Cultural Triangle, Center & South of Sri Lanka

Best of Sri Lanka – 10 Day Itinerary throughout this beautiful island, covering the Cultural Triangle, the hilly center with its tea plantations, Ella, Yala and the Beaches of the South, including Galle

Sri Lanka has so much to offer and surprised me with its beautiful untouched nature, idyllic beaches and cultural centers. In the Cultural Triangle you get to hike up the famous Sigiriya rock that offers breathtaking views over the lush landscape, visit ancient dagobas and temples in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Kandy and see wild elephants around the parks of Minneriya. This area has the highest concentration of Asian elephants in the wild and a tour is highly recommended. Sri Lanka’s center is famous for its vast tea plantations and hilly landscape. We toured the Bluefield Tea Factory, explored Nuwara Eliya, and took the train over the famous Nine Arches Bridge before visiting Ella. The train path through this area is very scenic and ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. Ella is a nice, tranquil town in the hills, surrounded by beautiful nature and offers different activities. On our way South, we stopped for one night in Yala for safari and then relaxed for the rest of the trip by the beaches. A stop in Galle should also be on your bucket list.

Here are our travel tips for Sri Lanka.

Check out our itinerary: Cultural Triangle – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Nine Arches Bridge – Yala – Hiriketiya Bay – Galle – Weligama Bay

What You Need To Know about Sri Lanka

Best time to visit Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is only 700 km north of the equator and temperatures are tropical year round. We visited during the shoulder season between April/May and had fantastic weather during the entire trip, with almost no rain. Best season for the west and south is December – mid-May and best season for the east coast is May – September. The peak season for the West/South is January/February.

Driving in Sri Lanka: I love the independence of self-driving, however, I’m so glad that we opted to hire a car with driver. It’s not only cheaper, but so much more convenient as streets are narrow, traffic kind of crazy, parking sometimes limited and you drive on the left. Having a driver was also convenient as you can be dropped off and picked up from different places which allowed us to see more. We booked our driver through a referral and couldn’t have been happier. Our driver Thilina Madusanka  was professional, always on time, very accommodating and was so flexible around our needs. Here is a link to his Facebook Page “Travel with Thili” or you can contact him via What’s App at +94 7511 35595.

Train: Sri Lanka’s train is considered as one of the most beautiful train journeys in Asia. It’s certainly a bucket list item for your trip, but it’s inconvenient and slow for your daily transfers. We opted to take some parts of our trip through Sri Lanka’s center by train and absolutely loved the experience. Our driver dropped us at Haputale station and we took the train through Ella, over the famous Nine Arches Bridge to Demodara Station. The best part was sitting in the open train doors and having your feet hang off the train along the ride (ultimate feeling of freedom!). Also, the train arrived and departed 15 minutes ahead of schedule, so again, the train can be quite unreliable if it is your main mean of transportation. By having our driver we also didn’t need to deal with luggage on the train and were picked up once we got off. Link to train schedule and routes.

Local Airline in Sri Lanka: The local Sri Lankan airline is Cinnamon Air, which offers limited connections throughout the island.

Entry Requirements: Sri Lanka requires an entry Visa that needs to be requested in advance by completing an application. Link to application. Cost $50 per traveler. Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is only required when traveling from high risk countries.

Budget: Luckily, Sri Lanka is very affordable and has many great options for your wallet. Most hotel rooms were around $100 per night; however, you can also find options in the $25-$40 range with A/C. We noticed prices slightly higher in the South, as it is more touristy.

Wellness: Sri Lanka offers great spa options and wellness treatments, including the Ayurveda practice. You will find plenty of options across the island, with very affordable offers. A 50 minute massage is around $20-30.

What to pack: Mosquito spray & sunscreen. Consider bringing a light jacket if you are planning to hike Adam’s Peak or visit the hillside during the cooler months.

Dress code: Sri Lanka’s weather is tropical so we dressed very light. Just consider bringing at least one scarf when visiting any Buddhist temple, as knees and shoulders must be covered during your visit. You also need to take off your shoes, so remember to bring socks as the ground can get very hot.

If there was more time: There is so much to see and do in Sri Lanka! I really love our itinerary, but if I had more time, I would also consider visiting Wilpattu National Park, which is supposed to have a high concentration of leopards and hike Adam’s Peak for sunrise. A visit of Horton Plains National Park could also be considered and offers a 9km hike to Baker’s Fall and World’s End. And of course, there is always the East coast or the North to explore as well.

