As it turned out, Sri Lanka is nowhere like India. The train is packed but you don't see people sitting on top of the train. The people are civilised, educated and friendly and they have very low crime rate! A complete contrast to what India is infamous for. A trip to Sri Lanka will never prepare you for a visit to India, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a visit. It has it own charms and for those of you planning a visit soon, I hope this guide would help.
Getting into Sri Lanka
Free visa without need for ETA
On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of the following three countries are exempt from the requirement to obtain both a visa and an ETA for Sri Lanka:
On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of the following three countries are exempt from the requirement to obtain both a visa and an ETA for Sri Lanka:
- Maldives (30 days, extendable to 150 days)
- Seychelles (60 days, up to 90 days in a single year)
Visa and Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Citizens of other countries not covered in the above would need to obtain and pay for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), prior to arrival or on arrival to Sri Lanka. The ETA is valid for 30 days for a fee of USD 20 for citizens of SAARC (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) or USD 35 for citizens of other countries.
Getting around Sri Lanka
By train. Backpacking in Sri Lanka isn’t complete with experiencing their train ride. Although they are generally slower than buses, the picturesque view is worth every single extra minute onboard the train, specifically the Badulla — Nanu Oya line. Besides the hill country, the coastal train that linked Colombo to Galle is another popular ride which is said to have inspired the sea train in the Spirited Away, a Japanese animated film.
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| On the train to Polonnaruwa from Colombo |
By local buses. Although Sri Lanka has an extensive railway system, not everywhere is connected by train. For budget travellers, local buses are more effective way to travel around as they are cheap and faster than train rides. The local buses generally are non-airconditioned and could be uncomfortable, but the local people are always helpful and friendly. We met many local Sri Lanka who helped to remind us when we reached our destination and some others who offer to help with our bags. Do note that it is a local etiquette to give up the very front passenger seats to monks or priests if they are present.
By tuk-tuk. Thailand and Cambodia are not the only countries in the world with tuk tuk. Turned out tuk tuks are also popular mode of transport in Sri Lanka. They operate in a manner similar to taxis, and in many situations are a convenient and highly cost-efficient way to get around although safety is a concern since none of them have seat belts and they are open to the sides. Based on our experience, I would say tuk tuks in Sri Lanka are generally smaller than those in Thailand and are best fit for two to three passengers only.
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| Bus painted in vibrant colour |
By tuk-tuk. Thailand and Cambodia are not the only countries in the world with tuk tuk. Turned out tuk tuks are also popular mode of transport in Sri Lanka. They operate in a manner similar to taxis, and in many situations are a convenient and highly cost-efficient way to get around although safety is a concern since none of them have seat belts and they are open to the sides. Based on our experience, I would say tuk tuks in Sri Lanka are generally smaller than those in Thailand and are best fit for two to three passengers only.
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| The maximum number of people that can fit in a tuk tuk is three |
Best Time To Visit
Sri Lanka’s weather is dictated by two alternating key monsoon seasons, the South-West monsoon (May to July) which predominantly affects the west & south coast and North-East monsoon (October to January) which predominantly affects the east coast. In short, Sri Lanka is an all-year round holiday destination.
Sample itinerary
12 days is not enough to cover the whole country, but it is more than enough to cover the major cities and attractions, be it temples, tea plantation, ancient ruins, train rides, beaches, safari and even whale watching. I recommend planning your trip clockwise, starting and ending with Colombo, where the international airport is near.
You can of course do the opposite (counter clockwise) but I believe it’s more fun doing so clockwise, as you start by seeing the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka before ending your trip at the southern coastal beach.
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| My clockwise route in 2018 |
Clockwise: Colombo > Anuradhapura > Polonnaruwa > Sigiriya > Dambulla > Kandy > Adam’s Peak > Nuwara Eliya > Ella > Udawalawe or Yala National Park > Tangalle > Mirissa > Galle > Colombo
Counter clockwise: Colombo > Galle > Mirissa > Tangalle > Udawalawe or Yala National Park > Ella > Nuwara Eliya > Adam’s Peak > Kandy > Sigiriya > Dambulla > Polonnaruwa > Anuradhapura > Colombo
Day 1 – Colombo
On our day of departure to Sri Lanka, my friends and I missed our morning flight to Colombo (oops!) and ended up purchasing another night flight on the same day, arriving at Colombo only at night. Therefore, in actual fact we only had 11 days instead of 12. We arrived at night, so we stayed a night in Colombo and had the first train to Polonnaruwa the next day. If you have a little more time, you can see a bit of the Colombo upon arrival.
