to know
- Your hotels and meal plan are confirmed when you book.
- Entrance tickets and equipment hire are confirmed in your final quotation. Paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkelling at Pasikudah are paid locally.
- Pasikudah is a calm bay, so we do not promise surfing there.
- The order of visits may change because of driving times, opening hours, weather or local conditions.
- Temple visits need clothes that cover your shoulders and knees.
- Free time on the last day depends on your flight time.
Highlights
- Two nights in Trincomalee, with Thirukoneswaram temple and Fort Frederick
- Two nights on the shallow bay at Pasikudah
- A beach day with paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling (paid locally)
- Polonnaruwa's Gal Vihara and royal palace ruins
- Private car and chauffeur from arrival to departure
Day 1: Airport pickup and Negombo
Your trip starts at Bandaranaike International Airport, where a Lanka Tour Host representative greets you outside and introduces your chauffeur. It is only a short drive to your Negombo hotel. Fishing has shaped this place for generations, and it has a lagoon and a long sandy shoreline. Relax for the rest of the day; how much free time you get depends on your arrival. Tomorrow you cross the island to the east coast.
Overnight: Negombo
Day 2: Negombo to Trincomalee
After breakfast, drive across the island to Trincomalee on the east coast, with comfort stops on the way, and check in to your hotel. Trincomalee is known for its deep natural harbour, its religious landmarks and the beaches close to town. Today, though, is for resting after the journey. Spend what is left of the afternoon or evening by the sea, and save the sightseeing for tomorrow.
Overnight: Trincomalee
Day 3: Trincomalee sights and beach time
After breakfast, see the main sights of Trincomalee. Thirukoneswaram is a Hindu shrine on Swami Rock with views across the Indian Ocean, and the road up to it runs through Fort Frederick, part of the town's colonial heritage. If time allows, walk through the streets and market area in town. Then go back to the hotel beach for the rest of the day. Any water activities can be discussed with the local operator and depend on conditions and availability.
Overnight: Trincomalee
Day 4: Down the coast to Pasikudah
After breakfast, follow the east coast south to Pasikudah, where your next hotel is. The bay is wide and sandy with shallow water, and the resorts along it are quiet. Spend the rest of the day on a beach walk or just looking at the sea. Tomorrow is a beach day, so you can arrange paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling.
Overnight: Pasikudah
Day 5: Beach day with paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling
Today is for the beach. Pasikudah is a calm bay with shallow water, so we do not promise surfing here. Instead we can arrange paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling for you, which you pay for locally. Spend the rest of the day at the hotel.
Overnight: Pasikudah
Day 6: Polonnaruwa on the way to Habarana
After breakfast, leave Pasikudah and drive inland to Polonnaruwa. The city was the island's capital in the Middle Ages, and its ruins spread over a wide area. Start at the Royal Palace, then move on to the Sacred Quadrangle, where the circular Vatadage stands among other religious monuments. Gal Vihara has the best-known carvings: Buddha figures cut into a single granite outcrop. Your last stop is the bank of Parakrama Samudra, the large reservoir built to support the city. Then continue to Habarana and check in.
Overnight: Habarana
Day 7: Habarana to Colombo
After breakfast, drive to Colombo past villages, paddy fields and changing countryside, stopping when you need a break. Colombo is Sri Lanka's commercial capital, a mix of old buildings, busy shopping streets and new towers along the ocean. Check in and spend the rest of the day as you like. If you get in early enough, take a short drive around town or go to Galle Face Green to watch the sea.
Overnight: Colombo
Day 8: Check out and fly home
After breakfast, check out according to your flight time. Use any spare hours as you wish; packing the night before makes the morning easy. Your chauffeur then drives you out to the airport at Katunayake at a time set by your confirmed flight. If you fly late in the day, ask the hotel if your bags can stay there until you leave. This is where your eight days on the east coast with Lanka Tour Host end.
- Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking chauffeur
- 7 nights in the hotels you choose, Budget 2 to 3 star or Comfort 4 star to luxury, with breakfast
- Airport pickup on arrival and drop-off for your flight home
- 2 bottles of drinking water per person per day
- Your chauffeur's accommodation and meals
- Parking and toll charges
- Water activities at Pasikudah (paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling) and equipment hire, paid locally
- Entrance tickets
- Lunch and Dinner
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tips and donations
How much does the 8-Day East Coast Tour cost?
$699 per adult, for 2 or more people. Included: Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking chauffeur; 7 nights in the hotels you choose, Budget 2 to 3 star or Comfort 4 star to luxury, with breakfast; Airport pickup on arrival and drop-off for your flight home; 2 bottles of drinking water per person per day; Your chauffeur's accommodation and meals; Parking and toll charges. Not included: Water activities at Pasikudah (paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling) and equipment hire, paid locally; Entrance tickets; Lunch and Dinner; International flights; Personal expenses; Tips and donations.
Can I surf at Pasikudah on this tour?
No. Pasikudah is a calm bay with shallow water, so we do not promise surfing there. Day 5 is a beach day: we can arrange paddle boarding, kayaking or snorkelling, which you pay for locally.
What is there to see in Trincomalee?
Thirukoneswaram, a Hindu shrine on Swami Rock above the Indian Ocean, and Fort Frederick, the old fort area you pass on the way up. There is also time for the town's streets and market, and two afternoons on the beach.
Is there any sightseeing apart from the beaches?
Yes. Besides Trincomalee's temple and fort, day 6 takes you through Polonnaruwa, the medieval royal city, with its palace ruins, the Vatadage and the rock-cut Buddhas at Gal Vihara.
When is the best time for this east coast trip?
Roughly May to September, which is the season on this side of the island. Even then the sea changes from day to day, so the boat trips and water activities depend on conditions.
Why do we stay in Habarana on day 6?
Habarana is close to Polonnaruwa, so after the ruins you only drive a short way to your hotel, and the next day's drive to Colombo starts from the middle of the island instead of the far side of the east coast.
Why book with us?
Price per Person
Solo travelers are welcome
Safe Travel
Safe & Professional Chauffeur Service in Sri Lanka
4.8 on Tripadvisor
From 332 reviews
Secure Payment
40% deposit, the rest before or on arrival. Online card payment coming soon
Family Business Since 1980
Running private tours in Sri Lanka since 2006
