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Sri Lanka 10-Day Itinerary: Ultimate Backpacking in Sri Lanka

Benjamin Juster

This ultimate Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary will lead you to the best sights in this amazing country to ensure you have the backpacking in Sri Lanka trip of a lifetime.

From rainforests to tropical beaches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, breath-taking tea plantations, and bountiful wildlife (even in their trash dumps), Sri Lanka travel promises a world of beauty and adventure.

If you’re looking to plan a trip to Sri Lanka for yourself, this itinerary is for you.

Contents

Sri Lanka 10-Day Itinerary

If you’ve only got a limited amount of time in the country, here’s our itinerary for Sri Lanka for 10 days to plan your trip.

 

Here’s an overview of our 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary:

🇱🇰 Day 1: Colombo

🌴 Day 2: Dambulla

🦁 Day 3: Sigiriya

☸️ Day 4: Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa

🚣 Day 5: Kandy

🚂 Day 6: Train through Nuwara Eliya to Ella

🐘 Day 7: Ella or Tissamaharama for Yala National Park safari

🌊 Day 8: Mirissa

🎣 Day 9: Galle (optional)

✈️ Day 10: Colombo 

 

And all in 10 days. We’re living proof that it can be done, and on a backpacking dime, at that.

We’ve made our Sri Lanka backpacking itinerary adaptable, so choose or leave destinations to make your trip suited to you. We have optional excursions you can add to your Sri Lanka 10 day itinerary if you’d prefer a busier schedule, or forego them, if you’d rather relax.

While this guide is predominantly for backpacking in Sri Lanka, our itinerary is applicable to anyone of any travel style. This guide will be an invaluable resource for planning your 10 days in Sri Lanka!

NOTE FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS: This itinerary takes advantage of the plentiful city bus (costing about $1 for a long-distance ride) and train lines (prices vary by class, but the most you’ll probably pay is $12 for first class).

 

Before You Go

 


Day 1: Arrive in Colombo

Start your Sri Lanka travel in Colombo. After a long flight, you’ll need to rest, so hang out in Colombo for the rest of your first day.

Depending on time and weather, we love to walk around a city when we first arrive. It’s helpful to stretch your legs after long hours of travel, explore a bit. 

1 Day in Colombo

Even though it doesn’t have the beautiful natural sights the rest of the country is known for, Colombo still earns a spot on this Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary.

A vibrant and bustling city, the capital of Sri Lanka offers diverse sights from colonial architecture to buzzing local markets.

 

 

On your 1 day in Colombo, you could:

Don’t stretch yourself too thin, though — you’ll need lots of energy for the rest of your 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary.

 

Where to Stay in Colombo

Day 2: Colombo to Dambulla

From Colombo, take a bus (about 4 hours) to Dambulla, a mainstay of the Sri Lanka backpacker route. 

Home of the rock fortress of Sigiriya and the Dambulla Cave temple, you’ll be spending two days in and around Dambulla on our itinerary for Sri Lanka for 10 days.

After you check into your guesthouse, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple). 

 

Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple)

The largest and best-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka, the Cave Temple dates back over 2000 years.

Lined with over 100 ancient Buddha statues and paintings on the walls, Dambulla’s Cave Temple has paintings that tell the story of the Buddha’s life and his teachings.

 

 

After spending the day in and around Dambulla (maybe try some Kottu, visit a local produce market, or watch some wild elephants in the local trash dump!), it’s time to turn in — the next day on our Sri Lanka backpacking itinerary is a busy one.

 

Where to Stay in Dambulla

Budget:

Mid-range:

Splurge:

 

 

Day 3: Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa/Anuradhapura

Sigiriya is an ancient fortress built into a towering 660 foot (200m) monolith in the middle of the jungle near Dambulla.

It  shouldn’t be forgotten when you plan a trip to Sri Lanka! 

Make sure to check out our full Sri Lanka travel guide, Sigiriya: Climbing Sri Lanka’s Lion Rock for what to expect, what to bring, and essential things to know about the Sri Lanka travel icon.

The question isn’t whether to visit Sigiriya, it’s how to visit Sigiriya on your 10 days Sri Lanka itinerary. 

 

 

 

 

How Much Does Sigiriya Cost?

$30 USD entrance fee (almost 6k LKR)

This might be a little steep for those on a strict budget Sri Lanka backpacking itinerary.

If that’s the case for you, head over to nearby Pidurangala rock (only $2.50 entry) for a beautiful view of Sigiriya.

 

Is Sigiriya Worth It?

We do believe it’s worth the fee to visit Sigiriya. You can walk through the beautiful gardens in front of Sigiriya itself, as well as close-up views of the fortress ruins and its exquisite frescoes.

 

Next, choose to visit Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa

After you’re done at Sigiriya, gather all your luggage and head to the next destination on your 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary — either Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa.

These two ancient cities form part of the Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle and are not too far from Dambulla.

Day 4: Option of Anuradhapura OR Polonnaruwa 

Whichever destination you decide for your Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary, both Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are sites of immense archaeological and religious importance in Sri Lanka.

The sites at Anuradhapura hold more religious significance, with some being active Buddhist pilgrimage sites. 

On the other hand, the ruins of Polonnaruwa are the remains of one of Sri Lanka’s most important ancient cities, and offer a completely different ambiance than Anuradhapura.

We decided to go to Anuradhapura, ourselves, but Polonnaruwa looks amazing! Either choice is one of the top items on a Sri Lanka backpacker route.

After your visit you will then head to Kandy for the night by your choice of train, bus, or private driver.

Taking the Bus from Polonnaruwa to Kandy

There are buses from Polonnaruwa and Kandy about every hour during the day. It is about a 4-hour ride.

 

Visiting Anuradhapura

After arriving in Anuradhapura, you”ll want to get a guide, as the ruins are spread out.

To find a guide in Anuradhapura, just walk out the train station and hail a tuktuk driver. You’ll probably be overwhelmed with cab options, but keep your head on and be firm.

Haggle and establish the price before you step foot in any cab so you don’t get ripped off. We recommend making the driver write the price down so you can both clearly see it to avoid any scamming.

Another easier option is to arrange your Anuradhapura tour online ahead of time.

You will be offered two “tour” choices: the paid sites (which will require an additional entrance fee), or the free sites (so you’ll only be paying the driver for about 4-5 hours of driving services).

Because of our time and budget crunch, we opted for the free sites, but this is definitely a personal choice. Once you decide on which ruins you’ll be taken to and for what price, your driver will take you around. 

 

Taking the Bus from Anuradhapura to Kandy

When you’re finished, ask your guide where to catch a bus or train to Kandy. Your driver will take you to the train station or bus and help communicate to the bus driver.

The bus from Anuradhapura to Kandy is about 3 hours long and runs between 5 AM to 7:30 PM.

 

Where to Stay in Kandy

Budget:

Mid-range:

Splurge: 

 

 

 

Day 5: Kandy

Next on our Sri Lanka sample itinerary, we move on Kandy, the capital of Sri Lanka’s central hill country. 

Check out our Sri Lanka travel guide, Places to Visit in Kandy, Sri Lanka for our suggestions on the best things to do while visiting the stunning colonial city.

You’ll find tips for visiting the sacred Temple of the Tooth with its relic of the tooth of Buddha, and scoring cheap and delicious food like a plate of Sri Lankan curry and rice (with a free refill) for 60 Sri Lankan rupees/$0.41 USD for two people!

 

 

 

If you have extra time in Kandy, the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage isn’t too far, and would definitely be worth the trip if you can squeeze it in. It’s a great place to see elephants, even if they aren’t wild. 

The orphanage is home to dozens of elephants, forming the largest captive herd of elephants in the world. The best time to see the elephants is when they bathe in the river.

Have some time? Take a Kandy scooter tour.

Enjoy your second night in your Kandy accommodation! The next few days will be very busy!

Day 6: Train from Kandy to Ella

Next up on the docket for our Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary is the train ride from Kandy to Ella. Make sure you try to get a ticket in advance for this popular train ride, as they are likely to sell out the day of your trip.

 

Watch our incredible experience of this Ella train adventure:

How to Get Train Tickets from Kandy to Ella

 You can get tickets on 12goAsia.

If tickets on 12goAsia sell out, you can still try to get them in advance from the Kandy train station or with assistance from your hotel.

If you don’t get a reserved ticket, it’s highly likely you’ll be standing for most (or all) of the 6 hour journey.

If you’re unable to get your tickets in advance (like us), it is very important to go to the station early, as the train will likely sell out.

We grabbed a tuktuk and went to the station at about 7 am to wait for tickets to go on sale (we were the second group in line, behind another traveling couple). We were only able to get second class, which has no assigned seating.

However, the train ride from Kandy to Ella through the hill and tea country is stunningly beautiful, and we had many friendly Sri Lankans generously share their seats with us for a time. 