Things to see in Colombo: Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, Pettah Markets, Gangaramaya Temple, Beira Lake
Stay: Colombo
Bus from airport (Negombo) to Colombo: 1 hour 30 min (bus 187), alighting at Bastian Mawatha Bus Station (last bus 9.30pm)
Alternative: Skip Colombo and Travel Direct To Anuradhapura
If your flight arrives in the morning, I would recommend slotting in Anuradhapura on the first day and push Colombo sight-seeing to your last day. The airport is located in Negombo, and from here, you can take a bus to Anuradhapura instead of wasting time to get to Colombo and board the train there. The entire journey from Negombo to Anuradhapura should take you less than 5 hours and if you still have time, you can explore the ancient ruins, but I recommend saving it for the next morning.
What to do in Anuradhapura besides Anuradhapura UNESCO site: climb Mihintale, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, take a stroll at Tissa Wewa
Stay: Anuradhapura
Direct Bus from Negombo to Anuradhapura: 4 hours (available, especially only in the morning)
Bus / train from Negombo to Puttalam + bus from Puttalam to Anuradhapura: 2.5 hours / 3 hours + 2 hours (if you can’t find direct buses, especially in the afternoon)
Train from Colombo to Anuradhapura: 4 hours to 4 hours 30 min (direct)
Day 2 – Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura are both great ancient ruin cities of Sri Lanka. If you have to pick one, I would recommend Polonnaruwa which is easier to explore. Having the entire day dedicated to Polonnaruwa only works if you arrive in Sri Lanka the night before (then you can take the first train at 6am) in the morning. You will arrive by noon and can hire a bicycle or tuk tuk to get around the sites.
I don’t recommend staying a night in Polonnaruwa but instead make your way towards Sigiriya (via Dambulla) so that you can see the famous Lion Rock the next morning. There is no bus to Sigiriya from Polonnaruwa, so you would need to get to Dambulla, then hire a 30-min tuk tuk or taxi to get to Sigiriya area. After a long-haul train ride to Polonnaruwa, we decided to splurge and stay in Sigiriya Village Hotel (about US$80-100 per room for a night), but if you would like to stick to budget, there are plenty of budget accommodation in that area which starts from as low as US$5 per person.
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| Polonnaruwa |
Must see in Polonnaruwa UNESCO site: King Parakramabahu I Statue, Royal Palace, Audience Hall, Sacred Quadrangle and The Vatadage, Lankatilaka Gedige, Kiri Vihara, and Gal Vihara
Stay: Sigiriya
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa – A Glory of The Past
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa – A Glory of The Past
Train from Colombo to Polonnaruwa: 7 hours (train bound for Trimcomalee, change in Gal Oya)
Tuk tuk to Polonnaruwa acncient city: 15 mins
Recommended time in Polonnaruwa site: 3-4 hours
Bus from Polonnaruwa to Dambulla: 2 hours (bus bound for Kandy, ask to alight at Dambulla)
Tuk tuk from Dambulla to Sigiriya: 20 mins
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| Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa |
Alternative: Anuradhapura
Take the first train from Colombo or if you have skipped Colombo and make your way here the day before, you can start your ruins adventure earlier at a leisurely pace before travelling to Sigiriya via Dambulla.
What to see in Anuradhapura UNESCO site: Sacred Bodhi Tree, Ruwanwelisaya, Lovamahapaya, Western Monasteries, Isurumuniya Vihara and more
Stay: Sigiriya
Train from Colombo to Anuradhapura: 4 hours to 4 hours 30 min (direct)
Recommended time in Anuradhapura: 4-5 hours or half a day
Bus from Anuradhapura to Dambulla: around 2 hours (bus bound for Kandy, ask to alight at Dambulla)
Tuk tuk from Dambulla to Sigiriya: 20 mins
Alternative: Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa
Start the day early with Anuradhapura, and once you are done, take the bus to Polonnaruwa to continue your ruins adventure. This may seem like too much temples / historical sites in a day, but it makes the best use of the time to cover both UNESCO heritage, especially if you can’t make up your mind to choose just either one.
