3-week itinerary through Sri Lanka: culture, nature and beach
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Are you planning a trip to Sri Lanka? In this article you will find a varied 3-week route with a travel map and daily schedule! Thanks to the short distances, you can discover a lot in a short time. Travel easily by tuk tuk, train or bus. The route starts with culture and nature and ends relaxed on the beach.
Travel info
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Best time to travel
The best travel months for this trip are: January, February, March, April.
Checklist for this trip
Arrange vaccinations
View via the GGD which travel vaccination you need and make sure you have all vaccinations.
Apply for an international driver's license
Visit an ANWB store and arrange an international driver's license. You need this driver's license to rent a tuk tuk.
Book airline tickets
Book flights to Colombo. Our advice is to go via Skyscanner to search for a flight and book it directly with the company. Don't forget to open an incognito window via your browser.
Travel insurance
Just before you go, don't forget to set your travel insurance to worldwide coverage. This way you avoid extra costs if you sustain damage while traveling. Please note: check carefully whether your health insurance includes worldwide coverage, otherwise you can also enable this in your travel insurance.
Book your first accommodation
For it booking your first accommodation in Sri Lanka we wrote an article.
Travel route map Sri Lanka
Daily schedule Sri Lanka
Take the bus or a taxi to Anuradhapura. With approximately 4 hours of travel time, this is one of the longest stretches of travel in Sri Lanka. After arrival you can relax by the pool, for example Hotel Heladiv. End the day with a visit to the sacred site of Mihintale during sunset, which you can easily arrange through your accommodation.
Start the day early with a City Tour along the most important sacred sites in historic Anuradhapura, easy to book through your accommodation. Then take a refreshing dip in the pool and then travel on to Sigiriya. The bus ride takes about 1.5 hours.
Start the day early with a sunrise hike at Pidurangala Rock for breathtaking views. In the afternoon you can relax at the swimming pool of hotel Sigiriya. On the way back, dine at Soul Food with a view of Lion Rock!
Take the bus from Sigiriya to Kandy, a journey of about 3 hours. Explore the city on foot or opt for an organized one Kandy City Tour.
Discover the highlights of Nuwara Eliya with a tour that takes you past beautiful waterfalls and vast tea fields.
Take the train from Nuwara Eliya (Nano Oya) to Ella. The travel time is approximately 4 hours.
Stay with Guest Inn Avendra or V@Ella Guesthouse with stunning views of the Ella Gap.
Upon arrival in Ella you can choose to immediately pick up your tuk tuk. Please note: you must first take a driving lesson. After about 1.5 hours you can take the tuk tuk. For more information read: Renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka: the complete overview
Do you still have time left? Then explore the cozy center of Ella!
Take a trip to the beautiful Diyaluma Falls. End the day with a visit Little Adams Peak with sunset.
Change accommodation within Ella. Stay overnight and dine with a view of the Nine Arch Bridge. For example at Barn Hills. Then relax in the afternoon at the swimming pool at The Pinacle.
Get up early to have the Nine Arch Bridge (almost) to yourself! Then depart from Ella to Yala NP. Stay with Rice Rice Villas and spend the afternoon by the pool overlooking the rice fields.
One of the highlights of Sri Lanka: On safari in the Yala National Park! Safaris are arranged from Rice Rice villas. A safari is quite intensive. After your safari it is wonderful to relax by the pool. Do you want to save time? Then travel to Hiriketiya after your safari.
From Yala, travel to Hiriketiya (about 1.5 hours). Along the way you can stop at one of the beautiful beaches in Tangalle, such as Secret Beach.
Time to surf and relax on one of Hiriketiya's beaches: Hiriketiya Beach or Dickwella Beach. Or flop down to it swimming pool of Belika Beach club.
Time to surf and relax on one of the beaches. Tired after surfing? Relax at beach club La Playa. Eat at Smoke & Bitters for a delicious experience.
Travel from Hiriketiya to Mirissa in approximately 1.5 hours. Stop by along the way Turtle point (Dickwella) for snorkeling with turtles. Stay at the peaceful and beautiful D Canal House.
Get up early to Coconut Tree Hill to visit before the crowds. Then have breakfast at your hotel and drive to Unawatuna in about an hour. Along the way you can also make a stop to look at the Silt Fisherman. Visit the Japanese Peace Pagoda and then walk to Jungle beach to relax.
Snorkel at Turtle Beach and watch the sunset at Frog Rock. Stay with Villa Gaetano and see the monkeys swinging through the garden.
Visit the colonial town of Galle in the morning. Return your tuk tuk and then travel to Negombo for the last night! For example in: Serendib Village Guesthouse. The travel time by taxi is approximately 2.5 hours.
Alas, time to fly back! You can use the airport shuttle service of Serendib Village Guesthouse. Do you have an early flight? Then it is better to sleep closer, for example when: Ayubowan Homestay.
