Sri Lanka boasts everything from pristine beaches perfect for surfing, snorkeling, and diving; to jungles and forests where camping takes on a whole new meaning. As such, visiting the island feels like experiencing several different countries within a single trip.
Why Visit Sri Lanka
I spent two weeks in Sri Lanka and was able to have a beach vacation, a jungle expedition, and a quintessential big city experience– all the while learning about the rich cultural, religious, and culinary traditions of the island. In this blog post, I will share my Sri Lanka itinerary so that you, too, can take advantage of some of the best that Sri Lanka has to offer in one relatively short trip.
Since Sri Lanka is a small country—barely bigger than most of the states in Brazil (where I currently live)—you can see quite a lot in just one visit. What’s especially cool is how much changes within a short distance: just a two-hour drive can bring you to different climates, biomes, local cultures, cuisines, and overall vibes. For this reason, Sri Lanka is a great destination for anyone who wants to experience a little bit of everything in one place.
This is particularly true for backpackers who rely on buses and trains to get around. Sri Lanka’s strong transportation infrastructure makes much of the country accessible. Further, since most backpackers follow a similar route, making friends as you travel the island will come easily and naturally.
Itinerary
During my two-week stay, I visited:
- Colombo
- The Hill Country
- Sigiriya
- Dambulla
- Polonnaruwa
- Trincomalee
- Kandy
Below, I will walk you through the best things to do in each city. I will also highlight some other popular travel destinations in Sri Lanka that I learned about from fellow backpackers. While I couldn’t fit them all into my own itinerary due to time constraints, I will share them here so you have the option to add them to your Sri Lanka itinerary.
Colombo
Your first stop in Sri Lanka will likely be Colombo as that is where the international airport is located. While many people choose to skip Colombo entirely—leaving the city soon after they land and returning only for their outbound flight—I personally recommend spending a few days there. Colombo is a great gateway to Sri Lanka in terms of food and culture. As the country’s main urban center, Colombo is an amalgamation of everything Sri Lanka has to offer, allowing you to experience a little bit of each part of the country’s culture in one place. The best meals I had in Sri Lanka were in Colombo, as were the most lively markets and the most interesting museums that I visited.
Now, while I certainly recommend that you visit Colombo, for the purposes of this blog-post I am focusing on providing you with a broader overview of the best things to do on the island. For a detailed Colombo itinerary, check out my Colombo travel guide linked here.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya was without a doubt my favorite destination in Sri Lanka. There is so much to do here, and it is truly stunning. I stayed at Roy’s Villa, which I would say is not only the best place to stay in Sigiriya, but also the best hostel in all of Sri Lanka.
- Lion’s Rock
Lion’s Rock, or Sigiriya Rock, is the landmark that makes Sigiriya famous. It is not only a fascinating geographic feature but also historically significant as it once served as the fortress of one of Sri Lanka’s former kings.
Entry to the site is $30 USD, and it is very much worth it. You will see the gardens, hike to the top, and view the well-preserved ancient cave paintings on your way back down. The hike itself does not take very long (maybe 20 minutes up) nor is it particularly difficult, though there are many stairs. Since Sigiriya gets very hot, make sure you are hydrated and well-rested before you embark on this hike.
Although the hike itself can be done in a 40 minute round trip, you should budget about two hours for your visit. Remember, Lion’s Rock is not just a mountain, but also an ancient fortress. You will want to take your time to appreciate the ruins, the artistry, and the overall grandeur of the site. Because the history here is so fascinating, I highly recommend going with a guide. I booked mine through my hostel, Roy’s Villa, which also organized transportation to and from Lion’s Rock—making the process seamless.
- Pidurangala
Hiking Lion’s Rock is an incredible experience; however, seeing it from a distance was even more breathtaking because it allowed me to truly appreciate its grandeur. For this reason, Pidurangala Rock is certainly the best viewpoint in Sigiriya. Pidurangala offers a sweeping panorama of Lion’s Rock and Mineriya National Park. To make the experience even more magical, I recommend hiking Pidurangala at sunrise.
I joined the sunrise hike organized by Roy’s Villa. The hostel organized transportation and a guide, so all we had to pay was the entrance fee of 1,000 rupees (about $3 USD). The hike took less than 20 minutes, and we had reached the top by 5:30am, before dawn broke. From there, we watched one of the most stunning sunrises I have ever seen. We spent about two hours at the top, soaking in the views and drinking tea offered to us by our lovely guides, before heading back down.
- Safari in Minneriya
Sigiriya is well-known for its elephants. While you may be lucky enough to spot one by chance (we once saw an elephant strolling along the roadside at dusk!) the best way to encounter them is on a safari.
We did our safari at Minneriya National Park, which, beyond being a stunning landscape in its own right, hosts the world’s largest known gathering of Asian elephants.
This is one of the most popular activities in Sigiriya, so you will be spoiled for options when it comes to booking. Safaris can be costly so, to find the cheapest options, I recommend booking locally after you arrive. My friends and I each paid 14,500 rupees (about $48 USD): 10,000 for park entry and 4,500 for the jeep rental. This was about as cheap as it gets, though prices depend on the size of your group and how many people share a jeep. We booked through a friend’s Airbnb host, who had a local connection. Booking through your accommodation is usually the best way to go, as it is much cheaper than booking online. Roy’s Villa also organizes safaris at around 18,000 rupees. This fee includes transportation to and from the hostel—an excellent deal for the convenience. Should you wish to plan your safari well in advance, I recommend booking ahead of time on GetYourGuide.
- Dambulla Cave Temples
Dambulla is located about an hour from Sigiriya and is famous for its cave temples—Buddhist holy sites carved into the side of a rock face over 2,000 years ago. Not only is the site an architectural marvel, but it is also deeply significant to Sri Lankan culture and Buddhist tradition. The temples are painted in brilliant golds, filled with massive carved statues, and maintained in atmospheric cave chambers. The artistry is unlike anything I have ever seen before, and the sense of spirituality in the space is palpable.
