All international flights into Sri Lanka arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport which is situated just outside of Negombo city. Travelling can be tiring so my best advice would be to stay in Negombo city for one night after arriving on the island for Negombo is only a few minutes away from the airport.
Start the day with a taxi ride from Negombo to the capital city of Colombo which is roughly an hour south. It is ideal to have your taxi arrange beforehand as today we will be taking the train from Colombo Fort station to Kandy and it is important not to miss the train!
As with my airport pick-up, I arranged my ride through my accommodation host. However, there are numerous taxi companies that you can choose from to book your ride.
Trains from Colombo to Kandy are fairly regular throughout the morning. The earliest train is at 5:55am and the latest morning train is at 10:35 am. Trains in the afternoon are far less frequent and I would not recommend them for this itinerary.
Today we will be journeying from Kandy city to the mountainous town of Ella. Ella is a small town at an elevation of 1,041 metres, surrounded by tea plantations and cloud forests.
The best way to travel to Ella is via train.
As the train from Kandy arrives late in the afternoon, it is advisable to book to stay in Ella for 2 nights in order to make the most of this picturesque town. This leaves a full day to explore Ella.
Hop in a taxi and drive south for roughly 2 hours to the town of Udawalawe. The drive is beautiful, taking you out of Sri Lanka’s highlands.
Udawalawe town is famous for being the entry point to Udawalawe National Park, dubbed as one of the best places on earth to view the Asian elephant in the wild. There are roughly 700 elephants in the park, an extremely high density compared to other national parks
The best time of day to go on safari is in the morning. Therefore if you really want to make the most of wildlife viewing in Udawalwe National Park, it is recommended you hop on an early morning safari.
Safaris last for several hours. Although wildlife viewing cannot be guaranteed, there is an extremely good chance of viewing some elephants in Udawalwe national park. Immediately upon entry to the park I saw my first elephant. It turned out to be the first of countless! As well as elephants I managed to spot wild boar, jackals, crocodiles, deer, two types of monkey, countless birds and more.
Take a taxi south to Sri Lanka’s coastline. Hiriketiya bay is a beautiful horseshoe-shaped beach and a real hidden gem, best-known for its incredible surf. It takes roughly 3 hours to reach the beach from Udawalawe.
There are numerous hostels and guesthouses in the area surrounding the bay. I stayed in a guesthouse right by the path that leads to the beach called ‘The Corner’. It was good in regards to its proximity to the beach but lacked views and was a little far out of down. Staying by Dikwella beach (the neighbouring beach) may be a better option as there is more choice in terms of shops and restaurants.
A one hour taxi or tuk-tuk ride along the coastline takes you to Mirissa beach, one of the most popular beaches along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. This beach is famed for its beach-front restaurants and whale watching just off the coast.
There are so many options when it comes to accommodation in Mirissa, from hotels to hostels, homestays to guest houses. I stayed in one of the many guest houses which was a 15 minute walk from the beach. Search for an accommodation option that is a short walk away from the town and beach. Prices for guest houses range from £13 to £50 per night, most of which being between £20 – £30 per night and come with breakfast included.
Jump in a taxi and travel to Sri Lanka’s west coastline to the town of Bentota, a couple of hours south of the capital of Colombo. Bentota is perched upon the coast with a beautiful stretch of golden sand known as Bentota beach. Further inland is Bentota river, a vast river surrounded by lush forests.
The journey from Mirissa to Bentota takes around 2 hours.
Bentota beach is often referred to as one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Sri Lanka. You can take a stroll through the soft white sand or even a snorkel in the ocean. Hotels and restaurants can be found lining the beach which you can visit for a bite to eat or a dip in the pool.
A city perched on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, proudly displays its history.
As soon as we get there we check into an upscale hotel in the heart of the old walled-off town with colonial architecture and an abundance of palm trees. This region is full of historical significance, unique tales, and ancestry.
It’s the ideal place to spend a leisurely afternoon recovering from your flight because there are so many delicious food options available, as well as peace and quiet.
The best time of day to go on safari is in the morning. Therefore if you really want to make the most of wildlife viewing in Udawalwe National Park, it is recommended you hop on an early morning safari.
Safaris last for several hours. Although wildlife viewing cannot be guaranteed, there is an extremely good chance of viewing some elephants in Udawalwe national park. Immediately upon entry to the park I saw my first elephant. It turned out to be the first of countless! As well as elephants I managed to spot wild boar, jackals, crocodiles, deer, two types of monkey, countless birds and more.
Jump in a taxi and travel to Sri Lanka’s west coastline to the town of Bentota, a couple of hours south of the capital of Colombo. Bentota is perched upon the coast with a beautiful stretch of golden sand known as Bentota beach. Further inland is Bentota river, a vast river surrounded by lush forests.
The journey from Mirissa to Bentota takes around 2 hours.
Today we will be journeying from Kandy city to the mountainous town of Ella. Ella is a small town at an elevation of 1,041 metres, surrounded by tea plantations and cloud forests.
The best way to travel to Ella is via train.
Start the day with a taxi ride from Negombo to the capital city of Colombo which is roughly an hour south. It is ideal to have your taxi arrange beforehand as today we will be taking the train from Colombo Fort station to Kandy and it is important not to miss the train!
As with my airport pick-up, I arranged my ride through my accommodation host. However, there are numerous taxi companies that you can choose from to book your ride.
Trains from Colombo to Kandy are fairly regular throughout the morning. The earliest train is at 5:55am and the latest morning train is at 10:35 am. Trains in the afternoon are far less frequent and I would not recommend them for this itinerary.
Quasi perspiciatis delectus similique itaque odio porro. Nostrum deleniti voluptatibus incidunt est commodi occaecati. Eum totam ullam quis. Dolores eos eum officiis quos aut tempore natus ea exercitationem.
Quia officia officiis sapiente. Quis aliquid voluptas cumque blanditiis rerum. Quia ex molestiae corrupti sit quia quidem voluptatem. Ratione quo distinctio iure voluptatem ut. Debitis doloremque sint nemo nihil ut.
Inventore laboriosam id doloremque sit. Voluptas veniam amet. Aut rem quia in sed. Blanditiis laborum consequatur numquam tenetur. Quisquam est qui ducimus necessitatibus debitis tempore aliquid.
Voluptas qui dolores occaecati dolor. Distinctio nihil ex. Qui est dolorem omnis a fugit sapiente non voluptatem explicabo.
Facere quo aut quis sit incidunt tempora. Quidem veniam quidem dolorem. Accusantium et et sapiente recusandae.
Quo a magnam est. Et pariatur explicabo. Amet qui iste accusamus vel consequuntur. Quae et mollitia consectetur fugit. Similique provident omnis accusantium qui.
Dolor nulla quasi voluptates commodi rerum expedita est perspiciatis. Aliquid totam a. Harum ut autem ea esse ea id itaque. Ipsum sunt distinctio sit quis rerum facere excepturi esse dolores. Maxime rerum odit et et quisquam aliquid amet dolores. Accusamus illo nostrum esse sapiente rerum qui minima et facilis.