Sri Lanka is one of those places that will leave you with a constant smile on your face.
You'll struggle to find a friendlier and more welcoming people than Sri Lankans on your travels. One of the biggest problems you'll face is convincing your hosts that you are genuinely full and can't eat any more of their delicious food!
Add to this some wild beaches, incredible wildlife and some beautiful cultural experiences and you have a destination that ticks all the boxes.
Bucket list Sri Lanka
Quick Summary
Top Tip: Before arriving, download the app "Pick Me". This is the Uber of Sri Lanka and can get you the best prices on even tuk-tuks! You can use it to travel a few hundred metres or even 200km.
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
Visa: Many countries can get a visa on arrival for thirty days, but it is cheaper (and easier) to organise online prior to arrival. You can extend this visa, but it is a painful experience.
Safety: Sri Lanka is a very safe place for travel.
When to go: We visited in June/July and found it to be brilliant. We had a short rain shower every other day (never more than 20 minutes and mainly overnight) and found that we were the only people staying in most hotels!
Peak Season: November - March
Off Season: April - August
Walk My World Cost Index: $$ - Sri Lanka in off-season was very cheap, but this may change at peak times. We were able to find really good hotels for less than $30 USD per night. It's not as cheap as India, but it's not far off.
Location Guides
Ella is one of the most popular places to visit in Sri Lanka. It’s not quite the quiet mountain town we were expecting but it’s still a very beautiful spot. Here are our favourite things to do in Ella.
Pretty much everyone stops in Kandy on their way from Colombo to the Hill Country. Whilst we don’t think it will blow you away, there are enough things to keep you busy for a few days. Here are our thoughts on the best things to do in Kandy.
Haputale has so much to offer and was our favourite place in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. If you’re looking for somewhere quiet and peaceful with great walking tracks and tea plantation views this is the place for you. Here are the best things to do in Haputale, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka might be small but the rewards when travelling around this country are huge. It has it all, stunning beaches, lush green jungle, tea plantations galore and fascinating culture. Here are the best places to visit and things to do in Sri Lanka.
Working out the best time to visit Sri Lanka can be confusing . We took a gamble on June and it turned out to be the best decision we could have made. Here’s why we think the best time to go to Sri Lanka is June.
Sri Lanka is quickly becoming an Instagrammer’s favourite. Whether you’re looking for palm tree rope swings, gorgeous tea plantations or that epic coconut patch, we have you covered in our guide to the most Instagrammable spots in Sri Lanka.
Whilst it may not get the attention of the Hill Country and the Cultural Triangle, Mirissa Beach and the South Coast has a lot to offer. Here are our thoughts on the best things to do in Mirissa and the South Coast of Sri Lanka.
Unawatuna is one of the most popular places on the Sri Lankan South Coast and has plenty of things to keep you busy. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Unawatuna.
Nuwara Eliya sits at 1900m above sea level and has a refreshingly cool climate. However, it also has a lot of rain. In fact, it didn’t stop raining for the entire three days we were there. Here are our tips on the places to visit and things to do in Nuwara Eliya when it rains.
Best things to do in Sri Lanka
The Kandy to Ella train is the most beautiful train journey in Sri Lanka, but the reality might not be quite what you are expecting. Those instagram photos can be really misleading, especially if you don’t plan ahead! Here’s 8 things that no one tells you about the Kandy to Ella train.
How to get to the infinity pools at the top of Diyaluma Falls without a guide! We provide detailed instructions, photos and tips to hike to the top without having to go through overgrown paths or getting lost.
Haputale is one of our favourite places in Sri Lanka. Catching a sunrise at Lipton Seat, followed by an easy amble through the tea plantations afterwards is the best way to start your day there. Here’s our guide to making the most of your trip to Lipton Seat.
Visiting Yala National Park is a highlight of many people’s trip to Sri Lanka. But should you do a full day or half day Yala safari? We share our thoughts on our full day safari experience.
How to find the famous palm tree rope swing at Dalawella Beach, the cost and best time to visit. Plus a few others you’ll want to check out.
Hiking up to Pindurangala Rock for sunrise was one of our favourite experiences in Sri Lanka. Here’s everything you need to know about the hike, how hard it is and whether it is better than the hike at Sigiriya Rock.
The elephant gathering at Kaudulla National Park is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in Asia. Here’s our experience visiting Kaudulla in July, at the height of the gathering.
Nine Arch Bridge is one of the most popular spots in Ella. Getting those classic photos takes a bit of planning but we’ve got you covered in our guide to the best Nine Arch Bridge viewpoints.
The Idalgashinna to Haputale railway walk is one of the best things to do in Haputale. It is a great opportunity to get out and see some incredible views without the need for a guide. We walked a slightly different version to the traditional station to station route, and outline our experience here.
Sri Lanka has so many amazing things to do, it can be hard to work out what to see in just two weeks. If you’re looking for beaches, jungle, culture, wildlife and tea plantations, we have you covered in our perfect 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary.