Welcome to a land of ancient wonders, where vibrant cultures mix with amazing landscapes to create an unforgettable travel destination. Sri Lanka is the teardrop-shaped island in the heart of the Indian Ocean with stunning scenery and lots of incredible experiences.
Visit the quiet serenity of Sigiriya, the misty heights of Ella, and the sun-kissed beaches of the southern coast. If you’re an adventure seeker looking for thrilling wildlife encounters, or simply a traveller in search of beautiful views, Sri Lanka has something for everyone.
We had such an epic 10 day trip and I’m so excited to share this action-packed itinerary and travel guide with you!
Itinerary
I went on a girls trip to Sri Lanka in Summer 2023. We wanted to have a full itinerary and we wanted to see as much of the island as possible.
Having spoken to people who had visited before, we were recommended to hire a driver for our trip to easily travel around the island.
Our friend gave us the number for a man called Thusitha and he was absolutely amazing! We paid $575 for 9 days of the trip.
Generally, prices are given in rupees or dollars across Sri Lanka.
If you are considering going to Sri Lanka and wishing to hire a driver, please contact me for Thusitha’s number as he was honestly amazing.
As well as driving us to our hotels, he recommended activities for each of our days and also organised them for us. He organised a trip to see elephants in the national park as well as a whale watching tour in Mirissa.
We arrived late at night so we took a taxi to our hotel in Negombo and Thusitha picked us up early in the morning to travel to our first destination; Sigiriya.
Sigiriya
For our first stop, we drove to Sigiriya. We stayed at Nivadoo Resort for 2 nights. The resort was beautiful and gave definite jungle vibes! Our room was a squeeze for 3 of us and did get quite hot even with the air con. But we enjoyed the experience even so! We spent a lot of our time chilling at the bar/restaurant in the evening playing card games so only really used the room for sleeping. It looks small but the room also had a bathroom at the back!
The resort had a restaurant where we had breakfast included and ate dinner on both evenings. The food and drinks was great, local and really affordable.
For one afternoon, we hung around the pool area. The pool was quite cold but great to counteract the hot sun! The resort was quiet on the whole throughout our stay.
Lion’s Rock, Sigiriya
On our first afternoon in Sigiriya, we visited Lion’s Rock. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its historical and architectural significance. As you enter the site, Lion’s rock rises dramatically above the rest of the landscape. This ancient rock fortress showcases the remnants of a once-thriving kingdom dating back to the 5th century AD. Its name originates from the massive lion-shaped gateway that once guarded the entrance to the royal palace perched atop the rock. We climbed the rock itself via a series of steep staircases and pathways; I found it particularly scary for someone who is afraid of heights! I managed it but I struggled.
We hired a guide to take us around the site. Our driver, Thusitha, sorted this for us on the car park when we arrived. There were lots of guides around and Thusitha chose someone he had used before. The guide was really informative and took photos of us too! He was really kind and stayed with us throughout the visit. He was so helpful when I was climbing up and down the steep stairs of Lion’s Rock and he walked backwards in front of me as I was so nervous!
The surrounding grounds are gorgeous and filled with impressive frescoes, landscaped gardens, and intricate water gardens. You walk through the site accompanied by lots of wildlife, monkeys especially! Even up to the top of the rock, monkeys are everywhere. They are absolutely fine and so used to tourists.
At the summit, the panoramic views are breath-taking, offering glimpses into Sri Lanka’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
Pidurangala Rock, Sigiriya
On our second day in Sigiriya, we climbed Pidurangala rock which is one of the only other high points in the landscape next to Lion’s Rock. It is a separate climb and needs the same amount of time to visit as Lion’s Rock, so we went the following day.
Let me paint you a picture of Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya. You’re on this epic adventure, hiking up this rugged rock formation surrounded by nothing but lush jungle vibes. Yes, that’s the vibe of Pidurangala. As you make your way up, scrambling over boulders and weaving through the greenery, you start to catch glimpses of something majestic peeking through the trees. And then bam! You reach the summit, and oh my goodness, the view. It’s like something out of a dream. From up there, you can see it all – the iconic silhouette of Lion’s Rock rising proudly in the distance, surrounded by a sea of greenery stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s a moment that makes you feel small in the best possible way, reminding you of the beauty and grandeur of the world around us.
Trust me, Pidurangala is more than just a hike – it’s an experience you’ll never forget. We took some gorgeous pictures at the top, looking out at the view of Lion’s Rock. There were monkeys up there again with us and they managed to sneak on some of our photos!
Also my favourite thing to do is put my hands in the air for photos; I need a new pose.
Kaudulla National Park, Sigiriya
Later on the same afternoon as Pidurangala Rock, we continued our adventure around Sigiriya and visited Kaudulla National Park. This beautiful park offers an exhilarating wildlife experience amidst its diverse landscape.
The park is renowned for its elephant gatherings, where herds roam freely in their natural habitat. Embarking on a safari in an open-top jeep allows visitors to witness these majestic creatures up close, against the backdrop of lush greenery and serene lakes. Nothing quite compares to roaming around a national park in a jeep with your friends having the best time ever watching elephants just living their lives. In that moment, surrounded by the beauty of nature, I created a fabulous core memory that will stay with me forever.