See: Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa
Stay: Sigiriya
Bus from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa: 3 hours (direct)
Recommended time in Anuradhapura: 3-4 hours
Recommended time in Polonnaruwa site: 2-3 hours
Bus from Polonnaruwa to Dambulla: 2 hours
Tuk tuk from Dambulla to Sigiriya: 30 mins
Day 3– Sigiriya and Dambulla
Following Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, both Sigiriya (aka Lion Rock) and Dambulla Cave Temple are also Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Dambulla is the nearest town hub to Sigiriya, and also you gateway to Kandy, so I recommend combining both in the same day. Start the day with Sigiriya so you can escape the afternoon heat here and once you are done, get a tuk tuk to bring you to Dambulla Cave Temple. On the way, I recommend stopping by Bentota Bake House for cheap and nice bakery items and curry rice. After you are done with Dambulla Cave Temple, you can take the bus to Kandy.
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| Sigiriya |
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| Dambulla Cave Temple |
Things to do: Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temple
Stay: Kandy
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Sigiriya – The Majestic Lion Rock Fortress
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Dambulla Cave Temple - Masterpiece Of Exceptional Craftsmanship
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Sigiriya – The Majestic Lion Rock Fortress
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Dambulla Cave Temple - Masterpiece Of Exceptional Craftsmanship
Recommended time in Sigiriya: 3 hours
Tuk tuk from Sigiriya to Dambulla: 30 mins
Recommended time in Dambulla Cave Temple: 2-3 hours
Bus from Dambulla to Kandy: 2 hours
Alternative: Replace Sigiriya with Pidurangala
The hefty price of Sigiriya (US$30) may makes budget traveller to think twice, which is why Pidurangala (US$3) became a popular alternative among backpackers. Pidurangala Rock is adjacent to Sigiriya Rock and is the best viewing spot of Sigiriya Rock as it is only slightly lower. Here, you are awarded with a 360-degree views of Sigirya and the surrounding valleys. It’s also not as crowded as Sigiriya.
Things to do: Pidurangala and Dambulla Cave Temple
Stay: Kandy
Alternative: Side Trip to Mawanella (+ 1 Day)
Once we arrived in Kandy, we took another 1 hour 30 min bus to Mawanella, where we couch-surf for a night. It all boils down to a miscommunication, as we contacted a couch surfer in Kandy only to then realised he is based in Mawanella instead. We still stayed there a night and he brought us around Mawanella the next day, before we headed back to Kandy. After a detour there, I would recommend sticking to Kandy unless you have more days to spare in Sri Lanka.
However, if you are interested, here’s my write up on the things to do in Mawanella
➢Sri Lanka | Mawanella – A Side Trip From Kandy You Can Live Without
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| Bat tree in Mawanella |
➢Sri Lanka | Mawanella – A Side Trip From Kandy You Can Live Without
Things to do: Visit a tea factory, spice garden, and see the bat trees
Prior night stay: Mawanella
Leave for: Kandy
Bus from Kandy to Mawanella: 1 hour 30 mins
Recommended time in Mawanella: Half a day
Bus from Mawanella to Kandy: 1 hour 30 mins
Day 4– Kandy and Scenic Train Ride to Nuwara Eliya
Kandy deserves a full day of exploring though we only had half a day due to our detour to Mawanella the day before and for having to rush for an afternoon train to Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya). Given a second choice, I would suggest spending one full day in Kandy, then take the night train to Nanu Oya. After all, the most scenic part of the train ride is the stretch from Nanu Oya to Badulla. Once you reach Nanu Oya, there will be plenty of tuk tuk for hire to get to Nuwara Eliya in less than 30 minutes.
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| Temple of The Tooth |
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| Kandy Lake |
What to do in Kandy: visit the Temple of The Tooth, take a walk at Kandy Lake, enjoy the city view from Arthur’s Seat, see the Bhairovakanda Buddha Statue, and enjoy Kandy Dance performance.
