It seems there’s a ferry from Nagapattinam to Jaffna in India. Has anyone here taken this ferry before? My main question is how to get to Nagapattinam—by train, bus? And from which town further south, of course. Thanks, friends!

Gaston

Hi, We’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka with our kids in July (ages 5 and 9). Could I get your thoughts on this itinerary?

D0. Arrival in Sri Lanka at 10 PM, hotel nearby (we’re coming from a stopover in Dubai) D1. Depart for Galle, visit Galle in the afternoon. Overnight in Galle D2. Depart for Tangalle, beach time, then drive to Udawalawa. Overnight in Udawalawa D3. Udawalawa NP, then drive to Ella. Overnight in Ella D4. Ella. Overnight in Ella D5. Drive to Kandy. Visit Kandy. Overnight in Kandy D6. Explore Kandy, then drive to Polonnaruwa. Overnight in Polonnaruwa D7. Polonnaruwa. Overnight in Polonnaruwa D8. Minneriya NP, then Sigiriya. Overnight in Polonnaruwa D9. Drive to Trincomalee. Beach time. Overnight in Trincomalee D10. Whale-watching excursion, Pigeon Island. Overnight in Trincomalee D11. Drive to Anuradhapura. Sightseeing. Overnight in Anuradhapura D12. Wilpattu NP D13. Return to the airport. Flight at 5 PM

I’ll admit the last few days feel a bit rushed. We’d be traveling by car with a driver.

Thanks so much for your help! Bruno

Hi there, We’re just back from a three-week trip to Sri Lanka, from July 15 to August 11. A few random tips—if you’ve got more specific questions, just ask. If we know the answer, we’ll be happy to help!

What an amazing country! I had a small bias at first, wasn’t totally convinced, but that disappeared fast. Stunning coastal and mountain landscapes, cultural visits, hikes, and such a warm welcome.

Here’s our itinerary in order: Colombo-Anuradhapura-Trincomalee-Polonnaruwa-Dambulla-Sigiriya-Kandy-Haputale-Ella-Tangalle-Galle-Negombo.

Whenever we can, we travel only by public transport, and in Sri Lanka, it’s totally doable. Trains, of course, and buses all the time—everywhere and super cheap. We’d head to the bus station to get a seat, but they also stop along the route. From the airport to Colombo Fort, take bus 187—it’s parked on the right as you exit.

Weather-wise, despite it being the less favorable season for some regions, we only had two half-days of rain. That was one of our worries, but maybe we just got lucky.

For hiking, beyond the well-known climbs in all the guidebooks and blogs (which are great too), there’s a long-distance trail in the mountain region (Kandy, Ella, etc.) that’s really well marked. It’s called the Pekoe Trail, and there’s an app you can download (Pekoe Trail) that gives you the full route and details for each stage—25 in total, I think, ranging from 9 to 15 km. We did 4 of them, not in a row, but starting from our different accommodations. They’re not loops, but you can always find a bus, train, or tuk-tuk to get back or to reach the end of a stage and return. The landscapes are beautiful, the encounters plentiful, and tourists are rare—which is nice sometimes.

Happy travels!

Hi there, It's really tough to book seats for early February. After trying multiple times on the official online sites, everything seems to be fully booked already. Hiring a taxi is an option, but even then, there aren’t many choices—agencies prioritize tour packages. Do you have any tips for making the trip from Kandy to Ella? Thanks! Have a great day.

Hi everyone,

I’ve planned a three-week itinerary for this summer, from August 9 to 27, in Sri Lanka: Negombo – 1 night Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle – 4 nights Kandy – 2 nights Ella – 3 nights Tangalle – 6 nights Colombo Airport – 1 night

I know this isn’t the ideal time for the south since the beach conditions aren’t great, but we’ve booked a hotel with a pool and won’t be swimming in the sea. We want to relax after all the travel since we’re bringing our two kids, aged 6 and 8.

I know the east would be better, but (i) I’m struggling to find suitable accommodation, and (ii) it adds a lot of travel time, and my kids can only handle about 3 hours at a stretch.

I looked into Arugam Bay, but it’s a 7-hour trip back to Colombo from there.

I’ve checked every weather site imaginable, but they don’t all agree. Do you think we’ll spend our whole trip in the rain, or is the monsoon in the south mostly limited to the sea, as I’ve read?

I’m worried about ending up in the middle of a natural disaster with my two young kids, given recent events.

