So, after wrapping up the Asian leg of my big adventure, I couldn’t wait to come back to Asia to check out Sri Lanka in mid-August. I mean, the place has always fascinated me, not just because of the delicious food and stunning scenery but mainly because of the wildlife. I was especially excited about the chance to spot leopards in their natural habitat.
Before I dive into the incredible experience I had with these amazing animals, let’s get some basics out of the way.
Sri Lanka is a relatively small country, and it’s easy to get around without having to take multiple flights. That said, there are a few ways to explore the island.
- Rental Car: Steer clear of this option unless you’re a fan of crazy traffic.
- Rental Tuk-Tuk: While you can rent your own tuk-tuk, it might not be the most practical choice for a journey that’s nearly 1000 kilometers long.
- Public Transportation: Trains and buses can be fun for parts of the trip, but don’t expect them to be on time.
- Taxi: My top pick, surprisingly affordable. For example, my longest trip, with a stopover at a rock climbing site, cost only 50 USD. You can use apps like PickMe and Uber, or you can find private drivers who’ll offer you their services. Just remember to always negotiate the fare upfront if you’re taking a tuk-tuk for shorter distances. And make sure you have small bills, or they’ll claim they don’t have change.
Some words about my travel itinerary.

Arriving in Columbo I went clockwise across the whole country.
- Negombo
- Wilpattu National Park
- Kandy
- Ella
- Udawalawe
- Unawatuna
- Colombo
Besides getting rid of my jet lag, having some nice hours walking around Negombo and my first Sri Lankan food, nothing special no mention here. But it was a perfect start to my trip. On my second day, after getting tons of cash at an ATM, my real vacation started.
Sigiriya
In the midst of Sri Lanka’s lush and green beauty, there’s an ancient fortress called Sigiriya or Lion Rock, nestled between my ride from Wilpattu National Park and the city of Kandy. The taxi driver waited two hours for me to get up and down. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage site and used to be the capital of King Kashyapa I’s kingdom
Sigiriya is famous for its cool paintings, the mysterious Mirror Wall, and the iconic Lion Gate that was once guarded by a massive lion statue. When you climb to the top, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. It’s like a magnet for history buffs, archaeologists, and nature lovers.
Officially, it’s supposed to take about an hour to climb the 1200 steps to the top of Sigiriya. But guess what? I did it in less than 20 minutes, and I even had time to take some amazing photos along the way!










Kandy
So, I got to Kandy a tad early for one of the coolest Buddha festivals in the region celebrating Buddha’s teeth. Even though I missed out on that, my stay was still pretty awesome. I crashed at this hotel with an epic view of the Kandy valley. The city itself, though, was just your typical Asian metropolis, all noisy and dusty. There were some old buildings and a Buddha statue on a hill that made for a great hike. The lake in the middle was a chill spot for a relaxed walk.





I loved to visit the market at Kandy. I tasted some fruits we don’t have in Germany. I recommend to try it by yourself 🙂




Ella
Out of all the places I went to on my trip, Ella definitely stole the show. This small town in Sri Lanka’s hill country is like a dream, surrounded by gorgeous tea plantations and scenery that’ll take your breath away. Ella is a paradise for hikers, with trails leading to cool spots like Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak, and the amazing Nine Arch Bridge.
I stayed at this cute little hotel in the middle of the tea plantations. It was a bit of a bumpy ride to get there, but totally worth it to be surrounded by all that natural beauty. The first pic is of a tuk-tuk driving through the tea plantations on the way to my hotel, and the second one is the red-roofed hotel as seen from the top of Little Adam’s Peak.


Little Adam’s Peak, just a short walk from my hotel, was the perfect place for a refreshing morning hike before breakfast. The view from the top across the Ella Valley was incredible. It was an experience I’ll never forget…



On the other side of the valley, you’ll find Ella Rock, which is known for being a really cool place to go hiking. A popular hiking app says it takes about 4 hours to hike up, take pictures, and hike back down. I decided to take a trail that’s kind of unusual—it goes along railroad tracks. It might sound weird, but it’s actually pretty common. Just be careful and get out of the way if you see a train coming.
The hike is challenging, especially the last 2-3 kilometers. It’s amazing how some people try to do it in flip-flops, considering how rough the terrain is. But the view from the top is totally worth it.





About an hour’s walk from Ella, you’ll find the Nine Arch Bridge, also known as the Bridge in the Sky. It’s a stunning piece of engineering from the colonial era, built entirely out of stone and brick. The views from the bridge are incredible, but be prepared for crowds, especially when a train is about to pass. Tons of tourists gather to snap the perfect shot of a train crossing the bridge, creating a lively and fun atmosphere.




Ella’s a chill town nestled in the mountains, with cute cafes and guesthouses perfect for people who want to get away from it all. But when night falls, Ella turns into a party central! The music gets cranked up and the energy level skyrockets. Luckily, my hotel was far from all the hustle and bustle, so I could still enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains.


My only temple
So, I’ve been traveling around the world and seen a bunch of temples, but when I was in Sri Lanka, I decided to only visit one really amazing one. I chose Buduruwagala Raja Maha Viharaya, an old Buddhist temple. The best part about this place is this huge 51-foot-tall Buddha statue carved into a rock. It’s the tallest one on the whole island! There are also smaller statues of Bodhisattvas and other cool stuff, which shows that Mahayana Buddhism had a big influence here.
On my way to Unawatuna, my cab driver was like, “Yo, check out this temple, it’s awesome!” So, I took his advice and went to explore it. It only cost me like 6 bucks and took around 30 minutes, and it was totally worth it!



Unawatuna
Nestled right on the beach, this city was like a little piece of paradise. It had a fancy hotel with everything you could ever want, like delicious food, a spa to relax in, a gym for working out, and a beautiful beach to sunbathe on. But when I went, the weather wasn’t great. But even with the rain, I still had a great time because the hotel had so much to do. When the sun came out, I went exploring the awesome beaches nearby.




Also, you should definitely check out the old town in the city of Galle, which is just a short trip away. It’s full of history and charm.



Colombo
So, before I hopped on my return flight back to Germany, I had to crash in Colombo for a night. And let me tell you, “had to” is the key phrase here because Colombo, well, it wasn’t exactly brimming with excitement, if you catch my drift. Since I was stuck there, I figured I might as well check out a shopping mall, catch a glimpse of their famous TV tower and the shopping district during my quick visit, and chow down some decent food.


And wait, do you remember that I said I am here to see the amazing animals? Yes I saved two spots, Wilpattu National Park and Udawalawe, for another blog post 🙂
Ah, and for sure, last but not least. Here some ideas about the amazing food of Sri Lanka.










You must be logged in to post a comment.