Are you planning to visit Sri Lanka? On this blog we share our entire experience so that, together with the guide, you won't waste a single moment of your stay in this incredible country. You'll find the guide below.
The guide you need to explore Sri Lanka: recommendations, interactive map and everything you need to know about our experience so you waste as little time as possible in this wonderful country.
We landed in Colombo at 5 a.m., tired and excited at the same time after a long trip. Twelve hours of flying, the humid heat of Sri Lanka hitting us in the face the moment we left the airport, and a 4-hour transfer ahead of us to Sigiriya. We were off to a good start. This was our first key decision: making the effort to head straight to our first destination. In the end we didn't regret it at all, you'll understand why later.
On arrival we tried using Pick Me, the app everyone recommends downloading when you arrive in Sri Lanka. We did, and ordered a taxi that seemed cheap and good, but it wasn't. We lost about an hour waiting with no response, so we opted to talk and negotiate with local taxi drivers and take the one that inspired the most confidence. The adventure had begun: the sunrise as we drove along, and landscapes we had only seen in photos were becoming real.
Eleven days later, Sri Lanka had stolen our hearts. Or we had stolen hers.
Sigiriya: the rock that isn't what you expected
Everyone talks about Lion's Rock. We climbed Pidurangala. Twice.
The first time, at sunset on the day we arrived, exhausted and sleep-deprived, but unable to stay in the hotel when we had that in front of us. Our hotel, Kings Village, was amazing, the staff were very kind, and we definitely recommend it. The only thing to keep in mind is that it's not on the main road. The second time, at sunrise the next day, because the first visit had already amazed us, so we imagined a sunrise with those views had to be magical, and it was.
Pidurangala doesn't have the fame of its neighbor. It costs about €3.50 per person (compared to nearly €35 for Lion's Rock) and there are usually far fewer people. From the top you get the perfect view of The Lion's Rock silhouetted against the jungle. It's the kind of view that makes you put your phone away and stay quiet for a moment.
That said: bring water, don't litter, and don't walk around the area alone at night. Elephants come down to look for water when the sun goes down, and it's no joke. We were lucky because we walked back to our hotel with barely any light and nothing happened to us, but elephant attacks are not uncommon.
Leaving Sigiriya, we stopped in Dambulla to see the Golden Temple, five caves carved into the rock with centuries of Buddhist history inside, and the modern Golden Buddha watching over it from below. Two sides of the same country.
The train everyone wants to take
The train ride from Kandy to Ella is probably the most photographed in Asia. We took it from Ambewella (note: since December 2025, part of the route has been cut off by storm damage, so the train no longer departs from Kandy). We spent one night in Kandy to rest from the whole trip and avoid such long journeys. It was worth it, the hotel was very good and its staff, as always, were ten out of ten. Continuing on the subject: the views are beautiful, yes. As spectacular as in the photos? That depends on what you expect.
What is truly real is the experience of being on that train, with the doors open, the fresh mountain air, and the tea plantations drifting by like a slow painting. If you're heading to Ella, get a seat on the left side. And book at least a month in advance on the official website, which opens reservations exactly 30 days before, and if you're already running late you can book it here at a higher cost.
Kandy to Ella Train, Sri Lanka
When we arrived in Ella, our hotel owner was waiting for us in his tuk-tuk. That image, a man smiling and holding a sign with our names in a town in the middle of the Sri Lankan mountains, was already worth the trip. His name is Chamika, and we definitely left with an unforgettable memory of him, not only because of how well he looked after us but because of the energy he gave off, which is common with many people there: their vibes are the best. You'll understand once you travel here yourself.
Ella: bridges, tea and the waterfall that wasn't worth it
The Nine Arch Bridge is as photogenic as it looks. But you have to hustle to get a decent photo because the "official" spots are packed with cafés and tourists with tripods. We found our own corner, and we even had to clean the spot a little for the photo. No filters, literally. The best way to get there is to take a tuk-tuk and see it on your own, or you can also book tours that take you there along with other activities.
If you want to watch the train cross the bridge, bring plenty of patience. It can take more than an hour. It's worth it, but don't expect it to be on time.
What we recommend without hesitation: the tea plantation tour. Seeing how tea is picked, how it's processed, tasting different varieties... it's one of those activities that at the time seems a bit touristy but turns out to be one you remember most. It even comes with a surprise gift. You can choose the tour we did here.
One afternoon in Ella we decided to stop at a waterfall on the way to our hotel. It really wasn't worth it, because it was almost dry. At other times of year it might look beautiful, but this time we lost about 30 minutes, though luckily it wasn't a big deal. Our hotel had an unbeatable view. It was also far from everything, which has its pros and cons when it comes to transport, but we highly recommend it because the food was very good and affordable, it's ideal for relaxing, and Chamika has his own transport to help with everything you'll want to visit.