Our driver, Thusitha, again organised the activity for us using people he already knew. We moved into a different jeep to do the safari but Thusitha stayed with us. The price was $30 each for the experience (around £24 each) which we thought was well worth it. The entrance to the park can be quite busy with lots of jeeps waiting for customers. There are only so many jeeps allowed in the park at once.
We met our jeep at another location outside of the park and when we arrived we went straight in without having to queue. I’m not sure why, perhaps because we had arrived in our jeep already? Either way, it was less time spent queuing and more time in the park seeing the elephants and we were so thankful for that!
On our way back to Nivadoo resort, we stopped of at the Kitchen Restaurant and had a beer sat on the balcony at the top. There were some other tourists downstairs eating but we decided just to have a drink before going back to the hotel; it had been a long day!
Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya
The next morning, we left for Kandy. On our way, we stopped off at the Dambulla cave temple. The temple is an amazing testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage. Carved into a massive rock formation, the UNESCO World Heritage Site houses a complex of five caves adorned with stunning Buddhist murals and over 150 intricately carved statues.
There are lots of steps to climb to the top, but the views on the way up are worth it. We had panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and we were joined by monkeys climbing with us all the way up! Each cave holds its own treasures, from the colossal reclining Buddha statue in the first cave to the vibrant paintings depicting scenes from the life of Buddha in the other caves. Climbing to the summit isn’t just a physical journey; it’s supposed to be a spiritual and cultural experience too that many people throughout history have done before.
Kandy
For our next hotel, we stayed at Theva Residences. We chose the hotel for its views over the hilltop. It was a 15 minute drive away from the main town. The hotel was beautiful and had an infinity pool overlooking the town below. When we arrived we decided to spend the afternoon by the pool and then go out for some food and drinks later.
We headed to Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar & Restaurant for our dinner and drinks while watching the sunset. We sat on a table at the end of the balcony, enjoying the views. The skies weren’t too dramatic on this evening due to the cloud cover and the sun setting behind some distant mountains, but we still enjoyed ourselves immensely. The drinks were strong and very cheap! I’m sure it was happy hour for the whole evening we were there.
Kandy Botanical Gardens
Our next day was spent exploring Kandy. We visited the beautiful botanical gardens and spent a few hours strolling around and chatting. There were lots of monkeys again; they were everywhere! All over the paths and hanging around in the trees. Some were just chilling on the sign posts.
The gardens themselves were massive and we tried to explore it all. There was a lake in the middle and a bit central walkway with palm trees lining the path. It was really beautiful. I’ve been to a few botanical gardens and this one might be my favourite. The other memorable one I’ve visited was in Singapore and that was also fabulous.
In the afternoon, we went for some lunch and a wander around Kandy town. For lunch, we went to the Vegan Tranquil Rose. We had pizzas and smoothies on the little roof terrace; it was lovely!
We wandered round the town a bit more but it was so busy and there were hardly any tourists. One of the popular things is the Kandy Cultural Dance Show. Every few steps we would get asked to buy tickets for this show! The show was later on in the afternoon and we had planned to head back to the hotel to relax so we decided against going, however I since researched it and it looks good! One of the top activities to do in Kandy, so it is perhaps worth checking out.
Kandy Sunset
We saw one of the best sunsets of the holiday at our hotel in Kandy. The sky was beautiful! The skyline and scenery was amazing and the sky turned some dramatic shades of orange, purple and pink.
The Theva Residences are so high up over Kandy that the view is incredible anyway but seeing the hills and mountains lit up by the colours of the sunset was even more stunning.
Kandy to Ella Scenic Train Ride
The next morning, we took the popular train ride from Kandy to Ella. The train is approximately 7 hours long, which sounds like a lot but really didn’t feel that long.
The train meanders through the scenic highlands of Sri Lanka and makes specific stops at points of beauty for you to get off and take photos. There are normal train station stops along the way too for passengers to get on and off.
As the train chugs along, you are treated to breath-taking views of mist-covered mountains, verdant tea plantations, and cascading waterfalls. This iconic route is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and charming villages that dot the countryside. From the comfort of the train’s windows, you can see the daily rhythms of life unfold, from locals tending to their tea gardens to children playing by the tracks. The journey is not just a means of transportation; it’s an immersive experience that captures the essence of Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
It was such a great experience! You are allowed to open the door and lean out to take some photos as the train goes along. It’s not particularly safe and you have to be really careful, but nobody stops you and everyone is leaning out the windows to get the perfect shot. People all along the train sit with their feet out the doors, watching the scenery fly by. Make sure to take drinks, snacks and entertainment with you!
I think we tried to nap for a few hours along the way but also read our books, chatted and just gazed out the window. Time just flew by and it was a fabulous journey.
Booking the Kandy to Ella Train
I highly recommend doing this train journey if you can! You have to book in advance for the train journey as it does sell out. We used bookaway.com to organise the tickets. You can only book 30 days in advance, so be prepared. We travelled in the air conditioned first class carriage and booked our seats too. The price was slightly more expensive but still affordable. We chose the 8:47am train but there’s also one a bit later just after 11am. We arrived in the afternoon to Ella and it was raining.
