Let this guide help you plan your Sri Lankan trip, and if you have more time, I’ve added some additional options. If you want more details on specific locations, head to this page where I’ve gathered 10+ Sri Lanka travel guides. Getting to Weligama: Our first plan was to take the train to Weligama. Taking the train is a really cheap way to travel around the island. But after a quick scan, we found out that taking a cab is pretty cheap too. We paid 12 000 Sri Lankan rupees (LKR), which is around 60 EUR or 600 SEK, for a 3-hour drive. To us, this was money well spent. We had comfortable seats, air condition and could sleep peacefully. We asked our guesthouse in Weligama to send a driver, but you can also book a taxi via Sri Lankan taxi – or ask someone at the airport. ➳ Read more: 5 x best restaurants in Weligama, Sri Lanka ➳ Read more: Top 10 things to do in Mirissa ➳ Read more: A complete travel guide to Dikwella & Hiriketiya beach Going to Udawalawe from the south coast with public transport is possible. You take a bus to Matara and there you switch to another one. After observing the craziness of the buses, we decided that going by car felt better. The car ride cost us 8000 LKR (400 SEK/40 EUR). We decided to book one hotel night in Udawalawe. We arrived in the evening, got some dinner at the hotel, and then went to sleep to catch a 6 am safari. Tips! While in Udawalawe, make sure to visit the baby elephants in the Elephant Transit Home. We went from Udawalawe to Ella by car. Again worth it. It took 2 hours and cost 6000 LKR (300 SEK/30 EUR). Tips! You can easily spend 3–4 days in Ella if you wish to extend your trip to Sri Lanka. ➳ Read more: 8 things to do in Ella – a guide to the most scenic village in Sri Lanka We didn’t have more than a few hours in Kandy before leaving for Colombo the next day. To be honest: I’m glad we didn’t have more time. There are some things to do in Kandy, like visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens, but I wouldn’t want to prioritize them over the south coast or Ella. Tips! Have more days in Sri Lanka? Then make a stop in Nuwara Eliya on your way to Kandy! This little mountain village is considered to be the highest located village (in altitude) in Sri Lanka and is home to many beautiful tea plantations and hike trails.
Unawatuna and Dalawella: Two famous beach towns on the south coast. Unawatuna is a bit too touristy for me. Dalawella is small but popular among sea turtles, which makes it worth a visit!Galle Fort: Galle Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site that nowadays is filled with impressive colonial buildings, cute shops, and trendy cafés. If you stay in Unawatuna you can make a day trip to Galle Fort, as it’s located only 20 minutes from Unawatuna.Yala National Park: Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most popular wildlife park due to its many leopards. We chose Udawalawe over Yala because we wanted to see elephants.Arugam Bay: Arugam Bay on the east coast of Sri Lanka is known as a surfers paradise and one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka.Climb Sigiriya Rock: Lion Rock in Sigiriya is one of the most popular landmarks in Sri Lanka. The rock is located 2,5 hours north of Kandy. A visit here means you need to extend your trip by at least two days.Kaudulla National Park: Kaudulla National Park is home to 200+ elephants, which makes it a great alternative to Udawalawe National Park.Nuwara Eliya: Explore the lush mountain village Nuwara Eliya, also known as Little England of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is located at 1900 meters above sea level which makes the environment unique, with lush tea plantations and cooler temperaturesElephant Freedom Project in Kegalle: Spend a few days volunteering at the Elephant Freedom Project in Kegalle, one of the few ethical sanctuaries for elephants in Sri Lanka.
