For glowing seashores, sapphire-blue waves, lilting palm bushes, emerald hills and the scent of seafood hanging on the breeze, come to Sri Lanka.
The manageable measurement of this island nation means you possibly can see the whole lot on a brief journey, from brochure-class seashores and elephant-filled nationwide parks to ruined Buddhist stupas (monuments) – notably when you rent a automotive and driver.
Whereas some folks road-trip round Sri Lanka with a rented motorbike or scooter, renting a automotive with a driver is the best possibility. Most drivers communicate English and know the ins and outs of driving within the nation, together with the perfect roadhouses to cease at for fiery rice and curry.
To see the perfect of the nation with your personal wheels, listed here are our favourite highway journeys in Sri Lanka.
1. Colombo to Matara
Finest highway journey for seaside lovers
Colombo–Matara; 133 km (83 miles)
This simple tour south from Colombo follows the trail of the coastal railway, linking historic cities with a few of Sri Lanka’s most well-known seaside resorts. You gained’t discover an excessive amount of peace and quiet in peak season, however you can find loads of sun-smooched sand and good locations to remain, eat and catch a wave.
Begin in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s history-stuffed capital metropolis. Discover temples and markets and superb eating on crab curry, then drift south to the sands of Aluthgama and Bentota, taking time to detour inland to the charming Temporary Backyard. When you have the finances, this stretch of coast has a few of Sri Lanka’s finest Ayurvedic spa resorts. Pause for a day or two of water enjoyable in Hikkaduwa, and drop by Ambalangoda to delve into the island’s custom of kolam (masked dances).
It’s again to historical past in Unesco-listed Galle, with colonial-era streets wrapped round a historic lighthouse and a fortress constructed by Dutch colonizers. Eat and sleep properly within the outdated heart, then hyperlink by means of beachy Unawatuna and surfy Midigama and Weligama, squeezing in a detour to the Handunugoda Tea Property earlier than wrapping up within the authentically Sri Lankan city of Matara.
Planning tip: In case you’ve by no means surfed in Sri Lanka earlier than, the resort of Hikkaduwa gives a straightforward introduction to bathtub-warm waters. It’s additionally a hub for snorkeling and diving, with an inshore reef off the principle seaside that’s nice for households.
2. Colombo to Badulla throughout the Hill Nation
Finest highway journey for tea lovers
Colombo–Ella; 240km (145 miles)
It’s not all about seashores in Sri Lanka. The journey inland from Colombo to the Hill Nation is one in all Sri Lanka’s most evocative rail journeys, and it’s simply as spectacular by highway. Ranging from the capital and taking common stops to look out over the surroundings, hint the A1 freeway inland to larger floor and the sacred metropolis of Kandy, residence to Sri Lanka’s most revered temple.
Coming with a automotive and driver makes it simple to go to close by temples and gardens and the Ceylon Tea Museum earlier than heading to severe tea nation. Take the highland highway to Nuwara Eliya by means of jade-green tea plantations, stopping at estates corresponding to Glenloch to study in regards to the tea-making course of. Verify right into a colonial-era resort (we price the Hill Membership) and take excessive tea on the Grand.
Roll on through the putting Horton Plains to Haputale, the place tea-mogul Sir Thomas Lipton based his empire. Go to Lipton’s manufacturing facility at Dambatenne earlier than looping previous extra hillside viewpoints to Ella to guide into an area guesthouse and luxuriate in correct Sri Lankan home-cooking. We depart it as much as you whether or not you snap an Instagram pic of the 9 Arches bridge simply exterior city.
Planning tip: The Horton Plains are like nowhere else in Sri Lanka – an eerily silent space of excessive nation that stops abruptly on the sheer drop-off of World’s Finish. Pay the nationwide park charges close to Farr Inn and also you’re free to discover on foot on designated trails.
3. A circle of historic cities
Finest journey for historical past
Anuradhapura–Kandy, 180km (112 miles)
The inexperienced plains of central Sri Lanka couldn’t be farther from the sun-and-sand picture of the coast. Right here you’ll discover the ruins of Sri Lanka’s historic Buddhist kingdoms spilling out from forests that teem with bee-eaters and hornbills.
Begin in Anuradhapura, the place two-millennia-old brick stupas the scale of plane hangers are nonetheless websites of each day worship. Pay your respects at Sri Maha Bodhi, a tree propagated from the very tree underneath which the Buddha attained enlightenment, and head on to the fascinating monastic advanced at Ritigala.
Break from the ruins at elephant-thronged Minneriya Nationwide Park, then dive again in once more at Polonnaruwa, residence to a few of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular temples, statues and ruins. Slingshot west through Sigiriya, whose rocky outcrop is topped by the ruined citadel palace of King Kasyapa, reached through a vertiginous stairway.
