10 Must Visit Places in Sri Lanka (Ultimate Travel Guide)

Lloyd & Mandy

Click the link for your first transfer fee FREE up to $1000 OR a FREE Travel Card - https://wise.com/invite/dic/amandar1452  Explore the 10 must-visit destinations in Sri Lanka, from bustling cities and ancient temples to wild safaris and mountain escapes. Whether you&#039;re a beach lover, history buff, foodie, or nature enthusiast, this guide will help you plan your perfect Sri Lankan adventure.  🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more travel guides around the world!  Our Content Production Company: https://rebelcontentproductions.com  GET IN TOUCH: 🌏 Email: lloydandmandy@ruthlesstalent.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lloydandmandy/ 💻 Our Website: https://www.lloydandmandy.com/  TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT WE USE AND RECOMMEND: 🏥 Reliable Travel Insurance: https://www.safetywing.com/a/lloydandmandy  📱Want a Sim card that works anywhere in the world? Click here:  https://esim.holafly.com/?ref=lloydmandy&amp;utm_source=lloydmandy_youtube&amp;utm_medium=affiliation&amp;utm_campaign=q5VehUXArYA  💻 Our VPN we use:https://surfshark.deals/LLOYDANDMANDY  🌎 We always book our tours, transfers and activities through GetYourGuide: https://gyg.me/QdNvJdKO  🤑 GET A $100 BONUS WHE

Transcript

00:00Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries we've ever explored.

00:05From bustling cities and golden beaches to lush mountains and ancient ruins, this

00:10island really does have it all. In this video we're counting down 10 must-visit

00:14places in Sri Lanka, starting with the capital city and ending with what we

00:19think is the most magical spot in the entire country. So let's get into it.

00:24Number 10, Colombo. We start our journey in Colombo, the capital city and the

00:29place where most tourists first land. A lot of travellers skip Colombo and rush

00:34off to the beaches or the mountains, but the best way to see the city is by

00:38tuk-tuk. We hired a local guide who showed us around the Spice District, Marine Drive

00:43and a mix of old Dutch and English colonial buildings alongside mosques

00:47and temples. Colombo is also a city of food. If you love to eat, make sure to do a

00:53street food tour. You'll try everything from spicy kottu roti to hoppers and

00:58fresh seafood. If you're on a budget, you'll be happy to know Colombo has great

01:02hotels at every price point. We stayed at both a budget-friendly spot with a

01:07rooftop pool and a more upscale hotel with ocean views and honestly both of

01:11them were fantastic. For sunsets, head to Gale Face Green where locals gather to fly

01:17kites, play cricket and eat street food right by the water. It's a perfect

01:21introduction to Sri Lanka's energy. Number nine, Tissa Maharama. This peaceful

01:28little town is best known as the gateway to Yala National Park. You'll notice

01:32right away the enormous white Tissa Dagoba that dominates the skyline. The

01:37lakes here are filled with lotus flowers and if you come at the right time of

01:41year, you'll see flocks of migratory birds. It's literally a paradise for bird

01:45lovers. What we really liked about Tissa is how quiet and local it felt. There are

01:50some small family-run guest houses where you'll be welcomed with home cooked

01:54Sri Lankan meals. Some of the best food we had on the trip and at night the air

01:59feels fresh and calm compared to the busier coastal towns. Staying in Tissa

02:03puts you in the perfect spot for an early morning safari but it's also worth

02:08spending a day just exploring the temples and lakes on foot or by bicycle.

02:12Number eight, Kandy. The cultural heart of Sri Lanka. The city itself is centered

02:16around Kandy Lake and the main attraction here is the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

02:21It's one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world and stepping inside

02:25you really feel the spiritual energy of the place. We also recommend catching a

02:30Kandy and cultural dance performance which usually happens in the evenings

02:33just outside the temple. The music, costumes and drumming are incredible and

02:38tickets are really affordable. Kandy is also famous as the starting point of the

02:43legendary Kandy to Ella train ride. This journey is hands-down one of the most

02:46scenic rail trips in the world, winding past tea plantations, waterfalls and

02:51mountain valleys. Even if you're not a train person this ride is definitely worth

02:55it. For us Kandy wasn't our favorite city compared to the smaller towns but it's

03:00an important stop on any Sri Lankan adventure especially for culture and

03:04history lovers. Number seven, Gahl Fort. At number seven is Gahl Fort, a colonial

03:10treasure on the south coast. The fort was built by the Portuguese and later

03:14expanded by the Dutch and today it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking

03:18inside the walls feels like stepping into a different world. Cobblestone streets,

03:23Dutch era buildings, boutique shops and plenty of cafes and gelato stands. We

03:28recommend spending a whole day here because there's so much to see. The

03:32cricket fields, the art galleries, the jewelry shops and of course the fort

03:36ramparts at sunset. It's one of the most beautiful places to watch the sun go down

03:40over the Indian Ocean. Gahl also makes a great base to explore the beaches nearby

03:44like Una Watuna or to visit one of the local sea turtle hatcheries where you can

03:49learn about the conservation efforts to protect these amazing creatures. Number

03:53six, Nuawa Aliyah. But before we jump into it I want to share a quick travel hack

03:58that honestly saved us a ton of money while traveling through Sri Lanka and

04:02that's the wise travel money card. If you've ever been stung by hidden bank fees

04:06when paying abroad you'll get why this is such a game changer. With wise you can

04:11hold and spend in over 40 different currencies at the real exchange rate. The

04:16same one that you see on Google with no sneaky markups. In Sri Lanka we used our

04:21wise card for everything. Booking hotels online, paying at restaurants, even

04:26withdrawing rupees from local ATMs. Every time the fees were way lower than what our

04:31traditional bank would have charged. It's super easy to manage through the wise

04:35app as well. You can top up instantly, track every transaction in real time and

04:40freeze your card if it ever gets lost. So if you're planning a trip here or

04:44anywhere abroad I definitely recommend checking it out. We'll leave our wise

04:48link in the description below. Using our link means you'll get your first

04:52transfer fee free up to $1,000 or a free travel card. Number six takes us up to the

04:58central highlands to Nuawa Aliyah also known as Little England. The British

05:02influence is still very visible here from colonial style houses and rose gardens to

05:07the golf courses and tea estates. But the real highlight of Nuawa Aliyah is the tea.

