2-Week Sri Lanka Itinerary: Culture, Tea, Beaches & Luxury
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Sri Lanka got under our skin.
This teardrop-shaped island turned out to be one of the most fascinating countries we’ve visited.
Before going, we spent countless hours researching and planning our trip. We dreamed of climbing the great rock fortress of Sigiriya, roaming the historic fort city of Galle, hiking through tea country and snoozing under waving palms on a golden-sand beach.
And we wanted to experience the highlights in style – staying in some of Sri Lanka’s gorgeous hotels along the way.
If you’re looking to experience the best of Sri Lanka in two weeks – mixing adventure and culture with a good dose of luxury – this circle itinerary is for you.
It takes you from Colombo to the ancient temples and ruins of the Cultural Triangle, then to Kandy (Sri Lanka’s last capital). From there, you’ll ride the legendary Kandy-to-Ella train into the misty hills for tea-country hiking, before finishing with some blissful beach time on the palm-fringed south coast.
We actually spent a month exploring the country.
But if you have just two weeks, this customizable luxury Sri Lanka itinerary gives you a wonderful taste of the country – with enough time to enjoy each stop along the way.
Our 2-week Sri Lanka itinerary
Ancient cities, misty tea country, Galle’s atmospheric fort and golden beaches – here’s how the 14 days unfold.
- DAYS 1 & 2 | Colombo → Recover from your flight and explore the capital
- DAYS 3 & 4 | Anuradhapura → Discover ancient stupas, temples and Mihintale
- DAY 5 | Sigiriya Climb spectacular Sigiriya Rock
- DAYS 6 & 7 | Kandy → Visit the Temple of the Tooth and Royal Botanic Gardens
- DAY 8 | Kandy to Ella → Ride one of the world’s most scenic train routes
- DAYS 9 & 10 | Ella → Hike through the hills and tour a tea factory
- DAYS 11 TO 13 | Galle and beaches → Explore Galle Fort and unwind on the south coast
- DAY 14 | Colombo → Squeeze in a final pool or beach afternoon before your flight home
We traveled around Sri Lanka with a private car and driver/guide – by far the easiest and most comfortable way to go. When we took the train from Kandy to Ella, our driver even took our big suitcase with him and met us again in Ella a few days later!
See “Getting around” at the end of this guide for more.
Should you add a safari to your trip?
You may have noticed there’s no wildlife safari in our 14-day Sri Lanka itinerary. That’s intentional.
We’ve been lucky enough to go on several safaris in Africa. And after reading reports of jeep crowds in Yala National Park (Sri Lanka’s most famous national park), we wondered if a Yala safari would live up to what we’d experienced in Africa.
But wildlife is a big Sri Lanka draw!
We’re returning soon to explore some of the country’s less-touristy national parks – and (hopefully!) spot plenty of leopards, elephants, crocodiles and maybe even a sloth bear.
If this is your one and only Sri Lanka trip, though, you may well want to include a safari. And you can easily work one into this itinerary.
How to squeeze in a safari
Drop a day in Anuradhapura and spend longer in Sigiriya, adding an elephant safari in Minneriya or nearby Kaudulla National Park. Or shave a day off your Galle/beach stay and head to Yala.
See “Add a wildlife safari” at the end of this guide for more ideas and details.
The best 2-week luxury Sri Lanka itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Colombo
International flights arrive in Colombo (actually in the nearby coastal town of Negombo).
After your long flight, you’ll want to relax.
We stayed at the deluxe Shangri-La Colombo, which has a wonderful rooftop pool, perfect for lazing about while still feeling a bit sluggish.
Day 2 – Explore Colombo
You may be tempted to head out of the capital immediately after spending a night in the city.
But there are enough interesting colonial buildings and things to do in Colombo to warrant spending a day exploring the city. (We toured independently, but there are some great guided city tours, like this private half-day tour by tuk-tuk.)
Galle Face Green
Shake off jet lag with a walk along Galle Face Green, a long stretch of waterfront lawn and urban park.
Pop into the Galle Face Hotel, built in 1864, and soak up the very Victorian vibe.