Cuisine: Sri Lanka offers delicious choices and by the end of your trip you will be missing Hoppers and Curry for breakfast. Sri Lankan food is quite spicy but as long as you tell them your spice preference, you won’t have issues. Some of my favorites include Roti (typical bread), different curry dishes, including the local dhal curry, Egg Hoppers for breakfast, milk-rice and delicious seafood options.

Itinerary

3 Days in the Cultural Triangle

Day 1 | Dambulla & Elephant Safari

• Due to our flight schedule, we opted to skip Colombo; however, you could always consider spending the first day in Colombo or Negombo
• We were picked up from the airport and headed straight up to the Cultural Triangle and made Sigiriya our homebase for this part of the trip. Sigiriya offers beautiful views of the famous Sigiriya Rock and is quite centrally located to visit Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and the local parks to see wild Asian elephants.
• Morning: visit to the famous Dambulla Cave Temples. The driver will drop you at the bottom staircase of the main entrance and you can leave the Cave Temples by walking down on the other side and exiting by the Golden Temple.
• Afternoon: Hurulu Forest, Minneriya and Kaudulla National Park have the highest concentration of Asian elephants in the wild and a tour is highly recommended. Morning tours are best for bird watching, while afternoons are best to see elephants. We booked an afternoon Jeep Safari in Hurulu Forest and had a great experience. The tour company confirmed the day prior which park to visit based on the best sighting of elephants. The park can get crowded with many jeeps and we were lucky with our driver who took us off the beaten path. We booked this tour with Minneriya Wild Tours and our driver Kumara was fantastic.
• Hotel: Aliya Resort & Spa

Day 2 | Anuradhapura & Sigiriya

• Morning: We visited Anuradhapura and explored this ancient kingdom by bike with a guide, which is a great way to get around. Entrance to the site is $30 per person. Unfortunately, our guide was not great. There weren’t too many options that offer a bike-sightseeing package, but you can probably book it on site and save money as well. The visit of Anuradhapura will also take you to the famous Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree. This is the company we booked with which I don’t recommend.
• Depending on your schedule, you could also plan for a stop at Mihin Tale
• Afternoon: The visit of the famous Sigiriya Rock was one of our trip highlights. The recommended duration is 2 hours, but you can do it in less time. It took us about 30 minutes to walk up to the top. You certainly want to plan for many photo stops as the views are breathtaking along the way and the hike is quite scenic. Entrance tickets were around $36 and you can book your tickets on site. Here is more information.
• If you love sunsets, then either stay on top of Sigiriya or watch it from neighboring Pidurangala which offers breathtaking views of the Sigiriya Rock. The latter is my reco. Just be mindful that Pidurangala gets quite busy and we ended up being in a queue getting to the top.

Day 3 | Polonnaruwa & Kandy

• Morning: If you are up for more sightseeing, then visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa
• Afternoon: On our drive to Kandy, we visited Nalanda Gedige, the central point of Sri Lanka. In Kandy we visited the famous tooth temple, Sri Dalada Maligawa and walked around the lake.
• We continued our drive south and spent the night in a hotel along the way
• Hotel: Misty Villa Powered by TSC
• If we had more time we would have added a visit of the Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex

Through Sri Lanka’s Central Landscapes

Day 4 | Nuwara Eliya, Ella & Nine Arches Bridge

• We continued our drive in the direction of Ella and stopped at the Rombada Falls along the way for a quick swim. Next, we toured the Bluefield Tea Factory, got to harvest tea leaves, learned about tea production and ended the tour with a tasting. I really enjoyed this quick stop and highly recommend a visit of a tea factory while you are in this area.
• Our next stop was Nuwara Eliya, a Colonial town in the hills at an altitude of 1900 meters, offering cooler temperatures. We stopped here for a quick visit of the Post office, a walk through the Queen Victoria Park and a short stroll along the lake. An unexpected surprise stop was our visit of the Adma Agro Strawberry Farm Shop for a delicious strawberry pancake.
• We planned to take the scenic train from Haputale station through Ella, over the famous Nine Arches Bridge to Demodara Station (one stop following Ella). The scenery is so gorgeous and you get to sit in the open doors between the train wagons with your feet hanging out. The train path doesn’t go along the road on this part, so you have a totally different experience from driving. By having our driver drop us off and pick us back up, we also had the luxury of not dealing with any luggage. Train ticket was $0.20 and when getting off in Demodara Station, you get a bonus view of the train coming back around. Just be mindful that the train schedule can be a little unreliable as our train arrived and departed 15 minutes ahead of schedule. This was the last thing I would have expected to happen in Sri Lanka! Link to train schedule and routes.
• Following our train excursion, we visited Ella, and spent the remaining afternoon in this enchanted little town. We also couldn’t resist to Zipline over the lush hills with Ravana’s Mega Zipline and then enjoyed the sunset views from Ravana’s Pool Club. Little Adam’s Peak is also a great alternative.
• Recommendation to spend the night in Ella or vicinity. Alternative option to continue the drive south and stay in Yala or if you are skipping safari, then head straight to the beach. Note: our actual itinerary varied slightly over the next day, as we were traveling in a group of 5 and had a tighter schedule. We visited Yala for a morning safari which I don’t recommend.

