In the event you’re excited about visiting Sri Lanka, you’ll want an epic itinerary that can let you discover each nook of this stunning island together with one in all it’s most underrated hidden gems!
Most travellers solely go to for a short while, so right here’s the way to take advantage of a Sri Lanka 10 day itinerary, particularly in the event you 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 via these hyperlinks, I could earn a small fee at no extra value to your self. This helps in 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 the 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 offered in addition to recent coconuts (one of the simplest ways to begin your vacation for my part!).
After this, go to Gangarama Temple, one of many oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo.
Positioned on the Beira Lake, residence to dozens of pelicans, it’s simple to see why this stunning temple is probably the most visited within the metropolis.
Prime Suggestions
- If you wish to see the town come alive, do the night time model of the bus tour which features a boat trip on Diyawanna Lake
- Put on white to the temple and costume modestly, protecting 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 be sure to ebook 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 have 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.
Word: It’s essential to 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 counsel doing this.
Prime Suggestions
- Go to on a weekday in the event you can, we went on a Saturday and it was very busy with locals.
- Take a raincoat simply incase, we obtained hit by a 15 minute bathe that rapidly cleared up and led to a stupendous double rainbow, however with an open jeep you need to be lined!
- Deliver 2 x 100 LKR as a tip in your driver and tracker
The place to Keep
I stayed on the Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, that is the place I sampled one in all Sri Lanka’s finest 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 supply corresponding to sizzling air ballooning and climbing.
My favorite exercise was climbing Sigiriya (Lion Rock).
This distinctive rock fortress or “fortress within the sky” is 600 ft above the bottom. The highest of the rock, homes ruins of a former royal palace, and offers stunning views of the encircling space.
You possibly can spend half a day right here, nonetheless the climb up is simply 45 minutes so don’t fear about issue.
For locals the entry value is 50 Rupees and for foreigners the price is 30 USD (5000 Rupees).
I might additionally counsel climbing Pidurangala Rock, we didn’t have time to do that (that is why I counsel staying 2 days).
It’s situated simply reverse Sigiriya Rock fortress and offers an incredible panoramic view of the realm and the majestic palace.
The entry value is simply 500 LKR per individual and also you don’t must pre ebook simply pay once 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 sizzling, each hikes are comparatively quick so this ought to be doable for any health stage. Word: Sigiriya is open 7am until 5:30pm, and Pidurangala Rock is open 5am until 5pm.
- There are a number of monkeys discovered alongside the Sigiriya hike, they’re very playful and enjoyable to observe, however all the time watch out of your belongings (particularly meals!)
The place to Keep
Habarana may be very shut so you may 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 probability to get away from the crowds and go to one in all Sri Lanka’s finest hidden gems.
The Knuckles mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage web site that options 34 peaks starting from 900m to 1900m, of which 5 have a hanging resemblance to the knuckles of a clenched fist.
The Knuckles mountains are one of many finest locations for climbing inside Sri Lanka and embrace stunning loads of trails such because the Excessive Knuckles Trek, Waterfall Trek, Heel Oya trek, Corbett’s Hole trek, and Burnside.
I counsel staying right here for two days so you may 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 may swim in (deliver a towel and swimwear).
The subsequent day you may attempt one of many different hikes on supply at Wild Glamping Knuckles together with the Excessive Knuckles Trek, Waterfall Trek, Corbett’s Hole trek, and Burnside.
Prime Suggestions
- Take waterproofs, and heat clothes, it’s a lot colder within the mountains than the remainder of Sri Lanka
- Deliver a head torch when you have one, hand torches are offered however handsfree is all the time simpler
- Alcohol shouldn’t be served right here, however you may deliver a bottle or two from Sigiriya
The place to Keep
Keep on the wonderful Wild Glamping Knuckles resort.
This resort solely has a generator for a number of hours a day, so be ready to go off the grid, embrace the gorgeous 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 lavatory with sizzling 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 finest 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 finest place to go to a tea plantation and do a tea plucking tour or a manufacturing unit tour.
Town itself is residence to British colonial-style buildings, a stupendous lake and a singular submit workplace.
Prime Suggestions
- Deliver 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 stunning frequent rooms and lovely English model gardens.
Within the evenings, put the log hearth on, and revel in a comfy night time in with a ebook 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 seaside locations in Sri Lanka.
It’s nice for individuals who take pleasure in browsing, snorkelling, swimming, crusing, fishing and scuba diving.
The primary day will likely be principally touring, however you may chill out 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 subsequent morning you will have 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 likely be offered 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 biggest mammal on the earth!).
We spent the morning onboard the boat, and noticed dozens of dolphins up shut and one child blue whale a number of instances.
The crusing journey additionally included time to swim or paddle board, so be sure to deliver a towel and swimming costume.
The tour finishes at round 2pm and you may both spend extra time in Mirissa having fun with the seaside or instantly switch 1.5 hrs to Bentota to benefit from the night there.
Prime Tip
- Go away early from Nuwara Eliya at round 7 or 8 am so you may arrive in Mirissa after lunch and have time to discover or chill out by the seaside.
- Don’t neglect to deliver your sunscreen and a hat onboard the crusing boat, you will have them!
The place to Keep
Keep on the Mandara Resort, this beachfront resort has an excellent pool, seaside bar and personal seaside space.
Day 10 – Bentota
What To Do
Bentota seaside is likely one of the most stunning 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, attempt a number of the watersports on supply corresponding to crusing, windsurfing, parasailing, jet snowboarding or paramotoring.
If you wish to simply chill out, 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, ebook dinner on the S.H.A.C.Okay seafood restaurant on the garden, and benefit from the many facilities on supply – that is the sort of resort you don’t must (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 good for wildlife, nature and out of doors journey lovers.
If you wish to embrace extra historical past and tradition, contemplate swapping the Knuckles Mountains for a few days in Kandy, the place you may 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 web site.
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