Thanks for your advice! S

Hi everyone.

The tickets for SRI LANKA are booked—arriving in COLOMBO on 12/21 and returning from the same place on 01/17. I’ve read here and there that it’ll be high season, but we don’t have a choice, so we’ll make do...

My first question is obviously about the itinerary: Most of the ones I’ve seen go clockwise, and I’m wondering if I should do it the other way: - To avoid the cultural triangle between Christmas and New Year’s - To start with a bit of rest (we’re really wiped out) Does that make sense?

My second question is about the time allocated to each stop, which you’ll find below. Is it balanced? Too much here and not enough there?

My third question will be about Jaffna: yes or no? How long is the trip from Anuradhapura? Where can I fit in the 3 days needed?



Thanks for your replies. A few details: ultra-independent travelers, using public transport, hikers, minimum 2 nights per accommodation. First time in Sri Lanka! !

Hi there, we’re spending March in Sri Lanka, and on several blogs travelers mention they’ve rented scooters or mopeds. On government info sites, it seems they say you need a Sri Lankan license to rent these vehicles. Have any of you run into this kind of issue? Thanks, Marie

Hi there, Back from Sri Lanka, we have some local currency left. This could be useful for you. Here’s what I’m offering: 1 x 5000-rupee note 3 x 1000-rupee notes 2 x 500-rupee notes 3 x 100-rupee notes 2 x 50-rupee notes 6 x 20-rupee notes That’s a total of 9520 Sri Lankan rupees, or 31 €. This way, you can start your trip without having to withdraw money right away at the airport and without paying any fees. For reference, here are some typical costs: Bottle of water: 130–160 Rs, tuk-tuk ride: 100–500 Rs, bus trip: 50–200 Rs, meal with a drink: 1500–2500 Rs. Possible to send in an envelope.

Hi everyone! I’m heading to Sri Lanka soon for my honeymoon and I’m looking for affordable, French-speaking drivers for 15 days. I’ve already planned the route and booked the hotels myself. I’ve seen some driver rates at 95 €/day—honestly, that’s pretty steep! Any leads or recommendations? Thanks,

Hi there,

We’re a group of 7 people heading to SRI LANKA in March.

We’re transiting through Mumbai (Air India flight), then after a few hours, we’ll take a SriLankan Airlines flight to Colombo.

The return trip follows the same route 26 days later.

The issue is about the Indian visa.

1- Do we need an Indian visa since we’ll only be at Mumbai Airport for a few hours (no checked baggage)?

2- Do we need a double-entry visa?

Thanks for your help—everything I’ve read online is pretty unclear.

Hi there! I need your advice :) We’ll be in Sri Lanka in April, a group of 9 adults. Which safari would you recommend, please? Thanks for your replies! Lolo13500

Hi everyone,

We’re heading to Sri Lanka for three weeks in July with two kids (ages 6 and 13). We’ve drafted a rough itinerary but would love to hear from those who’ve already been there 😊 Of course, we want to see everything, but we have to make choices—even though three weeks on the ground lets us do quite a bit. We originally planned a schedule that felt too packed, so we had to cut one stop. We decided to skip Tangalle, even though we were really tempted. The monsoon won’t let us swim there, and the weather in the south is too uncertain, so we preferred to keep our stops on the east coast. Plus, we don’t think it’s reasonable to cut nights from other places. We’ve added a stop in Batticaloa, which we think will be a nice break between Arugam Bay and Sigiriya. What do you think? We’re also debating between Batticaloa and Passikudah. Does the itinerary seem logical to you?

Here it is:

Sri Lanka Itinerary Day 1 Arrival around 1 PM at the airport Night in Negombo Day 2 Drive from Negombo to Galle Visit Galle and surrounding areas Night in Galle Day 3 Visit Galle and surrounding areas Night in Galle Day 4 Visit Galle and surrounding areas Drive from Galle to Udawalawe Night in Udawalawe Day 5 Visit Udawalawe National Park Night in Udawalawe Day 6 Drive from Udawalawe to Ella Night in Ella Day 7 Ella Rock + Nine Arch Bridge Night in Ella Day 8 Visit Haputale Lipton’s Seat and Dambatenne Tea Factory Train ride back from Haputale to Ella Night in Ella Day 9 Little Adam’s Peak + drive from Ella to Arugam Bay Night in Arugam Bay Day 10 Visit Arugam Bay and surrounding areas Night in Arugam Bay Day 11 Visit Arugam Bay and surrounding areas Night in Arugam Bay Day 12 Drive from Arugam Bay to Batticaloa Night in Batticaloa Day 13 Visit Batticaloa Night in Batticaloa Day 14 Drive from Batticaloa to Sigiriya Night in Sigiriya Day 15 Lion Rock and Pidurangala Night in Sigiriya Day 16 Visit Dambulla Drive from Sigiriya to Trincomalee Night in Trincomalee Day 17 Visit Trincomalee and surrounding areas Night in Trincomalee Day 18 Visit Trincomalee and surrounding areas Night in Trincomalee Day 19 Drive from Trincomalee to Anuradhapura Night in Anuradhapura Day 20 Visit Anuradhapura Night in Anuradhapura Day 21 Visit Mihintale Drive from Anuradhapura to Negombo Night in Negombo Day 22 Day in Negombo and return flight

We’d love to hear your thoughts and tips! Thanks in advance!

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!

Hello, Don’t stay in the cold and damp! I’m looking for one or more people (men or women, travel companions) to spend a few weeks in South India, Sri Lanka, or Mexico from late October 2026 to early December.

I’m Jean Pierre, 74 years old, and I manage just fine when traveling. Phone: 0389812641 Cheers, Jean Pierre

Hi there,

I’m planning a 3-week trip to Sri Lanka in January. I’ve always traveled with a backpack, moving every couple of days or so, and I’ve seen the recommended itineraries where you only need one night in each place.

But this time, since I’m really tired, I’d like to settle in for a few days when I arrive. I’d love to find a quiet, pretty spot where I can rest, swim, and eat well ;)

Are there still beautiful places by the sea with few tourists? And do any of you know some great spots or hostels you could recommend for those few days?

After that, I’ll move on to a short itinerary—I know I won’t be able to see everything, and that’s not the goal. No rushing this time ;) just enjoying and discovering at my own pace.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Has anyone been to Kumana Park? Bundala Park? Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary? I'm looking for firsthand experiences—thanks in advance!

Day 1 – December 6

Our decision is our decision. And it’s firm and final. Next winter, our plane will spread its great wings toward the island of Ceylon! "Wait a minute... Ceylon... Ceylon... that name rings a bell, but I can’t quite place it on the globe Grandma gave me for Christmas! Ceylon... Oh right, I’ve got it: Ceylon is the name of my tea!" Exactly. But the name on your pretty tea box is also the one used until 1972 for this island nation, a speck on the Indian Ocean at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent: Sri Lanka!

For this new adventure, I’m exceptionally leaving my Flo behind, cowardly replaced by a double dose of testosterone. To write the book of this journey with me, I’m bringing along my brother, who’s used to this kind of thing, and... a guest star: My model of resilience. My dad! All aboard! Or rather, all aboard our tuk-tuk! Yes, you read that right: A real tuk-tuk, a little colorful rolling box that putters along at two miles an hour. The idea? Well, Sri Lanka and its winding roads overlooking the vastness of lush nature are tailor-made for this kind of vehicle. And since it’s one of only two countries in the world that allow foreigners to rent and drive these mini speedsters, we’ll be crisscrossing the island in our two-square-meter rolling box. Plus, adopting this mode of transport is a surefire way to connect directly with the locals, who’ll surely be curious to see a foreigner driving their iconic vehicle. Not to mention the... let’s say... spicy anecdotes it might generate. I mean, heading into a subtropical zone with my jet-black dad and his unpredictable digestive flora while deliberately choosing the tuk-tuk as our *only* means of transport? That’s the winning combo for an unforgettable adventure! "More seriously, Dad, Sullivan, I’m already loving the idea of living this adventure together, the three of us—brothers and father..."

So, does the intro to this new adventure get your salivary glands going? Yes? Too bad. Because unfortunately, the program handed out by the lady at the entrance has been slightly... let’s say *crumpled*. Some might even say "scrunched up and nearly tossed in the trash." First, six days ago, as the countdown echoed in us like a call to adventure, Cyclone Ditwah grabbed Sri Lanka, played with it like a rag doll, and left it battered on the ground. The toll is devastating: over a thousand dead, thousands of homes wiped out by relentless rains, roads and railways swallowed by massive mudslides. A country wounded once again, after the civil war, the 2004 tsunami, and the post-Covid economic crisis.

