3 Week Sri Lanka Itinerary: Day-by-Day Route (2024)

Make the most of your time in Sri Lanka with this in-depth guide to the island. My 3 week Sri Lanka itinerary will help you plan the perfect trip.

Sri Lanka is a country that has it all. With paradise beaches, rolling hills, ancient temples, friendly locals and a huge variety of wildlife, it’s no surprise it’s often referred to as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”.

I recently returned from 3 weeks in Sri Lanka – the perfect amount of time to experience the diversity of this incredible island.

In this guide, I’ll give you my day-by-day Sri Lanka itinerary, including the best things to do in each place, and my top tips to help your trip run smoothly.

You’ll start your trip at an ancient rock fortress, travel through tea plantations, jungle, national parks, mountains and coastline, before finishing your trip staying inside a historic fort.

My 3 week Sri Lanka itinerary will show you the very best of this beautiful country, and take all the stress out of planning your trip.

Some links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It won’t make a difference to what you pay, but I earn a small commission if you purchase something I’ve recommended. I’m really grateful for your trust in my advice, and if I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, I won’t recommend it to you.

3 WEEK SRI LANKA ITINERARY

---

Day 1 -2 | Sigiriya

You’ll most likely be arriving into Sri Lanka at Bandaranaike International Airport, and most guides will recommend you spend the night in Colombo.

But the airport isn’t located that close to Colombo – it’s an hours drive to the city (in good traffic).

So after a lot of research into the city, I decided to give Colombo a miss, and head straight for Sigiriya.

It might be unfair of me to tell you to skip a place I’ve not actually been, but your time is precious, and 3 weeks isn’t actually a lot of time to discover everything Sri Lanka has to offer.

In the hour spent travelling to Colombo, you could be well on your way to Sigiriya, which is a 3 hour drive away from the airport.

The plan is to arrive in Sigiriya in the evening so you can be up early to climb Lion’s Rock. Most likely jet lag will have you up at 5am regardless, which is ideal for being at the top for sunrise.

Getting to Sigiriya

TAXI | A taxi to Sigiriya through Pick Me (Sri Lanka’s version of Uber) will cost around £45/18,350 LKR and take 3 hours.

FLY | On select days (I’m talking 3 a month) you can actually fly from Colombo to Sigiriya.

The flight only takes 30 minutes and costs £32/13,000 LKR. I’d assume it’s quite unlikely that your international flight will align with the schedule, but if it does, happy days.

BUS | You’ll need to take a bus or taxi into the centre of Colombo, followed by another bus to Dambulla, and a local bus or Tuk-Tuk for the remaining 30 minutes to Sigiriya.

LION’s ROCK

Sigiriya, meaning Lion’s Rock, is an ancient rock fortress built during the reign of King King Kasyapa I, over 1,500 years ago.

A grand palace once stood on top of the rock and visitors can climb the 1,200 steps to visit the remaining ruins.

Whilst ticket prices are steep at $36 for an adult, and $18 for children (this was one of the most expensive things we did in Sri Lanka), it’s a must see on your Sri Lanka itinerary.

Top tip: If you have a fear of heights (like me), the last section before reaching the top can be a bit scary. The stairs are quite narrow, but there’s barriers either side. It doesn’t last long so my best advice is to keep looking forward (not down)- it’s worth it once you get to the top.

Pidurangala Rock

After climbing Lion’s Rock, you could also hike up the less visited Pidurangala Rock. We didn’t do this hike so I can’t comment on the cost or it’s difficulty, but it benefits from impressive views over Sigiriya, and apparently less crowds.

SAFARI

After a morning of hiking, I’d recommend a visit to a Hurulu Eco Park.

It’s located 25 minutes from Sigiriya, and having experienced both Hurulu and Yala National Park during our 3 weeks in Sri Lanka, Hurulu was a much more enjoyable experience.

We booked our safari with Minneriya Jeep Safari and Tours, who run tours across the three national parks in the area – Hurulu, Minneriya and Kaudulla.

They’ll suggest the best park for you depending on the time of year, what animals you want to see, and the weather.

Although you’re much less likely to spot a leopard here, these 3 parks are especially famous for the opportunity to see large elephant herds.

Our visit to Hurulu was my favourite afternoon of our whole 3 weeks in Sri Lanka – we paid £20 each for our a half day safari (including the park entrance fee), and we saw over 30 elephants, including a baby tusker (which are very rare in Sri Lanka), bull elephants and a herd.