Perhaps have a cocktail in the air-conditioned bar, decorated with photos of Gandhi, Harrison Ford, Vivian Leigh and other guests who’ve stayed here.
Colombo National Museum
The National Museum of Colombo was established in 1877.
It introduces you to the country’s fascinating history – and whets your appetite for the cultural cities you’ll be visiting after Colombo.
After being greeted by a large stone 9th-century Buddha, skip the pre-historic displays and focus on Rooms 2 through 5.
They cover Sri Lanka’s ancient kingdoms, featuring exhibits from the first capital at Anuradhapura as well as the later capitals of Polonnaruwa and Kandy.
You’ll gawk at ancient jewelry, paintings, masks, statues and more.
Don’t miss the gilded royal throne with velvet cushions made for King Wimaladharmasuriya II in 1693!
Housed in a beautiful 19th century building, the museum isn’t air-conditioned, but the dark rooms keep it reasonably cool.
Plan to devote a couple of hours to the museum to do it justice.
Dutch Hospital and Colombo Fort
Later in the afternoon, when the heat has waned, stroll the Columbo Fort area.
Check out the Clocktower (once used as a lighthouse) and the 17th century Dutch Hospital (now a shopping and restaurant hub, with cobbled courtyards and colonnaded lanes).
Dinner in Colombo
We didn’t dine at the Ministry of Crab, but it’s been named one of Asia’s 50 best restaurants.
If you’re keen to try Sri Lankan curry crab or chilli crab, this is probably as good a bet as any!
Where to stay in Colombo
- Shangri-La Colombo – A polished 5-star stay with a great rooftop pool, free tuk-tuk rides to the Fort area and an exceptional Club Level lounge. (The food and wines were so good, we hardly felt the need to eat out!)
- Galle Face Hotel – For old-world glamor, loads of history and a fabulous seaside setting, this Colombo icon is hard to beat.
Days 3 and 4 – Anuradhapura
Now that you’ve got a couple of nights’ sleep under your belt, you’re ready to begin exploring the rest of the country.
Explore ancient Anuradhapura
First up? The ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Athula, our driver, picked us up for the five-hour drive from Colombo (including a lunch stop).
A treasure trove of 2,000-year-old temples and ruins, Anuradhapura is one of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle.
What is the Cultural Triangle?
The Cultural Triangle takes its name from three historic cities that roughly form a triangle:
- Anuradhapura in the north
- Kandy to the southwest (covered below under “Days 6 and 7: Kandy“)
- Polonnaruwa to the east (we chose Anuradhapura over Polonnaruwa)
Several other major sights lie within the triangle too, including Sigiriya.
Today, Anuradhapura is a sprawling laid-back city.
Ancient ruins, massive bell-shaped stupas and crumbling temples are spread out far and wide among modern-day houses and buildings.
You can see many of the important sights by car in a day – like on this private city day tour of Anuradhapura.
For us, though, a highlight was setting out by bicycle late in the afternoon to pedal through fields of monastery ruins and past lakes built by the early kings for irrigation.
Just after sunset, we ended up at the colossal Ruwanwelisaya stupa.
Buddhist worshipers in white saris laid lotus flower offerings at its base. Incense wafted through the still-hot air. And the lyrical chanting of monks was hypnotic.
It was all so peaceful, we didn’t want to leave.
Mihintale
The next morning, we explored Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Legend has it that in the 3rd century BC, the Buddhist monk Mahinda, son of India’s Emperor Ashoka, met King Devanampiyatissa here and converted him to Buddhism. The hilltop monastery that followed grew into a great center of Buddhist learning and worship.
Among the ruins, our guide showed us a huge stone “rice boat” – a trough some 30 feet long that once held enough rice to feed 2,000 monks.
Even more fascinating was the ancient monastery hospital. Its granite medicinal bath, shaped to cradle a human body, was designed so a patient could soak in precious healing oils without wasting them.
Where to stay in Anuradhapura
Our base was the lovely Uga Ulagalla Resort.
Set among rice paddies and lush jungle, the eco-friendly resort has 26 thatch-roof chalets built using local materials. Not a single tree was cut down during construction, and more than 1,000 new trees were planted.
