Best tips to travel around Sri Lanka. Your guide n°1

Sri Lanka is an island nation South India known for its lush tea plantations, ancient temples, Mountains, Wild National Parks and golden beaches. Rich in culture and biodiversity, it offers a unique blend of historic sites like Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and vibrant wildlife including elephants and leopards.

When in the international airport of the capital Colombo : I recommend to buy a sim card from the airport at 30GB + unlimited local voice valid for 30 days at only 10$.

🚊 The iconic Sri Lanka train from Kandy to Ella.

📣It is undoubtedly the most scenic train ride in the world. And definitely a must do while in Sri Lanka.

🕖The ride takes 7hours (assuming there is no delays)
I was afraid to be bored but honestly it passed quickly while admiring the beauty of Sri Lanka – its mountains, waterfalls, tea plantations, tropical forests, villages, and cities lost in the lush greenery.

🖼️The train passes close to several stunning waterfalls, including St. Clair’s Falls and Devon Falls.
The one in the video is probably “Elgin Waterfall”. I’m not sure, if someone knows please leave a comment.

💵 Bought the ticket 2d class reserved seat from an agency at 5000rp (around 16$). I suggest you do the same.
I don’t recommend 1st class, it’s comfortable but you can’t open the windows.
But next time, I would like to try the thirst class with the locals.

🆓The ticket is way cheaper without a reserved sea

☀️ Best views are on the right side but they’re both good.

4️⃣There are 4 trains per day.

📌The express train stops at the following stations: Kandy, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Haputale, Ella, and it goes farther to Badulla.
If you want to save some time, make sure you get on the express train.

🔍You can book the ticket early from 12go.asia.

📜The Kandy to Ella train has been running this route since the 1920s, a way of transporting tea.
While the railway network of Sri Lanka was established by the British government in 1864.

📸 If you dream of awesome photos, better get yourself a ticket to Badulla, instead of Ella as most people get off the train in Ella.

📍We got off the train station Kitha Ella 5 min walk to our hotel.

Ella

Ella is a beautiful little village in Sri Lanka’s hill country, popular with backpackers and hiking enthusiasts.

🏨Where to stay in Ella?

🏨 Hotel Levon, Ella

We’ve stayed in Hotel Levon Ella, few minutes walk from Kitha Ella Train station. They’re not on Instagram. We booked via Booking.com.
The service was perfect. Great hospitality. Clean. Fancy room. Greats views. And close to the best hikes in Ella.

🤸‍♂️What to do in Ella?

I’d say Ella is one of the most nigh has a laid-back, backpacker-friendly vibe with cozy cafés, yoga spots, and small guesthouses lining its single main street.

1. The town of Ella

Ella has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife for a small mountain town, with lively bars and cafés filling up after sunset. Travelers gather for cocktails, live music, and DJ sets at spots like Cafe Chill , Hiking Bar creating a fun, social atmosphere that lasts late into the night.

Surrounded by misty hills and tea fields, the town feels peaceful by day with cozy cafés, yoga spots, and small guesthouses lining its single main street and gently social at night, with travelers gathering for sunset views and relaxed dinners.

2.Kithaella waterfall

I run into this hidden waterfall while hiking next to the hotel.Absolutely no one was there.
You can see the same waterfall fully from another angle if you go back in train tails go right at some point and go down some slippery stairs that can be a bit dangerous.
I skipped visiting the other famous waterfalls of the area. That was enough and not touristic.

3. Lipton seat

We climbed by a scooter, don’t follow google maps itinerary, better follow the signs.
Lipton seat is named after Thomas Lipton, a Scottish tea magnate who one owned tea plantations in the area in the 19th.
It is still in operation today
altitude 1960m
It was foggy but the view is amazing.

4. Nine arches bridge.

The Nine Arch Bridge is an architecturally stunning stone bridge located in the lush hill country of Ella.nine arches

5. Flying Ravana Mega Zipline/ Ravana Pool club.

Flying Ravana is Sri Lanka’s first-ever zip-line, located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella.
Ravana Pool Club, Sri Lanka’s first and largest pool club, Ravana Pool Club, functions as a day club. It is open from 7.00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day of the week.

6. Ella Rock

⛰️Hiking Ella Rock is one of the best things to do in Ella.

💵 Always have money on you even when you’re hiking.
It’s very cheap, but you pay just 2 minutes before getting to the 1st viewpoint.

2️⃣There are 2 viewpoints, the first one was enough.

🚊 If you start the hike from Ella train station walking along railway tracks, the round trip will take around 4hours depending on how quick you walk and how much time you spend at the top.

We did less as we started from Kitha Ella train station.

🚫No need for a guide.

🚶Continue walking along the train track (heading south) until you reach Kithalella Railway Station. And after approximately 10 minutes you will turn left.

🗣️Maybe join some other travelers on the way or ask a local when you get close to know exactly where to turn, then you start climbing and the path is intuitive.

🔽You can also download one of the offline map apps like maps.me and follow the paths indicated there.

🏞️The view from Ella Rock is quite spectacular and easily one of the best in the area.

🌱There are hundreds of tea plantations as far as the eyes can see.

🛤️Don’t be nervous about walking through the train lines. It is completely normal in Sri Lanka, the trains are very loud and slow, so don’t worry, you will hear them coming and will have plenty of time to move out of the way.

Yalla National Park

About Yala National park

🔍Created on 1938, Yala is the most visited national park in the country and one of the best places in the world to spot leopards.

🐆 Ironically, before that, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule.

Yala National Park covers an area of 978 km2, making it the second largest park in the country after Willpattu.

Divided into 5 blocks, 2 blocks are currently opened to the public.