But as if this weather disaster wasn’t enough to shake our unbreakable adventurer spirit, fate decided to mess with us further by cutting our trio down to two. The victim? My brother, violently turned away because of a simple date on his passport that didn’t match the border officials’ expectations. Return to sender!

So now it’s just the two of us allowed to board the Qatar Airways Airbus A380 for this trip. If he were here, Denis Brognart would say, "And in the end, only one remains!" Except I know you’ll be with us, following our adventures! Right?

Hi there! I’m planning a trip with my wife and our three kids (ages 9, 6, and 3) from April 16 to May 6. I’ve started sketching out the itinerary, trying to alternate between visits, hikes, safaris, and downtime. I want to keep the pace relaxed given the kids’ ages. Could you let me know what you think of this route? I removed Nuwara Eliya, which I had originally planned before Ella, to cut down on stops. I was also wondering if I should break up the Arugam Bay to Colombo leg with an overnight in Galle, since it’s a long drive. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Day 1 – 04/16: Wilpattu Arrival at the airport (08:00) + transfer to Wilpattu (180 km, 4–5 h) + afternoon safari Overnight: Wilpattu Day 2 – 04/17: Wilpattu Morning & afternoon safari Overnight: Wilpattu Day 3 – 04/18: Trincomalee Transfer Wilpattu → Trincomalee (200 km, 4–5 h) + beach relaxation Overnight: Trincomalee Day 4 – 04/19: Trincomalee Nilaveli Beach Overnight: Trincomalee Day 5 – 04/20: Trincomalee Pigeon Island snorkeling Overnight: Trincomalee Day 6 – 04/21: Trincomalee Fort Frederick & relaxation Overnight: Trincomalee Day 7 – 04/22: Sigiriya Transfer Trincomalee → Sigiriya (120 km, ~3 h) + visit to Dambulla Overnight: Sigiriya Day 8 – 04/23: Sigiriya Sigiriya Rock Overnight: Sigiriya Day 9 – 04/24: Sigiriya Minneriya safari Overnight: Sigiriya Day 10 – 04/25: Sigiriya Polonnaruwa & village tour Overnight: Sigiriya Day 11 – 04/26: Ella Transfer Sigiriya → Ella (230 km, 5–6 h) + rest Overnight: Ella Day 12 – 04/27: Ella Little Adam’s Peak & Nine Arches Bridge Overnight: Ella Day 13 – 04/28: Ella Ella Rock Overnight: Ella Day 14 – 04/29: Ella Tea Factory & relaxation Overnight: Ella Day 15 – 04/30: Yala Transfer Ella → Yala (110 km, 2–3 h) + afternoon safari Overnight: Yala Day 16 – 05/01: Arugam Bay Transfer Yala → Arugam Bay (80 km, 2.5–3 h) + beach time Overnight: Arugam Bay Day 17 – 05/02: Arugam Bay Surfing & relaxation Overnight: Arugam Bay Day 18 – 05/03: Arugam Bay Local exploration Overnight: Arugam Bay Day 19 – 05/04: Colombo Transfer Arugam Bay → Colombo (320 km, 7–8 h) + rest Overnight: Colombo Day 20 – 05/05: Colombo City tour & shopping Overnight: Colombo Day 21 – 05/06: Colombo Morning return flight from Colombo

Hi there, I just got back from a trip to Sri Lanka from December 18th to January 1st with 2 adults and 2 kids (12 years old). If it helps, here’s my itinerary.

We left on December 18th from Madrid with Qatar Airways. No complaints. I booked my tickets back in March for 800 € per person. (I flew from Madrid because I live near the Spanish border and was too worried about strikes in France.) We arrived on December 19th at 4 PM (local time). Before leaving France, I’d booked a taxi through MyTransfer for 59 € to Sigiriya. A van was waiting for us at the airport exit. A never-ending 3-hour drive to Sigiriya. We stayed at Samana Guesthouse—very simple, clean, with a pool and an excellent Sri Lankan breakfast. Shower and straight to bed.

Friday, December 20th: Beautiful weather, but very humid and hot. We visited Lion Rock (36 € for adults) and then Pidurangala. I loved both sites—they’re a must-do in my opinion. Spent the late afternoon by the pool.

Saturday, December 21st: Another gorgeous day. The guesthouse manager offered us a free 2-hour tuk-tuk tour. We first visited a lake, rice fields, the temple, and the Sigiriya market, plus the usual tourist trap—the botanical garden (no pressure to buy anything at the end). Then we took a tuk-tuk to Dambulla Temple, the Golden Buddha, and the wholesale market.

