Things to do in Sri Lanka are endless with its historical cities, wildlife parks, scenic hill country, quant village and plam fringed coastal belt. Sri Lanka is one of the few nations in the world where human occupation has persisted continuously. It is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. The magnificent stupas of Anuradhapura in the north-central region and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed living city of Galle Fort, both from the 15th century, attest to Sri Lanka’s rich history and culture. Sri Lanka is replete with historical and cultural landmarks that facilitate visitors’ immersion in one of the most ancient civilizations on the planet and impart knowledge of the narratives that have influenced the area.
Table of Contents
- What are the top 18 activities to do and enjoy in Sri Lanka?
- Here are the best Sri Lanka things to do with kids
- 1. Observe Little Adam’s Peak at dawn.
- 2. Ganduwa Island has the greatest cinnamon in the world.
- 3. Sri Lanka things to do: Observe birds at Bundala National Park.
- 4. Ascend Pidurangala to witness the forest dawn.
- 5. Visit the secluded Kalpitiya Peninsula and go kitesurfing.
- 6. A camp in the highlands of Haputale
- 7. Travel by rail from Colombo.
- 8. Snacks on crabs from Sri Lanka
- 9. Visit Wilpattu National Park and search for the rare Sri Lankan leopard.
- 10. See the world’s largest gathering of wild Asian elephants.
- 11. Visit Unawatuna and have some authentic Sri Lankan rice and curries.
- 12. Discover the lifestyle of the native inhabitants of Sri Lanka.
- 13. Try the street dish, kottu roti.
- 14. Sri Lanka things to do: Exploring Galle Fort.
- 15. Surf with the first female-run surf club in Sri Lanka!
- 16. Cycle through the Polonnaruwa ancient kingdom.
- 17. Sri Lanka things to do: spend time in a treehouse.
- 18. Munch on hoppers.
- Get the ebst rate for Sri Lanak things to do.
- We help you to find Sri Lanka things to do.
What are the top 18 activities to do and enjoy in Sri Lanka?
Despite the fact that Sri Lanka is a very tiny island nation, it offers visitors a wide variety of activities to choose from, including golden sandy beaches,mongroves, mountains covered in natural vegetation, rich wildlife in their natural habitats, and cuisines that are bursting with spices.most tourists like Sri-Lankan tradition
Listed here are 18 of the most enjoyable activities that can be enjoyed in Sri Lanka. These activities range from world-class surfing and elegant coastal cafés in the south of the nation to fantastic train journeys and great dining across the capital city of Colombo.
Here are the best Sri Lanka things to do with kids
Here is a list of the most popular things to do in Sri Lanka, However, you may not be able to do all of them during your trip due to time constraints. Whwen we plan a Sri Lanak trip to our customers we consider adding as many places as possible to the program.
- Wildlife safari
- Visiting Anuradhapura ancient city
- Visiting Sigiriya rock fortress
- Climbing Sigiriya rock
- Visiting the temple of the tooth relic
- Exploring the Royal botanical garden
- Tea factory visit
- Exploring Galle Fort
- Colombo city tour
- Sampling delicious fresh fruit
- Taking a hill country train trip
- Visiting Ella
- Visiting the golden temple of Dambulla
- Visiting Pidurangala Ancient temple
- Visiting Mirissa Beach
- Visiting red mosque
- Safari at Yala National Park
- Climbing Adam’s peak
- Exploring Mihintale
- Take in little Adam’s peak at sunrise
- Visit Bundala National Park
- Visit Ganduwa cinnamon Island
- Visit Bundala National Park
- Ascend Pidurangala
- Visit the isolated Kalpitiya Peninsula
- Make camp in the highlands of Haputale
- Travel from Colombo via train
- Savor Sri Lankan rice and curry
- Visit Wilpattu National Park
- Take in the world’s largest gathering of wild Asian elephants
- Visit Unawatuna
- Get to know the indigenous people of Sri Lanka
- Sample some street cuisine, kottu roti
- Stroll through the peculiar alleyways of Galle Fort
- Ride the waves at the first female-run surf club in Sri Lanka
- Ride around the Polonnaruwa old kingdom
- Spend time in a treehouse to get in touch with nature
- Enjoy a hopper snack
1. Observe Little Adam’s Peak at dawn.
Adam’s Peak is famous among Buddhist pilgrims all over the world. Adam’s peak hike is not only a popular religious activity but also one of the popular things to do in Sri Lanka among foregn travellers. The lord buddha’s foot print on the rock.The visitors go to the top to get the blessing every year.The visitors do not fail to catch a glimpse of the Sun rising over the pinnacle of Adam’s Peak
Little Adam’s Peak is a well-liked, short trip for visitors to Ella, the popular tourist destination. It should not be mistaken for Adam’s Peak, the holy mountain next to Hatton that requires a strenuous 5000-step climb. In order to see the sunrise from the peak, begin your hour-long climb early in the morning when it is still dark outside. If they still have more to go, they can walk Ella Rock and take a trail that leads to Nine Arch Bridge.