Recently, there is also a new tourist train known as the Ella Odyssey, which might be more convenient, and also stops at several tourist sights.

 

Alternative: Hiring a Private Driver from Kandy to Ella

If you’re unable to get on the train from Kandy to Ella, you can hire a private driver online.

It’s definitely not a budget option, but it certainly would be more comfortable than standing for potentially 6 hours! We’ve only ever taken the train from Kandy to Ella, so I can’t speak to if the view is just as stunning by car.

 

Enjoy the Train Views of the Tea Plantations of Nuwara Eliya

The scenic train ride through small Sri Lankan towns, forest sights and the remarkable tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya makes this ride, hands down, the most stunning train ride we’d ever been on. It’ll probably be one of the top things in your mind when you plan a trip to Sri Lanka!

 

 

Standing on this train, you’ll have to get over your sense of “personal space” as you cram your body and bags between other bodies and bags.

You’ll have a consistent stream of vendors squeezing past you with baskets and coolers stuffed with salty and sweet snacks for sale, their musical voices ringing through the packed train cars. People hang out the railroad car door and windows, snapping pictures and whipping their hair in the air. 

Personally, it was one of our favorite experiences on our Sri Lanka backpacker route, and will make a notable addition to your 10 Days Sri Lanka Itinerary.

 

Next: Choose Between Staying in Ella or Going to Tissamaharama

For the next day (Day 7), you will have the option to either hike in Ella, or go to Tissamaharama, the base for enjoying a safari at Yala National Park.

Yala National Park has the highest density of leopards in the world!

Option 1: Stay in Ella

If you choose to stay and enjoy a day of hiking in Ella on Day 7, you’re done for the day!

You can choose to check in to your guesthouse and relax before waking up bright and early for a full day of hiking (or other activities we’ll suggest later in this guide) tomorrow. 

 

Where to Stay in Ella

Budget:

Mid-Range:

Splurge:

 

Option 2: Going to Tissamaharama for Yala National Park Safari

If you choose to go to Tissamaharama to go to Yala National Park, then after you arrive in Ella, you will have to go immediately to Tissamarama by bus.

This is the option we ended up doing, as we were crunched for time and didn’t get to explore Ella.

 

How to Get from Ella to Tissamaharama 

While we always love to take local transport when possible, the next leg of our Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary can get a bit complicated if you try to take local buses.

Since Ella is in a remote and mountainous area, there aren’t many long-distance buses that come through to connect directly to distant destinations.

For this reason, we recommend hiring a driver in Ella who’s willing to drive you to Tissamaharama (with an option to stop in Diyaluma Falls, if you have time).

However, if you’re a bit more adventurous and looking to save money, you can do what we did and take the local buses from Ella to Tissamaharama.

 

Taking Local Buses from Ella to Tissamaharama

First, catch a bus to Wellawaya, which is between 1 and 2 hours by bus.

The bus ride from Ella to Wellawaya was the most exciting bus ride we’d ever been on, careening wildly down the hills, around hairpin turns past beautiful canyons and waterfalls.

Once you get to Wellawaya, you’ll have to wait for the bus to Matara to come. 

If you’re ever feeling unsure of where you should go, don’t hesitate to ask people where to get the bus.

In our experience, people were extremely friendly and helpful, and tried to guide us to the best of their ability. Even if they try to sell you a tuktuk ride, if you’re firm (not rude—there’s a difference) and refuse, most people will still help you. 

When you finally get on the bus to Matara, tell the ticket-taker that you’re going to Tissa, and they will tell you when to get off the bus.  Again, it is about a 1-2 hour ride to your stop. You’ll get off at Weerawila, and from there you should be able to get a tuktuk to wherever you’re staying.

 

Where to Stay in Tissamaharama

Budget:

Mid-range:

Splurge:

 

 

Arrange Your Safari in Yala National Park

If you want to arrange your safari in advance, you can book your Yala safari here (it’s even cheaper if you pre-book it here than what we paid!).

If you book online, the tour starts out of Ella, saving you the trouble of having to get from Ella to Tissamaharama yourself.

If you haven’t already arranged your safari in Yala National Park by the time you get to Tissamaharama, you’ll want to make sure to arrange it this night as soon as you can, to ensure you are able to have a safari spot for the next day. 

The owners of the guesthouse we stayed at were kind enough to wait up for us and arrange the safari tour the night before we went.

Make sure to bring a good travel camera so you can capture all the animals! At the time, we had our Canon Rebel, but we have since upgraded to the Canon 80D and are in love with it.

