Tucked away in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a vibrant island bursting with natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality. From misty mountains to golden beaches, this untouched paradise offers something for every kind of traveler. This travel guide is your all-in-one resource to help you make the most of your Sri Lankan adventure.

If you want to cut to the chase and know the best picture spots in Sri Lanka, click here. Otherwise, keep reading for everything you need to know when visiting Sri Lanka.

About My Trip: Tips and Practical Info

I visited Sri Lanka from mid to end May for 18 days. I spent the first 4 days solo, then my sister joined for the remaining 2 weeks. While the initial days were sunny, towards the end of May the weather in the South got stormy and wet. Visiting at this time of year also meant that the sea was quite rough (south coast) and we could not snorkel or dive!

• Accommodation: We stayed in a range of different accommodations for our trips, each only being 1-2 nights as we travelled around Sri Lanka. Accommodation ranged from €15-€35 per person per night.
• Tuktuk Rental: I rented a Tuktuk from Croos Tours and it was the best decision. Read everything Tuktuk-related here.
• Cost: Sri Lanka is still a very cheap country to visit. It is relatively untouched with very few chain restaurants and hotels so what you do spend is usually supporting local businesses and families. Our favourite restaurants are here.
• Drone: I brought a DJI Air to Sri Lanka via Doha and had no issues entering the country or flying it. Be aware that you cannot fly the drone in national parks as this will disturb the wildlife.
• Packing tips: flashlight for morning hikes, lots and lots of mosquito spray, beach towel, waterproof backpack.
• Itinerary:

What To Do & See In Sri Lanka

Sigiriya

Some insights – Sigiriya is jungle, bring mosquito spray and expect lots of creatures and wildlife. My accommodation would not allow me to rent a scooter/tuktuk as there were too many wild elephants in the area and there was a risk of being attacked. There are plenty of monkeys so expect a few visitors and keep valuables on you. It is a very small village but would highly recommend a 2-3 day visit with a day trip to Dambulla.

Pidurangula Rock

Wake up early and start your hike 1 hour before sunrise – it’s worth it, promise! The hike starts at a temple and has a 1000rupees entry fee. The route is well lit and paved so it is worth the small fee. The hike is relatively easy with a lot of steps/stairs, however the last 10 minutes is a scramble, climbing over rocks and boulders to reach the top (if you visit during high-season, there will be queues here). I had to remove my backpack to fit through some of the openings. The hike is about 20 minutes but the view at the end of out of this world! If you only have time to do either Pidurangula or Lion rock, I would recommend Pidurangula.

Lion Rock

While an amazing site, particularly for sunrise, it is a little pricey with a 35USD entry fee. The ticket office opens at 5am and just note that the ticket office itself is a short walk away from the beginning of Lion rock so give yourself plenty of time if you want to be there for sunrise. It is 1200 steps so bring water too! You definitely won’t be alone and again it is well lit so don’t be afraid of climbing it in the dark!

Sigiriya Lion Face

A gorgeous spot for sunset. The restaurant charges per swing or you can purchase something to eat or drink. As I visited during off-season, it was relatively quiet with a few groups popping in for a picture and leaving again. However I would imagine during high season that it could get busy at sunset.

Safari

I did a sunrise safari at Hurulu Eco Park and was blessed with seeing so many elephants! The safari was organised by my accommodation (Maapagala Resort), I messaged them before arriving and it cost 50usd including tip.

Dambulla Royal Cave Temple

Dambulla Cave Temple if a great day trip if staying in Sigiriya. Entrance fee is 2000LKR but after visiting, I think it is justified. The temples are magnificent and there are tour guides at the entrance if you do want to learn a little bit more about the history.

Colombo

We only spent 1 night in Colombo and to be honest, we soaked up the luxury in Granbell Hotel (highly recommend) before setting off in our Tuktuk the next morning. We drove through Colombo twice during our trip, and it is definitely worth seeing and experiencing the hustle and busy of such a busy city.

Sea Turtle Hatchery Hikkaduwa

The sea turtle hatchery was probably my favourite experience in Sri Lanka. It cost 4000LKR to visit the hatchery itself and release a few baby turtles at sunset. We visited Hikkaduwa Hatchery here, but there are many hatcheries along the coast of Sri Lanka.

We did research how ethical hatcheries are before visiting and found mixed information. Only 2% of baby turtles survive so hatcheries definitely help, however a couple of turtles are kept until 1 year old and then released into the wild. We were told this is for university students/programs however we felt this was not 100% ethical. However, we did see some visibly injured turtles being rehabilitated so there are definitely pros and cons to the hatcheries.