The city of Ella has a relaxed environment. Travelers should immerse themselves in the cafe atmosphere at Cafe Chill, even if many choose to remain outside of town. Fans of adventure can go zip-lining. Although Ella is deserving of all the attention, Ohiya, Idalgashinna, Haputale, and Wellawaya are additional charming mountain towns that are well worth a visit.
2. Ganduwa Island has the greatest cinnamon in the world.
Some of the greatest cinnamon in the world is grown in southern Sri Lanka; it’s a sweeter, lighter kind than what’s grown in Vietnam and Indonesia. Travelers may take a boat to Ganduwa Island on Koggala Lake, which is located just south of Galle, and learn about the highly valued Ceylon cinnamon.
Here, peelers who have been in the family for generations carefully shave tiny layers of the inner bark of the tree to produce cinnamon quills. For around US$2, you may purchase them together with little sachets of cinnamon oil and powder. After that, the boat transports the tourists to a few more islands. As you head off, pick up a glass of fresh mangrove apple (kirala) juice from a local vendor on the dock.
3. Sri Lanka things to do: Observe birds at Bundala National Park.
In the southern part of the nation, Bundala National Park is a Ramsar-recognized wetland that is home to about 200 species of migratory and native birds. The park comes alive with brahminy kites, hundreds of storks, families of whistling wild ducks, Asian green bee-eaters, dancing peacocks, and resting crocodiles during the three- to four-hour bird-watching trips, which begin at 6 a.m. In the afternoon, among the Weera, Neem, and Palu trees, walk wild Asian elephants, spotted deer, and wild boar.
Planning advice: Make reservations for a 4WD safari with a tour operator to increase your chances of seeing animals. In Bundala Junction, look for offices just outside the park.
4. Ascend Pidurangala to witness the forest dawn.
A vacation to Sri Lanka would not be complete without seeing the Sigiriya, a gigantic rock stronghold near the enormous rock Pidurangala that has frescoes, water gardens, and the remains of an ancient palace. For those who like to see the sunset before the ticket office shuts at 6pm, pack your hiking shoes and trek up Pidurangala before 5am to witness the dawn.
Planning advice: This 45-minute hike has an admission charge of $30 USD. From the peak, you can see the magnificent Sigiriya rock, formed like a lion and encircled by man-made lakes and lush woods. You’ll be passing through a Buddhist temple on your way to the summit, so bring a scarf or sarong to protect yourself.
5. Visit the secluded Kalpitiya Peninsula and go kitesurfing.
The northwestern coast of Sri Lanka provides some of the world’s greatest kitesurfing conditions because to its abundance of flatwater lagoons and constant wind. The less-visited Kalpitiya Peninsula, which remains relatively unknown to many foreign visitors, is located 3.5 hours’ drive north of Colombo. Numerous wild donkeys may be seen wandering across vast grasslands in the area, which also has a few fishing villages and sandy beaches.
Visit Kite Center Sri Lanka at Kappalady on the Indian Ocean to take kitesurfing instruction from local experts. For more experienced kiteboarders, the kite school may organize kitesurfing safaris (tours) to neighboring locations, including Donkey Point, Dutch Bay, and Vella Island. Kayaking around the lagoons and taking an ethical dolphin-watching excursion, where hundreds of spinner dolphins swim in enormous groups, are two other things to do in Kappalady. Reputable operators will only rent out tiny boats, stay out of the pods, and refrain from giving the animals any food. In Kappalady, there are also a few places to stay along the beach.
6. A camp in the highlands of Haputale
The foggy highlands of Haputale, filled with tea plantations and freezing streams, are an hour’s drive from Ella by bus. Choose to stay in a family-run campground in the area, like the Dias family’s Eco Lodge Haputale. They will bring you through a tea garden to their campsite, which consists of many tents with a dining area that overlooks the Haputale mountains and a tiny kitchen, after you’ve had a few cups of sweet milk tea at their house. The best part of a visit here is witnessing the dawn while waking up to the sound of chirping.
7. Travel by rail from Colombo.
Experiencing Sri Lanka through rail travel is an absolute necessity. Take the train from Colombo to Ella, which also crosses the Instagram-famous Nine Arch Bridge, for vistas of the mountains mixed with tea gardens, railway stations dating back to the British colonial era, and flowing water bodies. There are a number of trains that travel the route, but because it is popular with tourists, be sure to reserve your tickets in advance.
