Ten days in Sri Lanka in 2026, without the Kandy train

Ten days in Sri Lanka in 2026: Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, Kandy, then by road to Nanu Oya and the hill train to Ella, a Yala safari, and the south coast. No train runs from Kandy to Ella (as checked 3 October 2026), but Nanu Oya to Ella does. Expect about 14.5 to 21 hours on the road.

This is a shorter version of our two-week itinerary, which has more detail on each stop. Here the focus is what fits in ten days, and what to cut.

Can you still take the train to Ella in 2026?

Yes, part of the way. As checked on 3 October 2026, no train runs from Kandy to Ella. Cyclone Ditwah damaged the hill-country line in late November 2025. Since 20 June 2026, trains have run again between Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla, through Ella. So you can still ride the best-known part of the line: go from Kandy to Nanu Oya by road, then take the train from Nanu Oya to Ella. Check railway.gov.lk before you travel.

The airport-to-Kandy leg is by road too. As of early October 2026, trains from Colombo do not reach Kandy station. Services to Peradeniya and Gampola were due to restart on 2 October 2026; the first train that morning was a trial run without passengers. Sri Lanka Railways expects Colombo to Kandy services to return in January 2027.

The ten days at a glance

1. Day 1: airport to Sigiriya, about 140 km, about 3 to 4.5 hours.
2. Day 2: Sigiriya: climb early. See Is Sigiriya worth climbing?
3. Day 3: Polonnaruwa as a day trip, about 55 to 65 km, about 1.5 to 2 hours each way. See the Polonnaruwa guide.
4. Day 4: Sigiriya to Kandy, about 90 km, 2 to 3 hours, with the Dambulla cave temple on the way.
5. Day 5: Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth.
6. Day 6: Kandy to Nanu Oya by road, about 80 km, 2 to 3 hours. Night near Nuwara Eliya.
7. Day 7: the train from Nanu Oya to Ella, about 2.5 hours. Ella in the afternoon.
8. Day 8: Ella to Tissamaharama, about 90 km, 2 to 3 hours. Afternoon safari in Yala.
9. Day 9: Tissamaharama to Mirissa, about 120 km, 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
10. Day 10: Galle, then the airport: Galle to the airport is about 150 km, 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

All road times are estimates, checked October 2026.

How does the Kandy-to-Ella part work?

From Kandy to Nanu Oya station is about 80 km by road, on a slow hill road. Allow about 2 to 3 hours (estimate, checked October 2026). To catch the 9:00 train, that means leaving Kandy very early, or spending the night before in Nuwara Eliya. Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is only about 70 km, but it takes about 1.75 to 2.5 hours by road.

As of October 2026, trains leave Nanu Oya for Ella at 9:00 every day, at 14:30 every day except Wednesday, and at 13:00 on Wednesdays only (the Ella Odyssey). The ride takes about two and a half hours. First- and second-class seats can be booked online at seatreservation.railway.gov.lk. Trains are often late, and the timetable will change when the rest of the line reopens, so check on the day.

If you have a driver, they can take the car and your bags on by road while you ride the train, and meet you at Ella station. Agree this in advance. This is a suggestion, not a rule.

If you skip the train, Kandy to Ella by road is about 130 km on mountain roads. Allow about 3.5 to 4.5 hours. See Kandy to Ella without the train.

What should you cut in ten days?

Ten days is tight for the full loop, so something has to give. Two common choices: skip Yala, which saves the Tissamaharama night and an early safari start; or see Galle as a day trip from Mirissa, about 45 minutes to 1.25 hours away, instead of moving hotel. Udawalawe, between the hills and the south coast, is an alternative if you want elephants rather than leopards. This is our advice, not a rule.

If you fly out from the south coast, Mirissa to the airport is about 180 km by the Southern Expressway; allow about 3 to 4 hours.

What can you do in Ella in one day?

Ella has three well-known walks. Ella Rock is the longest and hardest: Rough Guides puts it at around four hours in total, with steep sections near the top, so carry water and good shoes. Little Adam's Peak is a shorter walk through tea gardens to a summit at 1,141 metres. The Nine Arch Bridge is about 2.8 kilometres from Ella station along the railway; the popular walk follows the track itself, so check the train times first and step well clear when a train comes. See Ella in 2026.

How much time will you spend on the road?

On this route you spend about 14.5 to 21 hours on the road in ten days, plus about two and a half hours on the train (estimate, checked October 2026). That is why the plan keeps the long drives to single days, and why a driver helps; see hiring a driver in Sri Lanka. For the prices, see what a trip to Sri Lanka costs.

When does this route work best?

This route suits the main season, roughly December to April; the south coast is driest from about January to March. If you travel between May and September, think about swapping the south coast for the east coast: the Southwest monsoon brings rain to the west coast and the south coast around Galle, while the east coast, including Trincomalee and Arugam Bay, is usually in its dry season. See when to visit Sri Lanka.

Yala's main blocks (1 and 2) often close for several weeks in the dry season around September and October. In 2026 they were closed from 14 September to 15 October because of drought. Check the closure dates before you book a safari. See leopards in Yala.

What most visitors miss

• The famous train still runs, from Nanu Oya. Only the Kandy end is closed.
• The 9:00 train needs an early start from Kandy, or a night near Nuwara Eliya.
• Dambulla is on the way from Sigiriya to Kandy.
• Your driver can meet you at Ella station with your bags.
• Ten days means choosing. Yala or Galle is usually the thing to trim.

Before you book your ten days

• Rail status checked on railway.gov.lk.
• Train seats booked at seatreservation.railway.gov.lk, if you want reserved seats.
• A driver who can meet you at Ella station.
• Yala closure dates checked if you travel in September or October.
• One choice made: Yala, or a slower south coast.

Questions people ask

Is ten days enough for Sri Lanka?

For a first trip, ten days covers the Cultural Triangle, Kandy, the hill train to Ella and the south coast, with about 14.5 to 21 hours on the road. Something usually has to give: often Yala, or a separate night in Galle.

Can I take the train from Kandy to Ella in 2026?

Not all the way. As of 3 October 2026, no train runs from Kandy to Ella. Go from Kandy to Nanu Oya by road, then take the train from Nanu Oya to Ella, about 2.5 hours.

How do I get from the airport to Sigiriya?

By road: about 140 km, about 3 to 4.5 hours. See Colombo airport to Kandy or Sigiriya.

Should I skip Yala on a ten-day trip?

It is one of the two common cuts. Skipping Yala saves the Tissamaharama night and an early safari start; Udawalawe is an alternative if you want elephants rather than leopards.

What is the best month for this route?

Roughly December to April; the south coast is driest from about January to March.

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Coming soon: Sri Lanka Before You Land, our pre-trip ebook, explains the route and the travel times behind every stop. A free guide, Your First Week in Sri Lanka, will cover the first days on the ground.