Sri Lanka is a hidden gem in South East Asia located right below India. Its size makes possible to travel all around the island and see its nature, do water sports like surf, witness amazing sunsets everyday and learn about its beautiful and rich culture, too. You can find everything in this island; mountain, beaches, culture, water sports, good food, party, super friendly locals and more!
I travelled almost all around the country for 2 weeks, and in this guide I'm sharing with you the best places, tips and my honest opinion so you can enjoy to the fullest of your upcoming trip to Sri Lanka!
Sri Lanka is located right below India, and it's a small island plenty of amazing beaches, vegetation, with a rich culture and friendly locals.Â
This island is a perfect destination for you if you are looking for beach and mountain in a same island, while learning about a so different culture, the Buddhism, which is the country's main religion. In my case, it was in Sri Lanka when I got in touch with the Buddhism for the first time and I really liked to learn about it, I find it a really interesting mindset. Actually, I learnt that this is not a religion, but a mindset, instead, which made me like it even more.Â
Alternatively, if you've already visited Buddhist countries and you're very familiarized with it, in Sri Lanka you'll find lot of vegetation and amazing beaches, wildlife, and also great food! Basically, whatever is what you are looking for, you can find it in this island; adventure, relax, surf, culture, history, food...Â
So get ready because in this guide I'm sharing with you some of the places and things to do that you shouldn't miss when travelling to Sri Lanka, including the countryside, beaches, cultural sites and more! I also share with you my best tips and honest opinions.Â
In addition, it's important to mention that this guide is divided by thematics, so you can organize your trip according to your interests.
Before diving into it, I want to add that I travelled in October 2022, when there were very few tourists in reason of the crisis in Sri Lanka, which provoked a considerable decrease of tourists visiting the country. As a consequence, Sri Lankans are suffering a huge economical crisis.Â
That's why you should support local economy as much as you can when planning to come to Sri Lanka. By the end of this guide, I'm sharing with you my best tip to do that, and a personal contact from there, too (without any interest in between other than supporting locals in Sri Lanka).Â
This is the lesser popular National Park in Sri Lanka, which makes it the quietest one in terms of cars and people.
It's true that to spot wildlife in here is more difficult than in the other parks along the country, but this does not mean that is not worth a visit.
I liked Wilpattu National Park specifically because there were practically no tourists, and we were the only car around the park (we only spot one more car during all the safari), and we were lucky to see a leopard, monkeys, buffalos, crocodiles... and amazing vegetation.
This National Park is the Elephant's National Park!
You shouldn't miss Minneriya National Park if you want to spot Asian elephants.
It can be a bit crowded with other safari cars, but overall, a good experience.
The Yala National Park is famous for spotting leopards but... it's also the most crowded one.
The experience doing the safari in Yala National Park was not fully satisfactory because of the overflow of cars, which can disturb the wildlife (only 1 car is disturbing the animals, but imagine lots of them together in one place like in the picture).
I understand that tourists (I include myself that day) want to see a leopard, but I could not enjoy doing it like that.
So, bare in mind that yes, it is a beautiful park and the one that offers more chances to see leopards, but also is the most popular and overcrowded one.
This is an ancient city, worth a visit, better in a guided tour with a local so you can get to know better the country's history and background (try to always give support to the local economy).
I have not visited this place, I chose to hike to Pidurangala's viewpoint to see the Lion's Rock from the distance, instead.
But for those who want to visit this place, this is an ancient rock fortress with an important historical and archaeological heritage.
A kingdom and a buddhist monastery were built on top of the rock. It's a World Heritage Site and on the top there are the oldest gardens in the world, too.
Tell me how it is if you decide to go!
*picture not mine
Pidurangala's Rock lies right in fron of Sigiriya Lion's Rock, so you get to see the Rock from a good perspective.
To reach to Pidurangala's Rock you'll have to take a hike of around 30-40 minutes, it's not difficult but you might get lost at some point, as the path can be confusing.
Overall, a good viewpoint and place to visit.
Kandy is an important city that has lot to offer.
I had the chance to attend to a Buddhist Ceremony, and it was really impressive, as in there is where one of the Buda's tooth is kept.
In addition to that, you can visit the huge Buda statue and monastery located on top of the city before moving to the tea plantations towards the interior part.
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You should take the train going from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, but before reaching to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy, you should drive along the tea plantations of Sri Lanka. The landscape from the road is really beautiful, and you can stop in some of the tea production companies and taste the Sri Lankan tea.Â
The road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya goes along the immense tea plantations that cover Sri Lanka's interior part.
It is a really beautiful landscape, including some waterfalls, villages and you will encounter companies producers of tea, which you can visit, take a guided tour to get to know the tea production process, and even taste the tea.
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Take the scenic train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella (or the way round) -Â
It's from Nuwara Eliya where the train is taken direction to Ella.
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The train goes along the beautiful vegetation and villages of the interior part. If you travel from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, better to seat on the left side of the train, and on the right side when taking it from Ella to Nuwara, to get to see the most you can of the landscape.Â
Ella is a really beautiful village, and nearby you have mutliple hikes to do like the famous Nine Arch Bridge. I would recommend to stay in Ella at least 2 nights.
I would say that this place is of the most popular ones when travelling to Sri Lanka. But with a good reason. It is really beautiful, specially when you get to catch the train passing by on top of the bridge. However, I think that the most beautiful thing of this place was the abundant vegetation, it really amazed me!