You can pre-book your Yala Safari with one of the tours below:


 

We opted for the full-day safari, which ran until about 3 PM. Our guides picked us up at 5 AM so we could get to the park just before sunrise. This is one of the biggest splurges on our Sri Lanka itinerary for 10 days, but still quite affordable. 

Our full-day safaris cost $40 each, plus entrance fees of $15 each, with meals and pick-up included.

Check out our full guide to Safari at Yala National Park for more info.

 

Day 7: Option of Hiking in Ella OR Safari in Yala National Park 

Option 1: Hiking in Ella

The beautiful, lush mountains around Ella offer some of the best hiking in Sri Lanka for your 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary.

If you’re feeling game, wake up at 4:30 to catch the sunrise at Little Adam’s Peak. It’s an easy hike (30-40 minutes each way), and the path is very easy to follow.

From Little Adam’s Peak it’s an easy 40 minute jaunt to a viewpoint of the famous Nine Arch Bridge. You can actually follow the train tracks back to Ella from here — just watch out for oncoming trains. 

If you’d rather simplify your Ella experience, you can book an Ella highlight tour, that will take you to Little Adam’s Peak, Nine Arch Bridge, and Ella Rock.

What to Do Next

After these two morning hikes, you can take some time to relax at a restaurant or your guesthouse until you depart for Diyaluma Falls.

Other fun activities in Ella you might enjoy include:

Alternatively, if you’re utterly pooped, you can forego anymore activities for the day and go straight to Mirissa. If you hire a driver, it will take about 3 hours, so be sure to time your activities appropriately!

 

Visit Diyaluma Falls, Then Head to Mirissa For the Night

If you head to Diyaluma Falls, make sure to bring all your baggage with you as you will be going straight to Mirissa afterward.

We recommend hiring a driver in Ella who’s willing to drive you to Diyaluma Falls and then onto Mirissa afterward. Be sure to negotiate a fair price ahead of time to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

En route to Diyaluma Falls you can stop at beautiful Rawana Falls, packing two waterfalls into one day on your 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary.

Not too far from Ella is Diyaluma Falls, at 720 feet (220 meters) the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. You can easily view the falls from the main road, but the real adventure is getting to the top of the falls.

You can hire a guide from the bottom of the falls to take you to the top, where there are three pools you can swim in. The pools are just before the final plunge of the waterfall —stunning views abound.

After you’ve spent enough time at the falls, head over to Mirissa and crash for the night.

Taking a Bus from Ella to Mirissa

If you’re on a budget and looking to take a bus from Ella to Mirissa, you’ll need to first take a bus from Ella to Matara. Then from Matara, take another bus to Mirissa. Make sure to budget your time appropriately, as taking buses will take much longer than a personal driver.

Alternative: Hiring a Private Driver from Ella to Mirissa

If you have the money, and want to save on time (and be more comfortable), another option is to arrange a private driver from Ella to Mirissa.

 

Option 2: Tissamaharama for Safari at Yala National Park

The city of Tissamaharama is the launching point for any safari in Yala National Park, famous for having the highest concentration of leopards in the world. 

 

To learn more about our experience, head on over to our Safari at Yala National Park travel guide!

We were picked up at 5 AM and our full-day safari ran until about 3 pm. If you have the time and money, we definitely recommend a full-day safari over a half-day.

If you booked your Yala safari online, we would recommend asking the tour organizer if it would be possible to get picked up in Ella, and dropped off either in Matara (to take a bus to Mirissa) or Mirissa, and if not, somewhere in Tissamaharama where you can catch a bus or private driver to Mirissa.

 

Booking.com

 

After Your Safari, Head to Mirissa for the Night

The next step after your safari is to arrange transportation to Mirissa.

You could take a bus going to Matara and then pick up a bus to Mirissa if you want, but it was New Year’s Eve for us, and we didn’t want to wait around for a bus. Instead, we hired a tuktuk to drive us, which took 3-4 hours because tuktuks are very slow, and at about $22, it cost significantly more than a bus. 

Still, we arrived in Mirissa on New Year’s Eve with time to find our next guesthouse, grab dinner and a beer, and then stumble upon a mind-blowing New Year’s Eve Sri Lanka party taking place on the beach. If you happen to be in Sri Lanka for New Year’s Eve, be sure to check out our guide to Mirissa on New Year’s Eve!

Day 8 Mirissa/Weligama

It’s been a busy time so far on our 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary. We think that a few days on the beach in Mirissa relaxing is in order for you.

