ABOUT SRI LANKA
This island has a lot to offer. From temples to beautiful beaches and from non-touristic areas to parties that last all night long. In every part of the country you will find something interesting to do.
The north of the country is accessible for tourists since 2009, after many years of war. This makes the area less touristy and impressive to see. In the middle of the country you will find mountains, waterfalls and tea plantations, what makes it perfect for hiking and tea drinking. In the south of Sri Lanka you will find many beaches along the whole coastline. There is a big variety between those beaches. At some of them you will be the only one and others are very touristy and full of surfers. In every part of the country, the local people are very open and they easily start a conversation with you. Not convinced yet? Watch our aftermovie about Sri Lanka by clicking the play button above!
TRAVELING THROUGH SRI LANKA
Our route through Sri Lanka
There isn't a 'perfect’ route that you have to follow when traveling through Sri Lanka. It all depends on the time you have and on the things you like to do and see. You can go clockwise or counterclockwise depending on where you want to go first.
BACKPACKING IN SRI LANKA
Accommodations
Although Sri Lanka is a well known country for backpackers nowadays, you won't find that many hostels (except for the south). There are more guesthouses and homestays which gives you the opportunity to live among the locals! There are also a lot of hotels, in any price range. In general, we payed around 15 dollars per night per person for a private room in Sri Lanka.
Transport
It is very easy to get around in Sri Lanka. There is a good organized train system and there are many buses. Of course you could also go around by taxi or tuktuk but this might be the most expensive option if the distances are far. Another option to get around is by driving your own tuktuk! It is very easy to rent one in Sri Lanka and we thought it really made our trip more valuable with everything that we experienced when we were on the road. If you want to know more about driving your own tuktuk you can read about it on this blog!
Negombo is located on the westcoast of Sri Lanka and very close to the main airport. Therefor, this city might be the beginning or the end of your trip. With it's long beach and many restaurants and bars you can easily enjoy your time while you're here.
What to do in Negombo
Visit the Negombo fish market
Visiting this market really gives you an insight in the local traditions of Sri Lanka. The fisherman start fishing at night and by the time you arrive in the morning, all the fish will be laid out to dry.
Go to the beach
Negombo beach is not the best beach to lay down your towel and sunbathe. But it is nice to have a walk down the beach and watch the fisherman return from their trip.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
If you are looking for a nice place to stay in Negombo we can recommend Serendib Village Guesthouse. It is clean, not to expensive and you won't hear the noise from the main street.
Where to eat
There is basically one main street in Negombo where you can find all the bars and restaurants. Follow Lewis Place to Poruthota Road and you cross all of them.
Jude restaurant - a small restaurant runned by a family who will serve you tasty local food. You can recognize the place by the many cute little lights all around the restaurant.
Negombo’s fish market
With two sites that are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, this area in Sri Lanka is one that you can't miss. Prepare for a bit of hiking because you will find temples build in caves on top of a mountain and a giant rock with a whole lot of history.
What to do in Sigiriya
Sigirya Rock
This rock is not only famous because of its special shape, it also contains a lot of history. About 2000 years ago, a king actually lived on top of this mountain. And not only did he lived there, he build an entire village on top of this 200 meter high giant rock. If this interests you, you should climb Sigiriya Rock with a guide who can tell you all about it. If you’re more fascinated by the shape of Sigiriya Rock, we recommend climbing Pidurangala Rock. You will have the best view over Sigiriya Rock from here, especially during sunrise. This will give you a magical view.
Vist the golden temple of Dambulla
Although the massive golden buddha may attract your attention first, the interesting history can be found on the top of the mountain behind it. The Dambulla cave temple complex was created by a king who used the caves as shelter in times of war. We recommend visiting the cave complex in the late afternoon so you will be at the top during sunset, this gives a beautiful view over Dambulla.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
We stayed in Dambulla at Sanduras resort and Spa. The Golden Buddha was at walking distance and Sigiriya Rock was 30 minutes with the tuktuk. The hotel had clean rooms and a nice pool. Since this area is famous for its historical sights, the hotel prices are generally higher than other places in Sri Lanka.
