Sri Lanka Itinerary for 10 days Beauty of Paradise Island
- Vihangaka Pabodha
- Dec 11, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 12, 2024
The Sri Lanka itinerary for 10 days will enable visitors to explore the seven must-visit destinations in the country within a short time period. The itinerary allows visitors to travel with a detailed plan. It includes information on each travel location, the exact route to reach those places, and certain places to stay.
Why Sri Lanka is a great destination?
Sri Lanka is a tropical island with spectacular landscapes. Scenic mountains and waterfalls, tea estates, golden sand beaches, historical and cultural sites, and delicious cuisine are some of the unique characteristics of the country. Tourists can engage in adventurous activities such as wildlife safaris, hiking, and water rafting.In addition, greater affordability and a simple visa process, let in more tourists.
When to go?
The best time to visit the west and southwest coasts and hill country is from December to March, and the best time to visit the east coast is from April to September.
10 nights:
Colombo-Habarana-Sigiriya- Kandy-Nuwara Eliya-Ella-Mirissa-Galle
A Sri Lanka itinerary for 10 days, allows travelers to visit many attractive sites, from wildlife parks to mountains to beaches around the country. It covers the west and southern coasts, Kandy and the highlands, and part of the cultural triangle (Dambulla, Sigiriya).
Day 1: Colombo
How to get to Colombo from the airport?
It is only 32 kilometers from Bandaranaike International Airport to Colombo. It will only take about 45 minutes to arrive in Colombo.
Means of transport:
Taxi: There are many private taxis outside the airport. Certain star hotels provide their own taxi service.
Bus: The number of the bus is 187-E3. Operated by the National Transport Commission, NCG Express, and Stef Lanka Shuttle. The bus is air-conditioned. It will bring you to Colombo.
After arriving in Colombo, travelers can hire tuk-tuks(“three-wheeled taxis”)to see the places interested.
What to see?
Gangaramaya temple – It is and oldest Buddhist temple built with Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architectural skills.
Beira Lake- a green area that provides boat services.
Independence Square
Jami ul-Alfar Mosque
Dutch Museum
Viharamahadevi Park
Where to eat and stay?
There are numerous lodging alternatives in Colombo; however, it is better to book the hotel prior to the arrival.
A range of hotels, from luxurious to low-budget, are available in Colombo.
e.g., luxury-Hilton Colombo
budget: one hotel, “The Marine.”
Day 2: Dambulla and safari in Minneriya National Park (Habarana)
The distance between Colombo and Habarana is about 183 kilometers. It is about a four-hour drive. Therefore, it is better to leave Colombo quite early in the morning.
When you travel from Colombo to Habarana, halfway between Habarana and Colombo, Dambulla Cave Temple is located. It is a UNESCO site and has the largest painted cave complex in the world.
Minneriya National Park is more popular for the Sri Lankan elephants, which are native to the country. Large herds of elephants can be observed there.
Where to stay?
Jetwing Lake
Day 3: Climbing the Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is an ancient rock with a height of 349m. It is more popular for the palace built on the rock by King Kashyapa during the 5th century. At the bottom of the rock, a gateway in the form of an enormous lion is visible. In addition, the mirror wall and frescoes are must-sees at Sigiriya Rock. To get a greater experience of climbing, start the walk early in the morning.
Where to stay?
Amaya Hills, Kandy
Day 4: Explore the sacred city of Kandy
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanical Garden are must-see places in Kandy.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the country, where the tooth of Lord Buddha himself is kept. It is listed as a World Heritage Site as well.
The Royal Botanical Garden is located in Peradeniya, only 5.5 km from Kandy City. The garden is renowned for its orchid collection.
The beautiful lake near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic brings calm to the city.
Where to stay?
Amaya Hills, Kandy
Day 5: Scenic train ride from Kandy to Nuwara-eliya
It is better to book your seats prior to the ride, in case the train is crowded. The train trip from Kandy to Nuwara-Eliya is one of the most scenic and beautiful train routes in the world. The train passes through panoramic views of local villages, hillsides of tea plantations, and waterfalls.
Day 6: Hills of Nuwara-eliya
Nuwara-Eliya is known as “Little England”. Tea factories and plantations, beautiful waterfalls, and scenic landscapes such as the moon plains are located in Nuwara-Eliya. especially when you come to Nuwara-Eliya, Do not miss the opportunity to taste Ceylon tea.
Glenloch Tea Factory -allows a factory tour and explains the tea manufacturing process. After the tour, a sample is given to taste, and guided to shop for tea with different flavors and standards at different prices.
Ramboda Falls (distance from Nuwara-Eliya: 30 km)—it is a quite popular waterfall in Nuwara Eliya. It is the 11th-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka.
The Moon Plains: It is located about 6 km from Nuwara-Eliya city. It is a notable agricultural and environmental tourism zone. Many deer and buffalo can be seen. It consists of green slopes with vegetable farming as well as floral species and tea plantations
Other things to see and do in Nuwara-eliya:
Visit the iconic British post office
Play golf
Have a boat ride on Gregory Lake
Visit a strawberry farm
Visit Hakgala Botanical Garden
Visit the Seetha Amman Hindu Temple.
Day 7: Ella
The next morning, again, you can get a breathtaking experience with a scenic train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella. The ride is about two and a half hours drive.
Places to visit in Ella:
Nine-arched bridge: One of the iconic railway constructions that happened during the colonial era. It’s in Demodara. The place Ella and Demodara railway stations. Travelers can see it during their train ride as well as reach it on foot. The main specialty of this bridge is that it was built only with stone bricks and cement, without steel.
Ravana Falls: Popular for the place where Ravana hid according to the Ramayan.
Day 8 and 9: Mirissa
It will definitely be an exhausting day. From Ella to Mirissa it is more than a 5-hour ride. The distance between Mirissa and Ella is 175km. So half of the day is spent on the drive.
In the evening, travelers can enjoy delicious fresh seafood as well as romantic candlelit dinners on the Mirissa beach.
There are many interesting activities to engage in with Mirissa:
White and Dolphin Safari
Diving
Surfing
Day 10: Galle
It will take only one hour from Mirissa to Galle. By taxi or tuk-tuk, you can easily get from Mirissa to Galle.
Places to visit
Galle Fort– a magnificent work of architecture, built by the Dutch in 1663.
There are artistic shops and galleries in the town. You can have a Sri Lankan lunch and dinner at restaurants.
This is the end of your Sri Lanka itinerary for 10 days!
The next morning, you can go directly to the airport by bus or taxi.
A Sri Lanka itinerary for 10 days allows travelers to experience the diversity of nature almost entirely. Scenic train rides, golden sand beaches, wildlife watching, and being familiar with Sri Lankan culture will be unforgettable experiences in your life.
A Sri Lanka itinerary for 10 days would be really helpful as a guide for tourists who are willing to visit Sri Lanka.
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