While you can get around Mirissa by foot or tuktuk, you might want to consider renting a car in Mirissa or scooter.for the ultimate convenience.

Mirissa, with its palm-lined white sand beaches, is the perfect place to get your beach fix. Mirissa’s main beach has many beach bars, where each night there’s a party at a different spot.

 

Visiting Mirissa For New Year’s Eve

If your Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary puts you in Mirissa on New Year’s Eve like we were, you’ll find a mind-blowing New Year’s Eve Sri Lanka party taking place on the beach. 

The entire sprawl of beach was coated with people, bars, DJs, bonfires, floating lanterns, fireworks, sparklers, and streakers—a truly extravagant and (for us) entirely spontaneous end to the year and highlight of our Sri Lanka travel that we will always remember.

 

 

Secret Beach of Mirissa

We loved the not-so-secret-anymore yet secluded Secret Beach at Mirissa even more than the big beach. The Secret Beach is well worth the effort to get there, and if you’re lucky you can have the entire beach to yourself, like we did!

 

(Insider’s tip: the Secret Beach in Mirissa has a hidden away little bar/restaurant where you can splurge on some delicious food or get a fruity cocktail).

You can even snorkel with turtles in Mirissa, too! 

If you want to try your hand at surfing, you could head to nearby Weligama for surfing lessons. The waves are slow and even, making it a good place for beginner surfers.

 

Where to Stay in Mirissa

Budget:

Mid-range:

Splurge:

 

Day 9: Galle/Unawatuna

Galle, a coastal town about 1.5 hours from Mirissa, is a popular destination due to its Dutch colonial architecture.

The Galle Fort and Lighthouse make for fun places to explore and soak up the unique ambiance of the town.

 

 

You might want to see the Stilt Fisherman of Sri Lanka.

You’ll be able to see stilt fisherman along the western coast near Galle, but manage your expectations as it has become a bit of a tourist spectacle. Be prepared to pay fisherman a small tip if you choose to take pictures of them, or even of yourself on the stilts.

If by this point you feel like being guided around, consider a Galle day tour.

Nearby is Unawatuna, another pretty beach town with a famous swing at Dalawella. Catch a final tropical sunset and relax as you enjoy your last night on your 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary.

Galle is over 2 hours from Colombo, so depending on when your flight is leaving it might be wise to spend the night in or near Colombo.

 

Take a Bus or Train from Galle to Colombo

Galle has many trains and buses throughout the day to Colombo. It is about a 2.5 hour trip via bus or train.

 

Day 10: Colombo and back home

If you have some time before your flight, do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs. If you didn’t already visit Pettah district’s busy market on your first day, now’s a good time to see if there’s any other Sri Lankan items you’d like to bring home.

Depending on traffic, Colombo proper is a good 45 minutes to 2 hours away from the airport, so budget enough time to get there.

Take a Colombo walking tour, have a private Colombo photoshoot, snag some last minute fresh-squeezed maracuya (passion fruit) juices for 50 cents at a juice stall, and hold back the tears as you prepare to say goodbye to this lovely country!

We left for the airport via tuktuk 4 hours before our flight (we were a bit traumatized from our recent flight mishaps), to be certain that we would avoid any last-minute stress. That ride shouldn’t cost you more than $30-40.

 

 

So there you have it: our whirlwind Sri Lanka 10-Day Itinerary. Ideally, you would want to have more than 10 days for your own Sri Lanka backpacking itinerary, but we feel that we covered many of Sri Lanka’s regions. If you want to see as much of Sri Lanka as possible in 10 days, we hope that our itinerary is helpful to you!

More Info for Your 10 Days Sri Lanka Itinerary

As you begin to plan a trip to Sri Lanka, refer to more of our travel guides and resources to ensure you plan the best 10 Days Sri Lanka Itinerary.

Elephant Trash Dump in Dambulla, Sri Lanka

Discover wild elephants during your visit…to the Dambulla trash dump?!

 

Places to Visit in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Learn more about the essential and unique things to do in Kandy.

 

Sigiriya: Climbing Sri Lanka’s Lion Rock

Everything you need to know to visit Sigiriya in Sri Lanka.

 

Safari at Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Our ultimate guide to planning a safari at Yala National Park.

 

Mirissa, Sri Lanka: the Secret Beach (A Hidden Gem!)

How to find the Secret Beach in Mirissa, as well as other need-to-know info.

 

Mind-Blowing New Year’s Eve Sri Lanka Party in Mirissa Beach

Our detailed guide to New Year’s Eve in Sri Lanka, Mirissa.

 

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