🦅 Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are a big concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, deers, peacocks, and crocodiles.

🐆 I did 2 Safari at dawn, the first one we didnt spot any leopard but I bunch of other animals. Second one, I encountered the piercing gaze of a leopard, a rare scene that remains etched in my memory.Then, saw one laying peacefully up in a branch of a tree.

☀️ The best time to visit Yala is between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals into the open.
Temperature ranges from 26C to about 30C.

💧 Among the glorious spectacle of wildlife, you’d also witness handred of tanks, the tell-tale signs of an agri-based lost civilization.

🛕 The Monastic settlement of Sithulpawwa, an important pilgrim site, is said to have housed 12,000 inhabitants seeking solace, some 2000 years ago.
The restored rock Temple, among a series of well-preserved ancient temples offers a glimpse into a glittering past.

🌊 The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused severe damage to Yala National Park, killing 250 people, also forever changing the land features of Yala’s coastal belt.
A Tsunami memorial is constructed at Patanangala.

🍲 Feeding animals is strictly prohibited
Avoid bringing cooked food. Smell of food can interfere with animal habits and behavior.

👎Mass tourism and the many abuses by jeep drivers who take all the risks to track the leopard is a bit sad for the poor animals.
It’s unfortunate that there is no access limitation per day, hundred of jeeps enter the park at the same time

🏨Where to stay in Yala national park

Hotel Cinnamon Wild Yala

If you’re a wildlife lover looking for comfort, seeking for a wilderness escape, Cinnamon Wild Yala is the best place for you . Set amongst the jungle!

📣We had a 2-night stay here in January 2025. This was an amazing place! Our first day, a wild elephant came to the lobby to munch and drink out of a little water feature.

📍The location is exceptional. You will see plenty of crocs 🐊, buffalo and birds🦜 at the lake with a decent chance to see an elephant🐘 , wild pigs 🐖 and monkeys 🐒jumping on the roof! Just a wonderful area in the wild.

🏖️ Make sure to check out the beach also which they don’t really tell you about. just ask someone where it is. No SWIMMING. And very protected as wild animals can be everywhere in the beach.

🏊 Pool is really lovely also with comfy chairs and towels etc. don’t be upset if it’s a bit busy early as most people end up checking out or going on Safari so you’ll have some peace and quiet.

🛌 Rooms are perfect. Lovely showers, bed, AC and a veranda to relax on if you wish.

🥘 You MUST book half/full board as there is nowhere else to eat or drink for absolutely miles around. And food à la carte is expensive.

✨2 or 3 nights is enough to do all that Cinnamon Wild Yala has to offer.

🛜 The WiFi was reasonably fast.

💡 Keeping with the ‘jungle cottage theme the lighting was subdued.

🐆 The Safari with the hotel is way more expensive if you book it with an online agency. Yet, it was well worth the money, we could skip the long queue of jeeps at the entrance since we already had entry tickets and Gayon Gamage was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide, we saw and learnt so much we would have missed without him. He also shared his amazing photos of the leopard we saw, and provided a binoculars.

🚫 You are not permitted to walk alone after 6:30. Each room is assigned a room boy to walk you through the resort after dark.

🌅 The rooftop bar is also great for sunset cocktails to recuperate from your safari adventure!

Kandy

An itinerary for one entire day in Kandy:

We hired an amazing TukTuk driver for the day. Our host recommended him, and he was an amazing human being and driver.

Our Airbnb: Hill Cottage Kandy, at Dilrukshi’s place.

🛵Our driver: Sumalee +94 779 39 31 46, price to Ambuluwawa is 6000 LKR ( around 20 dollars), we gave more.

The itinerary:

1️⃣ Ambuluwawa Tower and Temple : a multi-religious peaceful place that is home to a Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple, a Christian Church, and a Muslim Mosque.

2️⃣ Visit a tea factory: we did New Giragama Tea Factory.

3️⃣ Royal Botanical garden (if you don’t have much time, I recommend you skip it and go directly to the Kandy Spice Walk below)

4️⃣ Kandy Spice Walk, very interesting and still not touristy. The entry is free, and a guide will explain the different spices sold there. They also offer a free cooking class and massage too towards the end of the tour. Most of the tour is on foot but it is not too steep and can be easily completed.They have a the gift shop with all the spices and local products.

5️⃣ Visit a tea factory, we did New Giragama Tea factory. First time I know how tea is made!
Also, Funny how Moroccan tea is the national drink while we don’t even produce tea.

6️⃣ Watch a Cultural Kandyan dance show (kandyanddancing.com), it was 2000Rs

Sigirya

3 things to do in Sigirya

1️⃣ Sleep in a tree house

There are plenty of choices online.

2️⃣ Hike at down to Pidurangala Rock, Sigirya

You’ll have an incredible view of the Sigiriya Lion Rock, which glows with the rising or setting sun.
=> 📜some history: When King Kashyapa discovered Sigiriya in 5th century, he wanted to move the monks to Pidurangala so he could build his palace on top of Lion Rock. The monks obliged and the monastery was built into caves around Pidurangala Rock.

3️⃣ Hike to Lion Rock Fortress, Sigirya

Lion Rock Fortress is the fortified palace built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century, perched on the imposing Sigiriya Rock seen from miles around. The King moved the capital to the more strategic locatYalaYion of Sigiriya, from the plains of Anuradhapura. The Palace in the Clouds only lasted 18 years though, before it was forgotten, until British colonialists rediscovered it with the help of locals.

You can see all my Sri Lanka Reels on Instagram and Sri Lanka stories in the highlight .

Close country to visit during the same trip => Maldives. See the whole article here