Top things to do in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is quickly rising as one of Asia’s most popular travel destinations, and Lonely Planet even ranked it as the top country for travel in 2019. This isn’t surprising when you take a quick look at all the country has to offer.

Think delicious food, picture-perfect beaches, great (kite)surfing, beautiful mountain landscapes, hills covered with tea plantations, incredible wildlife, and loads of interesting history.

Not only is the island shaped like a jewel, it truly is a jewel. Sri Lanka is a great destination for any type of traveller, and in this blog post, we’ll tell you the best things to do and the best places to visit. While some are major tourist hotspots, others are lesser-known gems.

Before we start listing the must-dos and must-sees in Sri Lanka, we feel that we need to include that during our time in Sri Lanka we didn’t explore much of the northern and eastern part of the country, as those areas had very bad weather during the weeks that we travelled around the country.

Next, people have been expressing a lot of concerns about going to Sri Lanka after the bombings in April 2019. We can assure you that Sri Lanka is perfectly safe and that you have nothing to worry about.

Getting around in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka isn’t that big, but the roads are few, usually not well maintained and traffic is crazy so driving yourself can be tricky. This means that unless you can afford a private driver, public transport is your primary means of getting from place to place. Luckily there’s plenty and all of them are an experience by themselves.

 

READ NEXT: travel like a local – a guide to travelling in sri lanka

 

Elephant Gathering

Sri Lanka is home to 16 national parks, each one of them full of wildlife including endangered species like Leopards, Sloth Bears, and the Sri Lankan Elephant. The most popular park is Yala National Park, on the south-east coast. Yet we chose to go to Minneriya National Park and here is why.

Every year around August and September, something called The Gathering happens in Minneriya National Park.

During the dry season, the water supplies in this area reduce drastically, but in Minneriya lies a massive water reservoir that doesn’t dry up. Elephants from all over the region gather in Minneriya in search of water, and herds of up to 400 elephants can be seen, making it the largest gathering of Asian elephants known on earth!

We were lucky enough to witness The Gathering when we visited Minneriya National Park and saw a herd of close to 100 elephants!

Elephants are magnificent creatures, but they are still wild animals and should be treated as such. They should be left to roam free, and human presence shouldn’t be too disturbing. When you choose to visit a national park, make sure to do so with legitimate touring companies and always stay in the jeep.

We also want to ask you to stay away from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage as their practices are very questionable. They are supposed to be an elephant orphanage aiming to give elephants a better life, but instead, they use the elephants for commercial purposes. We were unaware of this at first and had a hotel booked in Pinnawala so we could visit the orphanage.

When we got to Pinnawala they had just moved the elephants to the river, and we saw ‘caretakers’ riding elephants, poking them with spears, and chaining them to rocks in the river. They even fenced off access to the river and demanded an entrance fee if you wanted to watch.

The elephants are forced to stay in the river for tourists amusement which is seriously damaging their feet. We saw elephants with algae all over their feet from spending too much time in the water, wounds from spears and chains on their feet, so we decided to cancel our stay in Pinnawala and left. Under no circumstance should anyone ever ride an elephant, and exploiting them like this for commercial purposes is just plain evil.

 

Sigiriya

The ancient rock fortress Sigiriya, or The Lion Rock, is one of the most famous sites in Sri Lanka. But there is so much more to do in Sigiriya!

While the rock and the fortress on top are a magnificent sight, we think that it is way nicer to look at the rock from its surroundings than to look at the surroundings from the top of the rock.

Therefore (and to avoid slowly walking in a massive queue to the top of the rocks where you’ll also be surrounded by crowds) we suggest climbing to the top of Pidurangala Rock, a couple of kilometers north of Sigiriya. From Pidurangala Rock you’ll have a magnificent view over Sigiriya and its surroundings, which is especially stunning during sunrise.

Alternatively, drive to the north side of Thalkote Lake, another couple of kilometers further, to see both rocks standing proudly from across the lake.

 

Kandy

Kandy is the biggest city in central Sri Lanka and used to be the country’s capital during its time of the ancient kings. Set amidst mountains and hillsides covered in tea plantations and other lush greenery, it is the most beautiful inland area in Sri Lanka if you ask us.

