A 7-DAY ITINERARY THROUGH SRI LANKA

The Elephant Rock, Sigiriya

​Sri Lanka, the Diamond of the Indian Ocean (and quite literally, shaped like one).
Once connected to India, this impressionable island country is rich with history and nature. Every feature of the landscape, whether the coast, cities or highlands, have remnants a past colonization, something evident even in its presently booming tea industry and tourism. The weather is generally hot and the food is even hotter (!!), and my 2 weeks in this vibrant place introduced me to a beautiful, friendly nation with so much to offer – from legendary train rides, vast safaris, majestic mountains with grasslands and of course the oceanic fronts. Based on my personal experience, I present to you a proposal of 1-week itinerary (which can easily be expanded to 2 weeks, like I did), covering the best Sri Lanka has to offer.

A typical Sri Lankan lunch consists of rice, some form of curried dish and vegetables.

​Day 1 – Arrival At the Airport
Fact: The International Airport isn’t actually at the capital city of Colombo. In fact, it is actually at another nearby city called Negombo. Therefore, the question begs: should you go to Colombo? I’d say if you have extra time, you could. However, don’t make it a priority as there are plenty other places in Sri Lanka that would be more worth your time visiting.
Upon your arrival, whatever time that may be, you could choose to either take a half day to recalibrate in Negombo (there are Negombo beach, or you could walk around the city around St Mary’s church for your first Sri Lankan taste), or you could straightaway get yourself to the next location – Kandy. Either way, wet your palatte first by trying out some hearty local food. Sri Lankans love their curries, so be sure to sample some (caution: the dishes are usually hot!)
There are a few options to get to Kandy. The cheapest is via the public bus that you could take from Negombo bus station (it will be a long 4-5 hour trip, so be weary of the comforts each transportation could offer). You could take a train, which departs from Colombo (so you’d need to get to Colombo, via transit vans you can catch from Negombo bus station), or the easiest most straightforward method – hiring a driver/car. Prices vary, and for the most reassuring packages, you can find the rental offices at bus/train stations.
 The trip to Kandy will take about 4 hours, but don’t worry – beauty awaits!

View of Sigiriya from Pidurangala Rock

​Day 2 – Kandy and Sigiriya
Kandy is a small town, more popular as a base for people to make day trips to Sigiriya. I don’t think it’s really worth putting up a night in Sigiriya as there aren’t much else to see except for the temples and the great Elephant Rock, so staying in Kandy makes more sense as the weather is much milder and there are more options for cafes and restaurants with better prices.
From Kandy, it takes about an hour to get to Sigiriya by land transportation. Sigiriya is perhaps most popular for the Elephant Rock, a looming geological feature in a vast landscape of lush greens with a temple at the top. You could opt to climb Sigiriya itself and explore the archeology, or you could opt to instead climb Pidurangala Rock, which will give you a fantastic zoomed out view of Sigiriya (see picture above). I did the latter as I preferred to see Sigiriya from a vantage point, and for me the hike up was easy and worth it.

A hike at Horton Plains is a must-do!

​Day 3 – Nuwara Eliya and Around
From Kandy, continue your journey to another hilltop town called Nuwara Eliya. It is a beautiful highland town, popular in the past with the Dutch and British colony (fun fact: Sri Lanka used to be called ‘Ceylon’, and you’ll see this a lot around the country). Located in the lush mountains, the weather is dramatically much cooler. A lot of the colonial buildings are still well-preserved, and you should take time to walk around town. There is a gorgeous lake where locals hang out, and a beautiful Queen Victoria park that is so beautifully maintained, it almost feels like you’re in Hyde Park London!
When you’re hungry, it’s time to sample some Sri Lankan cuisine. Primarily revolved around seafood, coconut milk and a vegetarian-rich diet, Sri Lankans love their food spicy – therefore, keep in mind to request a ‘less spicy’ version if you’re not familiar.
IF YOU CAN, MAKE TIME: In fact, you should really try to make time, to go for a hike at Horton Plains National Park. This will require at least half a day, beginning before sunrise. It’s a wonderful, moderate-level excursion that will take you on a loop, passing through vast grasslands, mountainous terrains (also called the World’s End), and a couple of stunning waterfalls. The local hotels are familiar with these trips and will provide packed lunch services upon request. I highly recommend doing this hike, as it was certainly one of my Sri Lankan highlights. In order to do this comfortably, I do recommend staying an extra day in Nuwara Eliya.