Don’t, however, stop there. For vistas of the Indian Ocean and swaying palms, take a coastal train from Colombo that heads south towards Galle. After that, take a train north to Jaffna. As you pass Anuradhapura, the scenery changes to palmyra palms, bushes, and arid soil in place of the verdant rice fields and coconut trees.
Planning tip: There are many of vendors on the trains, in addition to local families, tourists, and everyday commuters, offering tea cups, instant coffee, fresh fruits dusted with chili, roasted peanuts, yogurt, and even cellphone top-up cards.
8. Snacks on crabs from Sri Lanka
In Singapore’s upscale dining establishments, Sri Lankan crabs are in high demand and are hardly found on menus domestically. However, this is about to change. Visit the Ministry of Crab, located inside the Dutch Hospital Complex, for a classy sample in Colombo. Nothing compares to the Mayura Hotel in Pettah Market for something more locally sourced.
Planning tip: If you’re in the north of the nation, you have to eat the spicy, pungent Jaffna crab curry at Cosy Restaurant, which is located close to the Jaffna Railway Station.
9. Visit Wilpattu National Park and search for the rare Sri Lankan leopard.
Seeking the endangered Sri Lankan leopard is the primary reason most tourists visit Yala National Park. Nevertheless, congestion is frequent, and safari 4WDs have a history of frightening off wildlife.
Make reservations with a reputable operator and go to the northwest of the island’s Wilpattu National Park for a better and more ethical safari experience. Although their guides don’t pursue potential sightings, they do switch off their cars’ engines when they get close to any animals. Moreover, they will whisper close to any sighting to avoid upsetting the animals. The park is home to Asian elephants, sloth bears, and bark deer in their native habitats, in addition to leopards.
As an alternative, birdwatchers could visit Kumana National Park, which is located in Yala’s eastern region. With any luck, you could even spot a leopard curled up on a jagged rock. Numerous wild Asian elephants may be found in the national parks of Kaudulla and Minneriya.
10. See the world’s largest gathering of wild Asian elephants.
An estimated 4,000 wild Asian elephants may be found in Sri Lanka; these animals are best viewed in the national parks that make up the nation. Herds of wild Asian elephants congregate in Kaudulla and Minneriya National Parks’ enormous reservoirs during the dry months of July through September to feed on grass, take baths, and play with one another. Elephants hide in the surrounding woods on hot days, but they slowly come out about 4 p.m. This is your opportunity to witness the world’s greatest gathering of wild elephants—thousands of them lounging around the lakes.
A helpful travel suggestion is to avoid areas that house elephants in captivity, with the exception of Udawalawe’s Elephant Transit Home. ThisThe Born Free Foundation provides funding for the management of this halfway house, which takes in injured or abandoned elephant calves and releases them back into the wild once they have recovered.
11. Visit Unawatuna and have some authentic Sri Lankan rice and curries.
While there are many wonderful venues to sample the national cuisine, Mettha’s Home-Cooked Meals, located in the south of Sri Lanka amid the cafés and gift shops of Unawatuna, is among the best. Sri Lankans love curry and rice for at least one meal a day, sometimes for all three. The creamy Sri Lankan dal in coconut milk, freshly made on-site by Aunty Mettha (with a little help from her family), is a must.
Planning tip: Visit the family-run Sea Waves Restaurant in Unawatuna if you’d like to learn how to make curry dishes. Make sure to eat the entire butterfish, which is cooked in a special sauce that is secretly rich in umami.
12. Discover the lifestyle of the native inhabitants of Sri Lanka.
The native inhabitants of Sri Lanka are known as the Vedda. Their numbers have decreased over time as a result of migration, habitat degradation, and absorption into the country’s predominant Sinhala-Buddhist culture. Originally, they lived in forests. Some Vedda families are now dispersed over the island in small groups, but they are still able to maintain their traditional customs, language, and food at places like Dambana, an indigenous hamlet and museum in the southern region of Maduru Oya National Park.
Planning advice: Go east to Gal Oya to visit the Vedda’s old caverns and hunting grounds with guided tours for a more immersive experience. To arrange moral meetings, Wild Glamping Gal Oya collaborates closely with the Vedda community.
13. Try the street dish, kottu roti.
Kottu roti embodies Sri Lanka unlike any other dish. This well-known street dish consists of leftover roti (flatbread), eggs, fresh veggies, and your choice of meat or fish. It’s high in carbohydrates. When combined, placed on a metal griddle, and cut into small pieces with two metal blades, the unique sound of metal on metal can frequently be heard from a distance of several hundred feet. You can get kottu roti all around the island, but in Colombo, try it at Hotel de Pilawoos or Hotel de Plaza (note: Sri Lankan eateries go by the term “hotels” a lot).
