24 days in Sri Lanka: travel plan

I´m leaving for Sri Lanka next week :-) I made a travel plan so I can pre book the train Kandy to Ella.. and so I can hear your opinion on it! I'm travelling on a low budget and will mostly use bus and train. 1) Is this a realistic plan? 2) Is there places I'm staying to short/long? 3) Is there places that is not on the list that should be (I'm mostly into nature and animal experience)? 4) What the best way to go to Negombo to Sigiriya? 5) Is it correct that Tissa is the best places to visit the National Parks from?

20 January: Arrive Sri Lanka – stay in Negombo
21 January: Negombo to Sigiriya
22 January: Sigiriya (Dumbulla)
23 January: Sigiriya bus to Kendy
24 January: Kendy
25 January: Kendy train to Nuwara Eliya
26 + 27 January: Nuwara Eliya
28 January: Nuwara Eliya train to Ella
29 January: Ella
30 January: Ella to Tissamaharama
31 January + 1 February: Tissamaharama (Yala National Park and Bundala National Park)
2 February: Tissamaharama to Tangalla
3 February: Tangalla
4 February: Tangalla to Murissa
5 February: Mirissa
6 February: Mirissa to Unawatuna
7 February: Unawatuna
8 February: Unawatuna to Galle
9 February: Galle
10 February: Galla to Colombo
11 February: Colombo
12 February: Colombo to Negombo
13 February: Negombo ---> HOME

THANKS :-)

This looks very similar to our itinerary - except we are going to Anurdapura first and then south to Sigiriya. I have heard that Tissa is the best place to stay for the parks.

Could you tell me how you are booking the train from Kandy to Ella? I assume you are able to do it online?

Hi Gabriola.
I booked the train tickets on https://www.visitsrilankatours.co.uk/train-tickets-1.html I got a No. so I can pick the tickets up when I arrive in the airport. So I'm hoping I will work when I'm there :-)

Thank you so much...will give it a go! Enjoy your trip!

Also used VisitSriLankanTours for some traintickets, all worked out very well. Liked Ella and surroundings more than Nuwara Elyia so I would skip one day in NE and add one in Ella.

If you are not travelling with a group you have to share a jeep with other people, ask your hotel or go to the so called tout corner the day before. It will be difficult to share a jeep to Bundale as almost no one seems to go there. I waited a few days and could not find other persons to share untill the day I had to leave (but that was too late).

Would not stay in Galle, it's easy to visit from Unawatuna (6 km, 20 R by bus I believe) and you can see it in a few hours walking around.

Both Colombo and Negombo were not very special to me (except the Duruthu Perehara in Kelanyia), for this I would take one day more in some other places.

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