10 Things to do in SRI LANKA

Before moving into the topic of the Top 10 things to do in Sri Lanka, let us give you a brief introduction to Sri Lanka;

Sri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean with an area of 65.610 sq. kilometers. The shape has led to calling this little island the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. The country is rich in beautiful coastal areas, forest cover, water bodies, and mountains. This island’s very proud history dates back over 2500 years of written history. There are so many ancient ruins and historical places to see. These things have made many attractive places in the country. Annually, thousands of visitors come to Sri Lanka to experience these things.

There are so many things to do for a tourist. Here we are talking about the top 10.

In brief here are the best 10 things do in Sri Lanka;

  1. Train Tours
  2. White Water Rafting
  3. Wildlife Safari
  4. Trekking & Hiking
  5. Cycling
  6. Ayurveda
  7. Snorkeling
  8. Hot Air Baloon Rides
  9. Diving
  10. Whale and Dolphin Watching

 

So, now you can read more about these things below.

Train Tours

The distance of the Sri Lankan railway network is 1508km. The railway network has spread throughout the country’s Western, Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Uva provinces. A train ride in Sri Lanka is an awesome experience for any tourist to get. The train passes hills, paddy fields, tea gardens, tunnels, rivers, cities, rural villages, and forest covered.

The Kandy-Colombo railway connects the country’s two major cities. This tour is marvelous for those who love to see the beauty of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Central Provinces. This train route crosses most of the urban environments and the high population areas of the country. Starting from Colombo, you will travel through paddy fields, forest, tunnels and hilly areas. Normally, it takes 3.5 hours to finish the journey.

The Kandy to Ella Train Tour is considered the best train tour in Sri Lanka. It is also considered one of the best train rides in the world. It is famous for its spectacular views of the Central Highlands. The train passes beautiful tea gardens, landscapes, dense forests, and waterfalls. The tea gardens are very scenic, with a greenish color. It is a must-visit train ride for anyone. So, many tourists don’t miss this tour. The Kandy to Ella train ride normally takes 9 hours to finish. The weekends and holidays are very busy with travelers. Therefore, it’s better to make this journey during the week days to get its full worth.

The Colombo-Galle train trip is a magnificent way to view the beauty of the coastal areas in the South-West. It will pass beautiful beaches, palm trees, towns, and villages. The Anuradhapura-to-Jaffna train journey is regarded as the “Best Northern Train Trip,” as it allows you to observe traditional life and geographical features of northern Sri Lanka. You will also meet different races and different language-speaking people during this trip. 

White Water Rafting

This is an awesome adventure activity that you can try out in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has more than 100 rivers all around the country. Therefore, it is a superb spot for water activities. Kithulgala is a small town in the Kegalle District and it is 85km away from Colombo city. It is the most famous place for white water rafting and other water activities in Sri Lanka. You can ride the tides of the Kelani River with a rubber dingy. Your team will be provided with a well-experienced guide, and life jackets will be provided for every rider. The water speed and amount of water in the Kelani River are well suited for this activity. There are 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids in the streting area of 5 km. Your boat and team will face many difficulties and adventures during the trip. But it is not an activity to be afraid of. You can have wonderful fun!

There are other specific spots in Sri Lanka for white water rafting. The Kotmale River, Mahaweli River, and Sitawaka River are the other best rivers to try this activity. But the Kelani River that flows through Kithulagala is ideal for beginners. This is a nice activity that brings great enjoyment and experience to your life. This is another must-do thing in Sri Lanka for a visitor from abroad.

Wild Life Safari

This is the activity that you should include in your list of “10 things to do in Sri Lanka”. Sri Lanka is a small country, but it is rich in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Those are located all around the country. You can see many wild animals if you visit those places. There are also many safari tour providers for tourists in those areas.

A safari experience is a different kind of experience for a traveler. Sometimes it can be fun and sometimes it can be adventurous. Anyhow, this is a highly popular activity in Africa. But Sri Lanka is the best country in Asia for wildlife safari tours after Africa.

Sri Lankan Elephants, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Spotted Deer, and Flamingos are some of the wild animals that you can see during your safari tours. Wilpattu National Park and Yala National Park are famous for their leopard populations. Many tourists visit Minneriya National Park for large gatherings of Sri Lankan elephants.

Wasgamuwa, Udawalawa, Kumana, Kaudulla, Gal Oya, and Ridiyagama are the other places that are popular for wildlife safaris in Sri Lanka. Our 15-day Wildlife Tour package includes these safari tours in the best national parks in Sri Lanka. Therefore, you can get this amazing experience with Lanka Safa Tours. 

Trekking and Hiking

The central region of Sri Lanka is rich in many beautiful hilly mountains and forest cover. The elevation changes up to 2524m. Piduruthalagala is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. But Kirigalpoththa Mountain is the highest peak a hiker can reach. Anyhow, the large central highlands have made a lot of fabulous spots for both hikers and trekkers. The Knuckles Mountain Range is another popular place for hiking and trekking.

Hiking through the Knuckle Mountain Range, trekking to Pidurangala and Sigiriya, trekking to Ella Rock, trekking to the Hanthana Mountain Range, trekking in Sinharaja Forest, and trekking to the Hortan Plains are famous activities to do for hiking and trekking lovers. Hiking to Adma’s peak is another famous activity you can do in Sri Lanka. All the religious people hike to this mountain during the period of December-May with high devotion. 

The summits of all those mountains offer stunning views for travelers. Those magnetic views are ideal to capture with your camera. So, you shouldn’t forget to bring a camera when hiking or trekking in Sri Lanka. There are so many local guides to help you with this activity. 

