Sri Lanka, the teardrop of the Indian Ocean, is compact yet astonishingly diverse. Ancient capitals and rock citadels rise from jungle plains; tea-cloaked mountains ripple across the center; and curving beaches frame the south and west. You’ll taste cinnamon and cardamom in village curries, hear temple bells at dusk, and spot wild elephants in misty parks.

Once known as Ceylon, the island’s history spans millennia—Anuradhapura’s sacred Bodhi tree, Polonnaruwa’s stone Buddhas, and Sigiriya’s sky palaces testify to sophisticated ancient kingdoms. British-built railways now carry travelers through emerald tea country, while coastal towns like Galle and Mirissa echo with maritime lore and surf culture.

Practical notes: Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Power sockets are types D and G. Expect two monsoons—generally best beach weather on the south/west coast from December–April; whale watching peaks Dec–April. Apply online for the e-visa (ETA). Dress modestly for temples (shoulders/knees covered), and carry small cash for tips and tuk-tuks.

Colombo

Days 1–2: Arrive, taste, and tuk-tuk through the capital

Land in Colombo and shake off the flight with sea breezes at Galle Face Green, then dive into Old Colombo: the red-and-white Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, the clocktower and colonial arcades of Fort, and the sensory riot of Pettah Market. The Gangaramaya Temple museum juxtaposes gilded Buddhas with curious relics from around Asia.

Book flights into/out of Colombo (CMB) with Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Airport to central Colombo takes 45–60 minutes by taxi (about US$20–30) or 1–1.5 hours by bus.

• Do/See: Sunset at Galle Face Green; browse Barefoot for handloom textiles; climb Lotus Tower for city views; wander the Dutch Hospital precinct for boutiques and bistros.
• Guided experience: Hop in a tuk-tuk with a local for history, snacks, and hidden alleys.

Recommended Viator activity:

Colombo Tuk Tuk City Tour - Sightseeing, Entry Fees & Food Included

Where to eat & drink: Reserve at Ministry of Crab (Sri Lankan lagoon crab, pepper or chili-style); Upali’s by Nawaloka (authentic Sri Lankan curries, hoppers, and thalis); Palmyrah (Jaffna-style crab curry and dosai). For casual bites, try Barefoot Garden Café (salads, sambols), The Commons Coffee House (kottu roti and iced coffee), and Cafe Kumbuk (healthy brunch bowls, cold-pressed juices). Street snacking? Grab isso wade (prawn fritters) along Galle Face at dusk.

Stay in Colombo: Browse VRBO Colombo or Hotels.com Colombo. Specific picks: Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo (harbor views and top dining), Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo (central, pool by the lake), and CityRest Fort (budget-friendly in Fort).

Sigiriya (Cultural Triangle)

Days 3–5: Sky palaces, cave temples, and cycling ancient cities

Getting there (morning travel): Colombo to Sigiriya by private car is 4–5 hours (US$80–120). Budget options: train to Habarana (4.5–5.5 hours) then tuk-tuk 20 minutes; or air-conditioned bus to Dambulla (4–5 hours) and tuk-tuk 30 minutes. Check schedules on Trip.com Trains (tickets typically US$2–10).

Sigiriya is Sri Lanka’s showstopper: a 200-meter magma plug crowned by palace ruins, mirror walls, and 1,500-year-old frescoes. Pair it with the Dambulla Cave Temples’ painted caverns and a cycle through Polonnaruwa’s vine-draped stupas and royal baths.

• Hike: Climb Sigiriya Rock early for shade and quiet, then scramble up Pidurangala at sunrise or sunset for the classic Sigiriya-in-the-frame panorama.
• Temples: Explore the five grottoes of Dambulla—a hillside complex with hundreds of Buddha statues and ceilings washed in murals.
• Ancient city by bike: Polonnaruwa (1.5 hours each way). Rent bikes at the museum gate to glide past Gal Vihara’s serene stone Buddhas, the Royal Palace, and lotus ponds.
• Wildlife (seasonal): Evening jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla (the “Gathering” of elephants peaks Jun–Oct; in some months herds shift between the two parks).

Optional Viator (if you’d rather do Sigiriya as a long day from Colombo):

Private Day Trip to Sigiriya, cave and National park Safari Tour

Hire-a-driver option (flexible days):

Sri Lanka Personal Tour Driver in private vehicle

Where to eat: Pradeep Restaurant (banana-leaf rice and curry spreads), Rithu Restaurant (clay-pot curries, roti, fresh juices), and Ahinsa (grilled lake fish, veggie kottu). For a special night, many hotels offer traditional rice-and-curry buffets with live cooking stations.

Stay near Sigiriya: Explore VRBO Sigiriya or Hotels.com Sigiriya. Specific picks: Water Garden Sigiriya (splurge villas with moat views), Sigiriya Village Hotel (best-value pool and garden paths), and Aliya Resort and Spa (modern chalets with a rock-facing infinity pool).

Ella (Hill Country)

Days 6–8: Tea hills, scenic trains, and sunrise hikes

Getting there (morning travel): Drive Sigiriya → Kandy (2.5–3 hours), then board the famed blue train Kandy → Ella (6–7 hours). Reserve seats in advance (US$3–15), or ride 2nd class near open doors for photos. Check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Prebook your reserved seats:

Kandy to Ella Train Tickets - Reserved Seats

Ella is your mountain base: misty mornings, waterfalls, tea factories, and some of the island’s best short hikes. The stone arches of the famous bridge appear out of tea bushes as trains curl by.