Dambulla caves
The Golden Buddha of Dambulla
Anuradhapura is one of the oldest cities of Sri Lanka and was actually the first capital of the country. Within the city, there is an area which is known as the Anuradhapura sacred city. Here you will find ancient temples, stupas and reservoirs and is therefor on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage. Worth the visit we would say!
What to do in Anuradhapura
Visit the ancient city
This one is pretty obvious, but there are different ways to explore this city. The area is a bit too big to explore by foot and that's why you should make a choice between the following. You can rent a bike, scooter or get in the back of a tuktuk.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
Heaven Upon Rice Fields - the view from the balcony of the room will make you instantly happy. A peaceful garden of rice fields where the peacocks are strolling around. The family who runs the place will make you a nice breakfast and dinner if you like.
Heaven Upon Rice Fields
These kind of temples are called ‘Stupa's’
Many local people told us to visit the northern part of Sri Lanka. The people here are less used to tourism and foreigners in general. It is more 'raw' than the rest of Sri Lanka. We saw this as a great opportunity to explore another side of the island, literally and figuratively.
What to do in the North
Visit the Donkey farm in Mannar
Our first stop was at the donkey farm in Mannar, called Never Been To Donkeys house. You will get a warm welcome from a lovely family. They will show you what they do and why they do it. You can choose to hang with the donkeys or explore Mannar more. We have done both, and recommend them both. We have had dinner with the family which was a delicious curry with local grown veggies and other stuff we still don't know till this day what it was. You will sleep in an easy but cozy room. One side note though. A train will sometimes pass the farm, which horned at us while we were sleeping. We thought we died. So beware.
Our recommendations
Explore the North more
If you have the time and you like the vibe of the North, we really recommend staying longer as we did. Because of time shortage we haven't spent here as long as we hoped. Jaffna for example was really on our list, however, we did not visit this place. Ask the locals for the best things to do, since there is less information online of this hidden part of Sri Lanka. They will be happy to help you.
Trincomalee is a small city at the east coast of Sri Lanka. It is a vibrant place with some nice places to eat and a quiet beach to lay down. We thought this was a perfect stopover for a few days relaxing before heading back inland.
What to do in Trincomalee
Chill at the beach
Trincomalee has one of the best coastlines of Sri Lanka. The Southcoast is more popular, but this one is not so much discovered yet.
Meet the local fishermen
When you go up from Trincomalee along the coastline, chances are you'll run into fishermen. They practically live at the beach, and are happy to see a unknown face since they mostly live in solitude.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
We stayed at Sasvi Cabana. This place is very close to the beach. It is fairly simple, but a nice place to stay.
Where to eat
Café on the 18th was by far the best place we've had lunch. It was so nice we went back for dinner. They just reopened after Covid shut them down, and we were their first customers.
Local fishermen of Trincomalee
Nuwara Eliya is all about tea plantations, lady tea pickers and a whole lot of tea drinking. The city was a famous holiday destination for wealthy English people and they introduced the English houses, many tea plantations and therefore left an English vibe around the area.
What to do in Nuwara Eliya
Meet the lady tea pickers
Walk around the village, through the tea plantations and start a conversation with one of the beautiful tea picking ladies. We thought the village had such a peaceful vibe and walking around all day through the plantions was a great activity by itself.
Lovers Leap waterfall
Lovers leap waterfall is close to the city of Nuwara Eliya and a cool hidden waterfall to visit. It is a pretty doable hike and gives a great view over the city.
Our recommendations
Where to stay and eat
Pedro view homestay - This place is a perfect example of sharing experiences with the locals. It is the house of a farmer who will welcome you and tell you about his crazy life stories. It is located right inbetween the tea fields. They can also cook you a nice meal.
Tea plantations near Blue Field Tea Factory
Ella is a place where you could easily enjoy yourself for multiple days. There are a lot of activities you can do, many popular bars and a bunch of other backpackers to have a drink with. And on top of that, you can reach this beautiful city by one of the world's most beautiful train routes!
What to do in Ella
Climb Ella Rock
If you are into hiking and beautiful view points, climbing Ella Rock is definitely the activity you can't miss in Ella. You walk along the train track and through beautiful nature spots. The best time to climb is the early morning and it will take you about 5-6 hours depending on your speed.