âEVA'S TIP: we saw the bridge from a viewpoint you reach going through the jungle, and we went with a local, so if you are adventurous to find out the path, go for it! Be cautious and careful, though, as you will be alone in middle of the jungle and local houses. Also, if this is of your concern, places full of vegetation like this are full of lichess so watch out your shoes! đ
I recommend coming to this waterfall for the road leading to it. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful roads that can exist, surrounded by lot of vegetation, and monkeys. Itâs the road you take to come to Ella, too.
However, I recommend you to be cautious and take a car or a Tuk Tuk to drive down the road. We walked for a bit, but it was too dangerous because of the crazy traffic, as huge buses drive too fast.
Stop on the way to see the views but be cautious about traffic if you decide going by foot (it is a long way).
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BEACHES -Â
Beaches and vibes in the southern area are incredibly amazing! You must see this area, and stay for, at least, few days. I would suggest to hire a motorbike to travel around the South, and if not, by Tuk Tuk you'll be fine, too.
Below I share with you some of the beaches you shouldn't miss out!
The best sunsets, vibes and people!
In Ahangama is where I stayed most of my time while in the Southern part of Sri Lanka and I loved it. Here there are lot of hostels, surfcamps... and even nightlife.
Weligama beach is well known for doing surf! In fact, is here where I did surf for the first time in my life, and loved it! (I didnâs surf with the board in the pictuređ ).
I recommend to come here to learn surf, specially if you are a beginner.
This is my favorite beach among the ones I visited in Sri Lanka!
We were completely alone, and the landscape, and lush vegetation around the beach is absolutely beautiful.
100% recommend to come here to enjoy of the landscape, take a bath and relax.
The most touristic beach.
At least among the ones I've been to in Sri Lanka. But yet worth to see and stay, specially if you decide to do scuba diving, like I did.
NEVER BEEN HERE.
I didn't have time to come to Arugam Bay, but is the most popular spot for surfers in Sri Lanka.
If I would come back to Sri Lanka, I would visit this place.
*picture not mine
I truly recommend visiting Coconut Tree Hill, located in Mirissa (popular place for surf) during the sunset, you'll see many people coming and sitting here to witness the sun going down. The place is beautiful.
For reaching to it, you'll need to walk a bit through an easy path, but better if you wear proper shoes instead of flip-flops.
This lighthouse is located in the Southernmost point of Sri Lanka, and it's also the tallest lighthouse in the country and one of the highest ones around South East Asia, too. Worth the visit, at least to pass by.
First time in my life staying in a Surf Camp and loved it!
Dreamsea aesthetic is amazing, food is healthy and delicious and location is perfect.
Here I saw the best sunsets in Sri Lanka and even got to see bioluminescence in the sea from the room!
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TREEHOUSE AMBASEWANA - into the nature
With an outdoor bathroomâ
And here I tried an exquisite food... coconut bread, it really tastes amazing even if it looks just like breadâ
The staff was really amazing and the place couldn't be better!
I would not recommend this accommodation to those who don't stand insects, though.Â
Amazing local restaurant which made me love Sri Lankan food!
Food was delicious (and ideal for vegeterians), staff was super friendly and the whole restaurant (walls, tables...) was full of writings from guests around the world. Last picture shows ours.
Really recommend supporting local economy by going to places like this. They really deserve it!
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SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY - my best tip to travel around Sri Lanka
My best advice to travel around the country, specially to the interior and northern parts, is to hire a private driver.
I did that, and it was an amazing experience. If you hire a local, you'll have a private guide who has knowledge about everything around his country, culture, people..., he will also give you his honest opinions about the places, recommend you different things according to what is best to do, you'll be safer than if you dare yourself to drive around Sri Lanka, as traffic can be caothic sometimes and they have more experence driving there, and you'll might make a friend for a lifetime, too!
We hired a private driver, whose name is Chami, to travel to the North and central parts. Chami was was amazing and we still keep in touch!
I truly recommend booking your private car and driver with Kandy Budget Taxi. I would be happy to share with you Chami's phone number so you can contact him directly. For that, you can send me a message through Instagram asking about it (link to my Instagram by the end)!
If you end up travelling with Chami, say hi to him from Eva and Diego, the Spanish ones!Â
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, with beautiful people. Be respectful and support the local economy, locals are really kind with tourists (from my experience).Â
I hope this guide is useful to plan your trip to Sri Lanka. Enjoy a lot of this beautiful island and its people!
Watch the video below to travel for some seconds around Sri Lankaâ
You can also read about âMy Storyâ if you are interested in knowing more about living abroad, being nomad, or other destinations, and to get to know more about me and how I started moving around!
Thank you for reading, and don't hesitate to reach me out on Instagram @evarios14, and follow all my adventures, my travels, and experiences while living around the world hoping to inspire somebody to step out of their comfort zone and start pursuing their dreams! âĽď¸
đCurrently in Australia
If you love exploring beyond your comfort zone, you are adventurous and you enjoy immersing yourself into other cultures and adapting to different environments, without prejudices, and with open mind, you just found a like minded person, me!
I'm living nomad since 6 years ago and now I'm sharing my knowledge, experiences and advice about my experience and destinations with you! Book a call with me if you want to travel, move abroad, do volunteering... but money or fear is stopping you. I can help you do that, because that's what I've been doing until now! Travelling almost for free around the world!
In addition to that, I have been always working in the tourism industry or doing volunteerings, that's why I feel fully empowered to give the best tips and guides of each of the destinations, .
Follow my journey on my Instagram & TikTok @evarios14, and don't hesitate to reach me out!
