Sri Lanka destinations
Short travel guides to the places our guests visit most: what to see, the best months to go, how long to stay and how to get there.
Found 9 destinations
Colombo
Arrival city, markets and temples
Sri Lanka's largest city and the usual first or last stop of a trip. Worth a day for its markets, temples and seafront, especially if you have a late flight.
Kandy
The last royal capital
The last royal capital of Sri Lanka and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. A good base between the Cultural Triangle and the tea country.
Galle
Dutch fort town on the south coast
A 17th-century Dutch fort town on the south coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with beaches like Unawatuna a few minutes away.
Sigiriya
The Lion Rock fortress
A 5th-century palace on top of a 200 m rock, with frescoes, a mirror wall and water gardens at its base. The best-known sight in the Cultural Triangle.
Ella
Tea country, hikes and the famous train
A small hill town surrounded by tea estates, known for the Nine Arch Bridge, easy hikes like Little Adam's Peak and the train ride from Kandy.
Nuwara Eliya
Tea estates and cool hill air
Sri Lanka's highest town (about 1,870 m), surrounded by tea estates. The base for Horton Plains and World's End.
Mirissa
Whale watching and a quiet bay
A small beach town on the south coast and the main base for blue whale and dolphin watching between November and April.
Jaffna
Temples, food and culture of the Tamil north
The cultural centre of Sri Lanka's Tamil north, with Hindu temples, a Dutch fort, island beaches and its own cuisine. Far fewer tourists than the south.
Arugam Bay
Surf Capital of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's best-known surf spot on the east coast, with breaks for beginners and experienced surfers, plus lagoon and elephant safaris nearby.
Want to combine a few of these?
Most of our guests see four to six places in one or two weeks. Tell us which ones interest you and we'll plan a realistic route.