Things you must do in Sri Lanka

This country is so green that it feels like one big tropical rainforest or a national park in true sense. No matter where you go, you will usually wake up to the music of birds. Although there are hundreds of things to do in Sri Lanka, but here are some of our favorites and we highly recommend you consider doing some of them on your visit to Sri Lanka. Don’t stress yourself to do all of them but include only some that fit your itinerary so that you can travel at a leisurely pace and enjoy. 

1. The ‘Bucket List Worthy’ Train Ride

These trains are surprisingly clean, affordable and comfortable. It feels like a mini country tour because the views outside are breathtaking.

You will see hills that are completely covered with tea plantation, forest, waterfalls, streams, small villages, monkeys and more. it will be the most entertaining train ride of you life I bet.

Tip : take a  train route of Kandy to Ella.

2. Visit a National Park and See Elephants.

Do you know that Sri Lanka has around 25 national parks that you can visit? This is a big number considering the size of this island country. There is at least one national park after every few hundreds of kilometers and we highly recommend you to visit one.

Tip : It is different catching a quick glimpse of wild elephants from the bus as compared to an open-air jeep safari where you can get closer to them and watch them eat.

3. Go Fishing with the Locals

Fishing is an important part of Sri Lanka’s culture because of a massive coastline and many inland lakes and rivers. Fishing provides daily income and food for many families where men wake up early to fish and women sell their catch.

If you’re visiting Sri Lanka, we highly recommend you try fishing with the locals. If you are short of time to make friends with local fishermen, try going for one of the tours. If you’re lucky, you may find the traditional stilt fishing, where locals sit on their stilts and wait for the fishes

4. Explore the Hill Country

It’s sad how many travelers miss this area and just head for the beaches because they’re in Sri Lanka for a short visit. This part of Sri Lanka is covered with tea plantations and you can spot many waterfalls. Yes, Sri Lanka is very green but the hill country has got to be the greenest part because it rains a lot here. In fact, the coldest city here –Nuwara Eliya is also called “Little England” because of the rains and tea culture.

Another place that you can visit in this area is Ella, which is a backpacker’s hub. Our best experience was in a small town called Haputale in Sri Lanka’s Uva province where San and I explored the tea estates on our own and found many viewpoints. No matter where we looked, we could only see small hills that were fully covered with tea plantation.

5. Climb Pidurangala Rock and See Sigiriya Rock

Sigiriya is one of the most famous destinations in Sri Lanka is surprisingly empty. The only crowded part is the Sigiriya rock because 99% of the people come here to check this off their list.

Tip: If you’re planning on climbing Pidurangala rock too, then please do this in a group because it can be unsafe if you do it alone and get stuck. It gets very hot in Sigiriya during the day, so please try to do at sunrise or sunset. There is no toilet up there, so please use one before you start to climb.

6. Sleep in Tree House in the Middle of the Forest

Sri Lanka is home to several wild animals because most of the land is covered with the rain forest. To protect themselves from the animals, several villagers built tree houses and sleep in them. With the increase of tourism, many of these tree houses have been converted into hotels and resorts while still maintaining their rustic charm. If you love forests, you’re going to love your tree house experience in Sri Lanka.

7. Visit a Tea Factory

As per some of the top food bloggers, Sri Lanka is one of those countries where you can find the best tea in the world.Drinking tea is a very important part of Sri Lankan culture and the country is one of the most important tea producers in the world. we suggest you try to take a quick tour of the tea factory, which can surprisingly be an interesting experience. It is an educational tour because you get to learn about the entire tea making process and different types of tea produce.

8. Go for a Nature Trail or a Waterfall Hike

Sri Lanka is full of waterfalls and you don’t have to see all of them. Just pick one around you and go. Ask locals and try to find one that is not famous so that you can enjoy it without crowds. It’s even better when you get to hike for a few kilometers and visit one. Tip : wear proper non slippery shoes to hike a waterfall.

9. Lay on the beaches and try surfing

Sri Lanka is an island country and has a massive coastline. Sri Lanka has so many amazing beach towns that you can visit, that you will be spoilt for choice. When you land in Sri Lanka, you can enjoy Colombo or Negombo. You can then head to the South and visit Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, or Mirissa and many more. Keep in mind that surfing can’t be done all year round. Months of March and April are best according to locals, however we see people doing surfing in January and February too.

10. Dolphin or Whale Watching in Mirissa

We all know that blue whales are the biggest known mammals on Earth, but do you know that you can see them in South of Sri Lanka? The most popular whale watching spot in Sri Lanka is Dondra Point, which can be easily reached from Mirissa, Galle or Hikkaduwa. Several tour operators organize dolphin and whale watching tours that start very early in the morning and cost between INR 2500 and INR 4000 per person with a boat that takes 40 people.

11. Try Scuba Diving

If you like wreck diving, there are a few dive sites where you can see World War I and World War II shipwrecks, which are mostly near Colombo and Negombo. The beach towns of Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Mirissa, and Galle have some famous reefs.

12. Explore Small Towns on a Bicycle

Hire a bicycle for cheap in Sri Lanka . you won't find many tourists do that. It is infact the best way to explore. Ride, stop, take a breath and explore more.

13. Get Close to the Monkeys

If you’re an animal lover like my Ex, you’re gonna love Sri Lanka. Monkeys are definitely my favorites because they are mischievous and always up to something. I find them very funny to watch and I wish I had a pet monkey of our own.

14. Enjoy Sri Lankan Food

It is Delicious. Wether you’re a vegetarian or a seafood lover, you’re going to love Sri Lankan food but be careful, it is spicy. But if you are from India, it is good for you. For our western friends, request for a non spicy meal.

You will love egg samosas, Kothu, and rice & curry meals. You must read our previous article on what to eat in Sri Lanka.

15. Find Peace in Buddha Temples

For my love for Buddha this point must have been on the topper side. Even if it is down here, Buddha will find its way. The majority of population in Sri Lanka is Buddhist and you will definitely get to see a few temples regardless of where you go. Yes, Anuradhapura is famous for temple ruins but you will be surprised to see old temples in many other places too. In many parts of Sri Lanka, the Buddha statues are massive in size and at times you can see them from a distance. Not just Buddhist, but Sri Lanka has many beautiful Hindu temples, Muslim Mosques and Catholic Churches that are worth a visit.

16. Enjoy Tuk Tuk Rides

See, tuk-tuk scams are everywhere in asia, that doesn’t mean we should completely avoid them. Take some nice tuk-tuk rides. They are fun. Really!

Even though it’s a small country, there are many things to do in Sri Lanka that can keep you busy while you’re there. If you have visited Sri Lanka already and have a few points to add, let us know in the comments. And if you are planning to visit and are confused. Just go for it. It is the best of destinations I have visited.

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