How to Plan the Perfect Trip

Sri Lanka is a travel destination that has it all. This teardrop-shaped island off the coast of India has been through its fair share of hardships in the past, but over the past two years it has emerged as one of the most vibrant and attractive countries to travel to. Tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024 are expected to increase by 60% compared to the same period in 2023, a bright spot for this resilient nation.

Home to awe-inspiring cultural attractions, sacred pilgrimage sites, tea plantations and laid-back beach towns, Sri Lanka is a fascinating country that attracts all types of travellers, from families and honeymooners to foodies and surfers. Time Out magazine ranked Sri Lanka #1 of the best places for solo female travellers. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Sri Lanka.

season

Located south of India and east of the Maldives, Sri Lanka is a tropical country close to the equator with two monsoon seasons: the southwest monsoon from May to September and the northeast monsoon from December to February.

logistics

Travelling around Sri Lanka is made easy with Cinnamon Air, Sri Lanka’s largest domestic airline. The airline operates scheduled daily flights to popular destinations (a 30-minute flight to Sigiriya saves you a five-hour drive) and also offers private charter flights at competitive rates. Cinnamon Air owns three aircraft, including two seaplanes, giving them the flexibility to land in a variety of terrains, including the natural reservoir at Castlereagh and Lake Koggala in the south.

If you prefer to travel by road, there are plenty of taxi services available throughout Sri Lanka and the roads are surprisingly well maintained. In Colombo, you can get around using Uber, the PickMe app or a tuk-tuk. For longer journeys, local companies such as TinyCabs and BlueSky Galle Tours offer road transfers and tours throughout the country.

Sri Lanka is also famous for its railways, but book your tickets early. The famous Kandy to Ella train is booked up a month in advance. You can book your tickets directly with 12Go, or use a booking service like Visit Sri Lanka Tours to buy tickets on your behalf at a higher price. In either case, you’ll need to turn up at a Sri Lankan train station with your booking slip to print out your original ticket. Tip: A reserved second class seat is ideal as you can open the window to enjoy the best views.

Sri Lanka is a unique country with a wealth of locally owned boutique hotels scattered throughout the country, so if you’re having trouble choosing where to stay, let We Stay Ceylon help you choose the best unique hotels on the island and create a personalized itinerary.

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle

While many flock to Sri Lanka for the surfing, it’s also worth spending some time exploring the island’s Cultural Triangle. Located in the country’s fertile heartland, the area boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each a testament to Sri Lanka’s long-standing traditions and each worth a visit.

Sigiriya is the jewel of Sri Lanka: the ancient rock fortress that rises 600 feet above the dense jungle canopy served as the fifth residence of Prince Kashyapa.^Number Before its use as a Buddhist temple, it served as a royal palace in the 19th century. If you have time, it’s also worth climbing Pidurangala Rock, located directly opposite Sigiriya. This other mountain is a nature reserve and perfect for the intrepid traveller.

To the north of Sigiriya is Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital, founded in the 4th century.^Number Built in the 18th century, this temple complex has flourished for over 1,000 years and remains an important pilgrimage site, with its large pagoda and sacred fig tree (a descendant of the Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment).

You can also visit Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second capital, with its monumental ruins dating back to the 11th century.^Number Until 13^Number Spanning centuries, the ruins have spread across 1,100 square miles and include intricately carved palaces, city council buildings and impressive shrines. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the five nearby Dambulla caves, which are decorated with more than 150 Buddha statues.

At the southern end of the Cultural Triangle lies Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings and now the second largest city after the capital Colombo. Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, which is said to house one of the Buddha’s teeth. Three ceremonies are held here every day, allowing visitors to experience this unique tradition.

Hill Country

As you head south from Kandy, you’ll encounter the lush, hilly country of Sri Lanka. The island is known for its tropical climate, but it’s also the fourth largest tea producer in the world, which is impressive for a relatively small territory. This is thanks to the cool, misty mountains that surround cities like Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Hatton.

Introduced by the UK in 19^Number Tea remains ubiquitous in Sri Lankan culture, even after coffee rust devastated the country’s coffee plantations in the 19th century. Ceylon tea, its colonial name, dominates the country’s more than 400 tea plantations. Tea is still picked by hand by skilled laborers, mostly Tamil women, who can be seen hard at work throughout the country’s colorful, rolling plantations.

In Nuwara Eliya, visit the Pedro Tea Estate, and in Ella, take a short tuk-tuk ride to Ubaharpewatte for an educational factory tour. Railways were developed to transport tea and other goods from inland areas to coastal ports, so a train ride is a must-do when in the region. The Kandy-Ella line is the best known and sells out quickly, so consider the alternative from Nuwara Eliya to Hatton, where you can relax by the stunning and truly otherworldly Castlereagh Reservoir.

Coast

Sri Lanka has 800 miles of coastline, so sunbathers and surfers will have plenty of options. Where you go will depend on the season. If you’re visiting between December and April, head to the south and west, where Sri Lanka’s tourism is most developed. From Colombo to Tangalle, there are dozens of beach towns worth visiting, so you’ll have a few to choose from.

Bentota, with its beautiful garden villas “Lunuganga” and “Brief Garden”, will delight architecture and culture lovers, while Hikkaduwa is famous for its turtle hatchery and the Tsunami Museum, which commemorates those lost in the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 30,000 people in Sri Lanka.

The Dutch-Portuguese fortified city of Galle is a must-see with its colonial architecture and many boutique hotels, while Ahangama is the newest trendy spot with lively bars, concept shops and cool hotels. Weligama and Mirissa have been popular surfing spots for the past decade and many whale watching tours depart from here. Further east, Hiriketiya is another little surfing paradise with beach clubs and cool cocktail lounges where you can stay out until the early hours.

If you’re looking for a unique nature and culture tour along the south coast, contact Donga. Founded by four friends, this small, sustainable tour company offers immersive mangrove tours of Lake Koggala, Sinharaja rainforest treks, pottery experiences, walking tours and more.

Visit between May and November and you’re likely to enjoy sunny days along the northern and eastern coasts. The most popular resort towns in the region are Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Arugam Bay.

Safari

Sri Lanka is Asia’s most biodiverse country, and you can see it in the 25 national parks scattered across the island. The most famous is Yala National Park, which has the world’s highest density of leopards, but its popularity means it can get busy. Other options include Minneriya, close to Sigiriya (a good choice for a half-day tour), and Udawalawe, known for its large population of Asian elephants.

Other animals that can be seen throughout the national parks include sloth bears, buffalo, deer, jackals and monitor lizards. Sri Lanka is also a great place for birdwatching, with peacocks being seen everywhere and Sri Lankan jungle fowl likely to be spotted along with migratory birds such as flamingos and herons.

Colombo

Most trips to Sri Lanka start and end in Colombo, and it’s worth spending a few nights in the capital to soak up its vibrancy. Highlights include the iconic red-and-white striped Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, the Dutch Hospital shopping district housed in a colonial-era hospital, and the Colombo National Museum, showcasing the country’s history and culture.

To learn more about Sri Lanka’s more contemporary history, visit Residence Number 11, the residence of Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, renowned for his “Tropical Modernism” style, and shop for artisan crafts at boutiques such as Barefoot Gallery and Urban Island.

Looking for more? Discover Sri Lanka’s best coastal hotels and countryside accommodation.