Everyone knows someone who’s been to Sri Lanka. Thousands of blogs highlight must-visit spots, dining, and (often sponsored) accommodations. So, what makes this post different? For one, it’s not sponsored. Second, we made mistakes. And finally, we’re not typical tourists — sometimes we seek solitude instead of hitting every popular spot. If you’re planning a trip to this vibrant island in the Indian Ocean, our optimized Sri Lanka 10-day itinerary will help you make the most of your time and learn from our mistakes.
Sri Lanka has it all: rich culture, diverse landscapes, delicious cuisine, endless beaches, and exotic wildlife. If you want to see “everything”, 14 days is a safer bet. But let’s be honest – not everyone is an avid hiker, surfer, or culture enthusiast. If you focus on what truly interests you, 10 days is absolutely realistic. After visiting Sri Lanka twice (in 2025 and 2026), I could now easily fit my bucket list into a 10-day road trip. That’s 10 full days, not including travel time, which depends entirely on where you’re flying from. Our 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary combines both our trips, based on real driving times.
Before we hit the road, check out the essential information about Sri Lanka in this post. You’ll also find plenty of useful tips and photos in my Sri Lanka highlights on Instagram.
Day 1: COLOMBO – SIGIRYA
Depending on your arrival time, either spend the first night in Colombo or head straight towards Sigiriya – UNESCO Heritage site, a must-see on every Sri Lanka itinerary. It’s a 4–5 hour trip, so plan realistically – don’t drive tired or after dark. We stayed overnight in Kurunegala (on the way), leaving us with less than a 2-hour drive the next morning. Technically, this is a part of “transfer day”, so Day one starts in the next parahraph.
We reached Sigiriya in time for lunch with a beautiful view of Lion Rock . You’ll spot it from the road, with plenty of photo stops along the way. After checking into the hotel, we climbed Pidurangala Rock — the smaller hill opposite Sigiriya with fantastic views and a much cheaper entrance (under 3€). The hike is steep but short (less than 20 min. for us, 30–45 for most). There’s plenty of space at the top to relax and enjoy views of the rock you’ll visit the next day.
Tip to save time: Arrive in Sigiriya early, do both rocks in one day, and continue your journey. Just buy your Sigiriya ticket before 5 PM — they may let you in later, but tickets are only sold until then.
Day 2: SIGIRIYA – GAMPOLA
We didn’t want to rush our trip on the first day, so we chose an early-morning climb to Sigiriya the next one. We started at 6 AM (too late for sunrise, but we didn’t mind), and it took us under 25 min’ to reach the top (yes, we’re crazy). The climb has about 1.200 stairs, so you’re basically walking up steps the whole way. However, it has some steep sections, so it’s not a walk in the park either.
The entrance fee to Sigiriya is $35. Is it worth it? If it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – yes. The views from the top are beautiful, though not particularly spectacular (speaking as a hiker used to alpine scenery). The park surrounding Sigiriya is lovely and very well maintained, and judging by the ongoing renovations, that upkeep clearly comes at a cost.
We skipped Kandy both times (not our cup of tea) and spent the night in Gampola.
DAY 3: GAMPOLA – ADAM’S PEAK
This day was meant to be more of a transfer day, but we took a small detour — and WHAT a detour it was! I picked a waterfall on Google Maps, and it turned out to be the best surprise on our trip. Aberdeen Waterfall is well hidden (you can’t spot it from the road), and the path down isn’t something you just do in passing.
You park with the locals and pay peanuts for them to watch your car. Then you walk about 700 steps down to something so beautiful it almost hurts your eyes. We were completely alone and had the whole waterfall to ourselves. We took a refreshing swim and wished we’d brought water and snacks so we could stay longer. On the other hand, we still had to drive to Sirpada National Park, so the roughly 1-hour waterfall stop was just perfect.
Tip if you have time before leaving Gampola: If you like short hikes with nice views and are driving a tuk-tuk, check out Peacock Hill. The road to the start is rough, but the easy 20-minute walk through a lush pine forest is worth it. Also known as Monara Gala, it offers 360° views over Nuwara Eliya and the Kotmale Reservoir. Bonus sights along the way: an abandoned tea factory and the dome of Doragala Buddhist Temple.
DAY 4: ADAM’S PEAK (SRI PADA) – ELLA
This was our toughest day — both hiking and driving. We woke at 5 AM and headed to Adam’s Peak, a 2,243 m sacred mountain with about 5,500 stairs and roughly 7 km round trip — basically one long staircase. Most people start at night for sunrise; we went later and caught it on the way up instead, which was nice and far less crowded. The climb usually takes 3–4 hours up; we did it in under 2.5, plus about 2 down.
There’s no entrance fee to hike Adam’s Peak, but the summit is far less attractive than Sigiriya, in my eyes. The top is small, partly fenced, and dominated by a sacred temple, which limits views and photos. Not very impressive for pure “nature hikers,” but extremely important and spiritual for locals.
After a long, hot shower, we drove toward Ella. The plan was to stop overnight, but we pushed through and reached Ella around 5 PM — hats off to my driver.