Day 3, 4 & 5 | Kandy

Kandy is the country’s second largest city, known for its cultural and religious significance.

I didn’t immediately warm to Kandy when I arrived – a mixture of overhanging jet lag and the business of the city compared to laid back Sigiriya.

But after digging a little deeper, I found lots to love. Make sure you head out of the city to explore the surrounding countryside, it’s some of the most beautiful scenery we saw on our 3 weeks in Sri Lanka.

Don’t miss the three temple loop; Embekke, Lankatilaka and Galadeniya are sacred temples that showcase Sri Lanka’s rich Buddhist heritage.

They’re best discovered through a Tuk-Tuk tour where you’ll pass by lush rice fields and local villages.

*Be mindful that Tuk-Tuk drivers are paid a commission to take you to different attractions, usually free to enter, in the hope that you’ll spend money once you’re there. The prices are usually very inflated for the quality of the products. I’d recommend researching the places you’d like to visit before hand, and if you don’t want to stop somewhere, be firm in saying no, as they can be quite persistent.

A 15 minute drive from Kandy in nearby Peradeniya, you’ll find the Botanical Gardens. Originally designed for the Royal Family’s exclusive use, they’re home to incredible native and exotic plants, including a very photogenic row of royal palms.

I’d recommend visiting at opening time (7:30am) to enjoy it without the crowds.

And no trip to Kandy is complete without visiting the Temple of the Tooth. It’s one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, said to house the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.

Getting to Kandy

TAXI | A taxi to Kandy from Sigiriya costs around £30/11,874 LKR and takes 2 and a half hours.

BUS | Take a bus to Dambulla, and then on to Kandy. The total journey can be done in as little as 3 hours (depending on which bus you get).

Day 6 | Train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (not Ella)

Sometimes, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. And the train ride from Kandy to Ella, often dubbed one of the most beautiful in the world, is the perfect example of that.

The trip from Kandy to Ella takes around 6 hours (although i’t’s usually a lot longer), so I’d recommend breaking up the journey and stopping in Nuwara Eliya for the night, which will only take 3-4 hours.

The train ride from Kandy to Ella is VERY popular, so if you’re visiting in peak season, expect tickets to sell out in advance.

I’d recommend booking your tickets at least a month in advance if you want a reserved seat on the train (more on the different train carriages below).

UNDERSTANDING the carriages

There’s three classes on the train from Kandy to Ella, and the one you choose is very important:

FIRST CLASS | an air conditioned carriage with more comfortable seats, but the windows and doors don’t open, so you don’t get the full experience of hanging out of the train and watching the countryside whizz by.

SECOND CLASS | individual seats, and fans that keep you cool (ish).

THIRD CLASS | bench style seats with no fans.

Reserved + unreserved Tickets

In the second and third class carriages, tickets come in two types, reserved and unreserved.

Reserved means you have a guaranteed seat, and unreserved means you don’t, so you’ll either have to get on first and find a seat, or stand.

I can’t speak for the type of traveller you are, but second class reserved suited us perfectly.

Day 7- Nuwara Eliya

Known as “Little England” due to its colonial-era architecture, Nuwara Eliya sits about 1,800 metres above sea level, so prepare for a much cooler climate here (bring a raincoat).

Most famous for its tea plantations, the scenery here is incredible and it’s a great place for hiking, visiting waterfalls, and relaxing amongst nature.

1 day in Nuwara Eliya is enough time to see the main sights. Take a Tuk-Tuk tour, but go as early as possible to escape the cloud cover that rolls in by the afternoon.

Day 8 – 10 | Ella

From Nuwara Eliya, get back on the train to Ella. The journey takes around 3 hours, and if you go early, you’ll avoid the clouds and hopefully have beautiful weather for admiring the scenery.

Ella is a small town located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, known for its stunning natural beauty, scenic landscapes, and laid-back atmosphere.

It was the most touristy place we visited, but that didn’t take away from its charm – it’s not to be missed on your 3 weeks in Sri Lanka.

NINE ARCH BRIDGE

Undoubtedly Ella’s most famous attraction, the Nine Arch Bridge was built during the British colonial period and sits amongst dense forest and tea plantations.

Head to Cafe Soul for some of the best views of the bridge, grab a coffee and wait for the trains to pass over to capture that iconic shot.

ELLA ROCK

Ella Rock offers breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside, and the hike to the summit takes around 2-3 hours.

Whilst a lot of people do this hike for sunrise, I’m not a fan of hiking in the dark, but I’d still suggest going as early as possible to avoid the midday sun.

LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK

The trek to Little Adam’s Peak is a relatively easy one, taking around 45 minutes from Ella town to the top.

The hike takes you through the lush tea plantations, with viewpoints along the way over Ella Rock and Ella Gap.

Due to its popularity, Little Adam’s Peak is quite commercialised. There’s a swimming pool half way up where you can rent daybeds, as well as a Zipline and a swing.

This didn’t bother me as the majority of the hike is untouched, including the peak where the best views are, but it’s worth noting incase this is something you like to avoid.

COOKING CLASS

Our cooking class in Ella was one of my favourite activities from our 3 weeks in Sri Lanka. We booked a class with Ella Spice Garden, run by Theeka at his family home.

The class starts with a tour of the families spice garden, where we learnt more about the ingredients we’d be using in the class.

Each person gets to prepare a dish from the menu. Theeka was enthusiastic and passionate about the food he was creating, and took the time to explain everything to us so we could recreate the dishes at home.

We learned how to cook coconut sambal, roti, garlic curry, papadam, daal, and perfectly cooked rice. It was my favourite meal from our 3 weeks in Sri Lanka, so I’d really recommend booking this class whilst you’re in Ella.

Day 11 – 12 | Yala National Park

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most popular safari park, and a place I imagine is on most people’s list for a 3 week trip.

It’s one of the best places for leopard sightings, and is also home to elephants, water buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles and an array of bird species.

Unfortunately my time at Yala was somewhat disappointing – due to a mixture of bad weather and overcrowding. You can read more about my experience at Yala here if you’d like to know the details.

I’m hopeful that you’d have a better experience if you visited at a different time of year though – your best chance of spotting wildlife is towards the end of the dry season, which runs February – July.

Getting to Yala

TAXI | A taxi to Ella to Yala costs £31/12,309 LKR and takes around 2 hours.

BUS | Take a bus from Ella to Tissamaharama, which is the nearest town to Yala National Park. From Tissamaharama, you can take a Tuk-Tuk or taxi to take you to the park entrance. The journey takes around 3-4 hours.

Where to stay in Yala

If you can, I’d recommend staying within the park. It’s an incredible experience to wake up in the middle of a National Park, knowing wildlife is only a short distance away.

We checked into the newly opened Hilton Yala Resort, which has 42 rooms, suites and villas, some with their own pools and hot tubs.

There’s no gates between the resort and the park, and elephants are often spotted strolling past the bedrooms, so regularly in fact, that guests are advised to always call for one of the hotel 24 hour buggy’s if they need to go anywhere.

Day 13 – 15 | Hiriketiya & Dikwella

From Yala, it’s a 2 hour taxi to Hiriketiya, a small horseshoe bay on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka.

It’s a popular spot amongst surfers, and cool cafes, boutique hotels and yoga retreats lining the shore.

Its laidback vibe makes it the perfect place to start your week on the Sri Lankan coast.

Hiriketiya and Dikwella are only a short drive from each other (or a 30 minute walk if you prefer) and I’d recommend spending time in both.

We actually preferred Dikwella as there’s a much a bigger beach with fewer crowds, and you’re less hassled by surf schools trying to get you to take a surf lesson.

Whichever beach you prefer, make sure you’re at Dikwella beach for sunset – they’re not to be missed.

Dedicate a morning of your time here to Blue Beach island – a private island accessible by a sandbar when the tide is out. It’s a great snorkelling spot and surprisingly quiet for how beautiful it is.

Day 16 – 18 | Mirissa

With beautiful beaches, a great selection of restaurants, and the opportunity to spot blue whales off its shores, Mirissa is a must visit on your 3 weeks in Sri Lanka.

Make sure you visit Coconut Tree Hill, grab Mexican food at South Coast (some of the best food we had on our trip), and spend a day at Secret Beach.

It’s also a brilliant base for a visit to nearby Weligama, one of the best places on the South coast for surf lessons.

WHALE WATCHING IN MIRISSA

Mirissa is one of the best places in the world for whale watching, and it’s especially popular for the chance to see blue whales.

The whale watching season runs from November to April, and there are a LOT of companies offering whale watching tours in the town.

Please please do your research before booking a whale watching trip.

There are laws in Sri Lanka about how close boats are allowed to get to the whales, but many companies will ignore these rules and drive right next to the whales, which can impact their ability to feed and communicate with each other.

We booked with Whale Watching Club, who take the laws very seriously (our captain was constantly shouting at other boats for getting too close).

