Sri Lanka had been on my bucket list for years, and finally, the stars aligned for me to visit this beautiful nation. To my surprise, Sri Lanka has much more to offer for a traveler than I ever imagined. From mountains to beaches, from jungles to astonishing downtowns, Sri Lanka has everything, but the most amazing thing is, you don’t have to take flights or travel for long distances in order to change the terrain.
In this blog, i will share my itinerary with you , and share the tricks about how to travel sri lanka in budget, without missing the best fun.
How to apply for visa to enter sri lanka, and the cost of visa?
Indians, along with many other nationalities, don’t need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. However, you do need to complete a simple form called an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before or at the time of arrival at the airport.
The ETA form is easy to fill out — it takes just 5 minutes. You’ll need to provide basic details like your name, passport number, travel dates, and reason for visiting. You can also include your co-travelers in the same application.
Once submitted, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your ETA within 2 to 24 hours.
The best part? For Indians and many others, the ETA is completely free! Just make sure you apply only through the official Sri Lankan government website: https://eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ — avoid third-party sites.
Here is to help plan your 9 days trip to sri lanka including travel tickets, visa, where to go, where to stay, and many more.
How to book cheap air tickets to Sri lanka
The round trip from Delhi to Colombo costs between INR 20-30k, depending upon the touristic season and on your decision to take a direct flight, or the flight with layover. Even if you are not travelling alone, i would suggest to book all the tickets separately. Reason – Almost all the booking apps (Yatra, cleartrip, paytm, etc) offer coupon codes of upto INR 2500. If you book one single ticket, or multiple tickets, a single coupon code will be applied. You might also book your one way ticket from one app, and returning ticket from another app, just like i did, and save almost INR 4k on my tickets.
Cost of Travel
The return flight from Delhi to Colombo is around INR 23k/person (LKR 88416/ person), The total cost of stay is INR 14000 (LKR 50000) . The average cost per meal for two people is LKR 5000 (INR 1400). The tuck-tuck rides are a bit expensive and can cost up to INR 200-300 (LKR 1000) for 5 kms.
Here is your 9 day itinerary for Sri Lanka, including all approximate expenses.
My plan was simple yet ambitious: start with Colombo, venture to the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, finish along the southern coast at Mirissa and Ahangama, and then back to Colombo.
Like I always suggest, and implement, we start the trip from one city and conclude at the same city, in a circular fashion, covering all the major attractions.
Day 1: {Colombo}
My Sri Lanka trip kicked off with a late-night landing at Bandaranaike International Airport in Negombo, which is about a 40–45 minute drive from Colombo city. I touched down around 9 PM and took a tuk-tuk ride straight to the city center, since I had to catch an early morning bus from Colombo Fort to Sigiriya the next day. There are a few beaches in Negombo as well, however they are nothing compared to what you’ll see in the next few days.
That first night, I stayed at a little hostel called Miracle Colombo City Hostel—and let’s just say, it made for quite the memorable start to my trip (not exactly in the way I expected!). I’ll save that story for the end of the blog, but don’t worry—it didn’t take away from how amazing the rest of my time in Sri Lanka was.
Day 2: {Sigiria, Pidurangala}
I took a 4.5-hour local bus from Colombo Fort to Dambulla (Cost: LKR 600 pp), then a 30-minute tuk-tuk ride to Sigiriya (Cost: LKR 2000). You can hire a private Taxi as well, however I would suggest getting a local bus to get the proper Srilankan vibe.
I arrived around 4 PM at my Airbnb, which was about 3 km from Sigiriya town. Eager to catch the sunset and make most of my remaining day, I headed straight to Pidurangala rock for a hike. Pidurangala is a less-visited spot offering better views of the famous Sigiriya Fortress. It was a 20-30 min moderate hike. There were a few narrow, rocky sections where the rocks were tightly packed, requiring occasional pauses to let the crowd pass. Make sure to wear good sports shoes as the surfaces are quite rocky..
Upon reaching the top of Pidurangala, I was rewarded with a breathtaking view. The ancient Sigiriya rock fortress was against the backdrop of the setting sun, while the surrounding landscape stretched out in a patch of forests, and distant mountains. The fading sunlight made it even more beautiful. Make sure to stay there until it’s dark.
Day 3: {Sygria rock, Mapagala } :
Next day I visited Sigriya rock, also known as lion rock, which is a site of historical and archaeological significance. If you are an early riser, go and watch sunset atop sigriya or pidurangala rock, otherwise a visit during the day is also fine, just that the weather is too hot. The ticket price to visit Sigriya rock is 5500 LKR. The site is very well maintained, touristy too. To climb up, there is a long staircase which again takes 20-30 mins. In my personal opinion, it is not worth the price to visit Sigriya rock. You get a very good view of sigriya/lion rock, from the top of Pidurangala rock, and that is where you should stop.
There are many spice gardens at Sigriya,one of them is Herbal garden which is maintained by the government. Entry is completely free, and visitors can enjoy a guided tour at no cost. As an added bonus, you’ll also receive a free herbal massage. The garden is just a 20 min walk or a 5 min tuk-tuk ride from the town.
In the evening, visit Mapagala fortress, which is also a kind of rock. It is at a very short walking distance of 5 mins from the city center, and there is no entry fee. You can easily spot a sign board, or you can ask anyone nearby and use google maps. To my surprise, it is an amazing spot for a sunset, which is not regarded much due to the popularity of lion and pedurangala rock. You can easilyu spot these 2 rocks from mapagala, and you get a good view of the valley and the sunset. I am not sure to commit, but i liked mapagala the most, among all 3 locations.
