The Perfect 10 Days In Sri Lanka Itinerary

Planning 10 days in Sri Lanka can be difficult. So here’s our guide to the best places to visit on a 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary.

10 Days In Sri Lanka Itinerary Map

Colombo

Things to do:
Galle Face Green
Gangaramaya Temple
Viharamahadevi Park
Seema Malaka
Beira Lake

The Capital, and the only international airport in and out of Sri Lanka. Making it a natural first stop on your 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary.

Most people say avoid it, we absolutely loved it.

As for Colombo itself, the city is by far the cleanest we’ve seen on our trip! For a place that homes the largest percentage of Sri Lanka (over 12%) it was surprisingly spacious.

It had an easy to use bus system, and the tuk tuks were all on meters. So there’s less chance of being scammed/getting ripped off.

The people seemed genuinely interested and friendly, going out of their way to make sure you got on the right bus without expecting anything in return.

There are also some great tours available to get you used to the Sri Lankan culture, such as:

Small-Group Tuk Tuk Tour with a Local Guide

The True Essence of Colombo:Private Highlights & Hidden Gems

Eat, Eat, Repeat Small Group Tour with a Local

So our advice, if you’re on a short holiday and in a rush to get around then of course head down south and get to the palm tree covered beaches as soon as possible.

On the other hand, if you have time during your 10 days in Sri Lanka, then don’t rush out as quickly as everyone says.

Sigiriya

Things to do:
Pidurangala Rock Hike
Sigiriya Rock
Minneriya National Park
Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple

The next stop on your 10 days in Sri Lanka is a few hours inland by bus, and the most natural step to take from Colombo.

One of the most beautiful attractions in the country is Sigiriya Rock, and its surrounding areas are a MUST if you’re looking for scenic photos.

However, we decided to visit it’s little brother Pidarangala Rock, for an epic hike with rewarding views!

For those on a short schedule, there is also a highly rated Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip from Colombo tour.

This tour allows you to visit the historic rock fortress of Sigiriya, and explore the large cave temple complex of Dambulla on a full-day trip from Colombo with a private driver.

If you do have time, we certainly recommend spending a day or two in Dambulla to explore to your hearts content.

Kandy

Things to do:
Kandy To Ella Train
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Royal Botanical Gardens
Kandy Lake

From Sigiriya, you can easily headed over towards Kandy.

If you hadn’t heard of Kandy before your 10 days in Sri Lanka, you certainly will have within your first few days of travel.

Labelled as one of the most scenic train journeys on the planet, a Kandy to Ella train ride whilst hanging out of the open doors can not be missed if you’re a fan of landscapes.

There are 3 trains that depart from Kandy towards Ella everyday.

Departure Times from Kandy Railway Station: 3.30am, 8.47am or 11.10am.

The journey takes roughly 7 hours and it’s one of the most popular things to do in the country!

For those that have a little time to spare on your 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary, it’s certainly worth spending a couple of days in Kandy to unwind and enjoy the calmness of the town.

Kandy Lake, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic are all worthy of a visit.

You may even take a Kandy: Temples, Gardens & Cultural Show City Highlights Tour, with a local english speaking guide.

An easy way to see the highlights, whilst being transported around in an air-conditioned vehicle.

As for the transport out of Kandy though, the train to Ella is an absolute must on your 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary!

Ella

Things to do:
Ella Rock
Nine Arch Bridge
Little Adam’s Peak
Ravana Falls
Visit A Tea Plantation

After disembarking from your train journey, we recommend staying for a couple of nights in the mountain town that is Ella.

With incredible viewpoints, treks and just a refreshing vibe around it, Ella is well worth a couple of days on your 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary.

Prepare your hiking boots, as Ella Rock, The Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam’s Peak will tire your legs but fill your memory bank forever.

If you prefer to explore as part of a group there’s the popular 2-Day Tour of 3 Iconic Ella Sites available, which includes Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak, and the Nine Arch Bridge.

For those on a quicker schedule there are a couple of options available with reputable company Ella Day Tours:

Little Adam’s Peak and Nine Arch Bridge (Half Day Tour )

Ella Rock & 9 Arch Bridge, Little Adams Peak with Transfer (Full Day Tour)

All of the sights in Ella are doable alone though, and we spent 2 days discovering all the best things to do in Ella.

Udawalawe National Park

Things to do:
Udawalawe Safari

One of THE most epic experiences of our travels, and an absolute must on your 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary, is to head out on safari!

There are a few options available in terms of Sri Lanka safaris. The most popular being: Yala National Park, Minneriya National Park or Udawalawe National Park. And after a lot research, we opted for the latter.

Udawalawe is a small town located in the southern part of the Ratnapura District in Sri Lanka.

It’s not only extremely habitant of elephants, but apparently not as crowded as Yala National Park, a popular destination for those on the hunt to find Sri Lankan leopards.

The most popular destination that tourists choose to visit Udawalawe from is Ella.

We booked onto the Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari Half Day (3 hours).

Cost: £15 per person.

Start time: 6:30am.

However, if you just wish to visit on a day trip safari from other areas of Sri Lanka, there are plenty of options on Get Your Guide such as:

Ella To Udawalawe National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

Colombo To Udawalawa National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

Bentota To Udawalawa National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

Negombo To Udawalawa National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

All of these 1 day tours will all include hotel pickup and drop-off, national park fees, and a private Udawalawe jeep safari.

Mirissa

Things to do:
Mirissa Beach
Whale Watching
Parrot Rock
Coconut Tree Hill
Dewmini Roti Shop
Secret Beach

For the final stop on your 10 days in Sri Lanka, it’s time for some well deserved beach time!

Just a short journey down from Udawalawe, we’ve saved three solid days of your 10 day Sri Lanka itinerary for this gem in the South of the island.

Mirissa is located in the centre of the South coast, popular for its palm tree covered beaches, and we recommend using it as a hub and exploring the South coast from on scooters.

If you wander up and down Mirissa Beach, you’ll be able to find Parrot Rock. A giant rock formation with views over Mirissa from the summit.

There’s also Coconut Tree Hill, a large dome covered in palm trees and a great spot for sunset.

One other thing that Mirissa prides itself on is its marine life!

With blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins known to hover around the coastline from November until the end of April, whale watching is certainly one of the top things to do in Mirissa.

There are so many companies to choose from, however Island Breeze Mirissa is one of the highest rated in the area.

Hopefully Mirissa is the perfect place to end your 10 days in Sri Lanka. From here you can either ride the train all the way up to Colombo, or jump in a taxi directly to the airport.

Where To Stay In Sri Lanka

For pre-booking accommodation when travelling, we always recommend Booking.com!

From 5 star hotels, to budget backpacker hostels, it’s got everything and the site is super easy to use.

So to compare deals, and pre-book all of your Sri Lanka accommodation, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.

More Sri Lanka Blogs

2 Weeks In Sri Lanka – The Perfect 2 Week Sri Lanka Itinerary

Secret Beach Mirissa – A Complete Guide To Visiting

7 Best Things To Do In Arugam Bay – The Ultimate List

7 Best Things To Do In Unawatuna – The Ultimate Guide

---

Pin It For Later!