Stay: Nuwara Eliya
Recommended time in Kandy: at least a full day
Train from Kandy to Nanu Oya: 5 hours
Bus from Kandy to Nanu Oya: 4-5 hours
Car or tuk tuk from Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya: 30 min
Alternative: Dalhousie - Climb Adam’s Peak (+ 1 Day)
We initially wanted to climb Adam’s Peak, but we happened to be travelling during the Wesak celebration week, hence we decided to scrap this off our list to avoid the pilgrimage crowd. However, if you have time to spare and are into hiking, you may consider allocating an extra day to climb this. From Kandy, take the train bound for Badulla (the same train to Nanu Oya and Ella), and alight halfway at Hatton. There, you will need to take a tuk tuk or a bus to Dalhousie, where you will spend a night before your early hike the next day. There isn’t much to see in Dalhousie, so you can move on to Nuwara Eliya after lunch.
What to see on Adam’s Peak: The large footprint said to be of Buddha’s (said the Buddhist), Adam’s (said the Christians) and Lord Shiva (said the Hindus)
Prior night stay: Dalhousie
Leave for: Nuwara Eliya
Train from Kandy to Hatton: 2 hours
Tuk tuk / Bus from Hatton to Dalhousie: 1 hour / 1 hour 30 mins
Time needed to complete the hike: 5-7 hours (start at 2am, reach summit before 5am and get back down by 8-9am)
Tuk tuk / Bus from Dalhousie to Hatton: 1 hour / 1 hour 30 mins
Train from Hatton to Nanu Oya: 3 hours
Car or tuk tuk from Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya: 30 min
Day 5– Nuwara Eliya and Scenic Train Ride to Ella
Start your day early with a trip to Horton Plains National Park, about 2 hours from Nuwara Eliya by van or tuk tuk (sadly there is no public transport to Horton Plains). People usually come here to hike to the famous World’s End viewpoint. The entire hike is not challenging at all and it would only take you 2 to 2.5 hours to cover. However, the only turn off is the steep price of about US$30-40. My friends and I didn’t do this hike and therefore, we slept in and started our day late.
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| Nuwara Eliya |
Once you are done with Horton Plains, head back to Nuwara Eliya for a visit to tea plantation. We visited Damro Labookellie Tea Estate (previously known as MackWood) through our homestay owner’s recommendation. It offers free guided tour (about 15-20 mins) around their factory where they show you the process of tea making and at the end of the tour, you are brought to their tea lounge for complimentary black tea, while overlooking the lush plantation outside. You can also walk down to the plantation or see it from the perched balcony. If you are keen on getting some tea leaves home, I would recommend getting them in the tea estates in Nuwara Eliya instead of in the local supermarket. I bought mine from both Damro and other local supermarkets in Galle and though it is pricier here in Nuwara Eliya, they are of better quality.
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| Post Office |
We spent only half a day in Nuwara Eliya and left in the afternoon, taking the train towards Ella. The train ride from Kandy bound to Badulla is well known for being the most scenic train in Sri Lanka, but the prettiest section is the stretch from Nanu Oya to Ella, specifically as it is approaching Ella. As the journey takes 2 and a half hours, be sure to board the morning or noon train, so not to miss the scenic view (it turns dark early here in Sri Lanka). Once in Ella, you can take some early rest to rejuvenate.
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| Scenic train to Ella |
Things to do: hike along the Horton Plains to World’s End in the morning, visit tea plantation in the afternoon, walk around the small town of Nuwara Eliya and check out the post office before leaving for Nanu Oya where you can take the scenic train to Ella.
Stay: Ella
Recommended time in Nuwara Eliya: half a day or one and a half day (take the noon train towards Ella for the best view)
Car or tuk tuk from Nuwara Eliya to Nanu Oya: 30 mins
Train from Nanu Oya to Ella: 2 hours 30 mins
Day 6 – Haputale and Ella
Haputale is a small little town in between Nuwara Eliya and Ella (6 stations from Nanu Oya, 7 stations from Ella). The most popular thing to do in Haputale is the visit to Lipton’s Seat, which is best done in the morning. This stunning viewpoint is named after Thomas Lipton, the founder of the famous tea brand. We took a tuk tuk up and down Lipton Seat, but you can also walk through the tea plantations (more than 6km). It makes a good half a day hike (you may even slot in a visit to the Dambatenne Tea Factory) if you have time.
