r/SriLankaTravel

We are a small family planning 6 day trip, first ever to Srilanka. Plan is primarily 3-4 places - Colombo airport > Sigiriya > Kandy > NE > Ella > Colombo airport.

Could you pls recommend how many days to stay in each location ? We can also cut down a place to not rush it. We have 6 full days. Thank You 🙏

• Our flights are booked so cannot change dates now
• I have seen amazing videos and pictures for south coast and was planning for south as a relaxing trip
• But people are recommending to go east coast as weather will be better there
• Now I am super confused, as covering east means more travel from Colombo Airport and otherwise as well
• If I do south it's going to be easy I believe (since I have a toddler)
• Thoughts, inputs ? What should be done ?

Hi, I am travelling to colombo next week and am planning to do a circuit trip for the next 8 days- kandy, ella, nuwa eliya.. probably hit the coast and back to colombo for return flight, haven't figured out the itinerary yet. Was wondering if it's safe to hire a driver for this as I am travelling alone. Also, given the weather this time of the year, what would you suggest be the best places to visit within 8 days? Would be great if you could let me know. Thanks!

I am solo traveling to Sri Lanka in late June/early July and am looking for a driver while I am there (approximately 8 days). Is it possible to find a female driver, and what would the approximate cost of the trip be? Would like to visit east coast, Kandy, see elephants, hike, and enjoy beach time. Looking to stay in nice hotels. Any recommendations for a good driver?

Hey people, I am planning a week long trip in June end or July to Sri Lanka. This would be my first time in Lanka. I am a bit indecisive considering the weather. Should still go ahead and make the bookings or it is absolutely a no - no?

Would love some insight.

Thank you!

22th to 25th May - Mirissa, Weligama
25th to 26th - Ella
26th to 27th - Nuwara Eliya
27th to 28th - Colombo
Can we do whale watching? Is it worth it? What else can we do?

Me and my friend are planning to travel. We are both girls. Should be book a car from 22nd itself? How should we go about it?

​

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a 14 day trip to Sri Lanka and I’ll be staying mostly in the south and southwest, moving between different places like the coast and maybe inland spots such as Ella or the Kandy area.

I’m trying to figure out the best way to get around.

I’ve read about trains, taxis and tuk tuks, but I’m still not sure what actually makes the most sense for this kind of trip.

I also came across the option of hiring a private driver for the whole trip, someone who stays with you for the 14 days and drives you wherever you want to go.

I was wondering if this is something common and reliable, or if it’s more of a tourist setup that ends up being expensive or not very flexible.

If anyone has done something similar, I’d really appreciate hearing how it works in practice.

What would be a normal price range for something like 14 days?

Do you usually have to cover the driver’s food and accommodation separately, or is that included?

Is it better to arrange everything in advance or sort it once you arrive?

Any advice or personal experience would really help.

Thanks a lot.

Hello good people of the community!

We are travelling to Sri Lanka for 8 nights from June 1 to 9. We also have a 2 years old with us.

We are looking to have a relaxed holiday with a mix of natural beauty (mountains in Kandy), ancient temples (The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Kandy) and Dambulla Cave Temple), relaxed beaches (Passikudah/Trincomalee). This is our tentative itinerary.

June 1 - Arrival and go to Negombo for overnight stay.

June 2 - Negombo -> Kandy. Sight seeing for the rest of the day.

June 3 - Kandy sightseeing

June 4 - Kandy -> Dambulla Cave Temples -> Sigriya

June 5 - Sigriya sighseeing in the morning and then from Sigriya -> Passikudah

June 6 - Passikudah beach day

June 7 - Passikudah beach day

June 8 - Passikudah -> Colombo. Overnight stay. Visit Galle face green if time/weather permits.

We would be grateful if people could give some feedback on this itinerary. I am not sure if I have broken the journey in Kandy/Sigriya properly or I can explore Minneriya National Park while I am there.

I am also looking for options for cabs with drivers as we will have a toddler and we want to use private car for transportation. Any reliable suggestions would also be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I am planning to visit Sri Lanka in a few months and I would like to visit Yala National Park with a guide.

Is there an official site to book a safari? Where do you suggest staying the night before? If there is no official site, where should I look to book a visit? How to choose where to enter?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Anyone who’s planning a trip to Mirissa this weekend? The weather has given me cold feet (no pun intended)
is it raining in the down south as well? Can’t really trust the weather apps.