• Hike: Little Adam’s Peak (1–1.5 hours round-trip; sunrise is glorious), and for a tougher challenge, Ella Rock (3–4 hours; go with a local guide if trails seem confusing).
• Iconic spot: Nine Arch Bridge—come around early morning or late afternoon as trains pass.
• Tea & waterfalls: Tour Halpewatte Tea Factory to learn leaf-to-cup, then cool off at Ravana Falls. Thrill-seekers: try the Flying Ravana zipline.

Extra rail option (if you stop in Nuwara Eliya/Nanu Oya):

Train Tickets from Nanuoya (Nuwara Eliya) to Ella

Where to eat: Cafe Chill (Sri Lankan curries, wood-fired pizza, lively upstairs bar), Matey Hut (home-style rice & curry and kotthu), AK Ristoro (Italian-Asian fusion in a garden), and Ella 360 (views with roti wraps and smoothies). Coffee fix: Koko’s Ella or The Barn by Starbeans.

Stay in Ella: Scan VRBO Ella or Hotels.com Ella. Specific picks: 98 Acres Resort & Spa (tea-estate chalets above Little Adam’s Peak), Ella Rock House (value stays near town), Hangover Hostels Ella (budget social vibes), and Ella Jungle Resort (adventurous riverfront eco-stay).

Mirissa (South Coast) with Galle Fort

Days 9–11: Whales, waves, and a dash of colonial charm

Getting there (morning travel): Ella → Mirissa direct by car is ~4 hours (US$80–110). Adventurous option: go via Udawalawe National Park—Ella → Udawalawe (2.5 hours), 3-hour safari, then Udawalawe → Mirissa (3 hours).

En-route safari (recommended):

Udawalawe National Park | Private Safari Tour

Settle into Mirissa’s curve of sand for swims, sunrises, and an easy launch point for whale watching. Nearby Weligama is perfect for beginner surf lessons; Dalawella and Koggala offer turtle-filled lagoons and iconic stilt fishermen. Save one afternoon for Galle Fort’s ramparts and boutique-filled lanes.

• On the water: Blue whale and dolphin excursions run Dec–April from Mirissa.
• Beaches: Secret Beach cove (snorkel on calm days), Coconut Tree Hill for sunset palms, and Weligama Bay for surf schools.
• Galle Fort (half-day): Walk the Dutch ramparts, the lighthouse, and the maritime museum; break for gelato and ginger beer.

Whale watching choices (pick one):

Whale Watching Mirissa with (WWC)

or

Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa

Safari day trip (alternative): Prefer leopards? Head east to Yala National Park (about 2.5 hours each way from Mirissa).

Yala National Park Wildlife Safari/ Game Drive - by Ajith Safari

Where to eat: Breakfast at Shady Lane (smoothie bowls, avocado toast) or Milky Wave (espresso and granola). Lunch at No.1 Dewmini Roti Shop (creative sweet/savory rotis) or Zephyr (seafood, burgers on the beach). Dinners: Salt Mirissa (grilled catch of the day), Petti Petti (sunset cocktails, small plates), and Doctors House in nearby Madiha (wood-fired pizza, live music nights). In Galle Fort: A Minute by Tuk Tuk (Dutch Hospital complex, ocean views), Fort Printers (refined Sri Lankan-European menu), and Isle of Gelato for a cool-down.

Stay in/near Mirissa: See VRBO Mirissa or Hotels.com Mirissa. Specific picks: Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa (boutique by the sea), Paradise Beach Club (pool on the sand; great value), Hangover Hostels Mirissa (budget social), Mandara Resort Mirissa (resort comforts), and for a splurge cliff perch, Cape Weligama.

Day 12: Return to Colombo and fly out

Getting back (morning travel): Mirissa/Weligama → Colombo by expressway bus or private car: 2.5–3.5 hours (US$70–100 by car). Trains from Matara/Galle to Colombo Fort run 2–3 hours—check Trip.com Trains. Leave time for airport transfer (45–60 minutes).

If you have a final afternoon, snack your way through Pettah’s fruit stalls, pick up handloom scarves at Barefoot, or take a quick tuk tour:

Tuk Trip is Very Cheap in Colombo (All-inclusive) city tour

Budget tips (aimed at your 50/100 budget): Use trains and intercity buses between hubs, eat at family-run rice-and-curry spots for excellent value, and choose midrange guesthouses with breakfast included. Private drivers are worthwhile for multi-stop days (US$65–90/day including vehicle and fuel).

Block Summary: Days 1–5

• Days 1–2: Colombo sights, tuk-tuk tour, seafood dinner.
• Day 3 (AM): Travel to Sigiriya (car 4–5 hrs; train+local tuk optional).
• Days 3–5: Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala hikes; Dambulla caves; Polonnaruwa by bike; optional elephant safari.

Block Summary: Days 6–9

• Day 6 (AM): Drive to Kandy; train to Ella (6–7 hrs).
• Days 6–8: Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock, Nine Arch Bridge, tea factory.
• Day 9 (AM): Ella → Mirissa via Udawalawe safari; or direct drive (4 hrs).

Block Summary: Days 10–12

• Days 10–11: Mirissa beach day, whale watching, Weligama surf; half-day Galle Fort; optional Yala safari.
• Day 12 (AM): Return to Colombo; flight home via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Food safety & etiquette: Choose busy curry houses, ask for “less spicy” if needed, and eat with your right hand after washing (cutlery is always available if you prefer). Carry small notes for tips and tuk-tuks. Temple etiquette: shoes off, hats off, shoulders/knees covered.

With sky-high citadels, forested ridges, and whale-rich waters, this 12-day Sri Lanka plan balances adventurous hikes, culture, wildlife, and beach time. You’ll start and finish in Colombo—with stories of sunrise peaks, tea-scented trains, and palm-framed sunsets in between.