Sri Lanka by train: start in the North or the South?

Hi there, I’m heading to Sri Lanka for a month on January 6th. I’d love to know whether it’s more interesting to start in the north or the south of the country, especially for the beauty of the landscapes—by train in particular. Thanks for your help!

Hi Cannelle,

If you love culture, I’d suggest visiting the north first: there are the Dambulla caves, then the city of Polonnaruwa, and of course Kandy.

The journey from Colombo is really slow (8 hours) for just 1-2 €!!! The best thing is to stop in Polonnaruwa for a few days (check out my video below), then take a taxi to Dambulla (70 km and 1.5 hours) and return. As for Kandy, Colombo-Kandy—yes, stay a few days, then take the bus (easy) to Dambulla and Polonnaruwa. For the bus, it’s dusty => bring a scarf and cap to protect yourself, and earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, because the music is LOUD!!!

As for the south, I’d save it for last—take the bus (comfortable here) or train to Galle for a stroll. The temperature is very humid (coastal) and stifling.

Polonnaruwa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeqs5IBEpj8&list=PLY-bryruKxP8DjiLPCgYQPw623RJm84cs&index=46

Dambulla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0V6po1EOeg&list=PLY-bryruKxP8DjiLPCgYQPw623RJm84cs&index=53

Thanks a lot Philippe! There’s so much to see and the distances are long that I can’t figure out a route that makes sense... Should I book hotels in advance or just a day or two beforehand? Thanks for your tips—it’s a cultural treasure! Best,

Hi there, when I went, I had booked from France. In Colombo, it can get fully booked if tourism picks up, and in Kandy, all the bus tourists stay overnight, so it’s really popular and seats can sell out! In Galle, it’s nicer to arrive either by train or a more comfortable option and take a tuk-tuk to your hotel (the streets are narrow).

Hi, Personally, I only booked my accommodations a day or two in advance (via Booking) and never had any issues. Even in really touristy spots like Sigiriya or Ella, there are tons of places to stay, so no problem.

hi there, we booked the hotels in advance for the first half of the trip, but we chose hotels that could be canceled up to the day before to keep some flexibility. Then we booked as we went along. We traveled from north to south to save the beach for the end and for some rest. The beaches are gorgeous, sun loungers are available for free with a drink, the water is at 28°C, people are helpful and lovely. Happy planning! Monique

Thanks a ton, Ludo! I ended up booking a big chunk of my trip on Booking.com—free cancellation is super handy and lets me change plans if I need to.

Thanks Monique What a joy to be able to talk about our travels again... I chose Ella for the many hikes in the plantations, at the expense of the beaches, because I’m heading to the Maldives for 12 days to finally enjoy some beach time

Hi Marie-Claude,

Both directions work—it just depends on whether you prefer to start or end with the beach! :-)

I see you're already traveling, but I’ll leave this link for future travelers: https://www.tongsetsrilanka.com/mes-itineraires-au-sri-lanka

Have a great day, Caroline