Ten Things To Do In Sri Lanka That You Cannot Miss

SRI LANKA

If you're planning on visiting Sri Lanka, I hope you find this post, ten things to do in Sri Lanka useful. If you're not planning on visiting the country, I highly urge you to reconsider. I felt the need to write up this blog post because I'm seeing Sri Lanka online left and right. "Top Places to See This Year", "Countries You Need to Visit Next Year", "Our Favourite Hidden Gems", "Up and Coming Countries to Watch Out For", and so forth, you get what I'm trying to say. The point is, it seems like it is or will be in everyone's radar sooner than later.

In the past years Sri Lanka is one of those countries that makes you wonder what it's all about, and perhaps it still is. What could this tiny island have? Slowly capturing everyone's attention, the tourism in the country continues to grow and there's plenty of reasons why. I've been lucky enough to have explored Sri Lanka for 30 days and even then, it wasn't enough. I'd like to go back at some point again but for now, I'd like to share with you 10 things you cannot miss in Sri Lanka.

The country is located on the Indian Ocean just below India. Also known as "The Pearl" of the Indian Ocean because of it's natural beauty, Sri Lanka is one of the top tea exporters in the world.. #FunFact. Just behind China exporting over $1.5 billion worth annually with no signs of slowing down. Considering how big China is (land and population wise) compared to Sri Lanka, it is really impressive in terms of how much tea the country is making and exporting.

The country offers beautiful landscapes, mesmerizing waves, amazing wildlife, tons of outdoor activities, unique temples/holy sites, and yes you guessed it, delicious food and tea! Whether you're staying in the country for a week, two weeks, a month, or several months, these are the top ten things to do in Sri Lanka in no particular order.

1) KANDY TO ELLA TRAIN RIDE

This is one of the most scenic train rides I've ever been in. It probably will be yours too! The 7.5 hour journey in the famous blue train will take you through the lush and diverse landscape of the country. This is one thing you cannot miss. The cost is no more than $3 CAD/USD. Make sure you bring snacks and water, although you may buy food and beverages inside the train.

2) ADAM'S PEAK

Standing at 2,243 m high, this is considered to be the most sacred site in the country. There is a footprint at the top of the mountain that is believed to be holy. Getting to the top requires you to hike up 5,500 steps. Depending on your condition level, it can take anywhere between 3-4 hours to do the hike. I highly suggest catching the sunrise at the top so you need to start around 2 am. Be prepared for a busy trail and dress warm! You need to bring gloves, jacket, and even a blanket may be necessary if you're catching the sunrise at the top. It's mostly locals going up here to pray and remember, this place is sacred so you need to be mindful of that. It get's very windy and cold at the top depending on the time of the year you visit. Snacks and beverages are available along the trail. No guide needed.

3) NINE ARCH BRIDGE

A colonial-era railway construction, the Nine Arch Bridge is a picturesque spot that attracts many visitors and locals to see. Trains still pass by here so be aware of this when you are on the tracks. There's a timetable available online for when trains pass by here as it is not as frequent and seeing the trains pass pass through here is somewhat a beautiful sight.

4) LITTLE ADAM'S PEAK

The baby brother of Adam's peak. Little Adam's Peak stands at 1,141 m high. This is about 2.7 km away from the Nine Arch Bridge. I recommend doing this on the same day as the bridge because of the distance. Also, this is not a lengthy hike compared to Adam's Peak as it will only take you 30-50 minutes to get to the top. If anything this is a good warm up hike before Adam's peak. When you get to the top, the viewpoint offers panoramic views of the lush surroundings of the area. You may do this hike alone, a tour guide is not needed.

5) ELLA'S ROCK

Ella's Rock is 1,041 m high. The trail starts off with very steep stairs then eventually becomes an actual trail - a combination of flat and incline. The last 30 minutes of the hike involves a steep hill but it will be all worth it in the end. On an average and depending how many breaks you take you're looking at about a 4-5 hour hike roundtrip. Bring lots of water and warm clothes, depending on the time of the year and depending on the time of the day, it can get breezy while doing this hike. You may do this hike with or without a guide. I prefer doing it without.

6) PIDURANGALA ROCK

Some may argue that Sigiriya Rock (Lion's Rock) would be a much favourable ''rock'' to do. Here's the thing, Pidurangala, offers much better views (because Sigiriya is across from its viewpoint), it is much cheaper than Sigiriya Rock, and there's less people doing Pidurangala compared to the touristy Sigiriya! It will take you 30 minutes to get to the top. There is a temple that you have to go through so you need to be wearing temple attire, meaning shoulders and knees should be covered. If you have time you can do both but Pidurangala is a much better option if I had to pick one for the reasons I just mentioned. Similar to Ella's Rock, no guide is needed.

7) UDUWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

This is one of the many National Parks in Sri Lanka where you can see wildlife, elephants to be specific. You will have to wake up super early, around 5 am, as mornings are the best time to see the creatures. If you go any later or midday, it will be hard to spot them as they will most likely be hiding to avoid the midday heat. You will hop on a safari truck (which you may not hop off when in the park), and your driver will drive around for you to see these amazing creatures! If your driver is experienced, he would know where to drive and would know the best time to go to certain spots.

8) THE SWING

We're going back to the coast of Unawatuna once again for this one. "The Swing" is an amazing spot to sit back, relax and swing away into the sunset. This is a bit tricky to find, well it was for me. This is the famous "Swing" you see all over social media. It's located in Dalawella Beach behind a hotel called Dream Cabana. There are many swings along the coast but if you're looking for "The Swing" you see everywhere online, this is where it's located.

9) SURFING

This is an amazing activity and a famous one to do in Sri Lanka. The Indian Ocean offers waves to beginners, intermediate and even advanced surfers. Some of the more notable surfing spots are Arugam Bay, Hikkaduwa, Weligama, Unawatuna, Midigama and Mirissa Beach.

10) FISHERMEN ON STILTS

We're heading to the coast for this in Unawatuna. The fishermen on stilts is how, well... how these fishermen like to catch fish. A unique way of catching fish while sitting on a sturdy stilt. If you're lucky, they may even be willing to teach you how to catch fish on these stilts. You'll see them throughout the day but I recommend going there when the sun is going down. That way, you can catch these fishermen in action with an amazing backdrop which would make one amazing photo. It also just makes it much more pleasurable to see!