{"id":3174,"date":"2017-03-21T12:22:05","date_gmt":"2017-03-21T04:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/?p=3174"},"modified":"2020-04-28T18:07:13","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T10:07:13","slug":"10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"10 day itinerary &#8211; What to do in Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What to do in Sri Lanka? There is so much to see, and the country offers so many different types of holiday. The adventurous can head to the mountains for hiking. While those looking for some sun can make their way along the coastlines. Yet you don&#8217;t need to find yourself torn between safari or surfing, this 10-day itinerary has it all!\u00a0We&#8217;ve compiled a whistle-stop tour of some of Sri Lanka&#8217;s highlights making sure you make the best of your holiday.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aircraft-1362586_1280-e1490044325789.jpg\" alt=\"plane taking off\" height=\"378\" width=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3184\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_1_%E2%80%93_Colombo\" >Day 1 &#8211;\u00a0Colombo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_2-_Colombo_to_Kandy\" >Day 2- Colombo to Kandy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_3-Day_trip_to_Dambulla\" >Day 3-Day trip to Dambulla<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_4-_5_%E2%80%93_Kandy_to_Ella\" >Day 4- 5 &#8211; Kandy to Ella<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_6-_Safari_time\" >Day 6-\u00a0Safari time!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_7_8_and_9-_Time_to_relax\" >Day 7, 8 and 9- Time to relax!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/10-day-itinerary-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka\/#Day_10-_Last_minute_shopping_in_Galle_Fort\" >Day 10- Last minute shopping in Galle Fort<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_1_%E2%80%93_Colombo\"><\/span>Day 1 &#8211;\u00a0Colombo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Colombo has Sri Lanka&#8217;s main international airport and so your visit here is inevitable. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/en\/find\/colombo\">Colombo<\/a> can be daunting for some and its busy streets often trigger culture shock for unprepared travellers. We recommend you use this day to relax, acclimatise, overcome the jet lag and get your first taste of Sri Lankan foods. Park Street is a nice evening out with plenty of food choices and a tourist-friendly atmosphere. With bars and restaurants lining the cobbled street you&#8217;ll be able to relax into holiday mode sat beneath the twinkling fairy lights.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/pexels-photo-48726-e1490044202151.jpeg\" alt=\"bowl of curry\" height=\"400\" width=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3183\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_2-_Colombo_to_Kandy\"><\/span>Day 2- Colombo to Kandy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are many ways to travel around Sri Lanka but none capture the beautiful landscape quite like Sri Lanka&#8217;s ancient trains. The winding red train takes you on one of the world&#8217;s most scenic rides between Colombo and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/en\/find\/kandy\">Kandy<\/a>. The slow meandering train snakes its way into the heart of the country, immersing you in tea plantations and stunning\u00a0vistas.\u00a0\u00a0You can easily buy tickets\u00a0from any station or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsrilankatours.co.uk\/train-tickets-1.html\">online<\/a>\u00a0and they have a 1st class carriage with panoramic windows.<\/p>\n<p>On arrival in Kandy, you&#8217;ll be struck by how different it is to Colombo. Kandy is small and filled with culture and history. We recommend spending the day seeing some of the stunning temples or by the picturesque lake. The Temple of the Tooth is popular and impressive while the Royal Palace of Kandy is another stunning piece of architecture.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3182\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3182\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/13641288_10154429075219721_4442687217117596673_o-600x450.jpg\" alt=\"Red Train in Sri Lanka\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" class=\"wp-image-3182 size-large\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3182\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Credit: Ella Davis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_3-Day_trip_to_Dambulla\"><\/span>Day 3-Day trip to Dambulla<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Using Kandy as a base travel further north to the Dambulla cave temple. This world heritage site is a collection of 80 caves forming a large and remarkably well-preserved temple complex. The caves form the temple set at the base of a 160-meter high rock. While the surrounding flatlands make this structure quite the spectacle as you approach, venturing inside does not disappoint. While the 153 statues of Buddha fill the temple, the large murals adorn the walls. This is not to be missed if you are keen to experience the ancient history of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/sigiriya-459197_1280-e1490043518747.jpg\" alt=\"Dambulla temple - what to do in Sri Lanka\" height=\"400\" width=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3177\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_4-_5_%E2%80%93_Kandy_to_Ella\"><\/span>Day 4- 5 &#8211; Kandy to Ella<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Hop back on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/en\/poi\/train-ride-kandy-ella\">the red train<\/a> for a journey that gets increasingly scenic. However, if you are pressed for time hire a driver to take you along this stretch, but be sure to have him stop at the best viewpoints! When you arrive in Ella you will be struck by how small it is. The main street forms the majority of the town but with plenty of restaurants to choose from its a great place to spend an evening. The main attraction of Ella is its position in the middle of a valley. The surrounding mountains are perfect for hiking and the views from the top of Ella&#8217;s rock are not to be missed! We recommend hiring a guide and waking up early for a sunrise hike. \u00a0As the mist clears from the valley, you can pause to make the most of the views.