The 2-week Sri Lanka itinerary I'd actually recommend

Colombo → Kandy → Ella → Yala → the south coast. The route I'd send my best friend on.

After eight months here, this is the loop I keep sending to friends who ask. It balances hill country, safari, and beach without any of the pointless back-tracking most guides make you do.\n\n**Days 1-2 · Colombo** — Ease in. Eat at Ministry of Crab if you can get a table.\n**Days 3-5 · Kandy & the tea country** — Take the Kandy-to-Ella train in daylight. Sit on the right-hand side.\n**Days 6-8 · Ella & Yala** — Little Adam's Peak at sunrise, then south to Yala for a morning safari.\n**Days 9-14 · The south coast** — Weligama for surf, Mirissa for whales, Galle for one very long dinner.