The tea industry flourishes in Sri Lanka - be sure to visit a plantation and sample some

​Day 4 – Take a Train to Ella, or You Know What? Don’t.
If you browse the internet on Sri Lanka, you’ll find that most of the clickbait pictures will depict a certain blue train passing through tea plantation, with a certain white person jutting out of the carriage door, looking serene as the wind blows through their hair.
This was not my experience.
In fact, my ‘magical train ride’ across the highlands of Sri Lanka from Nuwara Eliya to Ella was little to be desired. The coaches were packed to the brim, there were much more people than there were seats, and I had to stand underneath another tourist’s armpit while he frantically pointed out his GoPro in every direction. Therefore, I would say that although this is listed as a ‘must-do’ activity, coming from Malaysia I’d say I’m better off in a car for this leg of the journey.
On the way from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, you’ll pass by tea plantations and factories. Some of them provide free tours (tips welcomed) with cafes that offer sampling sets, where you can tastes different varieties of teas. They are also served with pastries and dessert, and paired with a view of the tea estate, this makes for an alluring stop.
Ella, about 2.5 hours away from Nuwara Eliya, is a much smaller town with a more hipster, laid-back vibe. Consisting of mainly just one main road lined with shops, cafes and Ayurvedic massage parlors, it is a similar setting one would experience in the small streets of Bali, if you will. Take time to stroll around and visit the local products – this is a great place to buy teas and souvenirs.

From Top, Clockwise: Watching trains pass by in Ella, a typical vegetarian dish in one of the cafes, a popular dessert of milk curds in honey

​Day 5 – Explore and Chill In Ella
After days of moving about, hiking up hills and moving from town to town, take a breather in Ella. Given its many laid back cafes and restaurants, it’s a perfect spot to chill and relax. Try some vegan dishes at the café balconies that overlook the street. Experiment with an Ayurvedic treatment at one of the many centers in the area. If you’re looking for a little adventure, Little Adam’s Peak is a great little trek that passes through tea plantations and hillsides. There are also a view vantage points around where, if you come at the right time, you’d get to see the Blue Train chugging along the tracks against a beautiful backdrop (a much better deal than having to be stuck in one, for me!).

Yala National Park is an adventure to be had!

​Day 6 – Experience the Safari at Yala National Park
Safaris in Sri Lanka are more and more popular, due to its accessibility and affordability. Instead of having to travel all the way to the African continent, why not experience one here? There are a few national parks in the country where you can experience this, however I chose Yala National Park due to its flourishing leopard habitat.
There are mainly 2 time slots for the safari – the one that begins before sunrise, and the one that begins after lunch. If you’re traveling to Yala from Ella on this same day, this will leave you with the latter option, which I took. And it was amazing. Animals seem to come out for a last hurrah of the day as the sun sets, and we were able to spot elephants, crocs, wild buffalos and of course, the illusive leopard (we spotted 2!).
By the time you’re done you’ll be knackered for the day, and I recommend you to put up a night at one of the guest houses in Tissamaharama, the closest town to the national park.

Sights in Galle, a lazy colonial port town south of Sri Lanka

​Day 7 – Recalibrate and Reflect in Galle
Your last day (or, if you can, make it a couple of days at least!) should be spent in awe of the Great Indian Ocean, at one of Sri Lanka’s most beloved old coastal towns, Galle. A lot of people tend to skip it on a tight travel time, but you shouldn’t! It’s a beautiful, quaint, pedestrian-friendly old colonial town nestled inside a tall stone fort. Everything inside the fort is pretty much walking distance, and it’s worth paying a little extra for an accommodation inside it.
Spend the day wandering around the little streets, in and out of galleries, sampling local gelato, watching people swim in the sea from above the fort, and enjoying the sunset from the local bars and cafes. This part of Sri Lanka feels like a pause in time – the old colonial building casting shadows over the streets, the locals playing cricket at the fields, the sea shimmering behind the fort walls. What better way to really indulge in this beautiful island country.
IF YOU CAN, MAKE TIME: to sample Sri Lanka’s seafood scene! In Galle especially, there is a plethora of restaurants showcasing Sri Lanka’s finest dishes, like the world-famous crab curry, grilled local tuna, hot buttered calamari and so many more.