There’s no stinting on luxury, though – every chalet comes with its own private pool.
Day 5 – Sigiriya
Your next stop in the Cultural Triangle is Sigiriya, home to one of Sri Lanka’s most extraordinary sights.
Climb Sigiriya Rock
Some 1,500 years ago, King Kasyapa built a remarkable royal palace (dubbed the “Sky Palace”) on top of a 660-foot rock pinnacle.
Today, you can climb Sigiriya, the “Lion Rock” – often touted as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Maybe you’ve seen pictures of it? Those images were what first drew us to Sri Lanka!
Go early. You’ll be climbing some 1,200 steps, and there’s no shade at the top.
We arrived just after the site opened at 7:00 am. Within an hour, a conga line of climbers was forming behind us. And by 9:00 am, the heat and humidity had us dripping.
The final ascent isn’t for the faint of heart.
At a plateau about two-thirds of the way up, you pass between two enormous sculpted lion paws. From there, a narrow metal staircase hugs the sheer rock face all the way to the summit.
We swallowed our fear of heights and kept going.
Our reward?
Knockout 360-degree views over the ancient palace gardens and a seemingly endless sweep of green forest.
Sigiriya Rock
- Hours – Open at 7:00 am (check the closing time if you plan to visit late in the day)
- Cost – $35 USD p.p. for foreigners
Get an Ayurvedic massage
Later in the afternoon, Athula suggested we try an authentic Ayurvedic massage treatment at Athreya Ayurvedic Spa in Habarana.
“It’s the best in Sri Lanka – better than any 5-star hotel, and much cheaper too!” he enthused
He steered us well.
The spa is decidedly simple, with wooden treatment huts tucked into a garden of medicinal plants and trees. But the powerful massages worked out every last kink from our Sigiriya climb. And the “steam room” – a rustic little hut filled with aromatic leaves, herbs and mango branches – was lots of fun!
We certainly wouldn’t have found the place or tried this local experience without Athula!
Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla
We also visited the UNESCO-listed Golden Temple of Dambulla. (It’s an easy stop on the drive from Sigiriya to Kandy, your next destination on this itinerary.)
Dating back more than 2,000 years, this extraordinary complex of cave shrines is carved into a 600-foot-high rock. Five main caves are filled with more than 150 Buddha statues, and colorful murals sweep across the walls and ceilings.
It’s about a 15-minute uphill walk to reach the caves, with cheeky monkeys likely keeping you company.
Where to stay in Sigiriya
We stayed at the delightful Water Garden Sigiriya, a 5-star retreat with spacious chalets (some with private pools).
It’s only 15 minutes away from Sigiriya Rock, so we could climb it early in the morning and still be back at the hotel in time for a late breakfast!
Days 6 and 7 – Kandy
The drive from Sigiriya to Kandy takes about 2½ hours.
This will give you almost two full days in the former royal hill capital of Kandy, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We’ve written a separate guide on what to do in Kandy. (Hop on over to that post for details.)
Its biggest drawing card is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Built in the late 16th century, it’s said to hold the sacred relic of a tooth of the Buddha.
Thousands of worshippers come to pray here daily, and it’s humbling to be one with them, cocooned within the temple’s intricately crafted interiors.
You can’t actually see the tooth though – it’s enshrined in a casket guarded by two giant elephant tusks.
If you happen to visit Kandy during the 10-day Festival of the Tooth held each July or August, you’ll witness magnificent torchlight processions.
They involve fire dancers, drummers, acrobats, musicians and more than 100 elephants decked out in lavish garments.
Also special? Kandy’s Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya.
Fancy seeing everything in a day? Try this top-rated Kandy city tour by tuk-tuk.
Where to stay in Kandy
Two of our favorite hillside hideaways around Kandy are:
Both are tucked into the leafy hills close to the city, with attractive rooms, inviting infinity pools and sweeping views.
Day 8 – Ride the train from Kandy to Ella
In Kandy, we temporarily said goodbye to our driver so we could experience the famous train ride from Kandy to Ella.
(Athula kindly took our big suitcase with him, so we only had to haul carry-on wheelies onto the train.)
