In the event you’re serious about visiting Sri Lanka, you’ll want an epic itinerary that can can help you discover each nook of this lovely island together with one among it’s most underrated hidden gems!
Most travellers solely go to for a short while, so right here’s how one can benefit from a Sri Lanka 10 day itinerary, particularly for those who love nature, the outside and wildlife!
Disclaimer: My journey to Sri Lanka was supported by the Nationwide vacationer board. As all the time, all phrases and opinions are my very own. This text could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. If you buy by means of these hyperlinks, I’ll earn a small fee at no extra price to your self. This helps in the direction of the maintenance of this web site for which I’m grateful.
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Epic 10-day Sri Lanka Itinerary
Day 1 – Colombo
What To Do
Take an open prime double-decker bus tour of town.
You’ll find out about Colombo’s historical past, tradition and heritage while on this “city safari”.
The highlights of the tour embrace Colombo Nationwide Museum, Colombo Lighthouse, Galle face inexperienced, Pettah Bazar, Independence sq., Floating Market, Cinnamon Backyard and the newly constructed Lotus tower.
On prime of that, snacks are supplied in addition to recent coconuts (the easiest way to start out your vacation in my view!).
After this, go to Gangarama Temple, one of many oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo.
Positioned on the Beira Lake, house to dozens of pelicans, it’s simple to see why this lovely temple is essentially the most visited within the metropolis.
Prime Ideas
- If you wish to see town come alive, do the night time model of the bus tour which features a boat experience on Diyawanna Lake
- Put on white to the temple and gown modestly, masking your knees and shoulders.
The place to Keep
The Kingsbury Colombo or the Galle Face Lodge, each have nice buffets and beautiful swimming pools!
Day 2 – Habarana
What To Do
It’s time to see elephants within the wild!
Begin early and drive from Colombo to Habarana which is roughly – 185Km / 4 Hrs.
Relying on the time of yr, the elephants migrate between 3 areas, so ensure you guide a day tour for the right Nationwide Park so that you don’t miss these majestic creatures.
I visited in February 2022 so did a 3 hour jeep safari in Hurulu Eco Park.
We noticed dozens of elephants together with infants throughout this time, and had been in a position to get near them.
There are additionally loads of different animals discovered right here together with leopards, rusty-spotted cats, star tortoise, jungles fowl, parrots, hawks, water buffalo and peacocks.
Notice: You could keep within the jeep always, however there is a chance to get out and stroll to the highest of a hill for a panoramic view of the eco park, I extremely recommend doing this.
Prime Ideas
- Go to on a weekday for those who can, we went on a Saturday and it was very busy with locals.
- Take a raincoat simply incase, we bought hit by a 15 minute bathe that rapidly cleared up and led to a ravishing double rainbow, however with an open jeep you need to be lined!
- Carry 2 x 100 LKR as a tip on your driver and tracker
The place to Keep
I stayed on the Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, that is the place I sampled one among Sri Lanka’s greatest dishes, egg hoppers for the primary time and undoubtedly advocate them!
Day 3 and 4 – Sigiriya
What To Do
Drive 20 minutes from Habarana to Sigiriya. You possibly can discover this space for the subsequent two days.
In that point, check out one of many many journey actions on provide reminiscent of scorching air ballooning and mountain climbing.
My favorite exercise was climbing Sigiriya (Lion Rock).
This distinctive rock fortress or “fort within the sky” is 600 ft above the bottom. The highest of the rock, homes ruins of a former royal palace, and gives lovely views of the encompassing space.
You possibly can spend half a day right here, nonetheless the climb up is simply 45 minutes so don’t fear about problem.
For locals the entry price is 50 Rupees and for foreigners the price is 30 USD (5000 Rupees).
I might additionally recommend climbing Pidurangala Rock, we didn’t have time to do that (this is the reason I recommend staying 2 days).
It’s positioned simply reverse Sigiriya Rock fortress and gives an incredible panoramic view of the realm and the majestic palace.
The entry price is simply 500 LKR per particular person and also you don’t have to pre guide simply pay whenever you arrive.
The hike is simply 30-45 minutes to the highest, and dawn is the proper time to climb up.
Prime Tips
- Hike within the morning earlier than it will get too scorching, each hikes are comparatively quick so this must be doable for any health stage. Notice: Sigiriya is open 7am until 5:30pm, and Pidurangala Rock is open 5am until 5pm.
- There are lots of monkeys discovered alongside the Sigiriya hike, they’re very playful and enjoyable to look at, however all the time watch out of your belongings (particularly meals!)
The place to Keep
Habarana could be very shut so you possibly can stay at Cinnamon Lodge or possibly check out an superior treehouse in Sigiriya.
Day 5 and 6 – Knuckles Mountains
What To Do
Drive 3 hrs (110km) from Sigiriya to Rangala.
That is your likelihood to get away from the crowds and go to one among Sri Lanka’s greatest hidden gems.
The Knuckles mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage website that options 34 peaks starting from 900m to 1900m, of which 5 have a placing resemblance to the knuckles of a clenched fist.
The Knuckles mountains are one of many greatest locations for mountain climbing inside Sri Lanka and embrace lovely loads of trails such because the Excessive Knuckles Trek, Waterfall Trek, Heel Oya trek, Corbett’s Hole trek, and Burnside.
