8 Top Things to Do in Sri Lanka On Your Next Sri Lanka Vacation

Sri Lanka as a country has a lot to offer, such as checking out its delicious food, visiting holy temples, looking at objects in museums, engaging in water sports at beaches, going on treks and safaris in national parks, and admiring nature’s scenery of hills, peaks, cliffs, and forests, among other things.One may live in metro-fast Colombo or historical suburbia in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. There is never a shortage of things to do in Sri Lanka, which has a wealth of cultural, historical, adventurous, and natural treasures.

Also read: Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka for a memorable Vacation

Top Things to do in Sri Lanka 

1. Kandy to Ella Train Ride
2. Kandy Lake 
3. Watch wild elephants in a National Park
4. Explore The Historicity of the Dutch Fort
5. Spot Exotic Animals at Yala National Park
6. Hikkaduwa
7. Lion Rock
8. Cruise Trip in Trincomalee

1. Kandy to Ella Train Ride

The train trip is one of the most scenic train journeys in the world, and it is a must-do activity in Sri Lanka. The train journey between Kandy and Ella is about 6 hours. The train takes the travellers through tea fields, waterfalls, cliffs, clouds, mist, and other scenery that will make them feel as though they are in a fairy tale. The fares are generally inexpensive, but reservations are needed to fly easily, but the money would be well spent.

2. Sunrise at Kandy Lake 

Kandy Lake, located right next to Kandy’s prize jewel – the Temple of Tooth Relic – offers breathtaking reflections of the stars, particularly on a full moon night that should not be skipped! A walk around Kandy Lake in the morning or evening, with a lush rainforest in the background, would undoubtedly be one of the most peaceful and comforting things to do in Sri Lanka on your visit. Add to that the resonant and soothing chants of Buddhist prayers emanating from the nearby beautiful temple, and you’ll never want to leave this enchanted place.

3. Watch wild elephants in a National Park

Udawalawe National Park has one of the best opportunities of seeing wild elephants. This park was established to protect the watershed of the massive Udawalawe Reservoir, and it is home to approximately 400 pachyderms as well as vast stretches of grassland, scrub jungle, and riverine forest. It is also one of the best locations in Sri Lanka to go birdwatching. Gal Oya National Park has fewer tourists than many of the other parks, but it also has a special experience. Elephants sometimes swim through Senanayake Samudra Lake, Sri Lanka’s largest body of water, here. Visitors will see them by taking a cruise safari.

Also read: The ultimate guide to planning your visit to Udawalawa National Park

4. Explore The Historicity of the Dutch Fort

The Galle Fort, located on Sri Lanka’s southern coast in the bay of Galle, was founded by the Portuguese in 1588 and then extensively fortified in the mid-1600s. UNESCO designated the fort as a World Heritage Site in 1988 in order to protect its cultural heritage. Visiting this fort, which is now surrounded by commercial entities such as jewelry shops, cafes, bookstores, fashion outlets, and the luxurious Amangalla Hotel, should be on every history lover’s list of non-touristy items to do in Sri Lanka. Visitors will stroll along the narrow streets to see sculptures of Portuguese warriors during battle and learn about the relationship of European architecture and South Asian cultures from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

5. Spot Exotic Animals at Yala National Park

Yala National Park was once a hunting ground under British colonial rule, but it now has the world’s largest leopard population. It not only provides a pleasant atmosphere for mammals, but it also provides a pleasant environment for birds. It is one of the most adventurous things to do in Sri Lanka because it is the biggest national park, covering an area of 900 square kilometers. Yala National Park is popular with visitors all year due to its abundance of leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, and deers.

6. Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is located in the Galle district of South Western Sri Lanka, about two hours from Colombo. Hikkaduwa’s beaches have been popular since the 1970s due to their lively nightlife and cuisine. There are many activities to do in Sri Lanka on the beaches, including surfing and other water sports. Hikkaduwa Beach is also home to a massive coral reef known as the Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary, which is ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. Hikkaduwa offers some of the finest scuba diving in Sri Lanka, with exclusive dive sites including wreck dives and stunning coral dives. It’s also said to have the best surfing in Sri Lanka.

7. Lion Rock

Sigiriya, also known as the Lion Rock, is an ancient fort in central Sri Lanka’s Matale District. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it’s a fun thing to do in Sri Lanka. It is located at a height of 370 meters in the Matale District of Central Sri Lanka, between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane. It consists of a citadel, palace ruins, the Lion Gate, gardens, moats, the Mirror Wall, and several magnificent frescoes (paintings made in wet plaster on walls). The Lion Claws carved at the entrance to the Lion Gate inspired the name of the place. The Sigiriya Fortress can be reached by bus or train from the main towns of Dambulla or Habarane.

8. Cruise Trip in Trincomalee

The catamaran cruise trip will provide travellers with memories to last a lifetime in this magnificent country. A morning ride can be taken to enjoy the Catamaran cruise’s delectable barbeque. The cruise allows you to see the serene beaches while listening to soulful songs. It is one of the best things to do in Sri Lanka

Plan your trip with Pickyourtrail

There are a plethora of options when it comes to things to do in Sri Lanka. It is often recommended to seek the assistance of a reputable travel agent when preparing your trip to Sri Lanka. Pickyourtrail, Global travel agency can help you with end to end service completely online all under a single roof. You can schedule a hassle-free holiday with the help of experienced guides or by checking out the international tour packages. Log on to www.pickyourtrail.com for more information. 

Also read: Get wet in Srilanka’s North Eastern Monsoon in November