Everyone knows someone who has been to Sri Lanka. Thousands of blogs feature the must-visit spots, including dining and (sponsored) places to stay. So, is my post going to be any different? Well, for one thing – it’s not sponsored. Second, I wish we had done some things differently. Last but not least we’re not typical tourists and sometimes we seek solitude instead of visiting all the popular places. So, if you are planning a trip to this vibrant island in the Indian Ocean, our Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary will help you make the most of your time and learn from our mistakes. You’re welcome. đ
First things first, I gathered all the information you need about the Sri Lanka road trip in this post. You can also find lots of useful tips and photos on my Instagram account in Sri Lanka highlights. Drop me a line, I donât bite.
Sri Lanka has it all: rich culture, diverse nature, delicious cuisine, endless beaches and exotic animals. You can either try to go âall inâ and squeeze everything in your itinerary, however, in this case, 10 days wonât be enough. Try 14 instead. We had 10 days, so we decided to skip the most famous sight â Sigiriya Rock. It seemed too far away, and we didnât want to be stuck with crowds (February is the peak tourist season in Sri Lanka), so we agreed to forget about it. While I canât say it was a gigantic mistake (we might come back one day and itâs not likely it will disappear), it was definitely doable if we changed a couple of things. Letâs dive into our Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary, day by day, and see if you agree with me.
Day 1: COLOMBO â GAMPOLA
Technically, it was âDay 2â, as we spent the previous night in Colombo due to late-night arrival. It was a good decision to get some rest before our journey. The next morning, we went to pick up our tuk-tuk (yes, we drove a tuk-tuk by ourselves) and headed towards our first destination â the town of Gampola. I didnât want to spend too many km on the road the first day, so I pre-booked a cabana in Aqua Dunhinda Resort for its tranquil environment and good reviews.
Surprise No. 1: finding this resort was quite an adventure but totally worth it. We took it easy, went for dinner, filled the gas, checked the oil (driving a tuk-tuk for the first time wasnât a walk in the park), and drank a bottle of wine to toast our Sri Lanka adventure.
Day 2: PEACOCK HILL – RAMBODA
I found Peacock Hill on Google Maps, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our journey. The road is in bad shape (we probably couldnât have done it without tuk-tuk), but the effortless 20-minute hike uphill through a lush pine forest is worth the bumpy ride. The also known as Monara Gala Mountain rewards you with a 360° view of the green area of Nuwara Eliya and the Kotmale reservoir, which looks like a huge winding river. A bonus on this off-road trip was seeing the first (probably abandoned) tea factory and the majestic dome of the Doragala Buddhist temple.
We arrived at our next destination just in time for lunch with a nice view of Ramboda Falls. This was the first time I tried Sri Lankan curry and one I’ll never forget. You can catch the name of the place in my Instagram highlights. We spent the night in a charming small house on the hill (access was a pain in the ass though), which we booked on the way.
Day 3: RAMBODA FALLS â BOMBURU ELLA â NUWARA ELIYA â ELLA
You can see the Lower Ramboda Falls from many angles on the road, however, to see its entire beauty you need to do a little hiking. We chose the Lower Ramboda Falls, as we had quite a journey planned for this day. The hike starts on the road, where you pay a minimum fee (less than 1 âŹ) and in 10 minutes you reach a fantastic photo spot. We were there alone, which probably means that everyone else visits the Upper Ramboda Falls – a part of the same waterfall system that requires a bit more hiking uphill.
Our original plan was to spend the night at Nuwara Eliya and hike the Pidurutalagala mountain (2.524 m), but after having read some reviews, that you cannot access Sri Lanka’s highest peak without a permit, we decided to drive all the way to Ella. We stopped at Bomburu Ella Waterfall (a 3 km muddy hike, but totally worth it!), and had lunch in Nuwara Elya. A busy town, probably worth spending a night, if you have one to spare.
Day 4 â 5: ELLA (TRAIN RIDE, ELLA ROCK, 9 ARCH BRIDGE AND ADAMâS PEAK)
Ella is a place you cannot miss in Sri Lanka. Itâs quite different from other towns we saw on the way. While you can still feel the real Sri Lanka vibe, it is more touristy, yet with a laid-back atmosphere, with plenty of cafĂ©s, and guesthouses, catering to international visitors. We spent 3 nights (2 full days there). Our favorite thing to do in Ella was a hike to Ella Rock (roughly 40 min’ quick pace), with fantastic views from both viewpoints (donât miss the other one!). Second was a short 15-min’ (but still a breather!) hike to Little Adamâs Peak, opposite the Ella Rock and again with gorgeous views.