I recommend staying right here for two days so you possibly can expertise a number of hikes.
Together with the Heel Oya trek, a full day hike which takes you thru tea estates, pine forests, terraced paddy fields, waterways, misty hills and even a waterfall you possibly can swim in (carry a towel and swimwear).
The following day you possibly can strive one of many different hikes on provide at Wild Glamping Knuckles together with the Excessive Knuckles Trek, Waterfall Trek, Corbett’s Hole trek, and Burnside.
Prime Ideas
- Take waterproofs, and heat clothes, it’s a lot colder within the mountains than the remainder of Sri Lanka
- Carry a head torch you probably have one, hand torches are supplied however handsfree is all the time simpler
- Alcohol just isn’t served right here, however you possibly can carry a bottle or two from Sigiriya
The place to Keep
Keep on the superb Wild Glamping Knuckles resort.
This resort solely has a generator for a couple of hours a day, so be ready to go off the grid, embrace the attractive environment and go away catching up in your emails for after this expertise.
Every glamping tent sleeps 2 and has a desk, wardrobe, and an ensuite toilet with scorching water.
Conventional Sri Lankan breakfast and lunch are served, and for dinner there’s a each day BBQ by candlelight.
This luxurious tent keep, was my favorite expertise in Sri Lanka, and is simply one of many greatest causes for visiting Sri Lanka ASAP.
Day 7 – Nuwara Eliya
What To Do
Drive 3.5 hrs from Rangala to Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya, nicknamed Little England, is a metropolis within the tea nation hills of central Sri Lanka.
It’s the greatest place to go to a tea plantation and do a tea plucking tour or a manufacturing facility tour.
The town itself is house to British colonial-style buildings, a ravishing lake and a novel publish workplace.
Prime Ideas
- Carry heat clothes, Nuwara Eliya experiences cool and crisp evenings.
The place to Keep
Keep on the beautiful St.Andrew’s Lodge, a historic resort with lovely widespread rooms and lovely English model gardens.
Within the evenings, put the log fireplace on, and luxuriate in a comfortable night time in with a guide or a glass of wine.
Day 8 and 9 – Mirissa
What To Do
Drive 6 hours (230 Km) from Nuwara Eliya to the Southern coast of Sri Lanka.
The primary cease is Mirissa, one of many hottest seashore locations in Sri Lanka.
It’s nice for many who get pleasure from browsing, snorkelling, swimming, crusing, fishing and scuba diving.
The primary day will probably be principally touring, however you possibly can calm down or do any of the above actions within the afternoon or night, or head over to the Ayurvie Weligama retreat and have an Ayurveda therapeutic massage (I can advocate their leg therapeutic massage!).
The following morning you have to to get up early and go away at 6am to go whale watching.
Mirissa harbour is simply 10 minutes drive from the resort, and breakfast and lunch will probably be supplied as a part of the whale watching crusing tour.
Mirissa is the perfect place for whale and dolphin watching between November and April.
You possibly can spot sperm whales, killer whales, Bryde whales, quick finned whales, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins and the elusive blue whale (the most important mammal on this planet!).
We spent the morning onboard the boat, and noticed dozens of dolphins up shut and one child blue whale a number of occasions.
The crusing journey additionally included time to swim or paddle board, so ensure you carry a towel and swimming costume.
The tour finishes at round 2pm and you may both spend extra time in Mirissa having fun with the seashore or instantly switch 1.5 hrs to Bentota to benefit from the night there.
Prime Tip
- Depart early from Nuwara Eliya at round 7 or 8 am so you possibly can arrive in Mirissa after lunch and have time to discover or calm down by the seashore.
- Don’t neglect to carry your sunscreen and a hat onboard the crusing boat, you have to them!
The place to Keep
Keep on the Mandara Resort, this beachfront resort has an incredible pool, seashore bar and personal seashore space.
Day 10 – Bentota
What To Do
Bentota seashore is among the most lovely seashores in Sri Lanka.
Within the morning you are able to do a river safari in Bentota Mangrove Lagoon.
Anticipate to see monitor lizards, river birds and jellyfish as you cruise alongside the tranquil waters.
Within the afternoon, strive a number of the watersports on provide reminiscent of crusing, windsurfing, parasailing, jet snowboarding or paramotoring.
If you wish to simply calm down, then the pool on the Taj Bentota Spa and Resort can’t be overwhelmed!
Prime Tip
The place to Keep
Keep on the Taj Bentota Resort and Spa, guide dinner on the S.H.A.C.Ok seafood restaurant on the garden, and benefit from the many facilities on provide – that is the sort of resort you don’t have to (or need to) go away!
That’s a wrap on this Sri Lanka 10 day Itinerary
That’s the top of this superior itinerary for Sri Lanka for 10 days that’s excellent for wildlife, nature and out of doors journey lovers.
If you wish to embrace extra historical past and tradition, think about swapping the Knuckles Mountains for a few days in Kandy, the place you possibly can see a conventional Kandyan dance present and go to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or go to Anuradhapura if you wish to expertise Sri Lanka’s most vital archaeological website.
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