Sunday, December 22nd: Still beautiful weather. I’d booked a taxi for 8 AM. We did all the long trips by taxi to save time. I’d ask for prices from 2 or 3 WhatsApp taxi agencies 2 days or the day before—super responsive, always got replies within 5 minutes. We headed to Ella (4-hour drive) for 22,000 LKR. Arrived in the afternoon at Rest Full Homestay—a small, family-run guesthouse. Clean, cozy, and an amazing Sri Lankan breakfast. In the afternoon, we went to Nine Arches Bridge. It was a Sunday, a Sri Lankan holiday, so it was *packed*—mostly locals and very few white tourists! Even though it was crowded, it was cool because it was all Sri Lankans. We waited an hour for the train. It’s worth seeing, but honestly, I didn’t think it was that amazing. Then we headed to the station to check if we needed to book tickets for the train to Haputale—turns out, no.

Monday, December 23rd: Beautiful weather. We hiked Ella Rock—a gorgeous trek. The final stretch is steep but shaded, so it wasn’t as tough as I’d read. The whole hike is stunning from start to finish. We saw the train pass twice (one blue, one red) and lots of women picking tea. After that, we did Little Adam’s Peak. It’s not hard, but it was *packed* with tourists—meh. Luckily, at the top, you can walk a bit farther (down one side and back up) to get some space to yourself. What I *didn’t* like was the commercial vibe at the big café/restaurant with a pool at the entrance of Little Adam’s Peak. Loud music, all that money being made right next to little souvenir stands run by Sri Lankans or tea-picking women. Felt off. Ended the day buying souvenirs at one of the few shops we found during the trip.

Tuesday, December 24th: Beautiful weather. Took the train to Haputale. We got to the station 30 minutes before the 9:30 AM train. We could’ve taken 2nd or 3rd class—I went with 2nd (160 LKR per person). It was crowded, but we managed to get seats—first 2, then 3. Only a 1-hour ride, but I *loved* it—windows and doors open the whole time. Arrived in Haputale around 11 AM, and the mist was already rolling in. We walked to our guesthouse, The Mist Holiday Bungalow. Simple but clean, with a great view of the tea plantations. The owner’s wife is Vietnamese and used to work for French tour operators, so her French is still pretty good—helpful for us since our English is terrible. They booked us a tuk-tuk for 4:45 AM the next day (2,000 LKR) to Lipton’s Seat. Spent the afternoon wandering around Haputale. Not much charm, but there’s a nice fruit and veggie market and a short walk through the tea plantations.

Wednesday, December 25th: Beautiful weather. The tuk-tuk was on time to take us to Lipton’s Seat. We were the first ones there—the sky was just starting to turn pink. In the end, only about ten of us watched the sunrise. The guesthouse had packed us breakfast, and we walked back down (half on the road, half through the plantations). Didn’t see any tea picking since it was Christmas, but the walk was still incredible. We took detours through villages full of kids. After that, we visited the tea factory. The tour was really interesting, and we took the bus back down to Haputale. Such a great moment—whole families were heading to mass, dressed up and made up. All so beautiful.

At noon, we left for Udawalawe National Park. Taxi for 14,000 LKR. Stayed at River Inn Safari Cottage. *Warning*: It’s the same place as Eagle Safari Cottage. I don’t recommend it. We’d always stayed with families before, but here it was just staff—totally different vibe. The pool was nice but not very clean (water was murky). The bungalow was big and fine, but it was brand new—so new the asphalt floor wasn’t fully dry. It’s in the middle of nowhere, so we had to eat on-site. Couldn’t leave a review on Booking because they never confirmed we’d stayed, and they canceled our reservation the next day.

Thursday, December 26th: Beautiful weather. I’d booked a safari through the hotel for 5:30–10 AM for 54 USD. Honestly, yes, there are a lot of jeeps, but it was great. The kids loved it—we saw everything there was to see. Left by taxi at 11:30 AM for Welligama (12,000 LKR). We didn’t stay in Welligama city but at Coconut Beach, between Welligama and Midigama. *Total crush* on the guesthouse: Sky Mountain Café with View. Such a lovely family. The mom makes amazing meals at reasonable prices. The view from the hill over the sea is unreal. Spent the afternoon walking along the beach.