A must-see in Ella is the famous 9 Arch Bridge from 1919, which has several viewpoints, and you can even enjoy the view from Asanka cafĂ© (great cappuccino too!). The access is easy, just follow the signs â they are everywhere. If you want to avoid the crowds, go there insanely early. We didnât mind seeing hundreds of people, and it was still a great experience.
The third thing I highly recommend â and you can thank me right away â is taking the train from Ella to Badulla and back. It’s a one-hour ride and since everyone gets off in Ella, you can have a comfortable experience, instead of torturing yourself with a 6â7-hour drive from Kandy. We bought the ridiculously cheap 2nd class ticket (less than 1 $), just 30 minutes before the first morning train departure. Badulla is nothing special, so we took the first possible ride back. And yes, we both took the famous âhanging from the trainâ photo.
DAY 6: RAVANA WATERFALL â UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK
We took the easy morning departure from Ella and stopped by Ravana waterfall, which can be seen from the main road. It is quite majestic; however, the crowds made it impossible to take a decent photo. We werenât too disappointed, as we’ve had our share of waterfalls in our lives.
The second half of this day was my first little failure. I was secretly hoping that we would go on a 3-hour safari ride in Udawalawe National Park, so I booked a very posh chalet close to the entrance. We arrived there in the late afternoon, but since there was nothing much to do in the area, we decided to rest and have dinner in our apartment. If I had known my partner’s decision was final (we also had our share od safaris in South Africa), we would have moved to the beach on the same day. On the other hand, you have plenty of time to see the elephants in this schedule, if you like. Jeeps await at the park entrance and offer rides for around 40 -50 $.
DAY 7 â 8: TANGALLE
Luckily our host in a wonderful villa near Tangalle beach let us in early and we were so impressed by the property, we didnât go to the beach the whole day. We only took a trip to Tangalle for lunch and to the local market to stock up with âtonsâ of delicious tropical fruits. We enjoyed the pool villa in the company of two cute dogs, and my day was perfect.
The next morning, we drove to the Silent Beach, and this was a sight for soar eyes. The beach is exactly what the name says: tranquil and very beautiful. Unfortunately, the waves were too heavy, so we didnât go for a swim, but even walking barefoot on golden-colored sand was a bliss. We drove further to Dikwella (a little busier town) for coffee and lunch, and spent the evening on Tangalle Beach, watching an insanely beautiful sunset.
DAY 9 AND 10: KOSGODA â COLOMBO
We planned to see Galle Fort (UNESCO World Heritage site) on our way from Tangalle to Kosgoda, but it was so freaking hot and crowded that we only stopped in Mirissa to see the “Instagram spot” Coconut Hill. A small hill covered with palm trees offers a nice view of the neighboring beach, but that’s it. Expect to stand in line for a photo. From what I had read, Mirissa is full of (mostly Russian) tourists and that is just not our cup of tea, so staying here was never an option.
When we arrived in Kosgoda, it was already late and we simply didnât feel like driving back to Galle the next day (it was over 1-hour ride by tuk-tuk). To be honest, the last 2 days spent on the West Coast were nothing special. Apart from nice morning and evening beach walks (Kosgoda is very quiet and different from Mirissa), a ride to Bentota (just to kill some time), and hanging out with the cutest dog in Sri Lanka, there was nothing memorable. We could have taken the Madu river boat trip, but we both agreed it was too hot for us old people.
The 4-hour ride back to Colombo (we stayed in the same hotel as the first night) was exhausting due to heavy traffic and lots of dirt in the air (by driving a tuk-tuk you breathe in all kinds of shit). If you need to catch a plane or return a tuk-tuk, make some serious calculations to get there on time. Our flight back to Istanbul was the next morning, so we were not in a rush.
WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
If we had to plan the same route, we would definitely go to see Sigiriya Rock, stay one extra day in Ella, skip the night in Udawalawe National Park, see the Galle Fort, and spend only one night in Kosgoda. But this is just us â we are not typical tourists and weâve been to 54 countries, so we donât get excited easily.
CLOSURE: DID WE LIKE SRI LANKA?
Honestly, it was not love at first sight and Iâm not eager to return, like with some other destinations. However, Ella was a pleasant surprise, and Sri Lankan food is something I won’t easily forget. We both agreed that it wouldnât hurt to see Sigirya and visit the Horton Plains National Park for a couple of days. On a scale from 1 to 10, Sri Lanka gets an 8 in my book.