One of the world’s most beautiful train trips, this 7-hour journey takes you through emerald tea plantations to the bohemian town of Ella, high in the cooler hill country.
Many blogs and guides will try to dissuade you from buying 1st-class tickets on this Sri Lanka train.
You’re warned you won’t get an authentic heads-out-the-train experience unless you travel in 2nd or 3rd class, where the windows open. But that’s not true.
We booked first-class seats for little more than the price of a song (okay, the price of a CD). And we got to hang out all we wanted through an open doorway at the end of the carriage.
When we fancied a break, we retreated to our seats in an air-conditioned carriage. (Bonus: We had access to two Western-style loos.)
We loved every clackety-clack moment of this insanely scenic train ride!
It’s absolutely one of the best things to do in Sri Lanka – and you won’t want to miss it.
Travel tip
Give your driver your bigger suitcases. When he picks you up again in Ella, he can give them back to you. This way, you won’t have to struggle with bulky bags on the train.
Days 9 and 10 – Taste tea and hike in Ella
Ella is the place to hike, soak up glorious mountain views and sip your way through gallons of tea.
Hike Little Adam’s Peak
Start your first day in Ella with an early morning hike up Little Adam’s Peak.
The trails begins at the 98 Acres Resort. It’s well maintained and well marked, so there’s no chance of getting lost.
The path consists mainly of concrete steps leading up to a saddle at the top of the mountain, some 3,740 feet above sea level.
(Don’t worry, because you start at a high elevation, the actual elevation gain is probably under 1,000 feet.)
There’s a small Buddha at the top, along with several viewpoints, all offering gob-smacking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Even though the weather is cooler in the hill country, we were glad we set off about 7:30 am, as it still gets quite warm by around 9:30 am.
The whole roundtrip hike took us about two hours, with a good long break to take photos at the top. We made it back to our hotel in time for a late (and well deserved!) breakfast.
Visit the Halpewatte Tea Factory
Now you get to spend the afternoon tasting tea.
Did you know Sri Lankan tea is some of the best in the world due to the high altitude at which the tea plants are grown?
We hailed a tuk-tuk to ferry us to the Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, perched some 4,000 feet above sea level.
The ride to get there – up a steep road, with hairpin turns, which clings to the side of a mountain slope – is knuckle-clenching and thrilling!
The still-operating factory was built in 1940 during British rule.
We joined a tour taking us through the process of tea production, from picking the tips of the tea leaves to drying, fermenting, sieving and grading the tea.
Learning the science behind a perfect cuppa was quite enlightening!
Then we sampled various teas.
White tea (made from the youngest and least processed of all tea leaves) is the highest quality.
But it’s a no-no to add milk. And as we like our tea with milk, we confess that we preferred trying the more traditional black tea varieties.
Uva Halpetwatte Tea Factory Tours
- Hours – Daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Tours – You can book your English-speaking tour (small group) in advance.
Hike Ella Rock
Lace up your sneakers or hiking shoes again! You’re going on another trek – this time, a longer one up Ella Rock.
Our hotel arranged a guide and return tuk-tuk transportation for us (about $35 USD for the 5-hour excursion). Or you can book this private Ella Rock hiking tour, which is 5-star rated and gets great reviews.
There are several routes up to the top of the rock; we started outside of Ella town at the Kithalella train station.
Threading our way along a narrow red-dirt path through fields of tall grasses, we came to a tea plantation, then finally a steepish hill, where tree roots and rocks helped to provide a foothold.
At the summit, our guide beckoned us to follow him on an intriguing side-path.
Lo and behold, we came to a cave with a couple of seated Buddhas facing the mountains.
It felt like we had stumbled across a hidden secret! We certainly wouldn’t have found this cave were it not for our guide.
On the return – after blissing out on more views of soaring jagged mountains – we hot-footed it along the train tracks on the Black Bridge (not to be confused with the iconic Nine Arches Bridge).
Peering down from the bridge into the canyon below is not for the faint of heart!
Where to stay in Ella
There are now a handful of delightful deluxe hotels in Ella. For the cat’s meow of accommodations?
