Sri Lanka is a destination that has it all. This teardrop-shaped island off the coast of India has had its fair share of hardships, but in the last couple of years it has one of the most colorful and exciting countries to travel to. Tourist arrivals in the first part of 2024 increased by 60% compared to the same period in 2023, a promising sign for this resilient nation.
With awe-inspiring cultural attractions, sacred pilgrimage sites, tea plantations and laid-back beach towns, Sri Lanka is a thrilling country that appeals to all kinds of travelers—from families and honeymooners to foodies and surfers. Time Out even ranked Sri Lanka the #1 best place to visit for solo female travelers. Have we piqued your interest? Here’s everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip to Sri Lanka.
Located south of India and east of the Maldives, Sri Lanka is a tropical country near the equator. There are two monsoon seasons: the southwest monsoon, from May to September, and the northeast monsoon, from December to February.
Cinnamon Air, Sri Lanka’s largest national airline, makes it easy to get around Sri Lanka. The airline offers daily scheduled flights to popular destinations (a 30-minute flight from Colombo to Sigiriya will save you five hours of driving) and exclusive charter flights at competitive prices. Cinnamon Air has 3 aircraft, plus two seaplanes, ensuring flexibility to land on other terrain, such as Castlereagh Natural Reservoir or Koggala Lake to the south.
If you prefer to travel overland, there are plenty of taxi facilities in Sri Lanka and the roads are strangely well maintained. In Colombo, you can use Uber, the PickMe app, or tuk tuks to get around. For longer trips, companies like TinyCabs and BlueSky Galle Taxis are available for ground transfers and tours around the country.
Sri Lanka is also noted for its exercises, but be sure to book your tickets in advance – the famous Kandy to Ella exercise adventure is booked a month in advance. You can book tickets electronically at 12Go or use an e-booking service such as Visit Sri Lanka Tours, which can purchase tickets on your behalf (with a markup). In any case, you will need to go to one of Sri Lanka’s exercise stations with your reservation in hand to be able to print your original tickets. Tip: Seats reserved for elegant moments are ideal because you can keep the windows closed for a better view!
An exercise passing through the mountainous region of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is exclusive due to its large number of locally owned boutique hotels spread throughout the country. If you need help choosing where to stay, We Stay Ceylon offers a carefully curated collection of exclusive homes across the island and can also help you design a personalized itinerary.
Although many other people come to Sri Lanka for its surfing scene, it’s also worth spending time exploring the island’s cultural triangle. Located in the fertile center of the country, this region is a testament to Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage and has five UNESCO sites, each of which is worth visiting.
Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, is the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya is the undisputed jewel of Sri Lanka. An ancient rock castle rising six hundred feet above a canopy of thick jungle, it served as the royal palace of Prince Kashyapa in the 5th century before being used as a Buddhist monastery. If you have time, it is also worth visiting Pidurangala rock, which is just opposite Sigiriya: this other mountain is a nature reserve and is especially suitable for intrepid travelers.
Anuradhapura is a sacred heritage city of Sri Lanka.
North of Sigiriya is Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital founded in the fourth century and which flourished for more than 1,000 years. With giant stupas and a sacred fig tree (a descendant of the original Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment), it remains a pilgrimage site.
You can also stop at Sri Lanka’s second capital, Polonnaruwa, which is home to monumental ruins built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The ruins span 1,100 square miles and feature intricately carved palaces, town hall buildings, and evocative shrines. Nearby, art lovers can’t miss the five painted caves of Dambulla that house more than 150 Buddha statues.
The painted rock temples of Dambulla.
At the southern end of the Cultural Triangle lies Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings and today the second largest city after Colombo, the capital. Kandy is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is said to house one of the Buddha’s teeth. Three ceremonies are held here each day and travelers are invited to sign up for them to experience this exclusive tradition.
Leaving Kandy heading south, you will encounter the green hills of Sri Lanka. While the island is known for its tropical temperatures, it is also the fourth largest producer of tea in the world, a feat for a small territory. This is due to the cool, misty mountains surrounding cities such as Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Hatton.
Tea plantations near Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.
Introduced by the British in the 19th century, after a coffee rust fungus devastated the country’s coffee plantations, tea remains a ubiquitous detail in Sri Lankan culture. Called Ceylon tea, the country’s colonial name, black tea is dominant in more than 400 tea plantations. The tea is still hand-picked through a highly professional team composed primarily of Tamil women whom you will see running the country’s mountainous and technicolor plantations.
Tea in Nuwara Eliya.
In Nuwara Eliya, you’ll stop at Pedro Tea Estate, while in Ella, it’s worth taking a short tuk-tuk ride to Uva Halpewatte for an educational excursion to the factory. Trains were developed to facilitate the transport of goods, adding tea, from the inside. from regions to coastal ports, so be sure to exercise while you’re in the area. The Kandy-Ella line is the best known and sells out quickly, so look out for select features such as Nuwara Eliya in Hatton, where you can relax across the stunning Castlereagh Reservoir, a indeed otherworldly setting.
Sri Lanka’s sea coast stretches for 800 miles, so swimmers and surfers will be spoiled for choice. Where you pass will depend on the season. If visiting between December and April, head south and west, where Sri Lanka tourism is more developed. From Colombo to Tangalle, there are dozens of coastal towns worth visiting, so you are spoiled for choice.
Hiriketiya Surf Beach, Dikwella, Sri Lanka.
Bentota, home to the Lunuganga and Brief Garden lawn garden villas, will delight architects and culture hunters. Hikkaduwa is popular for its turtle farm and tsunami museum, which commemorates the victims of the fatal tsunami that killed more than 30,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2004.
Galle, a Dutch-Portuguese walled city, is a must-visit for its colonial architecture and boutique hotels, while Ahangama is the new hipster spot with lively bars, department stores, and modern hotels. Weligama and Mirissa have been popular surfing destinations for a decade and many whale watching tours depart from here. Further east, Hiriketiya is another little surfing paradise with fantastic beach clubs and bars where you can relax until the early hours of the morning.
Galle Fort, Sri Lanka.
For exclusive herbal and cultural tours along the south coast, head to Donga. Founded by 4 friends, this sustainable small business offers immersive tours of the Koggala Lake mangroves, rainforest hikes through Sinharaja, pottery experiences, walking tours, and much more.
If you stop between May and November, you’ll have better chances of sunbathing along the northern and eastern coasts. Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Arugam Bay are the most popular resorts in this region.
Sri Lanka has the greatest biodiversity in Asia, which you can see in its 25 national parks scattered around the island. Yala National Park is the most prominent in the world, with the highest density of leopards, although its popularity also makes it highly populated. Other features include Minneriya, located near Sigiriya (ideal for a half-day tour) and Udawalawe, known for its giant population of Asian elephants.
Elephants in Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka.
Other animals you can see in national parks include sloth bears, water buffalo, spotted deer, jackals, and monitor lizards. Sri Lanka is also a wonderful place for bird watching: peacocks are ubiquitous and you will most likely be able to see Sri Lankan waterfowl along with migratory birds. like flamingos and herons.
Most trips to Sri Lanka begin or end in Colombo, and it’s worth spending a few nights in the capital to soak up its vibrant energy. Highlights include the iconic red and white striped Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct in a colonial-era hospital, and the Colombo National Museum, which offers an ancient and cultural addition to the country.
To learn more about Sri Lanka’s more recent history, visit the 11th residence of Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most prominent architect, known for his “tropical modernist” style, and shop for handicrafts at boutiques such as Barefoot Gallery and Urban Island.
Looking for more? Discover the seaside hotels and cottages in Sri Lanka.
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