Want to travel to Sri Lanka but don’t know where to start? We’ll give you advice on how to enjoy this country to the fullest.
We consider two weeks to be the ideal time to spend in this beautiful country. Although you won’t be able to visit everything during this period, you will be able to see some of the most beautiful things Sri Lanka has to offer its tourists. Of course, it also depends on whether you’re the type of traveller who likes adventure and doesn’t mind frequent moves from place to place, or whether you’re looking for a quieter holiday during where you can slow down and relax.
This two-week itinerary is built for all adventurers who don’t mind a busy schedule.
The 14 days and 13 nights in Sri Lanka are divided as follows: 2 nights in Pinnawala, 2 nights in Sigiriya, 1 night in Kandy, 2 nights in Ella, 2 nights in Yale, 2 nights in Mirissa and 2 nights in Weligama.
Day 1 – Transfer from Colombo airport to Pinnawala
On the first day, you will arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport. From the airport you will transfer by express bus to Colombo Fort station, which we consider to be the starting point of your adventure in Sri Lanka. You can buy tickets to Rambukkana at the train station.
This is the closest stop to the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, which will be your first stop. You can take a tuk-tuk from the station, call a taxi via the Uber or PickMe app, or pre-book a ride from the hotel you’ll be staying at. Depending on your arrival time, you may be able to catch the bathing elephants that day. They are usually there until about 4pm.
Day 2 – Pinnawala + Ambulawawa Tower
All morning you will enjoy the view of elephants bathing in the river right in front of your hotel. It is truly an unforgettable experience.
For an afternoon activity, visit Ambulawawa Tower, which is just an hour and a half tuktuk from this location. You can find the tuktuk driver, who will be happy to take you there, again via the PickMe app or by catching a ride outside the entrance to the orphanage. There are plenty of them.
Want to live in Sri Lanka with a view of elephants? We know how to do it. Read more in our article.
Day 3 – Transfer from Pinnawala to Sigiriya
Last moments of the elephants in the river and let’s move on. From the elephant orphanage you will again travel to the train station in Rambukkana. From there, take the train to Kandy. The trip will take approximately two hours.
Buy tickets for the iconic train from Kandy to Ella at Kandy station. If possible, reach for tickets with a second or third class reservation. However, this option is only valid if you are travelling to Sri Lanka during the off-peak season. Otherwise, we recommend buying tickets online a few weeks in advance.
After lunch at Indi’s Joint (just 2 minutes from the train station), you’ll transfer to the bus station, which is about a 5-minute walk away. You catch the bus no. 43-857 to Dambulla. The trip will take approximately 2.5 hours. In Dambulla, catch a local tuktuk driver who will drop you off at your accommodation in Sigiriya in 25 minutes.
This will be your stop number 2. For example, you can stay at Sigiriya Rock Side, where for 1€ pp you can pay for a great local breakfast prepared by the owner.
Day 4 – Sigiriya
First thing in the morning, you will head to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Sri Lanka, located at Pidurangala Rock. Despite the early wake-up call, there is no need to worry about the challenging hike. The whole hike won’t take you more than 30 minutes. It is also from this point that you will have the best view of the iconic Lion’s Rock.
After a leisurely hike, you’ll enjoy a great breakfast and it’s up to you how the day goes. For the more active, it is also possible to climb Lion’s Rock in the afternoon, which has more than 1,200 steps.
We did this hike, but we liked the morning view from Pidurangala Rock much better. If we had to do it again, we’d probably stay and rest, or use the time in some other way.
Day 5 – Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy + exploring Kandy
If you chose the rest option the previous day, you still have the opportunity to visit Lion’s Rock early in the morning before your departure to your next destination. If you visited the day before or decided to skip it altogether, just enjoy the morning atmosphere in Sigiriya and move on.
Again, you need to get a local tuk-tuk driver, which you will most likely find along the main road. You need to get back to Dambully. From there, take the same bus back to Kandy.
Kandy is taken by many people only as a transit stop because of the iconic train. However, it offers much more and it is definitely worth seeing something of this cultural town.
You arrive in Kandy around noon. So you have the whole morning to explore the beauty of this city. Whether you choose to visit the botanical gardens, the Buddha statue or just wander in the streets of the city.
Day 6 – Ride the iconic train from Kandy to Ella
Early in the morning you leave on the iconic train from Kandy to Ella. There is a lot to look forward to. Before that, however, you can still catch a great coffee or breakfast at Cafe Buono or Cafe Secret Alley. You can buy great fresh pastries for your trip at OAKS BAKERY.
During the second or third class ride you will enjoy the open windows, you can also try what it is like to hang from the open train doors, there will be a great local atmosphere with musicians and vendors selling all sorts of local specialties. After 7-8 hours you are finally in place – welcome to Ella.
If you want to enjoy the iconic train ride from Kandy to Ella to the fullest, find out all the essentials in our article, Everything you need to know about the train journey from Kandy to Ella, Sri Lanka.