Tips for first-timers: Don’t rush — spend a night in Nuwara Eliya. It’s a nice (slightly touristy) town with good bars, shops, and restaurants. Another option is a short detour to Ramboda Falls. You can see Lower Ramboda Falls from the road, but a quick 10-minute walk (small fee, under 1€) leads to a great photo spot. Most visitors head instead to the Upper Ramboda Falls, which require a longer uphill hike.
Bonus tip: On the way from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, make a detour towards Bomburu Ella Waterfall (a 3 km muddy hike, but totally worth it!). It can get crowded, though.
DAY 5, 6 AND 7: ELLA
Ella was one of the reasons we returned to Sri Lanka — hills, tea plantations, a lively center (quite different from much of the country), a train station, and the famous Nine Arches Bridge.
First, we took the train from Ella to Badulla and back — about a 1-hour ride each way and a great short option if you want the famous train experience without the long Kandy–Ella journey (which usually takes 6–7 hours). We bought cheap 2nd-class tickets just 30 minutes before the first morning train departure. Badulla itself isn’t very remarkable, so we caught the first train back.
Our favorite activities in Ella were, of course, the hikes. Ella Rock was the tougher one — a 3–5 hour round-trip (40 min. for us, one way), with fantastic views from multiple viewpoints (don’t miss the one overlooking the Ravana Falls).
Second was Little Adam’s Peak — a short walk with gorgeous views (about 15 minutes for us, around 30 minutes uphill for most). The ridge has several small hills; if you walk them all, you’ll gain roughly 200–300 m of elevation, which makes for a nice little leg‑burner. It has nothing — and I mean zero — to do with the real Adam’s Peak, though. 😀
A must-see in Ella is the famous 9 Arch Bridge from 1919, which has several viewpoints, and you can even enjoy the view from Asanka café (great cappuccino too!). The access is easy, just follow the signs – they are everywhere. If you want to avoid the crowds, go there insanely early. We didn’t mind seeing hundreds of people, and it was still a great experience.
Tip for cheap and tasty local food: Raha Café on the corner — take the kottu and thank me later. For coffee, Barista’s cappuccino is excellent (prices are European, but the coffee is worth it.
DAY 8: UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK OR TRANSFER TO TANGALLE
No Sri Lanka road trip is complete without seeing elephants in their natural habitat. You can go to the biggest and most famous, Yala National Park, or choose a smaller one like Udawalawe. If you leave Ella early, you can catch an afternoon game drive — the jeeps and safari providers are right near the entrance, and you can just hop on. Rides usually cost 40–50$ per person.
We skipped the safari, as we’ve already seen our share of elephants during safaris in South Africa, and headed toward Tangalle, where we ended the day on Tangalle Beach, enjoying an insanely beautiful sunset and a nice walk along the shore.
DAY 9: TANGALLE – GALLE
The next morning, we drove to Silent Beach, and it was a sight for sore eyes. The beach is exactly what the name suggests: tranquil and beautiful. The waves were too strong for swimming, but even walking barefoot on the golden sand was blissful.
We also stopped in Mirissa at the “Insta-famous” Coconut Hill — nice, but meh (just a bunch of palms and tourists taking photos) — before escaping the crowds and heading to our beach house in Galle.
Tip for sea lovers: Sri Lanka has plenty of beaches. They’re not Maldives-level, but many are really nice. The catch? Swimming is often tricky — most beaches are better for surfers than swimmers. Keep that in mind when planning your coastal time.
DAY 10: GALLE – KOSGODA
Early in the morning, we went to see Galle Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage site) — a nice and almost tranquil area, a world apart from the chaotic streets of Sri Lanka. You can stroll along the walls, but it will probably be too hot to enjoy for more than a couple of hours.
Since we’re not city lovers (and Sri Lanka’s cities aren’t like the ones we’re used to), we visited the local market and then headed toward Kosgoda. On the way to Colombo, it has a special vibe: wide, peaceful beaches where you might even meet a few cows. Again, not great for swimming, but if you enjoy long beach walks, Kosgoda was my favorite.
CLOSURE WITH BONUS TIPS
Plan your last night carefully: From Kosgoda, we had a 4-hour noisy and breath-challenging ride back to Colombo. We stopped in Bentota (nothing special) and later in one of the malls to kill time before our departure. The malls are very Western-priced, so if you want to buy local goods, I’d suggest doing it elsewhere.
Customize your trip: As I mentioned at the beginning, this is just an example of a full 10-day itinerary. It didn’t actually happen exactly like this — it’s a combination of 2025 and 2026 — but still within a realistic timeframe. You could shorten your Ella visit and add an extra day on the beach, or skip Adam’s Peak (which isn’t for everyone) to gain another day.
What we would have done differently: In 2026, we made the mistake and took a detour to the coast, which we didn’t enjoy too much in 2025. To be honest, the best choice for my spoiled self would have been to stay in central Sri Lanka and combine it with a trip to the Maldives. I should have known better — and I doubt I’ll make the same mistake a third time. 😛
