Spectacular Sri Lanka

Stop reading this blog post. Please. Immediately close this page and open up a new tab… And book your next vacation to Sri Lanka A.S.A.P. This country has it all. Beautiful beaches, ancient ruins and temples for days of exploring, mountains for hiking, national parks for safaris, and even men in skirts. You name it – there is something for everyone. And you will be welcomed with open arms by some of the friendliest people on the planet. You would never know that the devastating 2004 tsunami caused mass destruction along the coastline or that the 30-year civil war this country endured ended only in 2009.

Cycling through the ruins and rice paddies of Anaradhapura

Our rides for the day exploring the ancient city

When we decided to go to Sri Lanka, we honestly didn’t know very much about the country. It was a place that had recently popped up on some lists of top travel destinations and it seemed like an obvious stop after India since we were already close. But WOW were our expectations blown away. It is without a doubt the most scenic country either of us has ever been. Whether it was zooming by the seemingly endless number of rice paddies on the train, or driving through the lush scenery of the hill country filled with waterfalls around every corner, the entire country is simply stunning.

Ramboda Falls on the way to Nuwara Eliya

One of the beautiful lakes on the way from Adam’s Peak

It seems to be slightly off the tourist map as we didn’t encounter the typical throngs of foreigners that we’ve seen in many other places, which was another plus. December is a particularly quiet time to visit since it is still the tail end of the rainy season. However, we still managed to have some great weather most days. We were told at almost every place we stayed that we were the first American guests.

The endless stairs up to Adam’s Peak

The Sunrise from the top of Adam’s Peak

On top of that, it is incredibly cheap and a budget traveler’s dream. Our accommodations cost on average roughly $25 per night (not 5-star hotels, but decent places with A/C) which often included breakfast. Meals or short eats at local cafes and bakeries will set you back about 200-400 LKR a person (~$1.50 -$3.00). The island is small and the infrastructure is good with plenty of transportation options. We took the train one day for 250 LKR per person (less than $2) and the bus another day for only 185 LKR. Also, many people speak English well enough, so getting around is relatively easy.

Inside one of the cave temples of Dambulla

Galle Lighthouse

We ended up spending 11 nights in total, but easily could have spent 3+ weeks exploring everything the county has to offer. A few of the highlights of our trip include:

• Renting bikes and riding them through the ancient ruins of Anaradhapura (UNESCO Site)
• Visiting the cave temples of Dambulla (UNESCO Site)
• Hiking up Pidurangala to check out Sigiriya (the Lion Rock) from a distance (UNESCO Site)
• Touring one of the many tea factories and sampling the fresh tea
• Waking up at 2 AM to climb 5,200 steps up to the top of Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) and watching the sunrise (UNESCO Site)
• Taking a safari in Yala National Park
• Exploring the old Dutch fort and town in Galle (UNESCO Site)
• Stopping by a sea turtle hatchery and conservation center in Bentota

Tea Tasting at Mackwoods Estate

Turtle Hatchery & Conservation Center in Kosgoda

Peacock at Yala National Park

…And the closeup

The last animal we saw on our way out of Yala

Without a doubt, this country is HIGH up on our list of favorites. We cannot say enough about Sri Lanka and would recommend it to anyone. It does seem that it’s only a matter of time before it becomes more popular as several of the guest houses where we stayed were expanding due to the recent influx of tourists. We also passed by Marriott and Hyatt resorts in progress along the coast, which means that it will get busier and more crowded. So… why are you still reading this? Go book your trip already!

– The Morts