Day 7 – Exploring Ella
Early in the morning you will head to one of the most famous places in the whole of Sri Lanka – 9 Arches Bridge. At 6:30am goes the first train that can be seen without crowds. If you don’t want to get up that early, trains run several times during the day.
Your next stop in Ella will be a visit to Ravanna Waterfall, located just 10 minutes from town. From here, you’ll make your way to the magnificent viewpoint of Little Adam’s Peak. The ascent will take approximately 20 minutes.
If you have energy and time left over, you can run down to Bee’s Honey Cookery Restaurant for dinner or cooking classes. It is owned by a very nice family, the food is very tasty and the atmosphere and views are beautiful.
If you decide to spend more days in Ella, read our article:
How to get here, where to stay, what to see and where to eat.
Day 8 – Ella Rock + transfer to Yala National Park
The last stop in Ella not to be missed is Ella Rock hike. It is a slightly more dificult hike, but it does not require a guide or hiking boots. The views will be priceless.
In the afternoon, transfer by private car to Yala National Park. The journey will take approximately 2 hours, during which you can relax after a hard morning’s hiking. Private transfers can be booked with the property owner or directly in Ella, or online via viator.com or mystransfers.com.
You can buy the e-book at a special price here.
Day 9 – Yala National Park – Safari
The ninth day belongs to observing animals in their natural habitat. You will visit Yala National Park, which is the biggest and best of all the national parks in Sri Lanka, because there is a good chance that you will see leopards, which are the most numerous in this park.
You have the choice of an early morning safari or an evening safari, as these are the times when the animals are most active. As always, we recommend option 1, as you can relax in the afternoon and get ready for another day full of adventures.
Day 10 – Transfer from Yala to Mirissa
Desiaty deň začína presunom z národného parku Yala na pobrežie Srí Lanky, konkrétne do mesta Mirissa. Again, it is advisable to use a private transfer, as travelling by public transport can be very long and complicated (more than 2 transfers).
Then you can relax in the afternoon at Mirissa Beach, where you can enjoy happy hour drinks at a great price and, if you’re lucky, a beautiful sunset.
If you want to do an activity the next day, we also recommend booking a tour directly in Mirissa Beach – either snorkelling with turtles or watching dolphins and whales.
Day 11 – Exploring Mirissa
As the previous days were quite challenging, the eleventh day will be the complete opposite. Those who decide to take part in some of the activities will set off around 8-9am to observe the underwater world.
However, if you want to enjoy a relaxing meal, you can start the day with a great brunch at Shady Lane Mirissa or Aloha Coffee Gallery.
You will then go to Secret Beach, where you will spend a few hours. There are also several bars and restaurants.
This time you will watch the sunset from the most famous spot – Coconut Tree Hill. You can have a tasty dinner e.g. DelTano’s Wood Fired Pizza Pasta or Mila Restaurant.
Day 12 – Transfer from Mirissa to Weligama
The twelfth day will start again with a transfer, but this time it will not last more than 30 minutes. From Mirissa you can simply take a tuk-tuk to another beautiful town called Weligama. Here you can once again enjoy relaxing moments on beautiful beaches such as Weligama Beach.
If you want to stay in absolute luxury, we recommend Eraeliya Boutique Hotel. If you’re after cheaper alternatives, you can stay at Lucky’s Surf Camp or Scenic Bay Weligama.
For dinner, we recommend visiting Miru Restaurant. It’s a tiny family restaurant where they have great curry. But don’t expect any luxury, the restaurant is very simple. During dinner, the owner of the restaurant will for sure stop by to make sure you’ve enjoyed your meal.
Day 13 – Exploring Weligama and its surroundings
The second to last day of your holiday cannot start any other way than with a great breakfast and coffee. The Nomad Café is the ideal place.
You will then go exploring the surrounding beaches (again, motorbike or tuktuk required). It’s up to you whether you want to travel a little further and explore the surroundings of Galle and Unawatuna or prefer the beaches in close proximity to your accommodation.
If you are a surfing enthusiast or want to try this sport for the first time, you can do it in Weligama. The most famous surf spots are Beach Break, Reef Brakes Ram’s Point, Plantation Point and Two Secret Point.
If surfing isn’t your cup of coffee, you can head to the snake farm or the Handunugoda Tea Estate for a taste of local tea.
Day 14 – Transfer to Colombo airport
Early in the morning you will transfer by train from Weligama to the capital Colombo. Depending on when your departure time is, you may want to consider the alternative of leaving your luggage in the luggage room while sightseeing.
We recommend visiting the Lotus Tower, the Red Mosque, or the Pettah market where you can buy some souvenirs.
After a wonderful two weeks, your adventure in Sri Lanka is at an end. So, did you enjoy it?
You can buy the e-book at a special price here.
* All links in this article including accommodation through booking are affliliate. All in one place. It won’t cost you any extra money or effort, it will make your planning easier and save you time. We would be delighted if you booked your dream holiday through them 🙂