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| Lipton Seat |
Although we stayed two nights in Ella and make a side trip to Haputale, but transport wise, you would actually reach Haputale first before Ella (if you travel from Kandy / Nanu Oya). Therefore, it also makes sense to stay a night in Haputale first, visit Lipton Seat in the morning before embarking towards Ella. However, as we took the first train to Haputale, the train was pretty empty, so we ended up getting the best window seat for the scenic view, something you wouldn’t be able to do in the afternoon train. The side trip took us almost half a day and we utilised the remaining afternoon to visit the beautiful Nine Arches Bridge and hiked up Little Adam’s Peak (not to be mistaken for Adam’s Peak) before the sun set.
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| Nine Arches Bridge |
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| Little Adam's Peak |
Things to do: Lipton’s Seat, Ella Rock, Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak
Stay: Ella
Train from Ella to Haputale: 1 hour
Tuk tuk from Haputale to Lipton’s Seat: 1 hour
Recommended time at Lipton’s Seat: 30 mins – 1 hour
Tuk tuk from Lipton’s Seat to Haputale: 1 hour
Train from Haputale to Ella: 1 hour 15mins
Recommended time in Nine Arches Bridge: 1 hour – 1 hour 30 mins
Time needed to complete the Little Adam’s Peak: 1-2 hours
Alternative: One more day in Ella (+ 1 Day)
One full day in Ella may not be enough, especially after a side trip to Haputale, so if you have more time to spare, you can extend one more day here, especially if you are keen to hike Ella Rock and see the waterfalls.
Things to do: Ella Rock, Ravana Cave, Ravana Waterfall, and Diyaluma Falls (second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka)
Stay: Ella
I found this very useful blog on how to get to Ella Rock, but unfortunately, we didn’t have time to slot it into our trip.
Time needed to complete Ella Rock: 4 hours
Time needed to visit Diyaluma Falls: 1-2 hours
Time needed to visit Ravana Cave: 1 hour
Time needed to visit Ravana Waterfall: 1 hour
Day 7 – Udawalawe National Park
If you have reached Ella too late to hike Little Adam’s Peak previously, you can slot the hike here for sunrise before taking the bus to Udawalawe (also known as Udawalawa). However, be sure to take the morning bus (we took the 8.45am bus) towards Udawalawa as the journey requires one transfer at Thanamalwila and the total journey will take you around 4 hours including the transfer. You would want to arrive around noon (we arrived around 12.40) in order to make it for the 3pm-6pm afternoon safari jeep tour. You can easily book the safari package through your hotel or guesthouse, and the package includes pick up and drop off service. We managed to get one through our guesthouse for LKR 5,300 (about US$34) per person.
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| Udawalawe Safari Tour |
The afternoon safari tour will end by sunset and you can rest for the day. The next morning, head off to the southern coast for relaxing days at the beach.
Things to do: Udawalawe safari jeep tour
Stay: Embilipitiya
Bus from Ella to Thanamalwila: 2 hours
Bus from Thanmalvila to Embilipitiya: 1 hour 15 mins
Safari duration: 3 hours
Alternative: Yala National Park
If you are looking for a safari tour in Sri Lanka, chances are you are looking at either Udawalawe or Yala National Park. Yala National Park is famous for its population of leopard (although sightings are not so frequent) while Udawalawe National Park is well known for its Sri Lankan elephant population with almost 100% chance of spotting them. If your time in Sri Lanka is short, you would probably have to choose one of the two. As for us, we chose Udawalawe but you may probably be drawn to Yala National Park just to bet on spotting a leopard.
Similar to Udawalawe National Park, I would recommend doing an afternoon safari tour as leopards are less active in the morning. Therefore, you would need to leave Ella in the morning and head to Tissamahara, the launching point of Yala safari tour. The safari tour would cost around the same price with Udawalawe.
Things to do: Yala safari jeep tour
Stay: Tissamahara
Bus from Ella to Thanamalwila: 2 hours
Bus from Thanmalvila to Tissamahara: about 1 hour
Safari duration: 3 hours
Bus from Tissamahara to Tangalle: about 2 hours (bus bound for Matara)
Day 8 – Tangalle
The first week itinerary may be a little packed and hectic, so the next couple days is perfect for you to unwind at the southern coast beaches. The first southern coastal town we chose was Tangalle, which is the nearest from Embilipitiya. Tangalla suffered grievously from the tsunami in 2004, and rebuilding has been very slow, therefore the beach has been rather quiet and peaceful. I recommend staying here for one full day to enjoy walking at the beach, canoeing at Rekawa lagoon and joining a turtle watch at night. Since you are on a coastal town, it’s the perfect time to take a break from all the Sri Lanka curry and feast on seafood instead.