Climb Little Adam's peak
A little less intensive than climbing Ella Rock but still great views. It only takes about 1,5 hours to reach the top if you start at the centre of Ella. If there is a clear sky, we recommend climbing at sundown.
View the Nine Arch Bridge
This stone bridge has an impressive architecture and it's definitely worth visiting. The bridge is surrounded by many tropical plants and trees and this makes the view even more beautiful. Trains still pass this train track every day, but the exact schedule changes everyday. We recommend visiting the bridge early in the morning when there are not many other tourists.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
Ella Sisila View - this hotel has a perfect view over the Nine Arch bridge and it takes about a 10 minute walk to reach the bridge itself. We also heard a lot of good things about New Cabin Ella. This hotel is literally next to the bridge but therefore also a bit more expensive and often fully booked.
Where to eat
Cafe Rainbow - probably our favorite restaurant in Ella. This place is not to hyped but has a nice vibe, comfy couches and delicious food! They have many home made vegetarian and vegan options.
One Love cafe - this awesome place has a laid back Jamaican vibe and plenty of couches and beanbags to chill out. You can order shisha, cocktails or something tasty from the menu like the stone oven pizza's. In the evening you can enjoy yourself with other backpackers around the pool table.
Ice Cube bar - perfect if you wanna have some cheap cocktails and a nice view over the main street of Ella. The food is okay, but not very special.
Ella, main street
The Southcoast of Sri Lanka is one of the most famous areas to visit. The photo above explains the reason why. We ended our adventure here which was really a perfect ending. The south is all about surfing and chilling. Good vibes echo here. You can’t miss the Southcoast of Sri Lanka.
What to do at the Southcoast
Visit Silent Beach
Maybe the name will not be so relevant anymore in a few years, since the beach is becoming increasingly popular. You can find Silent Beach in Tangalle. It has these dreamy palm trees and turquoise sea combination. In case you were wondering, yes it is the cover picture of this chapter. It was our absolute favorite. Just buy a fresh coconut and enjoy those tropical vibes.
Watch the surfers in Mirissa (or go surfing yourself)
Mirissa is probably the best spot on the Southcoast to go surfing. This is the place where the more advanced surfers will be. There is this corner in the bay where the waves are really great for surfing. It is surrounded by rocks, so beware. We just sat there for a whole afternoon and enjoyed the surfers showing off while we were drinking a beer or two. Or three.
Attend a beach party
The Southcoast is a place where you will meet a lot of tourists. Where there are a lot of tourists, there are parties. The Southcoast is no exception. There is a party here every day. You just have to look carefully. These parties are great for meeting up with other travelers, if that is what you're into. Dance the night away and before you know the break of dawn is upon you.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
Tangalle - Chivas beach cabanas. This is a quiet place, great if you want to explore the Southcoast but want to sleep peacefully. It is on the beach, which makes it perfect for a morning dive.
Hiriketiya - Sea View Clay house. This place is a little bit more expensive. It is situated between the rocks, close to the beach. However not on the beach. It is a nice spot with a little bit more to offer than an average hostel.
Matara - The Doctors House. This is one of the most famous hostels of the Southcoast. Expect a lot of other backpackers. It is a big place with lot of activities such as live music and parties and so on. It is really bruising, and gives you these south coast party vibes. We recommend staying here at least one night.
Where to eat
Cafe Pastis - This is one of the best places we have had lunch during our stay in Sri Lanka. It is directly on the beach of Tangalle. A nice host will serve you the best seafood, curries, whatever you order. It is so nice. Believe us on this one.
Dots Bay House - YES. this food is special and tasty at the same time. One of these restaurants which makes these combinations of food which you would never try yourself but taste so good together. It is a cool place with cool people. Go see for yourself.
Isle de Gelato - Not a place to eat dinner. But a place to eat ice cream. The kind of ice cream you will still eat three scoops of even if you're absolutely full. Isle de Gelato can be found in Galle. Best ice cream in Sri Lanka hands down.
Frog rock
Mirissa
Hi, we are Bren and Tess! We travel to the most beautiful places in the world, and with our video's, we hope you feel inspired to do the same.