After sunset, you can explore the local cafes at the city center. Although, there are not many many cafes, but you can enjoy good music, with some beer before leaving sigriya the next day.
Day 4: {Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella}:
I woke up before dawn to catch a 3-hour bus to Kandy, then took another 3.5-hour bus to Nuwara Eliya. From there, I boarded the stunning train to Ella, a ride often taken directly from Kandy. On reaching Nuwara Eliya you can take a bus or a tuk-tuk to Nanu Oya station and purchase a third class ticket which will cost around LKR 900 pp. The 3-hour journey passed through misty mountains, tea plantations, and small villages. This iconic train ride is definitely worth the hype and is definitely not to be missed—be sure to grab a spot near the doorway for the best experience, as leaning out offers the most scenic views.
Day 5: {Diyaluma Waterfall, Secret Waterfall, Ravana Waterfall, Nine Arches Bridge}: With only one day in this beautiful town, I optimized my travel to save time and cover the most incredible spots.
I drove for 1.5 hr and hiked for 25-30 minutes to Diyaluma waterfall, the second-highest waterfall in the country. The water tumbles down through rocky cliffs into plunge pools where you can take refreshing dips. There are three main pools and several picturesque spots. The pool has the most amazing view, it is magical to see the water flowing down the mountains. Then I went down to the bottom of the waterfall and sat bathing under the waterfall with cool, fresh water falling right on my head. Beware of the slippery stones though.
I drove back about 50 minutes towards Ella to reach the Secret Waterfall. The hike to the waterfall is short but involves some uneven terrain. While the waterfall may not be as dramatic as others, it is far less crowded, offering a peaceful spot for a refreshing swim.
On my way back to Ella, I saw the majestic Ravana waterfall. The area around Ravana Falls is perfect for a quick stop, allowing you to take in the natural beauty and feel the cool mist that rises from the crashing water.
Finally, I drove 15 minutes from Ella to the Nine Arches Bridge. Built during Sri Lanka’s colonial era, the bridge spans across a lush valley, surrounded by vibrant greenery and tea plantations.
Day 6: {Mirissa, Parrot’s Point, Mirissa beach}:
I took an early morning bus at 7:00 AM to Mirissa, a journey that took about 6 to 6.5 hours and costed around LKR 600 pp. It’s incredible how within just 3 hours of travel, you can go from seeing mountains to catching glimpses of the ocean.
On my first day in Mirissa, I watched the sunset at Parrot’s Point, one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in the area. Afterwards, I took a relaxing stroll along Mirissa Beach, enjoying the beautiful stretch of golden sand. As the day winds down, the atmosphere shifts to more vibrant energy. The sky turns into warm colours, while the small cafés and bars create a lively scene. I also had the most incredible food at a food truck by the beach— their burgers were absolutely out of this world! I tried their rice bowl as well, which was simple yet delicious.
Day 7 {Secret beach, Mirissa beach }:
Secret Beach in Mirissa (though not so secret anymore) attracts fewer crowds compared to the main Mirissa Beach. Accessible by a short 15 min walk down a narrow path, it is surrounded by lush greenery. The waves can be a bit strong, but there are these amazing tidal pools with super clear water where you can see tons of tiny fish swimming around. As the sun started to go down, the beach got even more peaceful, the water calmed down, and it was so much easier to see the fishes—felt kind of magical, honestly.
Between this and the main beach, I definitely liked Secret Beach more. If I had stayed longer, I think I would’ve gone there every single day.
Day 8 {Ahagama, Ahagama Surfer’s beach}:
Just about 25 to 30 minutes from Mirissa is a small village called Ahangama. I took a bus from Mirissa which costed around LKR 604 pp. While Mirissa is known for its lively vibe, Ahangama offers a much more peaceful and laid-back experience. It’s becoming really popular for its surf scene and local charm.
On my first day in Ahangama, I visited the beach. It’s actually quite a small stretch of sand, and though there are plenty of cafés along the way, most of them don’t have direct access to the beach—so I had to walk a bit to find a way down.
Once I settled in, I noticed two surfers getting ready to head into the ocean. Before long, a whole group of surfers joined them—it almost felt like a mini parade. It was super fun to watch, and honestly, I felt a bit of FOMO. If you’re planning to stay in Ahangama for more than a few days, I’d definitely recommend signing up for surfing lessons. It looks like an amazing way to enjoy the ocean and feel part of the local vibe.
Day 9: {Ahangama Secret Beach, Colombo Airport}:
This was my last day in Ahangama, I had my flight back from Negombo at 8 in the evening. So before saying goodbye to this beautiful town and country, I wanted to go for one last swim at yet another secret beach. I had breakfast at a local authentic cafe that provided a nice overlook of the ocean and then headed to the secret beach. Unlike this one actually seems to be a secret since many of the locals didn’t know where it was or they just call it something else. The beach was perfect—quiet, peaceful, and the water was just right. Not too cold, super relaxing. I took a swim, sat on the sand for a while, just soaking it all in. It was one of those moments you don’t want to end.
Eventually, and very reluctantly, I pulled myself out of the water to catch a 3-hour bus to Colombo Fort, then hopped into a tuk-tuk to the airport.