Friday, December 27th: Beautiful weather. My kids are surfers. Unfortunately, there weren’t any boards their size to rent at Coconut, so we took a tuk-tuk to Welligama Bay (1,000 LKR). They surfed from 8 AM to 5 PM—rental was 5,000 LKR for the day. Meanwhile, we walked the beach and swam. Water was 29°C.

Saturday, December 28th: Beautiful weather, rain from 4 PM until midnight. Same surf day. They were so well-behaved the whole trip, so this was their reward.

Sunday, December 29th: Beautiful weather. Beach day at Coconut. *Warning*: It’s a reef break. For surfers, there are three spots (Coconut Left, Middle, and Right). The boys bodysurfed (with fins) all morning, and at 1 PM, we took the bus to Hikkaduwa. Stayed at Hotel Universal Beach. Nothing special—right on the water, but the rooms were dark even though they were clean. The manager was super nice, but the rest was meh, and breakfast was mediocre compared to what we’d had before (2 eggs and 3 slices of toast). Plus, it was late—8 AM. First impression of Hikkaduwa wasn’t great—way too many Russians for our taste.

Monday, December 30th: Beautiful weather. Spent the whole day exploring. Turtle Beach, then the other side of the beach (toward Galle) near the fishing port. The beach there is much wider, with scattered hotels and super quiet. It’s beautiful—I should’ve booked somewhere in that area. Ended up having a great day away from the crowds.

Tuesday, December 31st: Overcast, then beautiful, rain at 4 PM. Had to end the year (and the trip) with some surf. Rented boards for the kids (3,000 LKR per board for the day). Bad luck—the waves were on a reef break but small. Not great for them, but no big deal. They still got out of the water by 2 PM. Walked the beach (which is gorgeous), had a juice, and went for a swim. Then back to surfing in the rain at 4 PM.

Wednesday, January 1st: Left by taxi at 5 AM (18,000 LKR). Flight at 10 AM. Arrived in Madrid at 8 PM.

hi everyone, I’m putting together an itinerary for Sri Lanka in September 2026, so I’m focusing on the east side of the island because of the monsoon on the west coast: Day 1 Kandy: botanical garden, fruit and vegetable market, traditional dance show Day 2 Kandy-Ella train Day 3-4 Kumana NP or Lunugamvehera Block 6+5 Day 5-6 Komari / Pottuvi lagoon safari Day 7 head up the east coast along the beaches to reach Wasgamuwa NP Day 8 Wasgamuwa NP early morning safari, then Polonnaruwa (temple and palace) Day 9-10 Sigiriya Lion’s Rock and Dambulla, cave temple Day 11-12 Wilpattu NP early morning safari, then late afternoon Day 13-14 Kalpitiya, snorkeling and chilling Day 15 return to Colombo Thanks for sharing your thoughts on whether this route is doable—we’ll be traveling with a driver-guide. Feel free to mention any great tips or good homestay experiences you’ve had, since we prefer those.

Hi there,

For our trip to Sri Lanka from July 31 to August 21, 2025, we can't seem to find a reliable price range on various blogs for intercity taxi rides without private drivers. We'd like to alternate between trains, buses, and taxis (for 2 people) and would love to get an idea of the going rates for taxis, as well as any company names based on your experiences. I checked out "12Go Asia"—has anyone used this site to book transport in Sri Lanka? Is it reliable? Thanks in advance, Have a great day!

JL

Hi everyone, It's tough to see all of Sri Lanka in 15/16 days. Trip planned for February 2025. We really want to visit Jaffna, but that takes 2/3 days, so it's hard to cover the North, the Center, and the Southwest. Maybe skip the west coast or just stop in Galle for a quick look? Or is it a must to go there before heading back up through the Center, then the North, and finishing in Kalpitiya? Are the beaches and swimming good in February? Which are the most beautiful beaches that aren’t too built-up to end the trip? Thanks so much for your tips! Best, Nicole

For once, I'm sharing my experience after benefiting from other travelers' tips to take the plunge and rent a car (without a driver).

