4-week itinerary in Sri Lanka in March

Hi there, I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary for Sri Lanka (from late February to late March), starting in Colombo and then going clockwise (so I’d begin with Negombo, Anuradhapura, and I don’t think I’ll head all the way north to Jaffna because that’s a lot of kilometers just for a round trip—unless you can convince me otherwise! ;)). After that, I’ll hit the Cultural Triangle and then the tea plantations in the center of the island. The east coast will depend on how much time I have left and the weather (I’ve heard March can be rough on the east coast). I’ll wrap up my trip with the beaches in the south, back to Colombo. 😊 What do you think of this 4-week itinerary? (On the map, a few points aren’t connected by lines—that means I’m not sure if I’ll go there): https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1TX9sgHSjh9iwINIIknOG4LtCieNdUOw&ll=7.716250171694787%2C81.39557361748045&z=7 Maybe there are a few too many stops, so I’d love some suggestions to streamline this itinerary a bit. Thanks in advance for your feedback and advice on how many days to spend in each place! :)

Hi there! :-)

Here’s my feedback:

You can skip the east coast at this time of year—you’re more likely to get bad weather than good, and it’s a long drive. Jaffna is gorgeous. I highly recommend it—it was a personal favorite and totally different from the rest of the country! Why not do the Wilpattu safari? It’s really nice too! More info here: https://www.tongsetsrilanka.com/safaris-au-sri-lanka Colombo isn’t a must-visit city—only go if you have extra time :-) Adam’s Peak is a great idea at this time of year, but avoid weekends and full moon days. All my tips are here: https://www.tongsetsrilanka.com/conseils-pour-adams-peak-au-sri-lanka My biggest highlight was the Madilla neighborhood in Tangalle, in the south, with the Mukirigala temple. Don’t forget Haputale when you’re near Ella :-)

Let me know if you have any questions! Have a great day, Caroline

Thanks so much, Caroline, for these tips! I’ll be heading to the Jaffna Peninsula. I’ll try to put together a little travel journal after I get back.

I can confirm that on a 4-week trip, it’d be a shame not to go all the way up to Jaffna. I loved the interactions with the local people, who don’t see many tourists. Outside of Jaffna city itself, I didn’t come across a single one during the two days I spent exploring the peninsula and the islands by scooter.

Another spot that’s off the tourist radar (we were the only ones there again) but still easily accessible is Kataragama, just north of Tissamaharama. We weren’t there during the Perahera festival, but during a simple late-afternoon ceremony. We were welcomed in an incredible way by the pilgrims, both Buddhist and Hindu. One small downside, though—we stumbled upon an elephant tied to a tree in the area, which is used in some ceremonies.

Hello,

I highly recommend you set off to explore the Jaffna peninsula. It’s a real open-air museum. Even though the journey there is long, it’s worth it. Make sure to stop along the way in Mannar. Don’t forget to visit the village of Point Pedro (the hardest-hit village during the war and the former stronghold of the rebel leader) and take a detour to Delft Island (https://www.unpasseportencavale.com/le-sri-lanka/le-nord/les-iles-de-la-peninsule-de-jaffna-au-sri-lanka)—total change of scenery guaranteed!

One last tip, this time food-related: you *have* to try the Jaffna Crab Curry! It’s absolutely delicious!

Happy planning!

Fabien