- 98 Acres Resort and Spa – This eco-luxury resort boasts romantic thatch-roof chalets with stupendous mountain views. Some even have private pools.
- Uga Ghiri – This brand-new ultra-luxe resort has just 15 huge modern villas on a historic tea estate.
Days 11, 12 and 13 – Galle and beaches
After our time in Ella, Athula picked us up again for our onward journey to Sri Lanka’s south coast.
Since our trip was lovely and long, we detoured off to Hambantota (see “More beach time” below).
But you’re going to end your 14 days in Sri Lanka by going straight to Galle.
Galle Fort
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Galle was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century.
The Dutch later fortified the city by building stone walls around it.
Today, with its European vibe, Galle is a huge contrast from the Buddhist cultural sights found up in the Cultural Triangle.
Stroll its rambling lanes, and take in the restored boutique hotels, art galleries, shops and stylish cafés.
A highlight is to walk atop the thick ramparts surrounding the city.
Travel tip
Do as others do and plan your walk on the Galle Fort ramparts for late in the afternoon. It ends up at the iconic lighthouse overlooking the sea at sunset. Magical!
And if you go on a private guided Galle Fort walking tour with a local resident, you can learn all about the fort’s rich history.
Beaches
Sri Lanka boasts many sun-kissed beaches, like Bentota, Mirissa Secret Beach, Arugam Bay and Hikkaduwa, to name just a few.
If you’re interested in surfing, some beaches – Ahangama and Weligama – are among the world’s best places to learn to surf.
Our favorite Sri Lanka beach was Dalawella Beach in Unawatuna, a beachside town.
A long crescent of golden sand, lapped by tranquil turquoise waters and fringed with palm trees, Dalawella is a quintessential beach for swimming and lazing about.
Restaurants tucked into the trees behind the beach rent out sun beds and umbrellas. For delicious wood-fired oven pizza, pop into Wijaya Beach Restaurant.
There’s also a rope swing attached to a palm tree for snapping those cool Insta shots.
Stilt fishermen
You probably want to see Sri Lanka’s iconic stilt fishermen too, right?
Empty wooden perches are strung along the southern shores, waiting for the fishermen to hop up on them and dangle their rods into the water.
Sadly, though, stilt fishing is a dying art today. (Stilt fishermen earn more working other jobs.)
But you can usually find one or two who’ll pose for a photo for a fee :-).
Sea turtles
When walking Koggala Beach our last afternoon, we stumbled across a special surprise. A wild sea turtle had crawled up the sand to lay her eggs.
From January to April, green sea turtles nest along the beaches of Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
We watched in amazement as the mother turtle dropped her golf ball-size eggs. Staff from a nearby turtle sanctuary then gently helped her back into her ocean home.
Then we too turned around to pack up for home, feeling blessed by all the remarkable sights we’d witnessed in this seductive country.
Where to stay in Galle
We stayed at both of the following hotels as we had almost a week in Galle. But with 3 days in Galle, you should pick just one and stay put. (For more choices, see our guide to the best luxury boutique hotels in Galle.)
- Why House – This delightful English villa-style estate is surrounded by tropical gardens and has a great pool. It’s not on the beach, but complimentary tuk-tuks whisk you to nearby Dalawella Beach.
- Fortress Resort & Spa – Sitting smack up against wave-washed Koggala Beach, this was our final stop. After weeks of touring, we were ready to do nothing but read in the hanging bubble loungers, swim in the infinity pool and stroll the empty gold-sand beach (not swimmable) stretching for miles to the west.
Day 14 – Colombo and fly home
Oh, this is a sad day. Your vacation is coming to an end, and today’s the day to fly home.
Depending on what time your flight is, you can spend the day relaxing by the beach and pool until it’s time to drive back to Colombo for your flight home.
The driving time from Galle to Colombo Airport is roughly two hours. Many international flights leave at night, so you may very well have the whole day your last day to take it easy.
Extend your visit
If you can stretch your Sri Lanka trip to three weeks, there’s plenty more to tempt you.
Add more beach time
Before Galle, we headed to Hambantota for three luxurious nights at the Shangri-La Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa.