Day 5 | Ella & Yala

• Morning: continue the drive south, with option to visit some waterfalls along the way as for example the Diyaluma Waterfall with it’s upper pool or the Ravana Falls. Helpful link to learn more about different waterfalls in Sri Lanka.
• Afternoon: if you decide to add a stop in Yala, then I recommend an afternoon/evening safari which gives you the highest chances of seeing the leopard in the wild. Block 5 is less crowded and has good sighting chances. Consult with your local hotel / safari company on best sighting opportunities depending on your travel time. Also, if you have done safari’s before in Africa, then you may also skip this activity.

Sri Lanka’s Beaches in the South

Day 6 – 7 | Hiriketiya Bay

• Ready for some nice relaxing time by the beach? We chose Hiriketiya Bay for our Beach spot and couldn’t have been happier. Most Sri Lankan Beaches in the South have quite strong currents, and this protected bay was perfect for relaxing, swimming & surf. After all the driving of the previous days, it felt great to be walking distance to restaurants and bars, the beach, wellness and yoga studios. I could have happily stayed here longer than just 2 nights and this place was really special, less touristy and more authentic than some of the beaches as you get closer west.
• Hotel: Taboo – great, clean, simple hotel in perfect location
• Restaurants:
  • Smoke & Bitters is perfect for sunset cocktails or dinner. We booked Hut #1 for dinner which was a super nice experience. Listed as Asia’s Top 50 Bars. What’s App to make reservation: +94.76.624.5520
  • La Playa was another favorite with great food, drinks and beach view
  • Le Mond – we missed lunch hours, but the location was fantastic
• Things to do in the area:
  • Silent Beach was a beautiful relaxing beach stop along the way
  • Rekawa Beach is a recommended beach to see baby turtles hatch if you are there at the right time

Day 8 – 10 | Galle, Mirissa Beach, Weligama & Turtle Farm

• On our way west, we stopped at the most southern point, the Lighthouse of Dondra, which offers beautiful views
• You could also plan for a stop in Matara to visit its Fort and the Muhiyideen Jumma Moschee
• To close out our trip, we choose a hideaway in the hills and got to enjoy the beautiful Tabula Rasa Resort & Spa which lies between Galle and Mirissa Beach
• From here we explored the historic town and fortress of Galle which is absolutely worth a visit. Sunsets from here are gorgeous and the town offers great restaurants and shops
• Things to see in Galle:
  • Walk along the fortress that surrounds the historic part of town and visit the lighthouse
  • Restaurants in Galle: We had dinner at 1710. Also great options are Church Street Social or The Bungalow Galle Fort
• We spent most of our time in Weligama Bay as it is great for swimming & surf. Mirissa Beach is lovely to visit in the evenings and offers great dining options along the beach. We also spent a lot of time in Ahangama, which offers great Cafes overlooking the beach. Our favorites were Marshmellow Cafe, Cactus Ahangama and Ceylon Sliders Ahangama. Hotel de Uncles offers great cocktails with a view.
• One of my bucket list items was to visit a Turtle hatchery and I loved my visit of the Sea Turtle Farm & Hatchery Koggala. Sri Lanka is home to 5 of the 7 Sea Turtle species in the world and their beaches are popular hatching grounds. Unfortunately, some turtle eggs are being stolen or misplaced, and this center recovers these compromised eggs and keeps them safe. Once the turtle babies hatch, they are being released into the Ocean. What’s App to confirm baby turtle release schedule: +94.77.311.1365. This center is also taking care of injured sea turtles which was quite heartbreaking. Humans cause so much damage to the environment and many sea turtles are being injured by fishing nets or hooks, motor boats or the high amount of plastic in the waters. We should all be reminded on how fragile many of these animals are and how sad it is to see them suffer from damages caused by humans. Avoid plastic products and packaging and look for sustainable alternatives whenever available. We can all make small impacts.
• Additional Beach options: Secret Beach, Unawatuna & Midigama Beach
• Hotel: Tabula Rasa Resort & Spa

Blog Post as of May 2024