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| Tangalle Beach |
Things to do: Tangalle Beach, Rekawa Lagoon canoeing, Rekawa turtle watch
Stay: Tangalle
Bus from Embilipitiya to Tangalle : 1 hour 30 mins (bus bound for Matara)
Day 9 – Mirissa
Of all the southern coastal town we stayed, Mirissa is the most happening (also most commercialised), so I really recommend staying here for at least 2 full days. Take the morning bus from Tangalle to Mirissa in order to fully utilise your time. We did a side trip to Dondra but I would recommend spending the whole day at the beaches instead and leave Dondra for the next day. Be sure to also book your whale watching tour for the next morning. Since you are at the beach, end your day with seafood dinner.
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| Mirissa |
Things to do: Secret Beach, Coconut Hill, Parrot Rock and Mirissa Beach
Stay: Mirissa
Bus from Tangalle to Mirissa: 1 hour (bus bound for Colombo, ask to alight at Mirissa)
Recommended time in Mirissa beaches: at least half a day
Day 10 – Mirrisa Whale Watching and Side Trip to Dondra
One of the must do thing while in Mirissa is whale watching, and the tour usually starts around 6 or 7 in the morning (you must book a tour the day before!) and the whole trip takes about 4 hours. By the time we ended the tour, we were just in time for lunch. We already did Dondra the day before so we headed straight to Galle but I would suggest placing your Dondra trip here after lunch and leave Galle for the next day.
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| Whale watching tour |
The main attraction in Dondra, Matara is Dondra Lighthouse which is Lanka’s tallest lighthouse. It is also the southernmost point of Sri Lanka, which makes it even cooler to visit. We also slot in Dondra Temple which is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which is five minutes away from the lighthouse.
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| Dondra Lighthouse |
After your Dondra side trip, you can then take a 1-hour bus from Mirissa to Galle. If you still have time, a sunset stroll at Galle Fort would be perfect, otherwise you can always leave it for the next day.
Things to do: Whale Watching, Dondra Lighthouse, Dondra Temple (Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Devalaya Temple),
Stay: Galle
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Mirissa Whale Watching – An Incredible Experience You Shouldn’t Miss!
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Dondra Light House – The Southernmost Tip of Sri Lanka
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | Dondra Light House – The Southernmost Tip of Sri Lanka
Duration for whale watching trip: 4 hours
Tuk tuk from Mirissa to Dondra Temple: 30 minutes
Recommended time in Dondra: 1.5 to 2 hours
Tuk tuk from Dondra Lighthouse to Mirissa: 30 minutes
Bus from Mirissa to Galle: 1 hour (bus bound for Galle)
Day 11 – Galle and Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa
Having arrived the night before, you would have a full day in Galle. During our trip, we made a side trip to Mawanella so we only ended up having half a day in Galle (we only visited Galle Fort which is a pity), but I do think it’s a place that’s worth at least a day. In the morning when it wasn’t too hot, you can walk around Galle old town which consists of the Galle Fort, the Galle Lighthouse, the clocktower, the maritime museum, old dutch hospital and old dutch churches. You would spend a good half a day here.
In the afternoon, hit the beaches of Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa – Unawatuna if you are into surfing (also look out for the famous beach swing at Dream Cabana) or Hikkaduwa if you are into snorkelling. Both also have turtle hatching sanctuary if you would love to see these cute creatures.
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| Galle Fort |
In the afternoon, hit the beaches of Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa – Unawatuna if you are into surfing (also look out for the famous beach swing at Dream Cabana) or Hikkaduwa if you are into snorkelling. Both also have turtle hatching sanctuary if you would love to see these cute creatures.