After spa-ing (yes, we’re making that a word!), lazing by the pool and gazing at the mesmerizing Indian Ocean, we were recharged, relaxed and ready to hit Galle.
Add a wildlife safari
With more time – or to squeeze a safari into your two-week trip – you can tweak your Sri Lanka travel itinerary to explore a national park or two. (Yala and Minneriya are the easiest to work in for a day or half-day safari.)
For leopards
- Yala National Park – In southeast Sri Lanka, Yala is famous for having one of the world’s highest densities of leopards. It’s also the country’s busiest wildlife park, and jeep congestion can be an issue. For a more exclusive safari experience, stay at the Wild Coast Tented Lodge or The Warden’s House, where early starts and quieter safari routes can help you dodge the worst of the day-tripper crowds.
- Wilpattu National Park – High on our list for our next trip, Wilpattu is a much quieter alternative in northwest Sri Lanka, known for leopards, sloth bears, elephants and its beautiful natural lakes. We’re staying at the award-winning Taru Villas Villu, Wilpattu, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
For elephants
- Minneriya National Park – Close to Sigiriya, Minneriya is an easy add-on and one of Sri Lanka’s top places to see wild Asian elephants, especially during the dry season. Take an afternoon private jeep safari from Sigiriya, or combine ancient Polonnaruwa with Minneriya on a full-day tour.
- Kaudulla National Park – It’s another excellent elephant park near Sigiriya. Herds move between Minneriya, Kaudulla and the surrounding area, and local safari operators typically know which park is offering the best sightings.
- Gal Oya National Park – Remote, wild and refreshingly little-visited, Gal Oya offers boat safaris to see elephants swimming between islands, along with crocodiles and beautiful birdlife. Stay at Gal Oya Lodge for the full deluxe wilderness experience – complete with thatch-roof chalets with private pools!
Getting around Sri Lanka
As we mentioned earlier, hiring a car and driver is the easiest and most convenient way to get around Sri Lanka – and by North American standards, it’s quite affordable.
Many visitors travel this way, touring independently with a licensed driver guide who chauffeurs them from place to place. Hotels often provide free accommodation for drivers too.
And believe us, you don’t want to drive yourself. Roads are narrow, traffic can be crazy and driving customs take some getting used to.
We arranged our driver guide through Red Dot Tours, and Athula was a godsend.
We relied on him not only to get us safely from place to place, but for all sorts of things – where to find “Western” loos, which hill climb to a temple offered the most shade, where to buy wine for sipping on our hotel balcony…
And when he drove us to the airport at the end of our trip, he gave us a package of Sri Lankan pastries his wife had made that day to munch on before our flight.
Sri Lanka driver services
Founded in 2000, Red Dot Tours is a Colombo-based tour operator specializing in private tailor-made trips around Sri Lanka.
You can book a complete itinerary with hotels and sightseeing – or simply arrange a private driver guide for your trip, which is what we did.
For more information, see Red Dot Tours.
Ready for two weeks in Sri Lanka?
What stayed with us just as much as the places we visited were the warm friendly people and how green and remarkably litter-free the country was.
And we ate wonderfully well everywhere we went (without any of the stomach troubles we’d half-expected).
We hope you fall for Sri Lanka as much as we did.
Have a wonderful trip! And let us know how it goes in the Comments below.
See our other Sri Lanka travel guides
- 15 of Sri Lanka’s Most Beautiful Hotels
- A Tooth, a Temple and a Treasure
- Oh, Ella! 5 Lovely Places to Stay
- Gorgeous Galle Hotels (Inside the Fort and by the Sea)
- Visit Kandy! Temples, Tea and Tuk-Tuks
- 5 Peaceful Kandy Hotels You’ll Love
- Chug Through Tea Country on the Kandy-to-Ella Train
- 7 Treasures of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
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Our top travel tips and resources
→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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Red Dot Tours provided car and driver services for us as media guests. And many hotels gave us complimentary or discounted stays. But all words, views and Sri Lanka love are entirely ours (we always write what we want, as we experience it).
Photo credits: 2 to 12, 14 to 16, 22 to 26, 29 to 35, 37 to 42, 44, 47 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase
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