The city is home to one of the most sacred Buddhist places in the world; the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, but the city has a lot more to offer.

Visit the massive and beautiful Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, stroll around Kandy lake or climb to one of the hilltops above Kandy to see the massive Kandy Buddha Statue. If you’re in Kandy in July or August, you might be there for the Perahera festival, the countries biggest annual Buddhist festival, for 10 days of parades and shows in the city.

 

Tea Plantations

Sri Lanka is home to Ceylon tea and Lipton. The tea plantations spread over hills and valleys and cover the landscape with lush greens. Visit to a tea plantation is a must while in Sri Lanka, but even better is staying at one, ideally one with breathtaking views.

A bit away from Kandy city lies the Old Frankland Hotel. This boutique hotel is set atop a hill in the middle of a beautiful tea and cinnamon estate with incredible views over flowing hills surrounding it.

We found this place by coincidence when it had just opened, and found the owner and staff to be the most welcoming and friendly people in all of Sri Lanka, showing us around the area and teaching us about tea and cinnamon. And that says something about how friendly the Sri Lankan people are.

Oh, and this place has one of the most amazing infinity pools we’ve ever seen too! This is not sponsored, we just loved it so much!

 

Ella

Ella is a cute, small town in the south of Sri Lanka. It really isn’t much more than a main street and a few side streets but it is always buzzing with people. That is because over the past few years, social media has made Ella world famous for two things; The Kandy – Ella train ride and the Nine Arch Bridge.

The train ride, that goes through green valleys and past hills covered in tea plantations is stunning, but you’ll likely be packed like sardines in a can as it is so overcrowded. As an alternative, we recommend the train line on the southern coast which we enjoyed as least as much, but more on that later.

The Nine Arch Bridge is a must-see in Ella. You get there by walking over the train track starting from Ella train station. Now I can imagine you thinking “OVER THE TRAIN TRACK?! ISN’T THAT DANGEROUS?!”, but don’t worry, it isn’t dangerous.

Locals use this part of the track as a road because a train goes over it only a few times a day, and you can hear and feel trains coming from minutes away. While walking over the track through the jungle you can enjoy some pretty scenic views, and after about half an hour you’ll get to the main event; the Nine Arch Bridge.

This beautiful 30 meter high stone bridge spans over a valley with tea fields and is surrounded by thick bamboo forest. Check the train times before going if you want to see a train going over the bridge while your there, but otherwise we suggest going there as early in the morning as you can. Not only will you beat the crowds, but you’ll also escape the heat, because once the sun hits the train track the heat and humidity gets to extreme levels.

 

Diyaluma Falls

About an hour south of Ella, close to the town of Wellawaya, lie the 220 meter high Diyaluma Falls. This is the 2nd highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, but it is not just the impressive height that makes this waterfall special.

At the top of the falls you can swim in natural pools, right where it drops straight down 220 meters, giving you an incredible view over the jungle and really making you feel like you’re on top of the world! But even if that sounds too scary you can have fun at Diyaluma Falls. A bit further upstream are some smaller waterfalls with deep rock pools that you can jump into.

Most sources tell you to hire a tour guide from the bridge at the bottom of the falls and hike to the top. This is really unnecessary and we’ve found an easier and shorter way to get there.

Get the pdf guide below that will tell you how to get to the top pools without the sweat or a paid guide!

 

Mirissa

Mirissa is a laid back beach town, full of great places to eat or to go for a drink. Like most beach towns on the south coast it has good surf and plenty of yoga retreats.

Mirissa is also one of the few places in Sri Lanka where you can see stilt fishermen.

During the day we recommend to go snorkeling or to just chill on the beach or at one of the many bars. We loved Secret Beach. Although the beach and the bar on it aren’t that much of a secret as you can find Secret Beach on Google Maps, it is a beautiful spot nonetheless.

Mirissa also has one of the best sunsets in the country, and a few great spots to watch the sunset from. The first one is Parrot Rock, a rock that rises up from the sea just in front of Mirissa Beach, but you’ll most likely have to get (at least your feet) wet to get there.

