Sri Lanka – 6 Beautiful Places to add to your Itinerary

Before I share my list of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka, please allow me to shout out the gorgeous Siobhan over at @agirlwhoblooms who invited me to come along on this trip along with her husband. They were collaborating with the company Artravele and had an extra seat in the car and also invited me to stay with them in some of the accommodation. How generous is the travel community?! I’d been travelling solo on for a few months and having good company made this trip extra special when I needed it the most.

1. HATTON

Rolling tea fields appropriately coupled with copious amounts of tea and a man-made reservoir that reminded me curiously of the English countryside put Hatton at the top of my list: how lovely it was to feel homely in the midst of travelling. I arrived at my homestay in a truly awful rainstorm (I went in September and it seemed to hit around 2pm each day as if triggered by some thundery alarm clock). The hosts pulled my bags from the car as I waved goodbye to Siobhan and ushered me down the stairs to my room under their umbrella.

Within ten minutes they had brought me a teapot full of steaming brew, a plate of spicy ginger biscuits and a bright orange towel so I could dry off. From here I relaxed that evening in the fresh post-rainy air and was rewarded with the most incredible sunset over the clouds. The family made the most amazing dinner of several different Sri Lankan curries to try both nights I was there.

In the day I skipped any attractions such as tea factories or paying for a car to nearby waterfalls and simply walked the tea fields! Armed with my tripod under a bright, warm sun I walked and walked. Locals smiled and asked me questions, sometimes giggling at my dedication to taking photos with a 10-second timer (and running into the frame). Their warmth made me feel welcome each time they heard my accent they were keen to tell me their opinions of the previous English occupation of Sri Lanka! But they were very sweet.

Isn’t it strange how the simplest moments have a special place in our hearts? For me, sitting with a towel wrapped around my wet hair – an honour for a budget backpacker who’d been using a t-shirt towel for months – and enjoying a pot of tea.

2. KANDY TO ELLA TRAIN RIDE

Sit back and enjoy one of Asia’s most scenic train rides! A must-do on any Sri Lanka itinerary, and best of all, it’s cheap, not out of your way and thus can be used to get you from A to B. I actually went from Hatton to Ella, which still included the most ‘scenic’ part of the train ride. Expect lots of lush, green scenery and to share carriages with the friendly locations – truly a must-do!

3. BIG OR LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK

Although I’m not usually one to back down from a big hike, time constraints and stormy weather made us choose Little Adam’s Peak over its big brother. And just look at these views? Talk about little work for huge rewards – this easy hike can’t have taken much longer than half an hour. I mean seriously. For me it’s a must-do as the location, in general, is gorgeous and Ella can be combined with the above train journey, as well as being home to the Nine Arch Bridge AND is not too far from Diyaluma Falls which I mention below.

In contrast, Big Adam’s Peak takes around four hours and has equally spectacular views. It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to scenic viewpoints in Sri Lanka!

While you’re in Ella, you have to check out the iconic nine-arch bridge! To find out why check out this informative article – the viewpoints they list will be useful for everyone and their info is invaluable for photographers.

4. DIYALUMA FALLS

A local took me on this hike because I was the only tourist at the accommodation (see above – rainy season, when you also better watch out for leeches!) and didn’t ask for a penny. How sweet is that? If the waterfall is not too big you can take a dip in these natural infinity pools or hike further up to see just how large these falls really are.

5. THE SOUTH COAST:

• Mirissa / Coconut Tree Hill
• Unawatuna
• Galle

It’s hard to find a bad spot on the South Coast of Sri Lanka, yet alone try and favour one as the most beautiful… so here are three suggestions! From my experiences there, I think if I had to pick one I’d probably say visit Galle if you’re a budget backpacker who likes to see a lot as there is more sightseeing and lots to do without needing a car. If you’re a beach bum Unawatuna has a simply gorgeous stretch of sandy beaches and for those wanting to rock their Instagram account with minimal effort, the Coconut Tree Hill might just be the most photogenic place I’ve ever been!

These photos were all taken by Joe, who might just be the most modest photographer ever. (He also took the below shot which is my absolute favourite!)

6. UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

Being opposed to zoos (and I’m afraid many of the so-called sanctuaries too) this was a dream day! As far as I can tell this was a truly ethical way to see wild elephants! Oh, and peacocks. We also saw a lot of peacocks… Yippee.

But most of all I was just excited by the elephants! A once-in-a-lifetime experience I couldn’t be more thankful for, organised by Siobhan and Artravele. (I wasn’t collaborating with them but it was like a backpacker fairytale to be invited along for the ride and I couldn’t be more thankful for it!)

What do you think the most beautiful place in Sri Lanka is? Or which are you most excited to visit?