Things to do: take a walk at Galle old town (Galle Fort, Galle Lighthouse, the clocktower), hit the beaches of Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa
Stay: Galle
Recommended time for Galle old town: half a day
Bus from Galle to Unawatuna: 30 minutes
Recommended time in Unawatuna: at least half a day with surfing
Bus from Unawatuna to Galle: 30 minutes
Bus from Galle to Hikkaduwa: 30 minutes
Recommended time in Hikkaduwa: at least half a day with snorkelling
Bus from Hikkaduwa to Galle: 30 minutes
Day 12 – Galle and Coastal Train Ride to Colombo
If there is one thing that Sri Lanka is famous for, it’s the Sri Lanka train ride. While the tea country offers scenic tea plantation view aboard the train, the one that run along the coastal shores from Galle to Colombo is not to be missed. During the 2nd half of the ride, the track will be right beside the ocean with almost no obstruction between the train and ocean. This gives the passenger a gorgeous view of the sea, more so in the late afternoon when it turns golden thanks to the late afternoon sun. Truly something not to be missed.
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| Train to Colombo from Galle |
The train ride is best done in the afternoon so if you have a night flight, it would be perfect. Otherwise, if your flight is in the day, I suggest leaving the day before and spend your last day morning in Colombo instead. Either way, you would be on the afternoon train and still make it on time for your flight. We took the 2pm train and hadn’t enough time to explore Colombo before heading to the airport. I’d say, leave plenty of room for unforeseen circumstances, i.e. train delay, missing the train, and train breakdown among others.
Things to do: coastal train ride to Colombo
More on ➢ Sri Lanka | From Galle to Colombo – Get Yourself Spirited Away With This Scenic Train Ride
Train from Galle to Colombo: 3 hours (scenic)
Express bus from Galle to Colombo: 2 hours (faster)
Bus from Colombo to airport (Negombo): 1 hour 30 min (bus 187)
Cost breakdown
Rate:
USD 1 : LKR 155.92 | USD : RM 3.89 | SGD 1 : RM 2.95
Accommodation (10 nights): LKR 20,768 | USD 133 | RM 518 | SGD 175
Transport (trains, buses, tuk tuks): LKR 6528 | USD 42 | RM 162 | SGD 55
Meals (22 meals): LKR 13,373 | USD 86 | RM 333 | SGD 113
Polonnaruwa: USD 25 | RM 97 | SGD 33
Sigiriya: USD 30 | RM 117 | SGD 40
Dambulla Cave Temple: LKR 1500 | USD 10 | RM 38 | SGD 13
Lipton Seat: LKR 83 | USD 1 | RM 2 | SGD 1
Udawalawee Safari Jeep Tour: LKR 5300 | USD 34 | RM 133 | SGD 45
Mirissa Whale Watching: LKR 3000 | USD 19 | RM 75 | SGD 25
Massage: LKR 500 | USD 3 | RM 12 | SGD 4
Simcard (shared by 3 persons): LKR 481 | USD 3 | RM 12 | SGD 4
Total (excluding flight and souvenir): RM 1499 | SGD 508
Overall, we spent only RM 1500 (equivalent to SGD 508 / USD 386) for 11 days in Sri Lanka. I excluded the flight ticket from above budget as it really depends on where you are flying from. For the record, we flew from Malaysia and it was quite cheap (return ticket KL-Colombo-KL for RM 543 / SGD 184 / USD 140)
Estimated expenses for places we didn’t manage to cover:
Anuradhapura: USD 25
Pidurangala: LKR 500 (USD 3)
Temple of The Tooth: LKR 1500 (USD 10)
Horton Plains - World’s End: USD 30-40
Ravana Cave: LKR 150 (USD 1)
Yala National Park Safari Jeep Tour: USD 30-40
Final Words
Although Sri Lanka is a relatively small island, there are plenty of things to do and see in the country ranging from religious temples, lush tea plantation, ancient ruins, scenic train rides, white sandy beaches, wild safari to the awesome whale watching.
Take your time to explore the wonders of Sri Lanka as you would need at least 12 days to see the most of it. The only thing you probably need to worry about is your wallet as the entrance fee to those Unesco Heritage are pretty expensive. To compensate that, the local transport here is very cheap and you would have fun squeezing in the buses and trains as you go from one city to another. Be sure to smile back to those friendly Sri Lankans who are always willing to help.
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| Haputale - my favourite place in Sri Lanka |
Bon voyage!
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