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SriLanka Backpacking Itinerary - 14 days - One Country - Many Experiences

Finally, I tried to put together the itinerary of the 14 days backpacking trip in SriLanka I did with a friend in December 2019. 

 Some general notes - 
  • For accommodation, we used Hostelworld.com ; Booking.com; Airbnb.ca
  • On an average $7 - $15 USD we get good accommodation in hostel/airbnb.
  • Coconut water - 80 LKR (because I drank a lot of it :))
  • TukTuk - always suggest you check with locals on what's the average price, so you can negotiate with the drivers better.
  • Bus & train - most preferred mode of transportation, cheap, depending on the time of the day there are chance of it being crowded, but hey - if you want to get the sense of the place and people, go for it.
  • In the expenses I have not included accommodation or food or rides within city. 
  • Used Splitwise app to track my daily expenses.
  • Carry USD in cash. local banks do give good exchange rate if you don't convert everything in Colombo airport. People bank of China did not charge us any fees when we converted. (more notes end of this blog)
Below is the marking on maps for the route we followed - 

 Day 1 - 
Travel - Landed in Negombo airport. 
Mode of Transportation - Cab from Negombo to Sigriya. (would suggest bus if you have time, we were running short on time)
Stay - Nalini Song Hostel, Sigriya.
Highlights - well nothing much, airport experience, chaos in deciding whether to take the cab, drive to Sigriya was beautiful.





Day 2 - 
Travel - Sigriya to Polonnaruwa and back to Sigriya Hostel.
Mode of Transportation -Cab
Stay - Nalini Song Hostel, Sigriya. (Good Hostel, definitely suggest it)
Highlights - Ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Quadrangle, Polonnaruwa ruins.
Expense - Entrance ticket -2275 LKR/person
Polonnaruwa Ruins

 Day 3 - 
Travel - Sigriya - Dambulla - Kandy 
Mode of Transportation - Cab
Stay - Jay's Bunk Hostel, Kandy.(a bit crampy rooms but good vibe)
Highlights - Pirdungala Rock trek, view of Lions rock, Dambulla Rock cave temple
Expense - Entrance ticket to Pidrungala - 410 LKR/person, and Rock cave temple-500 LKR/person.
Pidrungala Hike, Lions Rock view
Dambulla Rock Cave temple

 Day 4 - 
Travel - Explore Kandy
Mode of Transportation - Walk
Stay - Jay's Bunk Hostel, Kandy.
Highlights - Kandy Lake, Tooth Relic temple, Kandy City
Expense - Tuktuk - roughly 400LKR.

Day 5 -
Travel - Kandy to Hatton to Maskeliya to Delhousie
Mode of Transportation - Kandy to Hatton train (scenic route), Bus from Hatton to Maskeliya, Bus from Maskeliya to Delhousie
Stay - White House, Delhousie. (Good Stay - definitely suggest this place)
Highlights - Scenic Drives
Expense - Train Ticket - 150 LKR. Bus to Maskeliya - 50LKR. Bus to Delhousie - 50 LKR.



Day 6 -
Travel - Delhousie to Hatton to Nuwara Eliya
Mode of Transportation - Bus from Delhousie to Hatton, Bus from Hatton to Nuwara Eliya
Stay - Blue Moon Guest House, Nuwara Eliya. (decent place, good location, but you have lot of other options)
Highlights - Adam's Peak trek for sunrise in Delhousie (2 AM to 8 AM. Had Breakfast and left for Eliya), scenic drives, Explore city of Nuwara Eliya, Oldest Post Office of Sri Lanka.
Expense - Bus tickets - 280 LKR.
Adam's Peak


Nuwara Eliya Town, Top pic is of Oldest post office in SriLanka.

Day 7 -
Travel - Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Mode of Transportation - Bus from Nuwara Eliya to Nanu Oya (15 mins), Train from Nanu Oya to Ella
Stay - Ceylon backpacker's hostel (was okay, would suggest Hangover hostel) .
Highlights - Beautiful view from the train. 
Expense - Bus Ticket - 30 LKR, Train ticket - 150 LKR.

Day 8 -
Travel - Explore Ella
Mode of Transportation - None
Stay - Ceylon backpacker's hostel .
Highlights - Little Adam's Peak trek, Cafes (definitely suggest Starbeans and Cafe Chill), Ravana Caves. 
Expense - TukTuk - 200 LKR.