05:12This is the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country and you can tour a plantation, watch

05:17how the leaves are picked and processed and then enjoy a hot cup of world famous

05:21Ceylon tea in the cool mountain air. We stayed in a cozy cottage here and it

05:26honestly felt like we were in another country. It does get surprisingly cold so pack a

05:31jacket. You can also visit the beautiful Hat Gala Botanical Garden or rent a boat

05:36on Gregory Lake for a relaxing afternoon. It's the perfect spot to slow down, sip

05:41tea by the fire and enjoy the mountain scenery. Number five, Hikadua. At number

05:47five we head back to the coast to Hikadua, a lively beach town with a fun

05:51mix of relaxation and nightlife. Hikadua is most famous for its giant sea

05:56turtles which often swim right up to the beach. You don't even need to snorkel far, you

06:00can literally see them while standing in the shallow water. The coral reefs here

06:04are also fantastic for snorkeling and diving and during the day beaches are

06:08filled with surfers, swimmers and people just soaking up the sun. But Hikadua

06:13really comes alive at night with reggae bars, seafood barbecues and music right

06:18on the sand. Number four, Welagama. Number four on the list is Welagama which is

06:23well known as one of Sri Lanka's top surf towns. What makes Welagama special is that

06:28it's perfect for beginners. The long sandy bay has gentle waves and there are

06:32surf schools everywhere offering lessons for around twenty dollars. You'll see

06:37people of all ages learning to surf here. The town itself has a relaxed

06:40bohemian vibe and there are yoga studios, smoothie bowl cafes and backpacker

06:46hostels mixed with the traditional markets and fishing boats. Offshore you'll

06:50spot Tabrobane Island, a tiny island with a villa on top which has become one of the

06:55most photographed spots in the country. It's not a big party town but if you're

06:59looking for surf, yoga and chilled out beach lifestyle Welagama is ideal. Coming

07:04in at number three is Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's most famous safari

07:09destination. That's right, you can do a safari in Sri Lanka. The park is home to

07:14elephants, crocodiles, peacocks, water buffalo and hundreds of bird species. But the

07:20star of the show is the Sri Lankan leopard. Yala has one of the highest leopard

07:24densities in the world so your chances of spotting one are better here than

07:28almost anywhere else in the world. We still remember the excitement of having

07:31to stop our tuk-tuk in the middle of the highway while a giant elephant crossed

07:36the road about 20 meters in front of us. An experience we'll never forget. You can

07:41do half day or full day safaris here or you can just drive your own vehicle such

07:45as a tuk-tuk through the National Park itself. If you're going to be coming through

07:49Yala National Park it's definitely worth getting up early in the morning when the

07:53animals are most active. Yala is wild, raw and a reminder of just how incredible Sri Lanka's

07:59natural diversity really is. Sigeria Rock Fortress. At number two is the iconic Sigeria

08:05Rock Fortress also known as the Lion Rock. This UNESCO World Heritage Site rises nearly

08:11200 meters above the jungle and the climb to the top takes you past ancient frescoes,

08:17mirror walls and the giant lion's paw carved into stone at the entrance. At the summit you'll find the

08:22ruins of an ancient palace and the views stretch for miles in every direction, jungle, lakes and

08:29distant mountains. It's one of the most breathtaking sights in Sri Lanka. If you're

08:33looking for a cheaper and less crowded alternative, nearby Pidurangular Rock offers

08:39equally stunning views especially at sunrise but if it's your first time in

08:43Sri Lanka, Sigeria itself is an absolute must. And finally number one, Ella, the crown jewel of

08:49Sri Lanka's hill country. This little mountain town stole our hearts. Surrounded by tea plantations,

08:55waterfalls and lush valleys, Ella has the perfect mix of nature, adventure and laid-back charm. The

09:01highlight here is the Nine Arches Bridge, an Instagram favorite where you can watch trains

09:05pass through the jungle. For hikers, Little Adams Peak and Ella Rock both offer jaw-dropping views of the

09:11valley and if you just want to relax there are plenty of hillside cafes with panoramic views. The perfect

09:17place to sip tea and watch the mist roll in. Ella is one of those places that feels both peaceful

09:23and

09:23alive at the same time. It's the kind of spot where you plan to stay for two nights and end

09:28up staying

09:29a week. For us, it's the ultimate must visit destination in Sri Lanka. And that's our countdown

09:34of 10 must visit places in Sri Lanka. From the busy streets of Colombo to the quiet mountain magic of

09:40Ella, this country truly has something for everybody. If you've been to Sri Lanka, let us know your favorite

09:45spot in the comments and if you're planning a trip, which of these places will you visit first?

09:50Don't forget to like, subscribe and hit the bell for more travel guides and inspiration.

09:54Thanks again for watching and we'll see you in the next video.

10:15Bye.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended