Top 7 things to do in Sri Lanka

4. Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is an old colonial town surrounded by farms and tea plantations high in the mountains, offering the best climate for crops, fruit and flowers to flourish. Built up during the British colonial times, the race course, golf course and an old British post office are remnants of this time, and there are many imposing victorian and tudor style buildings. It has a bustling market and surrounding the town are the endless rolling hillsides of tea plantations; it is here that most of the tea is grown. Visiting one of the heritage plantations you can see how tea growing and processing has been carried out for the last 150 years, and the old planters love to regale you with their stories, so be sure to take a tour where you can learn all about the tea industry in Sri Lanka and how tea became the staple hot beverage world wide,  that it still is today.

You can reach Nuwara Eliya by train from Kandy, and experience one of the most iconic train journeys in the world. The one track line takes you through stunning scenery, alongside jungle and tea plantations, hillsides with awe inspiring waterfalls and tunnels through the mountain side.This will be one of the highlights of your trip.

5. Riverstone and Knuckles Conservation Range

For those who want to experience proper hiking and awesome views, the knuckles range will not disappoint.The range and some of the hikes are world famous for a reason – the trails offer diverse terrain and stunning views at every point, taking you through tea plantations, paddy fields, through jungles and up on mountain tops. You will walk through villages and be met by smiling and waving inhabitants keen to practise their English, and stop to drink from or to bathe in stunning waterfalls and streams. The climate is less humid in the mountains and layers and even a waterproof may be needed in some months, but the rains are usually short and the views are always stunning.

6. Anuradhapura

As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Anuradhapura is a must-visit destination for those exploring the historical things to do in Sri Lanka. This ancient city serves as a living museum of Sri Lankan history, with its incredible collection of archaeological sites and Buddhist monuments that date back over 2,000 years. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to some of the most significant Buddhist ruins in the world, including massive dagobas (stupas) that are engineering marvels of the ancient world. The sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, believed to be a direct descendant of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, attracts pilgrims from around the globe. Visitors can explore magnificent ruins, including the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, Jetavanaramaya, and the elaborate stone carvings that tell stories of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. The city offers a profound journey through time, with bicycle tours and guided walks helping visitors understand the rich cultural and historical significance of this extraordinary place.

7. Kandy

Kandy was the capital of Sri Lanka during colonial times and is a bustling city with temples, colonial buildings and bustling markets, great opportunities to try the Kandyan cuisine, visit the temple of the tooth and an amazing botanical garden. It is also fringed by mountains and rainforests, you can go on great hikes just 20 minutes from the centre. 

Take a food walk with a local guide and learn about the Kandyan Cuisine, or visit the temple of the tooth, this temple has been rebuilt several times due to damage in the Colonial wars of the 18th century and also in the more recent Tamil conflict of the 1990s, it is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and houses the sacred tooth of Budha. In contrast to the relatively plain white exterior the interior temple is elaborately carved and highly decorated and daily rituals are carried out here.

Slow Tourism & Planning Things to do in Sri Lanka

It might seem tempting to visit all these places and try to experience everything that Sri Lanka has to offer, but unless you’re going for a really long time we wouldn’t recommend it.

With half a million tourists arriving in Sri Lanka every year, you might be wondering how you can make your trip a little more mindful of the local economies and environment. Well, embracing slow tourism allows travellers to deeply connect with local communities and minimise their environmental impact. By spending more time in fewer locations, you support local economies more meaningfully, reducing the strain of mass tourism. This approach enables more authentic cultural exchanges, provides sustained income for local businesses, and allows for a more mindful, immersive travel experience. Slow tourism encourages travellers to engage with local traditions, learn about sustainable practices, and create more profound, lasting memories while contributing positively to the destinations they visit.

Whilst we still include the iconic and must see attractions such as the cultural triangle in our itineraries, we also include the less visited national parks where the safari experience can be more intimate and the environment is more untouched; we include stays in some small boutique accommodations hosted by locals and go off the beaten path to meet local people and learn about their lives, work, culture, cuisine, and crafts. We include stays at untouched deserted beaches with stays in small quality accommodations where travellers can enjoy  personalised service and relaxed Sri Lankan hospitality.