SRI LANKA FOR 7 DAYS (Complete Itinerary and Guide)

DAY 0 Arrival at Colombo Airport

bought Dialog sim card for LKR 1,300

Uber to Hostel LKR 2,500

Stayed at a hostel in Colombo (near Colombo Fort/train station)

Day 1 Kandy

Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in Sri Lanka after the coastal regions had been conquered by the Portuguese but it was conquered in 1815 by the British. As the capital, Kandy had become home to the relic of the tooth of the Buddha and continued to be its home even after being colonized until the present.

Time	Activity	Cost (in LKR)
8:30am	Train Colombo Fort to Kandy (takes 2.5hrs ride)  Breakfast on the train	250
12nn	Check in at hostel Lunch
1pm	Kandy Walking Tour Kataragama Devalaya, Red Mosque, Queens Hotel, Lake Kandy, Kandy Viewpoint, St Paul's Cathedral, Temple of the tooth (insider tip: visit during the ‘pooja’ prayer time at 5am 9am or 6pm to witness the ceremony) If you have more time:  Royal Botanical Garden Udawattakele Forest Reserve Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha statue	1,500 Temple of the Tooth entrance fee
7pm	Dinner, Rest

Day 2 Sigiriya/Dambulla

Sigiriya known as the “the Lions rock” is the tourist spot. But according to reviews and some recommendations, Pidurangala rock is better and way way cheaper (Sigiriya costs 1500 rupees) 

8am	Air con Bus to Dambulla (Walked to the bus station)  Breakfast on travel	220
10:30am	Arrived Dambulla Took a tuktuk due to limited time.  (Bus to Sigiriya only costs 50 rupees but you have to wait.)	1000
11am	Start of hike to Pidurangala Rock (took me only 30 mins to reach the top)  Lunch at the top (brought with me food)	500 Entrance fee
1pm	Started to climb down Plus a 2km hike from foot of pidurangala to the bus stop
2pm	I was lucky to have hitched a ride to Dambulla and back to Kandy.  But commuting is like this: Bus to Dambulla Caves - 50 rupees Walk from bus station to Dambulla Caves Dambulla to Kandy by bus If you have time: Minneriya National Park (to see elephants, but please don’t ride on them!)	1500 (Dambulla caves entrance fee)  Dambulla caves closes at 6pm
8pm	Dinner at hostel in Kandy, Rest

Day 3 Nuwara Eliya

8:47am	Train Kandy to Nanuoya (4 hours) Train tip: sit on the right facing the direction of the train If you want to avoid the crowd and without seats, book in advance but 2nd class and 3rd class is more exciting (and cheaper too)	120 fare
1pm	Bus to hostel / Check in at hostel	15
3pm	Lovers Leap Falls and Pedro's Estate Bus from Nanuoya to N eliya. bus N eliya to Buralanda (takes about 1 hour) stop at the bus station and walk 2km to falls or ride a tuktuk (LKR 500-1000)	25 20
4pm	Buralanda to N Eliya Walking tour at town: Old Post office Hatton National bank The Grand hotel Victoria Park (didn't enter this. Entrance fee is 300 for tourists)  Central Market	20
6pm	Bus to N. Eliya to Nanuoya Dinner ℅ hostel in Nanuoya of Rice and Curry	25

Day 4 N.Eliya to Ella Train

8am	Breakfast at hostel Bus to N. Eliya Bust N. Eliya to Labukalle	25 35
9am	Arrive at Damro tea factory Free tour with free one cuppa tea!
11am	Bus Labukalle to N. Eliya	35
12nn	Souvenir shopping at market. Ref magnets and key chains at 150-200 Lunch
1pm	Bus N. Eliya to Nanuoya Wash up say goodbye	25
3pm	Bus hostel to Nanuoya station	15
3:50pm	Train Nanuoya to Ella 3rd class	80
7:30pm	Arrival (train was late by an hour)  Check in at hostel in Ella Dinner Rest

Day 5 Ella

7am	Wake up Breakfast Reserved 2nd class sleeper train	750 fare
8am	Start hike to Nine Arch Bridge (follow the train track from Nanuoya. Walk for 40 Mins) Little Adam's Peak (an hour hike from nine Arch and another 40 mins hike upward) Tip: use Maps.Me app to avoid being lost
1pm	Late lunch. Highly recommend the buffet for 350 rupees
2pm	Roam around town
6pm	Dinner
6:50pm	Sleeper train to Colombo Fort

Day 6 Galle

6:30am	Arrived in Colombo Fort Pickme tuktuk to hostel	55
9am	a/c Bus to Galle (3 hours) Breakfast on the way	330
12nn	Walking tour in Galle fort (it’s just 5 min walk from bus station) Museums have entrance fees (i didnt go in them) Lunch	Free
4pm	a/c bus to Colombo Bus station	330
7:30pm	arrived , Dinner, rest at hostel in Colombo

Day 7 Colombo City

7am	Wake up call, breakfast
8am	Start DIY city tour (on foot) Wimaladharma Clock Tower  Red Mosque Pettah Market - Souvenir shopping
10am	Bus to Cinnamon Gardens Viharamaha Buddha Statue Gangaramaya Temple Seema Malakaya	10
12nn	Lunch Tea shopping at Kheells supermarket More shopping
6pm	Bus 187 to Colombo airport (real fare is only LKR 120, but they overcharged me because of my bags (?/#$%^)	300
11pm	Flight to KL then to PH

GRAND TOTAL (excluding Airfare, Food and Accommodation): LKR 10,985 (php 3,175)

* i actually splurged on food and souvenirs, and i skipped the elephant safari because I didn't have time :(

* but technically, Sri Lanka has a low cost of living, and public transport is very cheap!

ACCOMMODATION

Where I stayed: I used booking.com app 

Kandy: MLSC City View hostel (mixed type dorm room) LKR 1,076 per night (1,000 only if you book directly to the hostel)

Nuwara Eliya: The Crystal Castle - LKR 1,200

Ella: Remo’s Restaurant & Hostel - LKR 1,254 (not highly recommended, too noisy)

Colombo: (i tried 3 hostels here)

My Little Island hostel (mixed type dorm) - LKR 2,000

Colombo Dowtown Monkey Backpackers Hostel - LKR 1,076

55 Fort Train Hostel - LKR 1,615 (NOT RECOMMENDED!!!)

TRAVEL TIPS:

1. Never use the tuktuk without meter. Use PickMe app or uber. Or walk
   
2. Choose hostels near the train/bus station. Much easier to drop your things if you’re in a hurry.
   
3. Bring rubber shoes and insect repellant.
   
4. Exchange money at the airport, they have higher rates than in the cities.
   
5. Buy a local sim at the airport. Mobile data can be very useful when navigating or booking hostels. I bought Dialog sim with a local plan of 6gb (2gb morning + 4 gb evening) for only 1,300 rupees.
   
6. Train schedule here (all times currently correct) https://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm
   

FOOD TO TRY:

1. Rice and curry. They’re everywhere!
   
2. Kotthu
   
3. Egg hoppers! My favorite! Only 50 rupees at markets and stalls
   
4. String hoppers
   
5. Milk rice (kiribath with Lunu miris)
   
6. Fish and egg rolls
   
7. Samosas
8. Isso Vadei
9. Rotti
   
10. P&S for desserts and cakes