Sri Lanka was somewhere I could only have dreamed of going, so getting to go as part of my trip was a dream come true. It is an island that offers vast variety, from beautiful beaches to jungles, temples and safaris.
Sri Lanka Top Tips
Best Times To Visit
Despite being a small island, there are different seasons depending where you are. The Southwest monsoon season is between May and September, whereas the Northeast monsoon is October to March. This should be taken into account when planning where you want to go and when. I went in August time so I had to avoid the Southwest which the beach towns are more popular with tourists.
What To Pack
There is such a range of activities to do in the country so you need to make sure you pack for every occasion. There are some gorgeous hikes, beaches, national parks and safaris. Here’s a list of some things to bring:
- Trainers or hiking shoes
- Clothes for a hike (gym shorts, sports bra, comfy t-shirt, for example)
- The usual beach items (swimwear, beach towel, suncream, etc.)
- If you go to one of the surf towns, bring something you feel comfortable surfing in
- Bug spray
- A universal travel adaptor, they use type D and G in Sri Lanka so make sure you are prepared for this
- Light pair of trousers and something that covers your shoulders if you want to visit a temple
- Sri Lankan Rupee as a lot of places will only take cash
When You Arrive
Once you land at Colombo airport, have cleared immigration, sorted your visa, got your bags, etc. you will come into the main exit hall of the airport. Here there will be ATMs to use if you need to get cash out, as well as places you can buy a sim card. There are a few different options so ask around and see which deal works best for you.
Another thing to flag is, as with a lot of countries in Asia, try to not get scammed by people offering rides from the airport. I would recommend either pre-arranging transport with your hotel, using public transport, or like what we did, get an Uber. This way you know you aren’t going to be scammed out of money and you will arrive at your destination. There will be official taxis at the airport so if you wish to use those, then do, but just make sure they are actually official taxis.
My Sri Lanka Travel Itinerary
As previously mentioned, I tailored my trip to the time of year I went, and so this is reflected in the destinations I chose. I will do special mentions of other favourite tourist destinations at the end.
Colombo
This is the capital where you will fly into. I only spent a few nights here and didn’t love it. We did stay in a hostel with a nice breakfast and really cute pool that I enjoyed reading by. We visited a couple beaches and walked around, but other than that we didn’t do much.
Trincomalee
From Colombo we go the overnight train which was not the best experience, but a very cheap option for budget backpackers. We also booked a lower class and so didn’t have the comfier chairs. You could look into renting a tuktuk or paying someone to drive you there.
We spent a few nights here, there are some nice beaches and it is a really nice place to just relax. There’s a few boat trips you can do such as snorkelling at Coral Island and if you go between March and August you might be lucky enough to see some whales and dolphins!
Recommended length of stay: it depends if you just want a beach holiday and relax or if you want to see as much as possible. If you want to do as much as possible I would recommend x2 – x4 nights.
Dambulla and Sigiriya
There’s some really cool stuff to see and do here! We stayed in Dambulla and hired a driver to take us around the sights here and in Sigiriya. Some of the top sights to visit are the Dambulla cave temples, the Golden Temple and of course Lion’s Rock and Pidurangala Rock.
The cave temples were honestly some of the coolest I’ve seen in Asia and it is baffling how old they are, definitely worth the visit! One of the most popular things for people to do in Sri Lanka, which I’m sure you’ve seen on Tik Tok and Instagram if you’re here reading this blog, is the Lion’s Rock and Pidurangala Rock. People tend to do them at sunset and/or sunrise. I decided to do Pidurangala Rock at sunset as it was much cheaper and you had the iconic view of Lion’s Rock. Lion’s Rock is an ancient rock fortress and I would absolutely love to go back and do this. You can definitely do both in one day!
Recommended length of stay: x2 nights
Kandy
There’s a few different things to do in this city, before heading off on the iconic train journey. I didn’t love Kandy personally but did enjoy many things I did there. Some things include walk around Kandy lake, Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, Kandyan Cultural Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon Tea Museum, the Bahirawakanda Temple, and the Ambuluwawa Tower.
At the Kandyan Cultural Centre you can go and watch a performance of traditional dance which is a fun activity to do. Walking around the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, a forest reserve on the edge of the city, was also really nice to walk around. Be careful of the monkeys though! The Ambuluwawa Tower is a short trip outside of Kandy and is a very iconic destination that was made famous for its steep, spiral tower.
Recommended length of stay: x2 – x4 nights
Ella
You can then get one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world through Nuwara Eliya to Ella. Or if you are coming Ella, you can do this in reverse and end in Kandy. Top tip, book in advance! We didn’t and bought tickets on the day (pretty sure they scammed us for which class ticket they gave us) and it was so busy we could barely see the views. I will 100% have to re-do this properly.
Ella is incredibly beautiful and lusciously green. It is quite touristy, but there is still a calm and natural feel to it, being surrounded by stunning scenery and nature. I wish I could have had more time here, but here are some things I did get up to. Hiking Little Adams Peak, the Nine Arches Bridge, exploring waterfalls in the area. Other things you can do include Ravana Pool Club, Ravana zip line, Cafe Dream, and having a bit of a night out.