In fact throughout the trip down to Ella, the bright and sunny sky got steadily more dark and dismal until the clouds became very ominous and the skies opened. It really started raining heavily for the first time on our trip! We travelled in August and it can be rainy in southern Sri Lanka at that time of year.
Ella
In Ella, we stayed at the Morning Dew Boutique hotel and it was honestly the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in for views of the surrounding area. I can’t begin to tell you how incredible the view from the rooftop was. We got up at 5am just to watch the sunrise from the roof, it was that good. Pictures don’t do it justice.
Our room was great too! The bathroom in the Morning Dew was the best feature; it had a floor to ceiling window with views over the mountains.
Ella isn’t very big and there’s only a few roads that make up the town centre but it is really lively and there’s lots of places to eat and drink. We went to Cafe Chill both nights for dinner as we enjoyed it that much! It was really busy and we were lucky the first night to get a table at the front of the balcony upstairs. We mentioned that we wanted to come again the second night and they saved us a table just in case we missed out. We played card games on some bean bags during our second night – we spent many hours playing card games!
Ella Nine Arches Bridge
On our next morning, we visited the famous Nine Arches Bridge – one of the top things to do in Ella.
The Nine Arches Bridge stands over a lush, forested gorge with spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The bridge is special because you can walk across it, next to the train tracks taking photos of the fabulous views. Everyone plans their visit so that the panoramic train comes out of the tunnel and passes over the bridge and the tracks. People crowd around the entrance to the tunnel, waiting for the train to appear with some loose security making sure no one is actually stood on the tracks!
It’s a great experience; the train passing through, the views of the bridge and the surrounding scenery from high up on the hillside is well worth it. Also, make sure to grab some fresh coconuts from the stall!
Ravana Pool Club
In the afternoon, we fancied a pool day so we went to Ravana Pool club. We paid around 7500 rupees (around £70) altogether for a VIP sunbed in the pool. Some of this cost was redeemable on drinks and food. There was a happy hour on when we arrived too!
The views from the pool were amazing! The pool club is attached to a bigger hotel resort and well worth paying to spend a day or afternoon here. Unfortunately, after a few hours it started raining. We moved undercover and ordered some food. It was quite nice at first sat on some sofas watching the rain around us but it soon became quite full of people trying to take cover and the food service was quite slow as it seemed everyone wanted food at that moment! Because we were quite high up and surrounded by mountains, it became quite chilly without the sun on us too.
Unawatuna
The final main stop on our Sri Lankan adventure was Unawatuna.
We booked a room in Sielen Diva villa and it was fabulous. We had the whole villa pretty much to ourselves. I think there was one other couple staying but we didn’t see them. The villa was right on the beach and it was a short ride to the main town. There was a chef at the villa who made the best food. Easily the best food of the whole holiday. We stayed in the Aliya suite which was separate from the main building and looked straight out to the sea. The room was massive!
We went for a little walk down the beach when we arrived and stumbled across a rope swing hung off a palm tree. That was a fun activity but difficult. It looked easy but you needed to hang on for dear life as it swung over the sea! There was a guy stood next to the rope and helping you get on it for a small fee. You got three goes to swing on it. I’m sure it wasn’t his personal tree or his rope specifically as it looked like it had been there for ages, but he was pretty helpful when I was a bit nervous to jump off at first.
Mirissa Whale Watching Boat Trip
We were on the fence about going on a whale watching trip but we decided to go for it simply because we were in Sri Lanka and why not?
Mirissa, located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, is renowned as one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Here, the warm Indian Ocean waters are home to a diverse array of marine life, including majestic blue whales, playful dolphins, and graceful sperm whales. With its ideal geographical position, Mirissa offers prime conditions for spotting these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. We heard that the boat trip could be quite a rough ride but we weren’t prepared for how vicious the waves were that day!
The weather hadn’t been amazing on the south coast whilst we were there but the sea was really choppy on the day that we went on the boat trip. It was not a great experience really but only because of the rough sea. Lots of people were being sick which then made everyone else feel sick! For me, it was really difficult to concentrate on the excitement of seeing whales. It was a difficult trip.
We did see a few whales popping their tales out of the water and our boat was quite good at finding the perfect spot to watch them. We remained a good distance away at all times although some of the other boats were getting naughtily close. Our captain was getting a bit angry with them.
Overall it was a good trip but try to check the weather and the water conditions in advance if you can, because that really made a difference!
Negombo
We spent our last night in Negombo, watching the sunset from a rooftop bar then heading out for pizza for tea. We played a few card games, had a glass or two of wine and then got our final tuk tuk back to the hotel.
We stayed at the Regal Reseau Hotel, which was right next to Negombo beach. The rooftop bar is gorgeous and the sun sets right over the horizon. We went to Prego Italian Restaurant for tea – we weren’t looking for italian food specifically but it had great reviews and was just down the road from the hotel. We sat on a comically large round table on the balcony and played our final rounds of cards to end the holiday. It was a perfect end to the trip and the food was lovely!
