This 10-day Sri Lanka vacation takes you across the South Asian nation to showcase its most famous sites, from the bustling capital, Colombo, to the rock of Sigiriya to the temples and holy sites of Polonnaruwa and Kandy.
Like most Sri Lanka vacations, your journey begins in Colombo, the nation’s capital. Although it has not regained the mantle of “Garden City of the East,” Colombo continues to restores its colonial charms and innovate against growing urban sprawl. It also remains a meeting point for East and West, where local culture still has traces of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial influences. Take a drive through the pristine streets of Race Course to experience one of the city’s glitzy neighbourhoods before heading to Pettah to visit the floating market and get some local souvenirs. Also be sure to visit Viharamahadevi Park to see the giant Buddha statue and shop at some of the buzzling local malls before continuing on to Dambulla.
Dambulla is Sri Lanka’s most impressive cave temple, dating back from the 1st century B.C. and containing 150 images of the Buddha and bodhisattvas carved across the walls of its five caves. Head on to Polonnaruwa to explore hundreds of temple ruins and tombs spread out across an ancient royal city. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa reigned for 800 years and many of its greatest sites, including the spectacular Buddhist enclosure known as the Quandrangle, remain in Polonnaruwa to this day.
Your Sri Lanka vacation continues on to the massive rock of Sigiriya, the country’s most iconic site. The rock of Sigiriya rises out of the misty forests of the country’s centre and has steep vertical walls culminating in a massive plateau adorned with ancient ruins. While the nature of these ruins is unknown, it’s possible the rock was once home to an ancient monastery or royal palace. Regardless of their true nature, the ruins of Sigiriya are incredible historical marvels. Once you climb the steep staircases of the rock and achieve the summit, you’ll also be treated to breathtaking sights of the surrounding countryside.
Continue on to Kandy, where you’ll get a taste for ordinary Sri Lankan life. The city combines urban bustle with ancient Buddhist relics. While the city is humid and often rainy, it sits on the shores of the gorgeous Kandy Lake and offers incredible sights, rain or shine. Chief among Kandy’s landmarks is the sacred Temple of the Tooth, which holds a tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. Afterwards, explore the lakefront and visit a bazaar to peruse local arts and crafts. Continue on to the seaside village, Ella, where you can spend your time strolling alongside temples and waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll stop to tour a tea plantation to learn about the production of world famous Ceylon tea. While in Ella, you will also visit The Nine Arches, or The Bridge in the Sky, one of the most iconic bridges in the island nation.
From Ella, continue your Sir Lanka vacation by heading to Tissamaharama (just “Tissa” to the locals), which is the gateway to several nearby national parks. In Tissa, you’ll have the opportunity to pass into Yala National Park, the country’s most famous nature reserve, where monkeys, elephants, and buffalo roam across a landscape of plains, forests, and lagoons. A game drive through Yala is a great way to spot some incredible animal life.
Pass westward along the coast to Galle, an old Dutch trading port that is famous for its colonial buildings, mosques, churches, and mansions. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Galle is a great place to explore. The 16th century Portuguese Fort is the chief attraction here; it is unique for being surrounded by the ocean on three sides. You’ll also visit the Cathedral of St. Mary and the Japanese Peace Pagoda. As a whole, Galle is one of the most charming spots in the entire country. Close out your Sri Lanka vacation in Bentota, a coastal resort town to the south of Colombo. Relax on the golden-sand beaches and enjoy the easygoing atmosphere supplied by the resorts, boutique hotels, and abundant warm weather.
This trip to Sri Lanka promises the best of this incredible South Asian nation.