Roll south to Dambulla, the place the dusty brickwork is changed by cave temples painted in vivid main colours. Convey the journey updated with one final cease at Kandy, the place the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic remains to be the beating coronary heart of contemporary Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Planning tip: Attempt to time your go to to Anuradhapura to coincide with a poya day – festivals that mark every passing full moon. Pilgrims flock to the stupas wearing immaculate white garments and the brick plinths are wrapped in bolts of coloured material by devotees.
4. One of the best of Sri Lanka’s nationwide parks
Finest for wildlife spotters
Mirissa–Arugam Bay; 440km (273 miles)
This cross-country jaunt takes in a few of Sri Lanka’s most epic wildlife encounters, visiting nationwide parks each well-known and quiet and cruising offshore to fulfill Sri Lanka’s largest wild animal, the blue whale. Certainly, that’s the primary exercise earlier than you drive on from the south-coast resort of Mirissa. Feathered mates of all sizes and shapes are the principle attracts inland at Sinharaja Forest Reserve, and so they’re finest encountered on foot with an area information.
Roll east to fulfill elephants at Uda Walawe Nationwide Park (in additional peaceable environment than at crowded Yala Nationwide Park), then return to the coast for fowl encounters amid dunes and lagoons at Bundala Nationwide Park. You’ll have to loop inland to succeed in Kumana Nationwide Park – a a lot simpler journey with a automotive and driver than by public transport – the place you stand probability of a liaison with a leopard. End up on the seaside at Arugam Bay for some browsing downtime.
Planning tip: Totally different seasons convey totally different wildlife experiences. Touring in November brings respectable probabilities of recognizing whales, elephants and leopards, however the perfect time for elephant recognizing is from July to October when pachyderms collect in nice herds.
5. Exploring Sri Lanka’s east coast
Finest highway journey for escaping the crowds
Arugam Bay–Trincomalee; 260km (162 miles)
Issues are quieter on Sri Lanka’s east coast, and it’s dry in the course of the island’s Could-to-August off-season, making this a fantastic journey for vacationers on a finances. En route, you possibly can cease at laid-back surf hubs and historic cities that really feel extra authentically Sri Lankan than the resorts within the south and west. Begin with a wave at Arugam Bay, one of many island’s most enjoyable browsing spots. Cease for a day to discover less-visited temples and birding spots on the lagoons round Pottuvil.
Shifting north up the coast, you’ll cross the Gal Oya river (comply with it inland for wildlife encounters in under-explored Gal Oya Nationwide Park) en path to Batticaloa, the place you possibly can discover colonial relics, various non secular websites and superb seashores. Let the coast name you additional north towards Trincomalee, the place Dutch and British historical past nudges up towards Tamil tradition. Use Trinco as a base for day excursions to the seashores of Uppuveli and Nilaveli and snorkeling with reef sharks and turtles at Pigeon Island Nationwide Park.
6. A style of the North
Finest highway journey for Tamil tradition
Colombo–Jaffna; 600km (373 miles)
Vacationers have lengthy ignored Sri Lanka’s once-troubled north, however with peace prevailing within the island’s Tamil heartland the time is ripe for exploring. Ranging from Colombo, drift north by means of laid-back Negombo and get your first style of Tamil structure on the Madampe Murugan temple. Cease in a single day on the peaceable Kalpitiya Peninsula, Sri Lanka’s kite-surfing capital.
Earlier than you enter the Tamil north correct, swing by Wilpattu Nationwide Park – one of many island’s extra peaceable reserves – then duck onto Mannar Island to admire the baobab bushes and get as near India as you possibly can with out leaving Sri Lanka. From right here on north, Hindu Tamil tradition dominates; look out for vividly painted kovils (Hindu temples) as you comply with the A32 north throughout the lagoon to Jaffna.
In Sri Lanka’s northern capital, richly spiced Tamil meals is the order of the day. Feast on crab curry and tour the Dutch-era fort and the pilgrim-thronged courtyards of the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil. This may very well be the top of the journey, however you might additionally spend a day or extra exploring the quiet seashores and outpost villages of the as soon as war-torn Jaffna Peninsula to see how far Sri Lanka has come because the finish of the civil warfare in 2009.
Ideas for driving in Sri Lanka
It’s potential to self-drive a automotive in Sri Lanka, however most individuals desire to depart the driving to somebody with expertise of native situations. Hiring a automotive with a driver is simple, and also you’ll get to go to some native meals stops you’d in all probability miss going it alone. Operators corresponding to Historical Lanka can type you out with a automotive and a pleasant, skilled driver from US$65 per day. You’ll even be higher positioned to navigate any gasoline shortages on the island, as tour drivers have precedence entry to gasoline.
Whereas motorbike and scooter rental isn’t as widespread as in Southeast Asia, it’s simple and cheap to rearrange alongside the coast. The roads are typically properly maintained, although potholes are widespread on again lanes and within the hills. Be careful for wandering canine, chickens and wildlife (together with elephants – when you see a jumbo on the highway, again away). Watch out for dashing vehicles and buses, which gained’t decelerate for one thing as lowly as a bike. Attempt to keep away from being on the roads after darkish, when hazards are tougher to identify.
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