Turtle Beach Hikkaduwa

While there are many beaches along the coast to spot turtles, we visited Turtle Beach Hikkaduwa. With the sea being rough, it was very difficult and took some time to see a turtle. We only saw one, which was still amazing, but from December to March, the turtle come right up to the sand.

The Frog Rock Dalawella

Okay so this place is definitely an insta-vs-reality place. The beautiful palm tree that is in other pictures is no longer there (or maybe it was photoshopped in the first place). To be honest, I would probably give this place a skip.

Rasta Rope Swing Talpe

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The most magical place ever! And don’t be fooled, the swing is much higher off the ground than you think- you get that funny tummy feeling like being on a rollercoaster when you jump off the ledge. The swing belongs to ShantiShanti restaurant (which is also amazing!) and you pay 500lkr per swing. There are 2 men there to help you get on and off the swing. Visit at sunset for the most amazing backdrop.

Secret Beach Mirissa

(Not so) Secret Beach in Mirissa is a beautiful place to relax. I drove the Tuktuk, parked around here and walked the rest of the way as the hills were very steep. I’m sure an experienced Tuktuk driver would have no problem though! The remainder of the walk took about 10 minutes – cut through this shortcut. Just to note, while there were a few people in the water, it is not a very swimmable beach, with rough waves and sea urchins. Still lovely to dip your feet in though and enjoy a coconut!

Parrot Rock Mirissa

Parrot rock a nice spot if passing. It is free to climb with lots of crows (not parrots) flying around. I would probably skip if I was tight on time.

Coconut Tree Hill Mirissa

Coconut Tree Hill was one of my favourite spots in Mirissa. It was busy when we visited, even with a visible thunderstorm rolling in, so I can only imagine how busy it gets during high season! I would recommend visiting early morning to beat the crowds and get the perfect pic. No entry fee and there seemed to be a restaurant right next to it to soak in the views. If you compare my pic to pictures from previous years, you will notice that the trees have grown significantly taller with some having lost their leaves.

Crocodile Safari Matara

A crocodile safari is a must if visiting Sri Lanka! We did the safari through Nilwala Crocodile Safari Matara and just sent a message on whatsapp to book (+94719372383). It was an amazing experience (and a little frightening lol) getting to see such big crocodiles up close and learning so much about them.

Hiriketiya

Once you visit Hiriketiya, you will not want to leave. We stayed here for 4 nights because we loved it so much! It is a very small town, off the main road, and it is a surfers (and island girls) paradise. Everything is within walking distance, the restaurants are unreal (click here) and the beach is pristine. I can’t describe the vibe but we were told it was similar to Costa Rica. I would highly suggest spending a few nights here- relaxing, surfing, and drinking coconuts.

Yala Safari

Yala Safari was another incredible experience. We saw plenty of elephants but unfortunately weren’t lucky enough to spot any leopards- that’s just how wild animals are and luck wasn’t on our side that day! It cost approx 60euro which is more expensive than safaris in Sigiriya but it was still very much worth it.

Ella

Ella train

As we were only staying in Ella for 2 nights and then heading back to the south coast, we did not want to do the full Ella/Kandy train (which is 7 hours btw!). Instead we booked the train from Ella to Kinigama which was 4 stops, approx 30 minutes. We bought 3rd class tickets when we arrived at Ella station which cost us 40lkr (12cent!) and we were lucky that the train was relatively quiet that day (which was a Saturday at 1pm).

The experience of hanging out of a moving train and soaking in the most magical views was just unreal! Some tips- sit on the left side. Be ready to take pics as soon as you get on! You will be passing waterfalls as soon as you leave Ella station and these are the best views. Locals are very friendly and if they are standing at the door, they generally won’t mind you politely asking them to move for a few minutes for you to take pictures.

Ella Hills

The views in Ella are out of this world! I booked this hotel solely for the pool and views. While I would not recommend this hotel, there are other hotels and pools that offer beautiful views of Ella.

Nine Arches Bridge

Nine Arches Bridge is definitely a tourist hotspot, but I know why – it is absolutely incredible! You can walk here from Ella which takes about 20 minutes. Or you can ask your Tuktuk driver to drop you here, which is right at one end of the bridge (no walking involved at all!). It is about a 15 minute drive from Ella and no cars can go on the road, only scooters or tuktuks.

To get the photo in the leeaves looking up at the bridge, walk across the bridge to Cocinita Bar, then climb down into the trees. It will only take a couple of minutes to find a good photo spot but it does get muddy and slippy so wear good shoes. Ask your driver or accommodation what times the train will be passing the bridge. Some trains actually stop on the bridge!