Want to stay dry? Then walk up to Coconut Tree Hill. This little hill with a small cocunut farm on top of it is super picturesque, and the view from it is amazing (unless Tom spoils the view by trying to climb up a tree haha).

 

Galle

The 18th century Dutch fortess, Galle, is a great destination for a day trip from one of the surrounding beach towns and the best place to go shopping on the south coast.

Galle is mainly recognisable by its big fortress walls and iconic white lighthouse, which is a very popular photo spot. Inside the city walls you’ll find heaps of old, charming buildings that have been turned into trendy shops and cafés.

Galle isn’t big, but you can still spend an afternoon strolling around its beautiful little streets, and then end the day with a walk over the ramparts while watching the sun slowly disappear into the sea.

 

Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is another coastal town with beautiful beaches, but it also has something that most other coastal towns don’t have; Hikkaduwa has resident sea turtles! Almost every day two big wild sea turtles come close to shore to feed on the sea weed that grows in abundance.

You can find the sea turtles here. Unfortunately some locals are trying to make money of the turtles by selling sea weed to lure them to you and even touch them and harrass them. Feel free to get into the water with the sea turtles, but under no circumstance touch them and please do not pay the locals so you can feed them.

 

 

Train ride – The best of Sri Lanka

We already mentioned the world-famous train ride from Kandy – Ella. While the scenery along this train track is breathtaking, the train itself was so overcrowded that it we couldn’t really enjoy the view as it was blocked by layers of other people.

Later on our trip we took the train from Hikkaduwa to Colombo, and we unexpectedly enjoyed this train ride as least as much as the Kandy – Ella one. Not only was it far less busy so that we could actually see what was around us, but the landscape the train drives through itself is gorgeous too. You’ll go past beautiful palm tree-lined beaches, through tiny villages where children will wave and cheer as the train goes past, and through dense jungle and bamboo forest.

So if you don’t feel like standing hip to hip with other passengers for hours, or have already been on the Kandy – Ella train and want to see something else, the southern coast train line is a great alternative!

 

Colombo & Negombo

You’ll arrive in Sri Lanka at Bandaranaike International Airport, which lies in between the cities Colombo and Negombo, making either of these cities a good place to start or end your Sri Lankan adventure.

Negombo is a coastal city mainly known for its beach and old Dutch colonial architecture. One of its main attractions is a massive lagoon that is full of fishermen in little wooden canoes.

Colombo is Sri Lanka’s capital and about a quarter of Sri Lanka’s population lives in the city and its suburbs. Colombo is a chaotic yet charming melting pot of different cultures, and you can easily spend a day here wandering through the street markets, eating traditional Sri Lankan food and visiting iconic sites like the Fort Station and the Red Mosque. For a more in-depth guide on Colombo read this blog post for great tips on how to spend 2 days in Colombo.

 

Kitesurfing

Sri Lanka is well known for its great surf on the south coast, but there is also some incredible kitesurfing in Sri Lanka. The Kalpitiya lagoon on the west coast of Sri Lanka has world-class conditions and is a stomping ground for many kitesurfing pros.

 Read next: Ultimate guide to kitesurfing in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has so much to offer and you won’t find this much diversity of things you can see and do in many other countries, making Sri Lanka the perfect travel destination for almost everyone. If you’re looking to travel through the middle and southern parts of the country, these places definitely won’t dissappoint. Any questions about places to visit? Let us know! Already been to Sri Lanka? Let us know too and tell us what your favorite places are!

 

Practical things to know before you go

• Unless you venture far off the beaten path, English is commonly spoken
• You’ll need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, which you can easily get online from the ETA website.
• Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons. From April – June on the south and west coast, and from November to Match on the east coast.
• The tap water in Sri Lanka isn’t safe to drink. So bring a refillable water bottle, preferably one that purifies your water too.
• Sri Lanka’s currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) and everything runs on cash, so make sure to withdraw plenty to last you a while.
• Buy a local SIM card in Sri Lanka. We used Dialog, which is a big provider that has outlets to buy SIM cards or top up all over the country. Their 4G network and coverage are great, we’ve enjoyed a better signal in Sri Lanka than in most western countries.

 

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