Little Adam's Peak trek

Day 9 - 
Travel - Ella to Weligama
Mode of Transportation - Bus (5 to 5.5 hours)
Stay - Rise AirBnB (would definitely suggest. Awesome stay).
Highlights - Nine Arches Bridge in Ella (Train time is 9:20 AM), Halpe Tea Factory Tour (suggested for tea lovers, its knowledgeable), Caught Bus to Weligama at 2 PM, Authentic Italian dinner at Rise, walk by the beach in moonlight
Expense - Halpe Tea Factory - 500 LKR, Bus Ticket to Weligama - 300 LKR, tuktuk charges for half day in Ella.
Nine Arches Bridge

Day 10 - 
Travel - Explore Mirissa &Weligama
Mode of Transportation - Tuktuk, Bus 
Stay - Rise AirBnB.
Highlights - Cafes, Coconut Tree Hill, Parrot Rock Bridge, Mirissa beaches, sunset yoga ('Now Yoga Begins' yoga studio - definitely suggest this place, it's so relaxing)
Expense - Yoga - 1500 LKR, Bus tickets between Weligama and Mirissa is 25-30 LKR per person.


Mirissa Beach, Coconut Tree Hill, Palm Yoga Studio

 Day 11 - 
Travel - Explore Mirissa & Weligama
Mode of Transportation - Bus 
Stay - Rise AirBnB.
Highlights - Beaches, Cafes, the Doctor's house Pub (must visit this place, oh my god, i loved the vibe!!) .(Would suggest Beach swing in Dalawella beach if you get a chance)
Expense - The Doctor's house entrance ticket - 1000 LKR(worth it for the amazing crowd and live music).
Weligama Beach

 Day 12 - 
Travel - Weligama to Galle
Mode of Transportation - Bus 
Stay - Curry Leaf Hostel, Galle Fort (Location is awesome, in the heart of the dutch fort. but Hostel in itself is just decent, not too great. Everyone comes here due to it's convenient location I believe) .
Highlights - Amazing photographic spots in the dutch fort, Cafes, Art houses, restaurants, Sunset walk by the Fort.
Expense - Bus Ticket - 60 LKR.
Galle Lighthouse, Fort area
Streets of Galle Dutch Fort Area.. Lovely backdrops

Day 13 - 
Travel - Galle to Colombo Fort 
Mode of Transportation - Bus (to Kaduwela)
Stay - Groove House Hostels (Very good and safe location).
Highlights - Breakfast in Galle, dropped postcards, Bus to Colombo fort, explore the city
Expense - Bus Ticket to Kaduwela - 450 LKR.


Day 14 - 
Travel - Colombo to Negombo
Mode of Transportation - TukTuk 
Stay - Groove House Hostels.
Highlights - Breakfast at Seed Cafe (loved it), Noritake factory outlet (shopping for some gold & platinum handcrafted ceramics), Sunset walk by the Galle Face Beach, cafes,  Dutch Hospital pub.
Expense - Uber Tuktuk to airport 1100 LKR.
  • SriLanka is Solo Backpackers haven. You will find so many solo travellers in the hostels, and you will be surprised how many friends you will make during the trip.
  • It is very safe for female travellers. Did not encounter any problems in the north. In Southside did encounter some catcalling, but that could be ignored. And of course a lot of people asking for selfies, that might throw you off. But none of these were very offensive. Overall experience is definitely nice and friendly.
  • It did rain everyday in the north and it's quite cold. So if you are planning for Horton's plain, Ella, Eliya, Sigriya etc.. - carry a rain jacket and some warm clothes.
  • Don't have a rigid plan, be flexible to derail from your plan based on what you find along the way. We threw out our original plan the first night in Sigriya :)
  • Do Visa on arrival if you have sometime. It's free. We paid online to get visa before hand which was unnecessary.
  • All temples require you to cover below the knees and arms. so no tank tops or shorts. Black is not allowed either. we saw the locals wearing white dresses. But as long as you are covered below knees, you should be fine.
  • You will find a lot of Buddha statues wherever you go.
  • Do try local cuisine - Sambhaal, rice, wraps, fish curry, Kottu rotti etc...
  • Lots of mosquitoes, so if you hate them carry your weapons :)
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