Recommended length of stay: x3 – x5 nights
Arugam Bay
This little surfer town was such a nice final stop on the trip. We went here over surfer towns in the South West due to the season as mentioned previously. There is a main road where most of the accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops, etc. are and it is near the beach so most things are in walking distance.
Here are some things to do in Arugam Bay! The main thing is surfing. Parts of the ocean are definitely not for beginners but there are bits where you can have lessons and learn. If you don’t fancy having a go, then it is fun to sit and watch the pros. Climb Elephants Rock, see wild elephants, visit Whiskey Point, visit the bars and listen to live music, chill on the beach and sunbathe in the day and party on the beach at night.
Recommended length of stay: x2 – x5 nights
Yala National Park
We booked our accommodation in Tissamaharama on booking.com and they organised our safari for us. We loved our stay here and they were super kind and helpful, with everything sorted for our safari, it was very stress free! The Yala National Park is famous for having leopards, but also sloth bears, elephants, crocodiles, and many other species. You will have to get up super early and choose if you do just the morning or if you want to do the full day. We went for the full day and it was definitely worth it. This was genuinely such an incredible experience, and it felt like you were in Africa (but for a much smaller price tag).
Udawalawe National Park is also a popular destination for a safari, famous for having lots of elephants.
Recommended length of stay: x2 nights
Other Places To Visit – The South West Coast
There are some beautiful little beach towns on the Southwest Coast that I’m gutted I didn’t get to explore.
Mirissa
A bit more westernised than neighbouring Weligama, but it has beautiful beaches, a mellow vibe and you can surf and watch turtles be released.
Hikkaduwa
Another gorgeous beach town that is a hot spot for seeing sea turtles.
Hiriketiya
This place is Bali vibes but without as much of the gentrified and westernised feel Bali has. A firm favourite of many, this coastal surf town is worth the visit.
Ahangama
This is known as the slightly more boujee, trendy and hip beach town on the Southwest coast.
Unawatuna
Guess what … another beach town! A nice mix of laid back but things to do with lots of nature too.
Galle
A cute seaside to stroll around, with the famous Galle Fort and lighthouse.
Weligama
Again quite a westernised and Bali vibes beach town, but there are some beautiful secret hidden beaches, that will still give you that untouched feel. There is a dog shelter called Animal SOS which is worth going to support.
Sri Lankan Food To Try
Depending which region of Sri Lanka you are in, you will find different dishes and curries (for example a Jaffna curry in the north), but some dishes you will be able to find all over.
One thing I regularly think about is a Sri Lankan breakfast. It is definitely a love it or hate it situation, but I miss it. Typically, it would be string hoppers or roti, with dhal and coconut sambol.
In Sri Lanka, when you order a curry you will usually get rice with dhal and a mix of other things such as veg, poppadoms, and sambal. I am a vegetarian though so this may be different if you get meat!
Kottu is a dish that is made of chopped up rotti with vegetables and meat or fish. I found in a lot of places this was quite bland, but when it was good, it was sooooo good.
Hoppers are a famous street food item, that is like a pancake with an egg in the middle. I personally didn’t see or have any while in Sri Lanka, but have had them previously and are worth the try.
Transport Tips
Sri Lanka is a very easy and affordable to get around. A lot of people like to hire a tuktuk and drive themselves around which is a lot of fun, but make sure you feel confident, are safe and have the correct documents needed. It is also pretty affordable to hire a chauffeur for the odd trip or for your entire stay. Or, if you are a budget backpacker or just want to save some money or experience a bit more authenticity, then there are train routes and public buses that are super cheap (I think I paid about 20p), and go pretty much everywhere you need. Be prepared to be a bit overstimulated with sounds, smells, heat and lots of people, and they aren’t always the easiest and most direct route.
They have Uber in Sri Lanka in some places, so this is also an option to use. If you need to get a taxi (often a tuktuk), these are also very reasonably priced and you can haggle a bit.
Budget Tips and Costs
Sri Lanka is definitely a very affordable country to travel with cheap transport, food and accomodation.
| Transport | 20p – £20 + |
| Accomodation | £4 – £20 per night for a hostel or cheap hotel |
| Food & Drink | Meals range from about £4 – £10 if you’re on a budget |
| Activities | Free – £75 + |
As always, make sure to research restaurants before going. I go on Google maps and look at reviews, as well as the menu. Then I like to go on Tik Tok – it can be your travel BFF at times.
Accommodation I typically booked through Hostelworld and Booking.com. Make sure you check reviews, speak to other travelers and again Tik Tok is your friend.
Activities can often be booked or paid for when you get there, some places will have a website you can pre-book tickets, and some accommodation hosts will help organise and book things for you.
Cultural & Practical Tips
Sri Lankan people are very welcoming and kind, but it is important to respect their culture and practices.
- Like the rest of Asia, make sure you cover up when visiting temples and holy places.
- While it is okay to barter and haggle, remember people are trying to make a living. Don’t offend them and take advantage.
- Buddhism is the main religion in Sri Lanka which means there are many traditions to respect with this. For example, don’t pose and take photos with a Buddha statue.
- The head is sacred, the feet are dirty. Don’t touch people’s heads or point your feet at religious items.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka is a small island with a big personality! There is so much to see and do, with such biodiversity, from beaches to jungles to safaris. A country I cannot wait to go back to. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and experience the kind people, incredible animals and delicious food.