There's a moment in travel that nobody really talks about. The one where you realise you've been looking at the whole country through glass.

I had it in Sri Lanka about two years ago. I'd done the things like Sigiriya, the tea country, a cooking class that was clearly designed for tourists but had a nice vibe anyway. On the last day I ended up in someone's house by accident. Not an Airbnb. An actual house. A friend of a tuk-tuk driver who felt sorry for me sitting alone at a roadside place and just said come. Eat with us.

I don't remember what we talked about. The language gap made real conversation impossible. But I remember the sound of the kitchen. The grandmother doing something with a pot that smelled like nothing I'd had at any restaurant. A kid doing homework at the same table where we ate. Someone's laundry drying in a doorway.

None of it was arranged for me. That's the part I keep coming back to.

I've been thinking a lot about this lately , the difference between experiencing a culture and being allowed into one. Most of what the travel industry sells is the former dressed up as the latter. You get the costume version of someone's life, performed by people who are tired of performing it.

The real version is quieter. Less photogenic. A bit awkward sometimes. And it stays with you in a completely different way.

I'm slowly building something around this idea , connecting travelers with actual families in Sri Lanka and India, not tour operators, not trained hosts, just people who live there and are genuinely open to someone sitting with them for a day. It's early and messy and I'm figuring out as I go whether this is even something people want or whether the travel industry has trained us to prefer the comfortable version.

Genuinely curious , has anyone had that moment? Where you realised you'd been a tourist the whole time and then suddenly you weren't?

Hi all

I am planning on visiting Sri Lanka for like 7-8 days early June. I had a few concerns and would really appreciate if someone can help

1 - Fuel issues - I am getting a package with Cabs included how bad are the fuel shortage issues. Would this become a concern?

2 - Scuba Diving - Me and people coming with me on the trip like Scuba Diving. Is there beginner friendly scuba sites like with instructors and stuff

3 - Rains and the overall weather - I am getting mixed reviews on this would love some real life information

Hey guys, Couple of friends and I will be in Sri Lanka later this month. Staying around Ahangama from May 22nd–25th and then Colombo from May 25th–27th.

Was curious about what the party scene is like down south around Ahangama/Weligama/Mirissa during that time? Any good parties this time of the year?

Also open to general recommendations — cafés, sundowners, anything really.

Thanks in advance :)

Hello lovely folks from Sri Lanka, I am planning to travel to SL with my wife from 2nd June to 12th June. Below is my itinerary.

2nd June - Land early morning in Colombo. Have booked a hotel near Colombo fort station and taking the overnight train to Trincomalee.

3rd June - 6th June - Staying at Trincomalee. (Suggest some water activities and good places to eat & drink)

6th June - Taking a bus to Kandy. Overnight in Kandy

7th June - 9th June Take early morning bus to Nuwara Eliya and stay there. Do the small scenic train ride to and fro on the 8th.

9th June - Travel from NE to Kandy and take a bus to Galle (here's the dilemma) and check into hotel in Galle

9th -11th June - Stay in Galle and take an early morning train to Colombo

11th -12th June - Explore Colombo

12th June - Fly back to Home Country.

Is this itinerary too hectic. Should we drop Nuwara Eliya and directly go to galle or vice versa. I have booked my hotels and train rides till Kandy. or is it doable. we are both in our early 30's.

Any suggestions will be helpful :)

Hi! I work in an agroforestry role in Australia & have an upcoming trip to Sri Lanka in July-Aug. Just wondering if anyone knows of any spice/jackfruit/coconut/whatever setups that are keen to have tourists!

Thanks legends

In the early days, Sri Lankan men used to wear swim trunks (V cut swimwear) but everyone is now wearing boardshorts to the swimming-pool.

Why is this? I get looks sometimes when I am at the pool wearing my swimming brief.

Can we start the trend again to popularise the budgie smuggler again?

Hi,

I will be travelling to Sri Lanka in the last week of May. I am thinking of renting a motorbike for traveling around from Colombo.

How much is it going to cost?

What should I be careful about?

Which places can I visit in this period?

I have international licence. Do I need any other document like temporary licence in Sri Lanka?