Perfect 10 Day Itinerary Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a country that really captured my heart. Not only is it stunningly beautiful - but the locals are friendly, the cuisine is delicious, and there is a perfect combination of mountains, beaches and cities to suit your fancy!

I also just want to note that if you are vegetarian or vegan, Sri Lanka is a country for YOU!! The vast majority of the cuisine is vegan - or can easily be done without the portion of meat to be vegan. There are so many delicious veggie dishes. I LOVED everything I ate haha.

Being a year round destination, you can pretty much find sunshine somewhere on the island at any given time. But that also means you can find rain! I went when it was rainy season in the southwest and while it was a little disappointing to have rainy days at the beach, I still had a wonderful time. And it just meant I had to really make my 2-3 hours of sunshine each day count!!

I worked with Chami of Your Driver Sri Lanka to come up with a 10 day itinerary that gave me a little bit of everything - cultural sites, tea plantations, hikes, mountain towns, safaris, beaches, and cities.

I think it was a pretty solid itinerary - if I had a few days more, I would have loved to spend a few more days at the beach. Or if I had 2+ weeks, add Argum Bay on the east side of the country as well.

As always, make sure you are traveling safely with TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE

SRI LANKA 10 DAY ITINERARY

Day 0 - Arrive in Colombo

Drive to Sigiriya
Overnight Sigiriya

Day 1 - Sigiriya

Sunrise hike at Pidurangala Rock
- I recommend doing Pidurangala Rock so you can have a view of Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya - spend a few hours looking thru the ancient ruins and museum on site
Take an afternoon game drive thru Minneriya National Park to see elephants!
Overnight in Sigiriya

Day 2 - Sigiriya to Nuwara Eliya, via Kandy

After breakfast, depart your hotel and head to Dambulla Cave
After the cave drive to Kandy, stopping en route at a spice farm to learn about the different spices that can be used to treat various ailments and other uses!
While in Kandy, stop into the Tooth Relic site
- Kandy & it’s sites weren’t a highlight for me and could be scrapped if short on time
On your way to Nuwara Eliya, stop at a tea plantation to sample some tea and get a greater understanding of how tea is made
Dinner at Indian Summer
Overnight Nuwara Eliya

Day 3 - Nuwara Eliya

Early morning hike in Horton Plains to World’s End
- Bear in mind that entry fees to do this hike are very expensive - it cost me about $35 dollars with the entry fee + vehicle parking.
After a shower and lunch, amble thru Victoria Park and maybe go jet skiing on Gregory Lake
Dinner at Grand Thai
Overnight Nuwara Eliya

Day 4 - Nuwara Eliya to Ella

In the morning, take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
- If you want to get the iconic shots hanging out the train, make sure to choose a class that does not have AC (the AC cabins are generally fully enclosed so the air stays in). Generally this is found in 2nd and 3rd class.
- Train tickets can be bought in person the day of. Or you can buy them online thru 3rd parties beforehand. Try to avoid traveling on a holiday as the trains will be PACKED. Sri Lanka has a lot of holidays.
After settling into the hotel, head over to Little Adam’s Peak for a sunset hike.
- Hike is reasonably accessible and only about 40 minutes roundtrip.
After freshening up, grab dinner at Cafe Chill (over 7000+ positive reviews on TripAdvisor)
- GET THE Sri Lankan curry wrapped in banana leaf - SO SO SO good
Overnight Ella

Day 5 - Ella

Get an early start with a hike to Ella’s Rock
- Roundtrip the hike lasts about 2-3 hours depending on your starting point
- Keep your eyes peeled for “Ella’s Rock” signs, there are various markers.
- Don’t be afraid to let locals help you find the path. Rule of thumb - if they aren’t trying to get you to hire them as a guide, they have no incentive to mislead you!
Go for an afternoon visit to the spa
Evening cooking class with Priya’s Cookery and learn to make delicious Sri Lankan (vegetarian) dishes!
- I LOVED this cooking class. Priya is so sweet and dishes are pretty accessible to all cooking levels. Everything was vegan and everything but the roti was gluten free too.
Overnight Ella

Day 6 - Ella to Yala, stopping at Diyaluma Falls

Early morning visit to the 9 Arch Bridge.
- Go early to avoid crowds - it will be way easier to get your cool photos!
Drive to Diyaluma Falls - spend a few hours exploring the different pools, jumping into the springs, and relaxing with the epic views.
- This is a little bit off the beaten path and you won’t see as many tourists. So that means fewer food vendors - bring your own snacks / picnic.
- There are guides at the base of the falls who will try to get you to hire them to show you to the falls. I didn’t do any prior research and would have gotten very lost trying to do it on my own, so I hired someone - but I really hate paying for this sort of thing and there are likely blogs out there that can tell you how to arrive at the falls without paying someone to show you the way.
In the early evening, drive to Yala and check into your hotel, dinner en route.
Overnight Yala

Day 7 - Yala to Dikwella

Morning safari in Yala National Park, en route likely see elephants on road!
After your safari, drive to Dikwella and check into hotel.
Visit Hiriketiya Beach to surf and/or watch the sunset and have dinner.
- There are a handful of cute little eateries and bars to grab food and drinks.
Overnight Dikwella

Day 8 - Dikwella to Mirissa

Morning yoga in Dikwella
Have breakfast at Hiriketiya Beach
Depart Dikwella for Mirissa, making various stops….
Stop at the lighthouse for a photo
Stop at Coconut Hill for a photo
- Be prepared to wait as there are many people trying to grab photos!
Stop at Secret Beach & Secret Beach Bar to hang out and watch sunset
Check into Mirissa hotel

Day 9 - Mirissa

Breakfast at Shady Lane for adorable instagrammable smoothie bowls and toasts
Spend the day at Mirissa Beach - where you’ll find lots of activity and restaurants
Sunset & dinner on Mirissa Beach
Overnight Mirissa

Day 10 - Mirissa to Airport, stopping in Galle

After breakfast, head to Galle - with various stops along the way….
Stop at Turtle Conservation Center on the way to learn about turtles and Sri Lankan efforts to preserve various species.
Stop at Dream Cabanas beach bar to have a ride on their famous swing
- The cost for 3 swings was definitely on the pricey end, but worth it. I recommend having the bartenders take photos for you as they know how to get the best angles!
Arrive in Galle - explore old fort and do some shopping - there are tons of cute places to buy souvenirs and eat!
After dinner, head to Colombo (about 2-3 hours) and either stay overnight or drop off at airport (lots of international flights leave between 1-4am)

Well I hope this itinerary was helpful! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all!

xoxo

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