Entrance to the Cave Temples costs $10 USD for foreign adults, and reaching them requires a short 10-minute walk up an outdoor staircase that also rewards you with beautiful views along the way. Dress modestly, covering your legs and shoulders. I wore a long dress and used a scarf to cover my shoulders, though shawls are also available for rental for 10 rupees.
I highly recommend visiting the Dambulla Cave Temples while in Sigiriya. The visit does not take much time—two hours is sufficient—so it is perfect as a half-day trip. Roy’s Villa organizes excursions to the site, inclusive of transportation and a guide. This is another excursion for which you should hire a guide in order to truly appreciate the experience.
- Polonnaruwa Bike Tour
The final thing my friends and I did while in Sigiriya was a day trip to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Once the capital of a great kingdom, Polonnaruwa is not a single site but rather an entire city of ruins spread across a vast area.
Because of its size, it is not recommended to explore on foot alone. The best way to see the city is by renting a bike and cycling between the various ruins. My friends and I were short on time, so our driver took us between the sites, but biking is the more fun and immersive option—after all, biking through a city of ancient ruins seems like something most only get the opportunity to do once in their lives. Entrance costs $30 USD, and there are countless temples, palaces, and statues to discover. Once again, I recommend booking a guided tour so that you can truly understand the significance of what you are seeing. Roy’s Villa organizes bike tours to Polonnaruwa, inclusive of transportation, bike rental, and a guide—an excellent option if you want a smooth experience.
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a tiny beach town on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. There is not much to do, and that’s the point. My favorite activity of all time there was sunset yoga on the beach. I took this class through Ogum School of Yoga, which organizes daily sessions for 2,000 rupees/less than $7 USD. I could not recommend the experience more.
Besides yoga, Trincomalee is known for snorkeling at Turtle Island as well as diving. However, diving is not ideal for beginners, so you may want to stick to snorkeling. Beyond these activities, the best thing to do in Trincomalee is simply relax. Spend your days lounging at the beach at Fernando’s Beach Club—a complex of beachside bars and restaurants which, at night, offers probably the best nightlife in Trincomalee. I personally was not a fan of the food at these restaurants, but the vibe of the place was excellent. I would recommend eating at local restaurants (my favorite was Rice n Curry), but drinking and socializing at Fernando’s. Since Fernando’s is the most popular “third space” in Trincomalee, you will meet a lot of other travelers there. We made friends with a group of Australians and, coincidentally, ran into some people we had met while staying at Roy’s Villa in Sigiriya!
Hatten/Malaiyaha Region
Hatten is a town in Sri Lanka’s tea-producing region, known as the Malaiyaha region or Hill Country. It is not necessarily a popular backpacking spot, but the area has been trying to promote tourism in recent years. I stayed in Hatten for two days. Given its location in the tea-producing region, the most popular activities in Hatten revolve around tea. However, I would not recommend a traditional tea farm tour for ethical reasons.
Instead, I recommend taking a guided tour through Sri Lanka Less Traveled, an eco-tourism experience organized by a local NGO called Chrysalis. Their mission is to create experiences that center Sri Lankan people and perspectives, allowing visitors to engage with the community rather than just observe from the sidelines of a tea farm.
During our day with Sri Lanka Less Traveled, we participated in a religious ceremony, visited the home of a local farmer, tasted his produce—including a notably delicious king coconut—and even did some light agricultural work, like picking tea leaves and sowing vegetable seeds in the farmer’s garden. My highlight that day was driving to a lookout point atop a mountain and enjoying a delicious home-cooked Sri Lankan meal while overlooking a scene that felt like something out of a nature documentary.
Kandy
Kandy is another popular stop for backpackers in Sri Lanka, though most people only go for one of two things: 1) to see the Temple of the Tooth, and 2) to take the train.
I passed through Kandy on my way back to Colombo from Trincomalee. I had taken a bus from Trincomalee and arrived in Kandy just in time for my train to Colombo, so I did not get to see much of Kandy. However, the train ride– which is both an excursion and a mode of transport– made the stop in Kandy worthwhile.
Sri Lanka is famous for its trains, with the most scenic route being the Kandy-to-Ella journey. However, you do not need to do the full seven-hour Kandy-to-Ella trip. I found that the three-hour Kandy-to-Colombo route is similarly scenic and easier to fit into an itinerary.
The train ride itself is a feast for the eyes. Rolling past lush misty hills, dense forests, and small villages; you get a real sense of the island’s diversity and natural beauty. My friends and I booked first class seats, but ended up leaving our seats to sit near the train doors which the conductor was kind enough to open for us. You can get information about train times, costs, and reservations on the official Sri Lanka Railways website
I took a bus from Trincomalee to Kandy and then boarded the train back to Colombo, catching my flight that same night. Thus, it was effectively the last thing I did in Sri Lanka (aside from one final delicious dinner in Colombo before my flight) and truly served as the cherry on top of an incredible trip.
There is of course more to explore…
But this itinerary is a great starting point, especially if you only have two weeks in the country. For those with extra time, a few other destinations worth visiting include Adam’s Peak, the historic city of Galle, and Arugam Bay. Additionally, between the months of November and April, the southern part of the country offers the best beaches with vibrant surf culture.
What struck me most about Sri Lanka is how accessible it is for travelers who want to see a lot in a short period of time. The diversity of landscapes and experiences within such a compact country means that you will only need one plane ticket to experience pristine beaches, lush jungles, ancient ruins, and a vibrant city. You will leave Sri Lanka feeling like you got five trips for the price of one!