Cycling

We believe that everybody has a biker inside them. When a sense of adventure is present, cycle tours become more interesting. The geographical and environmental circumstances in Sri Lanka are perfect for cycling activities. You will find routes with flat terrain surfaces and hilly routes.

There are more than 300+ cycling routes in Sri Lanka. During your cycle tour, you can view beautiful mountains, paddy fields, tea gardens, reservoirs, valleys, rainforests, beaches, and remote villages. This is a great way to see the hidden beauty of this island.

Every cycle driver should be concerned about the road conditions and weather conditions before their journey. There is a sudden change in weather in hilly areas. Be ready for that and wear light clothes to feel comfortable. Ella, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Thissamaharama are the perfect areas for cycling. 

We can say that cycling is another activity that you should definitely add to your list of 10 things to do in Sri Lanka. 

Ayurveda

Ayurveda medicine in Sri Lanka is found in the country’s nearly century-old treasury of indigenous knowledge, natural surroundings, and cultural repertoire. Human civilization stretches back 30,000 years, according to archeological findings. Many wild plant types were tamed and utilized for food and medicine by cavemen at the time. Sri Lanka’s indigenous medicine has similar beginnings, dating back 30,000 years to the Balangoda man (Manawaya), and the island’s first inhabitants.

Traditional Ayurveda medicine, as it is practiced in the nation presently, is built on an indigenous legacy that dates back over 3000 years. The Ayurveda practice of the period sustained the royal sponsorship of the country’s healthcare throughout history.

The Sri Lankan indigenous medical system has its own teachings based on notable rules and regulations. According to historical evidence gathered from chronicles, inscriptions, and epigraphic documents, the country’s rulers provided patronage and custodianship to healthcare through traditional medicine. Throughout history, traditional medicine has been maintained and practiced in order to create and sustain the nation’s health.

While there is historical evidence of a national healthcare system, old rock inscriptions show that the country has a modern medical service. These old hospital facilities, which were active centuries ago, have now become tourist attractions, representing the healing and caring widespread at the time.

Snorkeling

This is a sport that is suitable for those who love adventure and want to explore the world under water. It is a popular tourist activity in the coastal areas. Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean. So, you can find many snorkling spots all around the country. The cost of this activity is not very high in Sri Lanka.

The snorkelers can dive deep and swim along with marine animals. Amature snorklers normally dive and swim at a depth of 3–13 ft. Pro snorklers, on the other hand, delve deeper into the ocean’s inhabitants. The coastal areas with reefs are superb for this activity, where you can explore many beautiful marine plants and a variety of fish.

Dalawella is a beautiful beach where you can swim with turtles during you snorkling. It is the place where every snorkling lover should go. You don’t want to be a pro at this activity. There are PADI training centers out there in most of the famous snorkeling spots. The training will make you a pro in this sport. After a certain amount of training time, you can go deeper into the sea and analyze more.

Hikkaduwa, Pigeon Island, Mirissa, and Unawatuna are some of the best spots for this activity. November to April is the best time for snorkeling in Sri Lanka, while April to September is for the east coast.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

This adventure activity is rather famous among foreign tourists. The Dambulla and Kandalama areas are the most popular places for hot air balloon rides in Sri Lanka. Normally, the ride starts in the early mornings and takes approximately one hour. But if we calculate with all the preparation, it takes around 4 hours to complete the whole ride. This is a seasonal activity that you can experience from October to March.

We should say that this is an amazing experience to get. The wind is cool and mind-blowing. The aerial view is fantastic with the sunrise. You can see paddy fields, lakes, forests, and other topographic features of the area. The flying height will vary from low-level to high-level. The riding distance also varies with the wind speed and its direction. Normally, you will ride one mile to ten miles.

 

Diving

Sri Lanka’s almost 1600km of coastline, warm ocean currents and cool sea breeze have made Sri Lanka the best site for water sports. There are plenty of diving sites all over the coastline of the island. The divers can see corals, fishes, wrecks, and hundreds of marine species.

The best season for the west and south-west coast is from October to May. But May to October is the season for the North-East Coast. There are plenty of diving schools for beginners. They provide diving equipment, suits, masks, and other essential equipment for them. The prices are much higher in the peak seasons.

Trincomalee, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Pasikudah, and Kirinda are some of the most suitable for diving in Sri Lanka.

Whale and Dolphin watching

Do you think that Sri Lanka is ideal for watching whales and dolphins? Yes, the island is superb for this activity. There are some popular spots for that. Mirissa is one of the best places that is situated in the Southern province and is ideal for whale watching tours in Sri Lanka. You can watch whales in the December to April area in the Mirissa and surrounding seas. The boats will depart early in the morning, and the entire trip will take 2-3 hours. You will see giant blue whales there. It is the largest animal in the world. Apart from blue whales, you can see sperm whales, fin whales, killer whales, and many other kinds of whales during your marine trip.

Kalpitiya in the North-Western Province is another particular place for watching both dolphins and whales. You can watch hundreds of dolphins during the October to May period. They swim along with your boats. You will be amazed once you see them jumping, spinning, twirling, and leaping. From February to April is the ideal time to watch whales in Kapitiya.

Trincomalee is another fabulous place for that activity. The November to April time period is considered the season. This is an amazing thing to do in Sri Lanka as a tourist. So, add this activity to your list of the top 10 things to do in Sri Lanka.

Final Word about 10 things to do in Sri Lanka;

Sri Lanka is a coastal island in the Indian Ocean. It is rich in many hills, forests, beaches and Wildlife. We have bought our list of top 10 things to do in Sri Lanka.

As well as don’t forget that Sri Lanka is super for things like… Surfing, Camping, Fishing, Kite Surfing, Kayaking, Caving, Waterfall Trekking and Relaxing. If you love those activities, then you can add them to your top 10 list in Sri Lanka.

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