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3181\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3181\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/13909050_10154429080479721_708370112687761783_o-600x450.jpg\" alt=\"View from Ella Rock\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" class=\"wp-image-3181 size-large\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3181\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Credit: Ella Davis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_6-_Safari_time\"><\/span>Day 6-\u00a0Safari time!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>From Ella head south to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/en\/poi\/yala-national-park\">Yala National park<\/a>. Buses run between Ella and the southern towns and onwards to Yala. However, if you are pressed for time Sri Lankan buses are not the way to travel, so consider a driver for this stretch! Yala is home hundreds of birds and mammal species including one of the highest densities\u00a0of leopards in the world, hence Yala park is not to be missed! You can pre-book tickets to Yala\u2019s own jeep lead safaris\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yalasrilanka.lk\/\">online<\/a>. Where you will be assigned a knowledgable guide for the day to give you the best chance of spotting wildlife.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/elephant-2131326_1280-e1490043628734.jpg\" alt=\"Safari Yala park - Sri Lanka's must see attractions\" height=\"293\" width=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3176\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_7_8_and_9-_Time_to_relax\"><\/span>Day 7, 8 and 9- Time to relax!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After a week of adventure, we recommend finishing off your holiday with some sun and sea. The south beaches are stunning and the natural coves make sheltered bays. We recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/en\/poi\/mirissa-beach\">Mirissa<\/a> or Weligama if you are looking for calm child-friendly waves. While These beach towns may seem small they are lively communities and the main focus is Surfing. Try your hand at surfing the small waves and move round the coast to\u00a0Unawatuna if you are in search of more of a challenge.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/sri-lanka-822613_1280-e1490043749625.jpg\" alt=\"Sri Lanka beach\" height=\"400\" width=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3178\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_10-_Last_minute_shopping_in_Galle_Fort\"><\/span>Day 10- Last minute shopping in Galle Fort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/en\/find\/galle\">Galle<\/a> forts stunning selection of shops selling\u00a0high-quality Sri Lankan handicrafts. At 119 KM south of Colombo, it makes a great stop before heading on to catch a flight. While Colombo&#8217;s shopping is great, Galle&#8217;s contained walled fort is just big enough to fill your final day. The chic bars and restaurants are a great last pit stop for sampling Sri Lankan food. Meanwhile, the many Gem shops will be sure to stock something you fall in love with! Wondering where to shop? Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/2017\/02\/best-shopping-spots-galle-fort\">the best shopping spots in Galle Fort<\/a>!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3180\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3180\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/13668010_10154429083609721_5225059045786202711_o-e1490043700566.jpg\" alt=\"Galle fort light house - must-see in Sri Lanka\" height=\"800\" width=\"600\" class=\"wp-image-3180\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Credit: Ella Davis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This 10-day itinerary is perfect for anyone looking to hit all the highlights Sri Lanka offers. The mountains, the flatlands and the beaches are all stunning sights to behold and this 10-day tour will ensure you see them all.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\">villas in Sri Lanka<\/a>. Inspected and selected by Villa-Finder.com<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What to do in Sri Lanka? There is so much to see, and the country offers so many different types of holiday. The adventurous can &hellip; <\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_excerpt -->","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":3176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,137],"tags":[158,47,5,162],"class_list":["post-3174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-inspiration","tag-activities","tag-beach","tag-safari","tag-what-to-do-in-sri-lanka","latest_post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3174\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}