Things to do in Sri Lanka
-
Circle Sri Lanka
15 days (ex Negombo)
by Intrepid
Bliss out beachside in Mirissa, Learn the secrets of Sri Lankan cuisine in Bandarawela, Shop up a storm in Colombo, Walk the ramparts of Galle, Witness elephant…Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,625 -
A
Nescoffee
This cool and compact roadside cafe/bar is an homage to Robert Nesta Marley and has nonstop reggae beats and Ella’s coldest beer. You’ll need it for the spicy devilled cashews. Breakfast is available from early in the day, and Nescoffee stays open ‘till the last person leaves’. (Let your guest-house owner know if you’re going to be late, because some places in Ella close their doors a tad early.)
reviewed
-
from USD$1,920
-
B
Lakpahana
As with Laksala and Lanka Hands, this Cinnamon Gardens showroom carries traditionally crafted items, including lacework, jewellery, batik and masks, as well as tea.
reviewed
-
Sri Lanka Family Discovery
8 days (ex Dambulla)
by Intrepid
Climb the incredible Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Spot wildlife in Minneriya National Park, Catch a bullock and cart through rural Sri Lanka, Bliss out in beachside …Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,310 -
C
Gallery Cafe
The historic building that houses Gallery Cafe used to be an office for Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The open-air cafe area looks over a pebbled courtyard, while the lounge bar is where Bawa’s old office used to be – in fact, his desk is still there. The decor is stunning and the Sri Lankan–inspired dishes focus on fresh ingredients and bold, clean flavours. As a cheaper option, come for an afternoon coffee.
reviewed
-
D
Green Cabin
This place is a bit of an institution in the local restaurant trade. It’s well known for both its baked goods and its inexpensive Sri Lankan, Indian and Chinese dishes. The lunchtime buffet is excellent value – the mango curry, if it’s on, is very good. For a snack try the vegetable pastries or the cardiac-arrest-inducing bacon-and-egg pies.
reviewed
-
E
Victoria Golf & Country Resort
The Victoria Golf & Country Resort is 20km east of Kandy. Surrounded on three sides by the Victoria Reservoir and with the Knuckles Range as a backdrop, it’s worth coming for lunch at the clubhouse and to savour the views. Claimed to be the best golf course in the subcontinent, it’s a fairly challenging 18 holes.
reviewed
-
F
Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre
The Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre has a good selection of local lacquerwork, brassware and other craft items in a colonial-era showroom covered in a patina of age (see above). There are some craftspeople working on the spot.
reviewed
-
G
Bijou
You’ll know this place is Swiss-owned when you see fondue (advance order, Rs 2000) and other Swiss and German specialities on the menu. It mixes up such heavy dishes with a wide range of seafood.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Cycle The Backroads Of Sri Lanka
14 days (ex Sigiriya)
by Intrepid
Take in 360-degree views from Sigiriya Fortress, Cycling down peaceful backgrounds and forest tracks, Spot leopards in Yala National Park, Wander through fragra…Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,100 -
Yala National Park
With trumpeting elephants, monkeys crashing through the trees, peacocks in their finest frocks and cunning leopards sliding like shadows through the undergrowth, Yala National Park (also known as Ruhunu) is The Jungle Book brought to glorious life. This vast region of dry woodland and open patches of grasslands is the big draw of this corner of Sri Lanka, and though it’s far from Kenya, a safari here is well worth all the time, effort and cost.
The entrance fees are payable at the main office, which is near the entrance, some 21km from Tissa. There are a few displays here of the pickled and stuffed variety. The road from Tissa is rough but passable, although a 4WD is ne…
reviewed
-
H
Sri Maha Bodhi
The Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred bodhi tree, is central to Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. The huge tree has grown from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India by the Princess Sangamitta, sister of Mahinda (who introduced the Buddha's teachings to Sri Lanka), so it has a connection to the very basis of the Sinhalese religion.
