Sri Lanka is a gem of an island located near the Indian peninsular. This island can easily take up a whole week’s worth of your vacation time or even more! There are many things that you can do in Sri Lanka but here we have compiled a rough guide of a 7-day Itinerary for the would-be-adventurers to consider.
DAY 1 – HABARANA
Habarana is a must visit for explorers, namely because of the wildlife national parks. Two of the best known ones are Minneriya and Kaudulla. If you love large animals then get ready for a safari trip on a 4x4 in these parks. Prepare to be surrounded by elephants and wildebeests; the experience itself will be unreal. If you still have time and energy left after the safari, drop by and walk through the Ritigala Forest Monastery and the Dambulla Cave Temple to see the ruins or the Buddhist temple.
DAY 2 – KANDY
Make your way down to Kandy and stop by at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. This elephant orphanage will be a different experience from the national parks because most of the elephants here are captives and have been in this place because they were orphaned at a young age and needed protection. Tickets proceeds directly go to their conservation. It is also a must to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is a UNESCO heritage site and visit the serene Kandy Lake.
DAY 3 – NUWARA ELIYA
Nuwara Eliya is famous for its tea plantations. But one of the best national parks in Sri Lanka is also there. The Horton Plains national park is really a must visit because it has one of the most scenic landscapes ranging from grasslands to forests and the best place to spot deer. This is also where Baker’s Falls is located so don’t miss it!
DAY 4 – ADAM’S PEAK AND DALHOUSIE
Rest as much as possible once you reach Dalhousie as the track going up to Adam’s Peak usually starts around 1 am. Main reason is to catch the sunrise after scaling 2224m and will take approximately 3 hours. The steps have railings so it is relatively safe going up. Just come equipped with a lot of stamina, snacks and water supplies.
DAY 5 – RATNAPURA TRAIL
Descent Adam’s Peak via Ratnapura trail. This hike will take about 8 hours so only do this if you are still in a fit condition from the previous day hike. The trail itself is quite easy to follow and much more abundant with wildlife compared to the Hatton trail. Once you reach the end of the trail, take a cab to Ratnapura town.
DAY 6 – RATNAPURA
“Ratna” means gem. So Ratnapura means the city of gems and has always been historically been famous for their production of precious stones. So this is a great place if you want to spend some time gem hunting. You should also visit the Gemmalogical museum as this is a good place for anyone to learn the basics on precious stone making. But if you still need your daily dose of adrenaline, head to the Kitulgala region as this is the best place for white water rafting.
DAY 7 – COLOMBO
Depending on how much time you have before your next flight, there are many things you can do in the capital city of Colombo. Spend some time exploring the temples, colonial buildings, the Dutch museums, zoological gardens and many more. And if you wish to take a break from historical cultures, Colombo is also well stocked with shopping malls that have all the latest labels. A great place to unwind on your last day in Sri Lanka