SRI LANKA: 3 WEEK ITINERARY [2020]

Do you think that 3 weeks in Sri Lanka is too long? It’s definitely not! If you are a keen hiker and pristine nature lover, you will fall in love with Sri Lanka immediately. If you also admire wildlife biodiversity, cultural heritage and you don’t need more than a sandy beach to get relaxed, I will surprise you… 3 weeks in Sri Lanka may be not enough! In this blog post, I’m going to share with you a ready-to-use, 3 week Sri Lanka itinerary with real travel cost [January 2020] and travel map. Let’s discover the beauty of Ceylon together!

SRI LANKA 3 WEEK ITINERARY MAP

Here’s a map of my 3 week Sri Lanka itinerary. Click on the map to see the details of my journey, including places that I visited in week 1, week 2 and week 3.

WHERE TO STAY IN SRI LANKA?

NEGOMBO (1 night) – DAMBULLA (3 nights) – ANURADHAPURA (1 night) – KANDY (3 nights) – HATTON (2 nights) – HAPUTALE (2 nights) – ELLA (2 nights) – TISSAMAHARAMA (1 night) – TANGALLE (2 nights) – MIRISSA (2 nights) – UNAWATUNA (2 nights) – NEGOMBO (1 night)

Do you know how much does a decent room in Sri Lanka cost? What do you have to consider before booking your accommodation? Is public transport really that cheap? How much is a tuk tuk ride? Be sure to check what do you need to know about Sri Lanka before travelling there.

WEEK 1

During my first week in Sri Lanka I was exploring the central part of the island which is extremely interesting due to its historical background. In this particular area you can find 6 out of 8 sites that have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage and the Cultural Triangle, the territory spanning across the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, the ruins of Polonnaruwa and the sacred city of Kandy. My most memorable experience from Sri Lanka is definitely visiting Sigiriya and climbing up Pidurangala, the rock that offers an extraordinary view of Sigiriya. Personally, I witnessed here the most beautiful sunset in my life!

DAY 1 | ARRIVAL IN NEGOMBO

DAY 2 | DAMBULLA | GOLDEN TEMPLE

DAY 3 | SIGIRIYA | PIDURANGALA

DAY 4 | POLONNARUWA

DAY 5 | ANURADHAPURA

DAY 6 | KANDY | TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH RELIC | ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

DAY 7 | KNUCKLES RANGE

How much will you pay for all this? How to get to those places? I wrote a separate post about top things to do in Sri Lanka with detailed cost breakdown and useful tips for your first week in this country.

WEEK 2

The second week in Sri Lanka was incredibly diverse. I had the opportunity to experience one of the most scenic train rides in the world, watch the sunrise from Adam’s Peak, see a couple of beautiful waterfalls, explore the tea plantations and reach the World’s End. It was an amazing but also hectic time. I remember myself being so happy for what I have seen so far but also a bit tired and looking forward to getting relaxed on one of gorgeous, Sri Lankan beaches. My 3 week Sri Lanka itinerary wouldn’t be the same without visiting the below places. This country has a lot to offer. You won’t get bored even for a second.

DAY 8 | AMBULUWAWA

DAY 9 | TRAIN RIDE KANDY – HATTON | ST. CLAIR’S FALLS | DEVON FALLS

DAY 10 | ADAM’S PEAK

DAY 11 | TRAIN RIDE HATTON – HAPUTALE | DIYALUMA FALLS

DAY 12 | HORTON PLAINS

DAY 13 | LIPTON’S SEAT | TRAIN RIDE HAPUTALE – ELLA | LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK

DAY 14 | ELLA ROCK | RAVANA FALLS

How much will you pay for all this? How to get to those places? I wrote a separate post about what is worth doing in Sri Lanka with detailed cost breakdown and useful tips for your second week in this country.

WEEK 3

There is nothing better in this world than getting relaxed on a beautiful, sandy beach after two weeks of intensive trip. But I wouldn’t be myself if I just laid down on the beach for 7 days without seeking some adventure. My third week in Sri Lanka kicked off with safari in Yala National Park, followed by whales watching in Mirissa. I was lucky enough to spot leopards and the biggest mammal in the world, the blue whale. I also observed turtles in their natural habitat, did the palm tree rope swing and visited the Galle fort that has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage. What an amazing week it was!

DAY 15 | UVA HALPEWATTE TEA FACTORY | NINE ARCH BRIDGE

DAY 16 | SAFARI IN YALA NATIONAL PARK

DAY 17 | TANGALLE BEACH | GOYAMBOKKA BEACH | TURTLE WATCH REKAWA

DAY 18 | MIRISSA BEACH | MIRISSA SECRET BEACH | POLHENA BEACH

DAY 19 | WHALES WATCHING | COCONUT TREE HILL

DAY 20 | UNAWATUNA BEACH| DALAWELLA BEACH | MIHIRIPENNA BEACH | JUNGLE BEACH

DAY 21 | GALLE

DAY 22 | KOLOMBO | ARRIVAL IN NEGOMBO

How much will you pay for all this? How to get to those places? I wrote a separate post about must see places in Sri Lanka with detailed cost breakdown and useful tips for your third week in this country.

IS SRI LANKA CHEAP?

In my opinion Sri Lanka is an affordable travel destination [January 2020]. A decent room with breakfast will cost you around 1300 LKR – 1850 LKR per person for a night. Public transport is super cheap. A bus ride is one of the cheapest options to travel between the cities. Similar with trains. Getting around with tuk tuk doesn’t cost a fortune either. What about food, sightseeing and entrance fees? What are the prices?

When it comes to food, it depends on your preferences. If you travel on a tight budget, simply choose street food. The most popular Sri Lankan meal, rice and curry will cost you around 500 LKR. In some cities, there are also restaurants where prices are a bit higher. Tickets to historical sites such as Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura constitute the largest expense. Entrance fees may vary between 4500 – 5500 LKR.

SRI LANKA REAL TRAVEL COST 3 WEEKS

Here’s a summary of how much I spent travelling in Sri Lanka for 3 weeks in January 2020.

Do you think that 3 weeks in Sri Lanka is too long? Would you come here for 2 weeks or 3 weeks? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

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Hey, it’s Karolina, the author of this blog. If you find my content valuable and helpful, I would be more than grateful, if you could support my work, and buy me a coffee. I do love writing my blog, and creating content for you guys. Thank you!