First, don’t hesitate! (Unless you just got your license the day before.) The roads are good—even very good in the north (the situation seems to have improved a lot). Driving is "Italian-style"—you can fit 3 or even 4 cars on a two-lane road. Sri Lankans aren’t suicidal (I wouldn’t have done it in India, though...). No issues with police checkpoints: we were never stopped in 25 days (unlike Sri Lankans...). These days, with Google and connectivity, you can’t get lost. Plan short trips (for us, it was between 2 and 4 hours with Google Maps estimates). Price: for a basic car, between 23 and 25 € per day, and gas isn’t expensive. I didn’t rent a car in Colombo (we used the PickMe app for tuk-tuks or car transfers with luggage). I also left the car parked in Kandy—it was a bit more intense there with narrow hillside streets and motorbikes/tuk-tuks driving a little wild. Big advantage: automatic transmission.

For me, aside from the first intersection, no stress—if you’re tired or not feeling it, you can drive as slowly as you want (unlike in France). I also drove and overtook like the Sri Lankans naturally.

Basic tips (but if you’re a driver, they’re obvious): - The bus is the boss: you’ve got to yield. - Unlike Sri Lankans, avoid overtaking without visibility. - Stay aware of your surroundings: cows, dogs, monitor lizards, pedestrians... so if there’s something, slow down!

I caught myself driving up to 90 km/h without realizing it but then slowed down (speed limits: 70 on rural roads, 100 on highways).

Of course, you’ll need an international driver’s permit or a temporary Sri Lankan license (I had both, but no one asked for them).

Renting a tuk-tuk was trendy among young travelers (I don’t get the appeal for a long trip—maybe 2 or 3 days since they’re slow, not that economical, more dangerous, and you can’t leave your stuff inside. Plus, the passenger sits behind the driver, and we had temps up to 37°C).

For a car, it’s great because it makes you independent: schedules, routes, supermarkets, restaurants...

Hope my feedback helps! !

Hi there,

Need a little help: How do I get from Tangalle (or from Beliatha/Beliatta) to Hatton (I’m staying a few days nearby in Dickoya)?

Thanks! Florent

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, what a joy this forum is back up and running! so happy to be the first Sri Lanka post. it’s helped me plan so many real trips—unlike other sites that are mostly commercial, pushing drivers, and such.

new adventure in Sri Lanka! here’s our itinerary from November 6th to 22nd, 2024.

Our plan: 3 days in Habarana (Mineriya or Kaudulla, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigiriya) 3 days in Kandy (including two days at the Elephant Freedom Project) 1 day on the train from Kandy to Haputale (Lipton’s Seat) 2 days in Ella 1 day in Uda Walawe 1 flexible day to adjust as needed 2 days in Tangalle or nearby (which beaches are the quietest?) 1 day in Galle 1 day in Colombo

thank you in advance for any tips or advice you can share—we’re so excited to explore this amazing country!

looking forward to hearing from you, we’ll be sure to share our experience when we’re back.

Monique

Hi there! 🙂

We’re heading to Sri Lanka for 23 days in January 2027—there are four of us—and we’ll wrap up the trip with 5 days in Mumbai. Our itinerary is coming together, but what do you think? (We can’t change the dates since our flights are already booked.)

We still have one night to slot in, and I’ve tentatively planned it in Tangalle, though it was a bit random. Would it make more sense to place it at a different stop? Or is there an intermediate stop I might be missing?

I’ve got accommodations sorted everywhere except Mumbai—it’s a nightmare (either way too expensive or really dodgy). By default, we’ve spotted the Residency Hotel Fort, but 70 € a night (with a discount) for a hotel that doesn’t offer anything special in India?!

Thanks so much for your help!

Hello,

I’m heading to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks in July with my two 11-year-old kids, and I’m wondering about how to organize the trip. We’re used to traveling on the go, staying 1 to 2 or 3 nights per place depending on how we feel.

Do you recommend planning the itinerary and booking accommodations in advance to save time once we’re there? Or is it pretty easy to organize everything as we go without any issues?

Same question for activities: Should we book safaris and tours ahead of time, or can we arrange them easily on the spot? Is there a risk of not getting a spot, for example, to visit a park since we’ll be there in July?

We’ll be using local transport (train, VTC via PickMe, tuk-tuk) to get from one place to another.

In short: Are there any must-book things we should reserve now? So far, I only have the flight tickets!

Thanks in advance for your help! 😊

Hi there,

We’re planning to visit Yala Park for half a day. Could anyone tell me which block is the most interesting to visit, given that we’re coming from Tangalle?

Thanks for your reply.

Hi there, I have another question: Should I bring dollars since hotels on Booking are listed in dollars... or should I exchange my euros for rupees? Thanks for your experience!