Sri Lanka exceeded all my expectations.

While India can be challenging to navigate and the Maldives is tailored for resort getaways, Sri Lanka hits that sweet spot — it’s the perfect mix for anyone exploring South Asia.

I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. Decades of violent conflict and bombings left a mark on Sri Lanka, and the 2022 protests, where demonstrators occupied the president’s mansion during the pandemic, were still fresh in my mind.

Could I really explore a country where so many people are still struggling with rising food prices, job uncertainty, and electricity shortages?

Turns out, yes, you can — and perhaps you should. They rely heavily on tourism and Sri Lankans are trying to turn their country around.

From tea estates to lush rainforest, amazing food and wildlife, there’s so much to unpack in Sri Lanka. I found 2 weeks to 10 days the perfect amount of time to explore the country. Here’s the complete Sri Lanka travel itinerary.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. I only provide unbiased and completely honest recommendations.

Know Before You Go: In Sri Lanka

here's the best sri lanka travel itinerary for 2 weeks to 10 days

🛬 Get the Dialog simcard from the airport — right at the exit of the airport you’ll see this booth. It’s easy to pick a tourist simcard.
🚕Transportation: Download the e-hailing PickMe app for taxis. (Note: In the cities & beaches use the app, but in the mountains just look for the rickshaws or stick your thumb out)
⛵ Best Tours: Ella: First-Class Scenic Train Ticket To/From Kandy & Yala National Park Safari Tour in a 4x4
🗓️ Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to March. Other times is OK, maybe a bit rainy but it also really nice to explore the highlands.
💵 Currency: Sri Lanka is a cash-heavy country. If you need a ATM, stick to Bank of Ceylon ATMs as there are no fees. Keep lower denomination notes for tuk-tuks.
🗺️ Logistics: It is a logistics-loaded country. It can take anywhere from 5 hours to 12 hours and I found for short distances the taxi app is great, but the other option is train or bus (a last resort).
✈️ Travel Insurance: Get your travel insurance from SafetyWing before you go especially if you’re embarking on adventurous activities.

Also Read: Hiking in Sri Lanka: 9 Best Trekking Trails With Maps To Explore

Sri Lanka 2 Weeks to 10 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Colombo

The moment you arrive in Sri Lanka’s Bandranaike International Airport, you may be exhausted. A lot of people head to Negombo to rest as it is closer and easier to navigate than Colombo.

However, I find there’s nothing much to do in Negombo and it is perhaps better to opt to see Colombo for what it is.

The connections like buses or trains are also from Colombo so it makes sense to head there directly on your first day even if it is a 1 hour drive.

In Colombo, the best way to explore the city is to go on a City Tour by Tuk Tuk — you can do this in the evening. It’s a really nice way to get acquainted with Colombo as you visit their iconic places like the clock tower, red mosque and various temples.

You could also check out the floating market at Pettah if you have time. It’s a nice place to go for a stroll on the banks of the river while seeing the variety of food stalls and sampling the street food of Sri Lanka.

There are even options to take a day trip to Sigiriya should you decide to extend your time in Colombo.

Where to stay in Colombo:

Day 2-4: Nuwara Eliya

the bus ticket information to travel to nuwara eliya from colombo

heading towards gregory lake amidst tea fields

It is called “Little England” for a reason and it is the hill-station where most locals go to. I found Nuwara Eliya a great way to see the tea plantations and hills of Sri Lanka, instead of the usual stop at busy Kandy.

We boarded the bus “local style” at the Pettah Private Bus Stand which was a semi-luxury bus stand. It was honestly not the greatest bus ride but atleast there was AC — the seats were not comfortable and would only recommend this route if you don’t mind roughing it out for 5 hours.

We took the 11am bus (bus 79) that took us straight to Nurawara Eliya for 4 USD (1,200 LKR).

Arriving weary, a bit of motion sickness we arrived in Nuwara Eliya a bit tired and exhausted. The guesthouse we stayed in was so cute and the host (Claude) was amazing that it also included a dinner spread for a reasonable price.

The next day we spent exploring Nuwara Eliya by walking around the town and hiking up to this scenic viewpoint called Single Tree Hill.

The weather was a cool 20 degrees that made walking around a breeze. We ate the most glorious healthy vegan pancakes at the Ayurveda Coffee Shop and also walked around Gregory Lake.

The Lover’s Leap waterfall is also worth a visit in the afternoon as you can admire the tea fields of Sri Lanka.

Having explored Nuwara Eliya, there were countless waterfalls and day trips to take. We decided to just get a TukTuk with a driver from the hotel to take us on a daytrip to Ambawela Farms. It was a 40 minute drive and costs us 16 USD (LKR 5,000) as a return trip including wait time. The drive was scenic, we saw windmills and learned a bit more about the farm animals in Sri Lanka.

You could also opt to do something different which involves trekking and visiting the Horton Plains National Park on this tour including visiting a tea factory.

Also Read: Nuwara Eliya: My Offbeat Things To Do in Sri Lanka's Cool Hillstation

Where to stay in Nuwara Eliya:

Day 4-5: Nuwara Eliya to Ella

at the nanu oya station in nuwara eliya on the way to ella

This train ride could easily be the most scenic of our entire trip. Nanu Oya, the station that serves Nuwara Eliya, is a picturesque slice of history.

It's an old British-era station that feels like it's frozen in time, with charming colonial architecture tucked away in the lush, rolling hills of Sri Lanka’s tea country.

We didn’t book our tickets in advance and it was a last minute trip, we winged it and got third-class tickets for 150LKR ($0.50) standing. We didn’t mind it as the distance is ony 2 hours 47 minutes so even if we were to stand or sit in awkward positions it was OK for the experience.