This sacred tree serves as a reminder of the force that inspired the creation of all the great buildings at Anuradhapura, and is within walking distance of many of the most interesting monuments. The whole area around the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Brazen Palace and Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba was once probably part of the Maha Vihara (Great Te…
reviewed
-
World’s End
This is the only national park in Sri Lanka where visitors are permitted to walk on their own (on designated trails only). The walk to World’s End is 4km, but the trail loops back to Baker’s Falls (2km) and continues back to the entrance (another 3.5km). The round trip is 9.5km and takes a leisurely three hours. Note that around 9am to 10am the mist usually comes down. All you can expect to see from World’s End after this time is a swirling white wall. If you aim for a 5.30am departure from Nuwara Eliya or Haputale and get to World’s End around 7am, you’ll have a good chance of spectacular views.
Try to avoid doing this walk on Sundays and public holidays, when …
reviewed
-
I
Lords
By far Negombo’s most creative eating experience. Martin, the British owner of this half restaurant, half art gallery, brings a larger-than-life presence to the place and is a rare thing among expat restaurant owners in that he actually works on the floor and in the kitchen making sure that everything is just spot on. The food, which is so superbly prepared and presented that the thought of a free meal was enough to get the president himself to come and open the restaurant, is a hybrid of Western and Eastern flavours. The gallery displays excellent contempory work by local artists.
reviewed
-
J
Asgiriya Maha Vihara
The principal viharas (Buddhist complexes) in Kandy have considerable importance – the high priests of the two best known, Malwatte and Asgiriya, are the most important in Sri Lanka. This temple is the headquarters of two of the main nikayas (orders of monks). The head monks also administer the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Asgiriya Maha Vihara is off Wariyapola Sri Sumanga Mawatha northwest of the town centre. It has a large reclining Buddha image.
reviewed
-
K
Mangos
Behind a new café that looks somewhat half-finished is a solidly built timber-roofed dining pavilion with open sides. Here you can get good rice-and-curry lunches and traditional South Indian specialities for dinner, including excellent masala dosas (dosas stuffed with spiced vegetables) cooked to order.
reviewed
-
L
Clancy's Irish Pub
Colombo’s stab at Irishness offers pub grub and a variety of beers and ales, including Guinness. It’s a popular spot, with regular quiz nights, live music on weekends and a few couches to sink into. All drinks are discounted 50% during the daily 6pm to 8pm happy hour. Long pants are required attire.
reviewed
-
Sri Lanka Trekking
Based at Expeditor guest house, Sumone Bandara and Ravi Kandy at Sri Lanka Trekkingcan arrange trekking around Kandy and camping and trekking expeditions to the rugged Knuckles Range. Sumone and Ravi can also arrange mountain biking and rafting trips in other parts of the Hill Country.
reviewed
-
Rampart Hotel
This ancient place has an ornately carved wooden staircase that would make redevelopers drool. But you won't drool over the long menu of dull Chinese, local and Western fare served in the cavernous dining room on the 2nd floor. Rather, come here for a drink and the amazing sunset views.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
M
Milano Restaurant
This restaurant has a reliable menu of Sri Lankan, Western and Chinese dishes and friendly service. Treat yourself to some sweet baked goodies and a coffee to set you up for the rest of the afternoon.
reviewed
-
Sunflower Bake House
Below the hotel of the same name, this place has a range of sweet and sour pastries that make for a good breakfast and some dirt-cheap, but dirt-free, rice-and-curry lunches for Rs 80.
reviewed
-
Ratna Gem Halt
Ratna Gem Halt offers a five-day basic gemology course that teaches students skills, including how to cut and polish gemstones. Excursions to the gem mines and markets are included.
reviewed
-
Siripala Place Surf Cafe
Right next to the spot where the fish are first hauled out of the deep blue, the seafood here is as fresh and tasty as can be. Despite the name, it’s refreshingly unsurfy.
reviewed
-
N
Sri Nagavihara International Buddhist Centre
For Buddhists there’s the solitary Sri Nagavihara International Buddhist Centre which was quickly rebuilt after government forces retook Jaffna in 1995.
reviewed