Their knowledge of whale behaviour is incredible, and the team were able to accurately predict where the whales would appear and at what time. Each time the whales surfaced, our boat had the best view.

Day 19 – 21 | Galle Fort

We’re finishing your 3 weeks in Sri Lanka with 3 days in one of my favourite places – Galle Fort.

Built by the Portugese in the 16th century, and subsequently conquered by the Dutch and the British before Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, Galle Fort is a wonderful blend of culture, architecture and community.

Galle Fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988, and it’s one of the best-preserved colonial-era fortifications in Asia.

Pay a visit to the Galle Fort lighthouse, browse the shops on Pedlar Street, and grab rooftop drinks at The Charleston.

DAY TRIP TO UNAWATUNA

Whilst you’re in Galle, make sure you spend a morning in nearby Unawatuna.

Arguably Unawatuna’s biggest draw is the rope swing at Dream Cabana. You’ll need to pay a small fee (500 LKR/£1.30) to use it, but you get unlimited swings for that price.

I expected this insta-famous spot to be swarming with people, but we had it all to ourselves when we visited. It’s a beautiful beach and a great place for spotting turtles in the water.

Head into Unawatuna for lunch at Skinny Tom’s Deli (the chicken burger is delicious) or The Hideout – a Mexican fusion & rooftop bar.

Where to stay in GALLE FORT

We checked into The Charleston, a converted merchant villa with just 9 bedrooms, each neutrally decorated, and every one with a freestanding bath tub.

There’s also a restaurant, a rooftop bar overlooking the fort walls and the Indian Ocean, and a swimming pool opening soon.

Located right in the heart of the fort, The Charleston hotel is the perfect base for discovering Galle Fort.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO SRI LANKA

---

Get this: Download the PickMe app to easily order taxi’s and Tuk-Tuks

Don’t miss: The chance to see wild elephants herds on a safari in Hurulu Eco Park

Bucket list experience: Book your whale watching tour in Mirissa with Whale Watching Club

Flights | Find the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka with Skyscanner 

Stay | Find the best places to stay in Sri Lanka on Booking.com

Where should you stay in Sri Lanka?

You’ll find good accommodation across Sri Lanka no matter what your budget is, ranging from luxury 5* resorts to affordable hostels.

Guesthouses and home stays are very popular across Sri Lanka, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. They’re often run from the family home and you’ll receive a more personal experience here, where you’ll have the chance to try home-cooked food and get to know the local people.

Hiring a car in Sri Lanka

You definitely don’t need to hire a car in Sri Lanka as the public transport system is reliable and affordable.

Driving styles in Sri Lanka and road conditions in more rural areas mean I’d only recommend it if you’re a very confident driver.

If you do want to hire a car, I’d recommend booking with Discover Cars. They compare costs across loads of different companies, show you all the costs upfront (including the fees & the extras), and provide free cancellation.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR TRIP

---

travel insurance

Whilst I always felt safe in Sri Lanka, you can never predict what might happen during your trip, so having travel insurance is essential.

I use SafetyWing for my travel insurance – they have an easy to use dashboard which keeps your documents in one place so they’re easy to find if you need them, you can add extras such as technology cover, children under 10 are free of charge and you can even start the policy when you’re already on a trip.

IF YOU ARE RENTING A CAR, SAVE MONEY BY DOING THIS

My biggest tip for renting a car abroad is to never take the insurance offered by the rental company.

Some car rental companies will lure you in with cheap prices and then mandate that you take their insurance policy, which often costs more than the car hire. Make sure you read the small print because it’s a rubbish start to a holiday when it happens.

I always use insurance4carhire to purchase insurance and I’ve saved myself a LOT of money doing it this way.

DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT

---

Liquids bag for the airport | I NEVER travel without this bag and I’ve recommended it to all my friends, and so now they all have one too. It’s a game-changer. No more scrambling around before security shoving your liquids into a sandwich bag. It’s the correct size for the amount you can take on board, so just pack it beforehand and breeze through security.

Extension cable | One of my favourite travel hacks and also something I’d never travel without is an extension cable. This way, you only need one travel adapter. The one I have and swear by is this one – there’s 3 plugs and 6 USB slots, which is more than enough room for both mine and Conor’s devices.

Travel adapter | With an extension cable, you’ll just need one travel adapter, but I always like to buy them before my trip so I’m not frantically searching for a shop when I arrive. Plus, it’s usually a lot cheaper. I’d really recommend getting a worldwide adapter – it can be moved to work with any plug across the world.