This is our best advice on the must-do activities in sri lanka
This is our advice on the best things to do, and places to see in Sri Lanka. For more info on how to travel Sri Lanka, check out our other post here.
1. See the Dambulla Cave Temples
Seeing the Cave Temples in Dambulla was possibly our favourite thing we did in Sri Lanka. We only visited Dambulla to head to the town of Sigiriya – to see Sigiriya itself and climb Pidurangala rock. We decided to visit the cave temples pretty last- minute. The Dambulla Cave Temple is the largest and best-preserved temple complex in the country. We got a tuktuk there from Dambulla Town and paid entry when we got there (it was about 2 euros). Bring water as it can be a steep climb up the steps to the caves.
Lit with beautiful lighting, we encourage you to visit at dusk or as the sun is setting. Dating back to the first century BC, these temples are located within caves on a rock towering 160m over the forests and plains. If you don’t visit for the history, visit for the views. It is top on our list of things to do in Sri Lanka.
2. Climb Pidurangala Rock
Which leads us swiftly to our next top thing to do in Sri Lanka. Climb Pidurangala rock. Situated in the town of Sigiriya, easily accessed from Dambulla and Habarana, Pidurangala gives you the most incredible view of Sigiriya, as well as the surrounding area. Many blogs advise to climb this as a cheaper way of viewing Sigiriya, but we recommend climbing this purely because of the incredible view and how beautiful it is on top. This rock is colossal; you can walk around once you get to the top, and find a comfortable spot to sit and take in the breath-taking views. If you want to climb Sigiriya, absolutely do. But climb Pidurangala as well!
Challenging in its own right, the climb only takes about 30 minutes; and the views are well worth it. Climb it in the morning, and have your breakfast at the top. We wouldn’t recommend climbing it in the dark- it can be difficult to know where to put your foot at times. You won’t regret it! It is definitely one of the top things to do in Sri Lanka.
3. Do a Safari
If Africa isn’t on your list, not to worry. The wildlife you can see and experience in Sri Lanka day- to-day is breathtaking. Think spotting elephants along the road on the Kandy- Dambulla bus journey! When you’re on a safari, this experience is amplified. They are generally very affordable given the incredible experience you will get in return.
Where you chose will depend on what you want to see, as well as what time of the year it is. Generally speaking, Yala National park guarantees you to see wildlife more easily, and contains more elephants. Yala is more open and has less vegetation surrounding the road for cars, making it easier to see. Yala also tends to be busier, especially during peak tourist season in the spring.
On the other hand, Wilpattu in the north-west will give you a chance to see leopards! Wilpattu tends to have a lot less visitors than Yala National park, giving you ample opportunity to see the wildlife before it may run away. In saying that, Willpattu has a lot of vegetation growing all the way up to the road for cars and safari trucks, which makes it a bit tricker to see wildlife. You can check out this blog post for more information on the many national parks in Sri Lanka.
If a Safari isn’t within your budget, but you want a wildlife experience, definitely check out whale and dolphin watching. Check out our Ultimate Guide on Trincomalee to find out more about when and where we did whale watching while we were in Sri Lanka.
Either are fantastic choices, it depends what animals you are keen to see and what time of year you go.
4. Do a Cooking Lesson
Yes, this is a generic activity that you can do in any country you visit. However, it really is one of the top things to do in Sri Lanka. In our opinion, Sri Lankan food is unmatched. If you feel the same, we recommend learning more about the cuisine and how to create it at home. We took the class at Ella Spice Garden, which ended up being one of the best things we did on our travels. The host was so engaging, and it was some of the best food we have had in months. It also gave us the opportunity to meet and chat to other like- minded travellers.
5. Take Public Transport
This is not a common tip or ‘must do’ in Sri Lanka, which is why we wanted to include it. Sri Lanka has some of the most incredible natural beauty you will ever see. Taking public transport (including a tuktuk) gives you an opportunity to see the country at its finest. We were offered incredibly cheap rates for a personal taxi driver for our 3 week trip. We declined this, as we wanted a more authentic experience of the country. We are so glad we did! Official timetables for buses in Sri Lanka don’t tend to exist; our best advice is to ask your host/ staff/ locals- they will tell you if a bus route exists for where you want to go, and when it will come.
For main train routes, we used 12go.com for routes and to purchase tickets- from our experience, they were the same price to buy online as in-person at the station. Click here to see the routes accessible by train in Sri Lanka, and here to buy and search for tickets. Keep in mind that even if you purchase a ticket online, you will often need to pick up a physical ticket at the train station once you get there.
The Kandy to Ella Train
The Kandy to Ella train is famous for its incredible views, and we absolutely recommend doing this during your visit! However, the bus journeys in Sri Lanka often offer an incredible experience as well. Twice on our bus journeys in this country we passed and stopped to see elephants who happened to be chilling on the side of the road (Trincomalee to Dambulla, and Dambulla to Kandy to be specific). The bus drivers throw them a few bananas so they have learned that they will often get a treat when the bus passes! They will even stick their trunk in and take it from the driver.
Local Buses
You’ll often see ‘party-like’ buses passing you at a whopping speed when you’re here too. Colourful, vibrant, and loud, we recommend hopping on for a short journey while you’re in the country. The eccentric interior is nothing like we’ve ever seen before- think magenta pink, velour covers, and wacky animations. This is complemented by remixes of traditional Sri Lankan music being blasted. An experience is all we can say!
Sri Lanka is probably our favourite country we have ever visited. It is serene, peaceful and picturesque. The people are warm ad the food is delectable wherever you go. Unlike other south-east and south Asian countries, we remember Sri Lanka as being incredibly peaceful. Although, like any country, there are small pockets of hectic energy, overall, it is a quieter destination. If you decide to head, make sure to include our top things to do in Sri Lanka.