You can absolutely book your tickets in advance at the railway website. It is best to take third class for 900LKR ($3.00) online (to catch the best view) or air-conditioned for 2,000LKR ($6.70).

Also Read: The Kandy To Ella Train Experience: Why Start From Nuwara Eliya Instead?

Honestly, it was crowded — packed with travelers eager for the same experience — but that didn't take away from the magic. This train ride is something you absolutely have to do.

The rolling hills, endless tea plantations, and sweeping views of Sri Lanka's highlands made every moment worth it.

Day 5-7: Ella

the passing train at the nine arches bridge

Ella in Sri Lanka gets direct comparisons to Ubud in Bali or Pai in Thailand. It has that same laid-back, backpacker vibe, surrounded by lush greenery, waterfalls, and rolling tea plantations.

The cafes and the food was some of the best Sri Lankan food I have ever had!

And the hospitality of the Sri Lankan people made it even more special —they welcomed us like old friends, always eager to share stories and cook for us a fabulous meal!

We explored the Nine Arches bridge but from the best viewpoint at Cafe Soul Ella, and visited the Kinellan Tea Estate.

If you have to do one climb, let that be Little Adam’s Peak — it was worth it for sunset views and sunrises as well. The hike is only 30-45 minutes.

A lot of spots in Ella also required enjoying the cafe scene and the most delicious food. We loved the food at House of Kitchen — don’t get fooled by the old and dark place. The mum makes delicious curry dishes with coconut rotis and sambol.

A really cool way to experience Sri Lanka is also taking cooking classes in Ella. I’d sign up for a class just to learn the secret behind their curries— they’re absolutely out of this world!

Also Read: Why I Chose These Things To Do in Ella: My 3 Days Itinerary

Where to stay in Ella:

Day 7-8: Udawale National Park or Yala National Park

The national parks and wildlife encounter from elephants to leopards is something that every individual should put on their bucketlist.

Yala National Park is famous for its leopard sightings as well as sloth bears; though most of them are elusive, it is worth visiting and seeing them in their natural setting.

There’s a tour that picks you up from Ella and takes you straight to Yala National Park.

For Udawale National Park, due to its proximity to Ella, this place is worth visiting if you’re short on time.

The park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River.

This place two hours away from Ella is good enough to encounter elephants, peacocks, birds and crocodiles. The entrance fee is also way cheaper at $20 and you can book your tour here.

Also Read: Sri Lanka Best Beaches Guide (South Coast): From Mirissa to Unawatuna & Tangalle

Day 8-9: Tangalle

The beaches in the Southern coast of Sri Lanka are truly underrated. If you’re coming straight from the mountains, it is easy to stop at Tangalle and enjoy these private beaches and wide open views.

The closer you get to the city it gets crazy busy. We took a private mini van transfer from Ella that drops us off at Tangalle town.

The first order of the day was to head straight for the beach — one in particular we really enjoyed was Goyambokka Beach.

The coconuts were cheap and there were no surf breaks making it quite the place to enjoy the beach to yourself.

The other spot we loved visiting was the Silent Beach — it is a real paradise as there are cosy beach bars to get in and out. For your first night in Tangalle, I highly recommend getting the dinner buffet at Tangalle Rice & Currry — some of the best curries for 3,000LKR ($10).

Where to stay in Tangalle:

Day 9-10: Hiriketiya

If surfing, and accessing some beach clubs while being able to see turtles swimming at the edge of the beach, Hiriketiya is the perfect stop.

Getting a ride through the app was easy enough, and we arrived in Hiriketiya in 30 minutes. The best part was the Blue Beach island located off Nilwela harbour.

It is a nice little island that’s a bit rocky but great to explore as you walk over to this other island linking to it. The water is unbelievably blue and everything looks serene.

You could totally spend a day here in the nearby beach bars along the Hriketiya stretch as everything is within walking distance and easy to get to. The best spot to have dinner with amazing seafood and oh-so-affordable is at Kingsley Hot Kitchen.

Where to stay in Hiriketiya:

Day 10-12: Mirissa

Out of all the beaches, Mirissa attracts the most crowds as there’s just a ton of things to do: from spotting big blue whales and having the best surf culture while trekking to various viewpoints.

The perfect spot to catch a sunset is Coconut Tree Hill, where swaying coconut trees frame the view of surfers below, riding the waves

Another cool spot to the secret beach in Mirissa where the water is crystal clear with such a wide variety of fish and marine life.

The Parrot Rock is also a great spot to see the views over the sea and two beaches. Don’t forget to visit the cafe scene in Mirissa. One place we absolutely loved was the vegan cafe called Squeeze Me set in a garden setting with a Buddha centrepiece.

Where to stay in Mirissa:

Day 12-14: Unawatuna and Galle

cute and hipster signs at galle old town

During your last two days, I would recommend keeping your base in Unawatuna as you explore Galle on foot.

The beaches in Unawatuna are great for turtle spotting in the evening. It is super popular as the waves are not huge compared to other spots in Sri Lanka.

It is perfect for families who want access to cafes and bars while enjoying the beach and marine life.

While you relax at yet another beach, spend your early mornings the next day exploring Galle when the temperatures are milder. Famous for its UNESCO-listed Galle Fort, this old colonial town boasts narrow cobblestone streets lined with Dutch-era architecture, quaint cafes, and boutique shops.

The best thing to do is to walk around the city walls and admire the Indian ocean on these scenic points. You can make your way to the underground structures at Galle Fort.

I came across heritage shops and artisans who were passionately preserving centuries-old crafts. The shop “Stick No Bills” is such a cool artsy place with local posters and postcards that are worth buying before leaving.

Also Read: Of Forts & Streets in Galle: 10 Best Offbeat Things To Do

Where to stay in Unawatuna:

Where to stay in Galle: