Embarking on a journey to Sri Lanka is like stepping into a world where ancient history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes converge. From the lush tea plantations of the hill country to the golden shores of its pristine beaches, this island nation in the Indian Ocean promises a tapestry of experiences waiting to be explored. Whether you’re drawn to the UNESCO World Heritage sites that whisper tales of a bygone era or yearn for the spicy aromas of its bustling markets, Sri Lanka offers a captivating blend of adventure and serenity. So, pack your bags and prepare to be enchanted by the wonders that await in this gem of South Asia.
I spent just under two weeks traveling through Sri Lanka and while I could always use more days, I found this to be enough to see the highlights of the country.
Where to go in Sri Lanka for your itinerary
Sri Lanka might look small, but it packs quite a punch. There’s a world to explore and you won’t be able to see it all in two weeks and less. I was certainly not able to see as much as I would have liked but I felt like I could see the highlights.
These are some of the places I went on my itinerary
- Colombo
- Kandy
- Sigiriya Rock
- Ella
- Tea plantations around Ella
- The passenger train between Kandy and Ella
- Hiriketiya Beach
- Ahangama Beach
- Galle
I spent about half of the trip in the inland area of Sri Lanka and half along the south coast beaches. The inland areas offered beautiful jungles, mountains, tea farms, and historical sights whereas the beaches offered amazing surfing, cafes, and that tropical island vibe.
I skipped out on Yala National Park which was a popular recommendation among many. This park is home to an abundance of wildlife and many come to do a safari. However, as I had been on many safaris throughout Africa, I was advised that I probably wouldn’t get too excited about the game viewing here. As I was already limited on time, I decided to skip Yala National Park.
Avoid spending too much time in Kandy
For whatever reason, every blog I wrote promoted Kandy so much. Sure, Kandy is one of the historical capitals of Sri Lanka, but I honestly didn’t understand the hype. There isn’t that much to do in Kandy itself, and even less to do in the immediate vicinity. Sure Kandy has a beautiful lake with nice views to be had but beyond that, there was not much to offer. I think Kandy is maybe worth a one night stop if you really want to see the Temple of the Tooth (which wasn’t anything spectacular) and the botanical gardens.
I would instead divert any days spent in Kandy to Ella or Nuwara Eliya. These areas of the country are much more picturesque in my opinion with more activities around. Even if you plan to do nothing, I think staying in Ella is still much nicer as you’re surrounded by stunning views.
Best time of year to visit Sri Lanka?
If you’re contemplating a journey to this island paradise, you might wonder when the best time to visit Sri Lanka is. This small island has two geographical areas that enjoy different seasons
Sri Lanka’s weather is predominantly shaped by two monsoon seasons: the southwest monsoon, known as Yala, and the northeast monsoon, referred to as Maha.
Yala Season
Yala season, spanning from May to September, brings heavy rainfall and high humidity to the southwestern regions, including Colombo and the west coast. The hill country also experiences significant rainfall during this time, resulting in lush greenery. Despite the rain, certain areas like the Cultural Triangle can still be visited, as showers are often brief.
Maha Season
Maha season occurs from October to January, primarily affecting the northeastern parts of the island, such as Trincomalee and the east coast. Conversely, the western and southern regions experience drier conditions, making it an ideal time to explore beach destinations like Galle and Mirissa. The hill country also enjoys dry and cool weather during this period, perfect for trekking.
Additionally, two inter-monsoon periods occur: March to April (First Inter-Monsoon) and October to November (Second Inter-Monsoon). These periods bring transitional weather with warm and humid conditions and sporadic rainfall across the island.
Best Time To Visit Sri Lanka?
The best times to visit Sri Lanka depends on your itinerary. If you’re following this itinerary focusing on the inland areas and the southern beaches, the best time to visit is during the November to April time frame.
During this time, you can also expect to see the most tourists especially around Easter. This season aligns perfectly with the European winters where everyone wants to escape to warmer destinations. I visited in February and the temperatures were hot, and the sun was out every day.
How to get around Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an easy country to travel around. It’s not too big and there’s enough connections between tourist hotspots that you can move around quickly. Depending on the amount of time and budget you have, you might consider different options of getting around the country.
By public buses and train
The most popular option will be the bus and train system. Buses make regular connections between places like Colombo, Kandy, Ella, Nuwara Elia, and various locations on the coasts.
Buses can be slow as they often stop in various towns to pick up and drop off people. The bus from Colombo to Kandy will take 4+ hours sometimes. Nevertheless, this is by far the cheapest way to travel around the country.
Similarly, you can also take the public trains. The trains connect Colombo to many of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka. The most popular of these train rides is from Kandy to Ella which passes through the magnificent tea farms.
By private driver with a car
Similar to traveling in Madagascar, Sri Lanka is very popular for renting a car with a driver. The driver will drive you wherever you want, whenever you want for the duration of your trip with them. This is a great option for those that are time strapped and don’t want to deal with figuring bus time tables and other logistics.
I actually used a private driver with a car for the first few days of the trip when I was traveling in the inland area between Sigiriya and the southern coast. It was great to have a driver that was waiting for us in the mornings to take us where we wanted to go.
I paid $75 USD a day for the driver which included his accommodations, food, gas, parking, and tolls.
By Uber Intercity
Uber is readily available throughout the country, and is especially popular in Colombo. Uber also introduced Uber Intercity which is a great way to travel from city to city.
You can get very competitive prices to go from somewhere like Colombo to Ella with a private driver. See the example below from Uber’s website:
As you can see, you can travel between the two cities for 18k LKR which is around $60 USD at the time of writing this. This is a great price in my opinion for a 5 hour drive that is 300 kilometers. However, do be prepared for the driver to call you sometimes to ask for a higher price.
Uber is also great to use for shorter distances with tuk tuks. This was especially the case when I was traveling in the southern part of Sri Lanka along the coast.
Rent your own Tuk Tuk
A popular option among tourists is to rent a tuk tuk to explore the island. I saw many tourists renting their own tuk tuks and some even traveled the entire country with it. Expect to pay about $20 a day and there are pickups near the airport.
While renting your own tuk tuk sounds good, these things aren’t the most comfortable to drive and they’re designed in a way that if you’re above 180 cm, you’ll have to slouch to see through the window. Not a comfortable way to travel for hours on end in my opinion. Worst of all, they max out at about 50 km/hr!
Full Sri Lanka two week itinerary
Finally, onto my Sri Lanka itinerary! The trip starts in Colombo where almost every international flight lands. I decided to not stay in Colombo after reading through many blogs. While there are a few things to do in the Capital city, it just wasn’t a good use of my limited time.
From Colombo, I went straight to Sigiriya where I…
