How to Spend Two Weeks in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a small island on the Indian Ocean. It’s a bio-diverse land boasting a rich heritage, culture, and traditions. The island is home to gorgeous beaches. The wildlife is exotic and rustic. Explore tea estates in the chilly highlands and a hill capital that was the last kingdom. Delve into the history of 2000 years, learn about diverse ethnic groups living on the island, and be a foodie. Here’s how to spend two weeks in Sri Lanka!

Days One and Two – Dedicate to Negombo

Negombo is located close to the international airport. And so, it makes sense to ease your jet lag at this popular west coast town. A historic town, Negombo is also a sleepy fisher village. There you have huge sandy beaches and some of the best luxury resorts in Sri Lanka for a first-hand experience of island hospitality. Here’s a quick tip; for ease of travelling around the island, book your stays at chain hotels located across the island. It makes transfers easy and you are guaranteed the best service. Some chains like Heritance Hotels offer world-class hospitality at all hotels located in different parts of the island. Chill and relax at Negombo hotels. Explore the town's colonial past. Explore the Negombo canal on a boat ride. And visit the town to see the vintage churches. Note to foodies - Negombo is famous for its fresh lagoon crabs and prawns.

Day Three, Four, and Five - Explore the Cultural Triangle

The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka covers the dry zone and the first kingdoms of Sri Lanka. Ideal to delve deep into the rich history of the nation, a tour of the triangle will take you across fascinating towns and ancient monuments. You can drive or choose to travel via train from Negombo. Arrive in Anuradhapura, the island’s first kingdom, home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit the animal sanctuaries of Kaudulla and the ancient wonder of the world – the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. You can then explore Kandy, the capital of the hill country, and the last kingdom. The Temple of the tooth there holds a tooth relic of Lord Buddha. Kandy is surrounded by hills and is perfect for mountain trekking too.

Day Six and Seven – Visit Nuwara Eliya

From Kandy, you can drive up to Nuwara Eliya or take the train. The train journey is highly recommended as it is one of the most scenic in the country. Nuwara Eliya is tea country and is called ‘Little England’ because the weather is chilly and the surroundings misty. You will be surrounded by green mountains carpeted with tea bushes. Stop for some water adventures at Lake Gregory and explore the Horton Plains National Park. There, sambars roam the wide plains and you can trek to World’s End lookout point. The weather in Nuwara Eliya can be drastically cold; hence, warm clothing is recommended.

Days Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve – Visit the South Coast

From Nuwara Eliya, head down to the South Coast. Bentota is the most popular resort town there. You can indulge in a variety of water sports, enjoy the comforts of your beach resort, and chill on the sandy beach. Coastal towns along the south coast worth exploring include Galle. It is noted for its colonial relics. Hikkaduwa is popular for surfing and snorkelling as well as its nightlife. Mirissa is popular for whale watching and surf beach as well as lovely shallow seas to wade in. Kalutara, which is closer to the commercial capital Colombo on the West Coast, has many attractions and a lovely beach.

Day Thirteen and Fourteen

Visit an explore Colombo. Easy to reach from the south coast, the commercial capital is ideal for shopping, dining, and exploring colonial artefacts. One of Asia’s vibrant cities, Colombo is an amalgamation of old and new.

Enjoy!