The Perfect 2 Weeks In Sri Lanka Itinerary

Planning 2 weeks in Sri Lanka can be difficult. So here’s our guide to the best places to visit on a 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary.

2 Weeks 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 2 week 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 week 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 2 week 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 2 week 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.

Arugam Bay

Things to do:
Surfing
Kumana National Park Safari
Arugam Bay Beach
Tuk Tuk To Peanut Farm Beach
Shop
Hang Out At Hideaway

The surf capital of Sri Lanka and a place many tourists end up extending their stay because of the chilled vibes, beautiful beaches and late night antics.

Arugam Bay is one place you CANNOT miss out of your 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary.

With pros flocking from Australia and Bali to hit the waves on the East coast, Arugam Bay is the most popular place to surf in Sri Lanka.

So whether you’re a beginner or an international veteran, this is the place to get out on a board and ride with the big boys.

There are plenty of places to hire boards from in town. We paid 500 rupees for a half day which gave us 4 hours of Arugam Bay surfing.

Aside from catching waves, or attempting to, the town itself is very cute and has plenty of shopping and eating options.

If you have some downtime one evening, Hideaway is a great place to grab a cocktail and hang out.

Udawalawe National Park

Things to do:
Udawalawe Safari

One of THE most epic experiences of our travels, and an absolute must on your 2 week 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 penultimate stop on your 2 weeks 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 2 week 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 unwind on your 2 weeks 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.

Unawatuna

Things to do:
Dalawella Beach Rope Swing
Stilt Fisherman
Koggala Sea Turtle Farm & Hatchery
Jungle Beach
Shopping
Eat At The Beachfront Restaurants

The final stop on our 2 weeks in Sri Lanka is another awesome beach location.

A little more touristy than Mirissa, Unawatuna is definitely worth renting a moped and exploring too.

From the shops, to the beach front restaurants and releasing baby turtles into the ocean, this is one of our top recommendations to add to your 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary.

We spent a few nights in Unawatuna and the huge bay of white sand curves round, making it easy to walk all the way around.

Also, just a short trip up the coast from Unawatuna, you’ll find the famous Dalawella Beach Rope Swing.

Be sure to head up early in the day to avoid the crowds, and keep your eye out for the Stilt Fisherman from the road along the way.

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

3 Weeks In Sri Lanka – The Perfect 3 Week Sri Lanka Itinerary

The Ultimate Sri Lanka Bucket List

7 Best Things To Do In Arugam Bay

7 Best Things To Do In Mirissa

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