Planning advice: Be wary of falling for any Pilawoos or Hotel de Plaza scams because there are other shady businesses using the same name. The authentic establishments may be found on Galle Road in Colombo 3. Get yours with an iced glass of Milo, a well-known chocolate malt beverage that pairs well with a hot kottu.
14. Sri Lanka things to do: Exploring Galle Fort.
A unique blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and British architectural styles, Galle Fort is encircled by spas, five-star hotels, ice cream shops, souvenir stores, and gem boutiques. Arrive as the Fort Lanes gradually open in the morning. First stop: National Tea Rooms, the oldest café still standing in Galle Fort and owned by a welcoming Sri Lankan family since 1932, serves you a delicious Sri Lankan breakfast.
Stick No Bills, you may purchase retro maps, tuk-tuks, and postcards featuring quirky Sri Lankan designs. Don’t miss Church Street Social’s spicy black pork curry for lunch. Especially around sunset, the view from the ramparts is not to be missed.
15. Surf with the first female-run surf club in Sri Lanka!
On the east coast, surfers of all skill levels go to Arugam Bay. This curly, ocher sand beach comes alive at night with parties, alcohol, and live music from April to August. Arugam Bay Girls Surf Club, the first all-women club in Sri Lanka, offers swimming, surfing, and yoga courses to the local community. It also has a laid-back surf culture.
Planning tip: For a post-surf pick-me-up, try the delectable Sri Lankan roti that are packed with chocolate, banana, chicken, cheese, and veggies from the beach shacks that line the beachfront.
16. Cycle through the Polonnaruwa ancient kingdom.
From 1070 to 1232, Polonnaruwa served as Sri Lanka’s second capital when Anuradhapura fell, and its remains are currently recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Vatadage, a circular relic house featuring a big Buddha statue, is not to be missed. After that, take a bike tour of the historic city and stop by the historic Royal Palace.
Additional striking artifacts from archaeology include the standing Buddha in Lankatilaka Vihara and the granite-carved Buddha sculptures in Gal Vihara. Because the old kingdom was subject to many South Indian invasions during that time, you may detect the impact of South India in some of the remnants.
Planning advice: Get here early in the morning to avoid the intense heat and to have the entire amazing archeological site to yourself. On weekends, during school breaks, and during full moons, crowds of people visit the Polonnaruwa ruins.
17. Sri Lanka things to do: spend time in a treehouse.
Sleeping in a treehouse is an experience that nature lovers will cherish. Situated atop a wooden platform, these dwellings are encircled by the neighboring jungle. If you don’t mind spending time with monkeys and lizards, reserve a treehouse at Back of Beyond in Sigiriya.
Tangalle, in Sri Lanka’s extreme south, features a mixture of rocky, sandy beaches, lagoons, and shrublands. Jaywa Lanka has a treehouse here, close to the mangroves; the only sounds around you are the twittering of birds and the soft murmur of breaking waves. Occasionally, wild peacocks may stop by to try to win over their peahens.
18. Munch on hoppers.
If there’s one dish you should taste before you depart Sri Lanka, it’s hoppers (appam in Tamil; aappa in Sinhala), which are rice flour pancakes shaped like bowls. Plain hoppers are served with curries or a spicy sambal (chile sauce) called lunu miris, which is prepared with onions and dried red chili. The hoppers have crispy edges and fluffy interiors.
When you enter a street joint in the evening, simple hoppers with an egg on top are frequently served. For some exquisite Sri Lankan cuisine, visit Palmyrah Restaurant at the Renuka Hotel in Colombo. The evening menu includes savory and sweet hoppers with milk or jaggery. Alternatively, try some hoppers from Aunty Radhika in the Wellawatta area if you don’t mind standing in line. Go beside the riverside on WA Silva Mawatha and you’ll come upon this little yet well-liked hopper stand.If you have any concerns or would like further information about our policies, programs, philosophy, or tour schedule, don’t hesitate to contact us. A person will get back to you as soon as they can regarding your inquiry.
Get the ebst rate for Sri Lanak things to do.
We can guarantee that you get the best deal possible since, when you book a trip with us, you deal directly with the local firm and avoid any middlemen. Just get in contact with us and let us know about your desired tourist spots and trip schedule.
We help you to find Sri Lanka things to do.
Our staff will create a customized itinerary for you, which you are free to modify until you find the most suitable package. Additionally, for ideas, you may peruse our existing tour packages; each of our pre-made tour packages is adaptable and can be modified to precisely your specifications. Contact us via telephone or email at admin@seerendipitytours.com. [Word Press] 0094-77-4440977; 0094-77-440977