Unreal wildlife, scenic train rides, ancient culture, mountains, tropical beaches and the best tea in the world, Sri Lanka has it all!
If you are traveling to Sri Lanka, be prepared to be blown away by not only the beauty of this country and its stunning landscapes but also the charm and hospitality of the locals.
Whether you are a single traveller, a couple or you are traveling with your family, Sri Lanka is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for an entertaining but relaxing holiday experience.
Between two to three weeks is the ideal time to spend exploring the country, as there are so many beautiful sights to discover.
This 2-week itinerary through Sri Lanka is a day-by-day route that documents our personal experience. Please note that some days contain links to larger blogs about each specific location.
Day 1: COLOMBO
At whatever time you arrive in Colombo we recommend you to take that first day off to relax and get ready for the exciting journey ahead.
Though Colombo might not be the most popular place to spend your days in Sri Lanka, it is indeed a necessary stop before you start to explore the rest of this stunning country.
In our opinion, you don’t need to spend a lot more than two days in the capital as there aren’t a lot of things to do, compared to the rest of the country.
click HERE to see accommodation details
Day 2-3: SIGIRIYA
One of the most popular things to do here is to visit SIGIRIYA'S LION ROCK. You will have two options to experience this UNESCO World Heritage Site: climb the actual Lion Rock, which will cost you $30 USD per person, or climb Pidurangala Rock, which will only cost you a few cents and will offer insane views of Sigiriya Rock. We opted for the second option.
click HERE to see all Uga Escapes accommodation details
Day 4-5: TRINCOMALEE
Trincomalee is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. Probably not the most touristy destination, but that’s why we loved it so much!
Even though most of the southern beaches are the popular ones, it is fair to say that Trincomalee’s beaches are way more beautiful and quiet. You would never expect to experience white sand beaches in this part of the country.
For us, this was the holiday within the holiday.
Some of the popular things to do here are: whale watching and snorkelling at Pigeon Island
Day 5-6: KANDY
Kandy is the second biggest city in Sri Lanka. It's set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and bio diverse rainforest.
The activities we’ve enjoyed the most here were tea plucking with the locals and visiting "The Elephant Freedom Project", a shelter for former captive elephants.
This is one of only places where there is no elephant riding – ever, just accompanying on walks. This family run project is far from being a mass tourist attraction and don't like elephant tricks. They aim to give elephants a good and safe home.
You can find them in Kegalle, between Kandy and Colombo and only 2 hours away from the airport.
If you wish to learn more about them CLICK HERE
Other places to visit in Kandy:
The Botanical Gardens
The Temple of Tooth
Kandy Lake
click HERE to see accommodation details
Day 7-8: ELLA
This cute little town has to be one of the most chilled places in the country, offering epic sceneries and stunning hikes, ie: ELLA ROCK and LITTLE ADAM'S PEAK For this reason it is has become one of the major tourist hotspots in Sri Lanka.
One of the most unique attractions is the NINE ARCHES BRIDGE in between Ella station and Demodara station. A MUST SEE!
