Sri Lanka in Ten Days: Tea, Temples and the South Coast
One small island packs in ancient cities, misty tea country, leopards and a coastline of perfect beaches. Here's how to string it together.
Sri Lanka is small on the map and enormous in variety. In the space of a single week you can climb an ancient rock fortress, ride through cloud forest on a train, track leopards in a national park and end up flat on a beach with a king coconut in hand. The trick is not to try to see all of it, but to run one clean loop and let the island's rhythms carry you.
Start in the Cultural Triangle
Begin in the centre, around Sigiriya and Dambulla. Climb the Lion Rock early, before the heat and the crowds, and give an afternoon to the cave temples. This is the deep-history part of the trip, and two or three days is plenty before you start moving south.
Take the Train Through Tea Country
The stretch from Kandy to Ella is one of the world's great train journeys, hours of tea terraces, waterfalls and green hills sliding past an open door. Book a seat in advance, then base yourself in the hills for a couple of nights of cool air, tea-estate walks and early starts.
Finish on the South Coast
Come down to the coast for the final few days. The south is a string of beaches, surf towns and the lovely old fort city of Galle, with whale watching off Mirissa in season. This is where you stop moving and simply enjoy the island.
Where to Stay
For the south-coast leg, the Weligama Bay Marriott is an easy, comfortable base right on a calm surf bay, well placed for Mirissa, Galle and a lot of very good beaches.