Yala: almost guaranteed elephants, hidden leopard.
The safari in Yala was one of the plans we were most excited about. And in part, it delivered. Elephants are almost certain to appear; we saw them up close, calm, in their natural habitat. The leopard, however, eluded us. There are many jeeps chasing the same animal, and if another group arrives before you, your chances drop a lot.
We booked the full-day private tour, with a break and lunch included. Everything was very well organized. We left at 5:00 a.m., since the whole town gets up early that day. You see the jeeps lining up toward the park entrance in the dark, trying to get their clients in before the others. Honestly, every hour of lost sleep was worth it.
Our hotel in Yala, Gaga Bees, was a pleasant surprise. Pool, nature all around, away from the noise. The food was a bit more expensive than during the rest of the trip, but in a place like this you accept it. If you want to go into town, Pick Me worked for us here. The local driver told us the app works well in beach areas or places that aren't the hill country, because it's worth it for them. In other places around Sigiriya, given the road conditions, drivers often don't accept rides.
The south coast: where everything slows down
We got to Midigama by bus. A packed bus, with luggage at our feet, speeding along coastal roads. It cost €3.50 for the two of us. It was one of the most authentic experiences of the trip, and it's a significant saving on transport.
Midigama Beach is calm, beautiful and still free of the crowds found in other coastal towns. We stayed at Surfescape and we recommend it: great room, beach steps away, and they also offer motorbike rental, surf lessons, laundry and more.
And here something happened that wasn't in any plan (Karyna's). We got engaged :)
We won't go into more detail because some things stay between us and the sunset. But if you're wondering why we chose that place... go to Midigama and you'll understand.
That night we had dinner to celebrate. And the smile didn't leave our faces the whole trip.
The following days we split between Weligama, where Karyna stood up on a surfboard for the first time and didn't fall too badly, and Mirissa, where we discovered Coconut Hill at sunset. There's a line for the photo, yes. But there's a bar with cocktails and sea views where you can wait without it feeling long. And if you bring a drone, you can fly it there with no problem.
Galle: the ending we didn't expect
We reached Galle almost by chance, as a stop on the way to Colombo. And it taught us a lesson: sometimes the places you're not looking for are the ones that surprise you most.
Galle's walled Old Town is beautiful. Colonial streets, stylish restaurants, and a sunset over the ramparts that left us speechless. We had dinner inside the Old Town and closed the trip the way it deserved.
The train back to Colombo cost €6.50. Comfortable, on time, with sea views. A perfect ending to eleven days we won't forget.
We spent a few hours in Colombo, and here we realized it wasn't worth spending much time there, because the places we write about on this blog were far more worthwhile. So if you're short on time, we recommend skipping Colombo.
💡 Tips
💰 Budget Use Revolut. Seriously. Currency exchange at the airport isn't worth it, but it's necessary at first. With Revolut you can withdraw cash at any ATM and, even if you pay a fee, you still come out ahead. Always carry some cash for tuk-tuks and small markets.
🚌 Getting Around Local buses are incredibly cheap and authentic. Tuk-tuks are perfect for short distances. Pick Me (the taxi app) doesn't work everywhere; in Sigiriya, for example, it failed us. Always ask your hotel or host for help with long transfers: they have contacts and can get better prices.
🚂 The Kandy-Ella Train Book on the official website one month in advance. Since December 2025, the full route isn't operating; the departure point is now Ambewella. Get a seat on the left side if you're heading to Ella. And always keep an eye on available seats. The Kandy departure will be active again at some point.
🐘 Yala Safari Book in advance. The leopard isn't guaranteed. Elephants are almost always there. Go with an open mind and enjoy the park itself.
📡 Connectivity Buy an e-SIM before you leave. Power cuts are frequent in Sri Lanka and also affect hotel and restaurant wifi; with your own data you'll avoid plenty of problems. Here's our code for 5% off Holafly (KARYNANDPEDRO).
📅 When to Go We went in March 2026 and it was perfect for the south coast and the interior. Tourism was noticeably low because of the situation in the Middle East, which in practice meant fewer crowds and more calm almost everywhere, but also paying a bit more for fuel.
Sri Lanka is one of those countries that's hard to sum up when someone asks how it was. Because it was many things at once: jungle and beach, temples and safaris, crazy tuk-tuks and sunsets that stay with you. And people. Always friendly people.
Would we do it again? Without a doubt. Do we recommend it? Absolutely.
If you have any questions about the trip, leave them for us in the comments. And if you've already been, tell us what you missed that we somehow overlooked.
