Quick answer
A week in Sri Lanka before the first Test is best spent inland, away from the Test grounds: day 1, arrive and drive about four hours to Sigiriya; days 2 and 3, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa; day 4, Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth; days 5 and 6, the train to Ella and the hill country; day 7, drive about four to five hours to Galle for the first Test. The week also gets you over jet lag and used to the heat.
Key takeaways
- Arriving a week early gives time to recover from the flight, which is about 10 to 11 hours direct from Melbourne.
- Sri Lanka is 4.5 hours behind eastern Australia in winter and 5.5 hours behind in summer.
- Sigiriya is about four hours from Colombo's airport.
- The train from Kandy to Ella takes about six to seven hours.
- Ella to Galle is about four to five hours by road, ending the week at the Test ground.
Why arrive a week early
Arriving a week before the first Test has three advantages. It gives time to recover from the flight, which is about 10 to 11 hours direct from Melbourne and longer with connections from other cities. It lets your body adjust to the heat and humidity before five days in the stands. And it shows you the parts of Sri Lanka that a Test trip based in Galle would otherwise miss.
Sri Lanka is 4.5 hours behind Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the Australian winter, and 5.5 hours behind in summer, so jet lag is mild but real. A few days of early nights and morning sightseeing fix it.
The plan below works best for a Test series in Galle. For a series starting in Colombo or Kandy, reverse it.
- →Recover from the flight.
- →Adjust to the heat.
- →See the inland highlights.
Days 1 to 3: Sigiriya and the ancient cities
From Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport, drive about four hours to Sigiriya, arriving in the afternoon. Rest, and walk around the village at sunset.
On day 2, climb Sigiriya at 7 am, when the gates open, and visit the Dambulla cave temple in the afternoon. On day 3, cycle around Polonnaruwa in the morning and take an afternoon elephant safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla, best roughly July to September.
Lankan Stays & Trails builds pre-series weeks with a driver from the airport, so the cricket begins with the group rested and the main sights seen.
- →Day 1: airport to Sigiriya.
- →Day 2: Sigiriya and Dambulla.
- →Day 3: Polonnaruwa and a safari.
Day 4: Kandy
Kandy is about two to two and a half hours south of Sigiriya, via the spice gardens of Matale. Arrive by lunchtime, walk round Kandy Lake, and visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for the evening puja at about 6.30 pm.
If the series has a game at Pallekele later, save Peradeniya and the hills for then.
- →Matale spice garden on the way.
- →Kandy Lake in the afternoon.
- →Temple of the Tooth at puja time.
Days 5 and 6: the hill country
On day 5, take the train from Kandy to Ella, about six to seven hours through the tea country, one of the great rail journeys in Asia. Send your luggage ahead by road with the driver. On day 6, walk to the Nine Arch Bridge in the morning and climb Little Adam's Peak.
In a mid-year series, Ella is usually drier than Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, which lie in the path of the southwest monsoon. In an early-year series, the hills are dry and clear, with cool nights.
- →Day 5: Kandy to Ella by train.
- →Day 6: Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak.
- →Pack a warm layer for the evenings.
Day 7: down to Galle
Ella to Galle takes about four to five hours by road, down through the plains and along the south coast. Arrive by late afternoon, check in, walk the ramparts at sunset and have an early night before the first day of the Test.
If the Test is in Colombo, Ella to Colombo takes about six to seven hours, so leave early.
- →Ella to Galle: about four to five hours.
- →Arrive the day before the Test.
- →Early night.
Getting used to the heat
Sri Lanka's lowlands are hot and humid all year, with daytime highs of roughly 29 to 33 °C. A week of morning sightseeing and afternoon rests helps your body adjust before long days in the stands.
Drink plenty of water, add rehydration salts on hot days, wear a hat and avoid alcohol in the heat of the day.
Frequently asked questions
Should you arrive early for a cricket series in Sri Lanka?
Arriving a week early lets you recover from the flight, adjust to the heat and see the Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the hill country, which are far from the Galle Test ground. Even three or four days early makes the first day of the Test more enjoyable.
What should you see before a Galle Test?
Before a Galle Test, see the places furthest from the ground: Sigiriya, the Dambulla cave temple and Polonnaruwa in the Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth, and the hill country by train to Ella. Then drive about four to five hours from Ella to Galle.
How bad is jet lag from Australia to Sri Lanka?
Jet lag is mild, because Sri Lanka is only 4.5 hours behind eastern Australia in winter and 5.5 hours in summer, and 2.5 hours behind Perth. Most people adjust in two or three days with early nights and morning sightseeing.
How long does it take to get from Ella to Galle?
Ella to Galle takes about four to five hours by road, via Wellawaya and the southern plains, or via the expressway from Mattala. It is a long day but a scenic one, with views as the road drops from the hills. Arrive by late afternoon the day before the Test.
Is a week enough to see Sigiriya, Kandy and Ella?
A week is enough to see Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Ella at a comfortable pace, with a driver for the roads and the train from Kandy to Ella. It leaves no time for the beaches, but those are close to the Galle Test ground.
Can you do the Kandy to Ella train before the cricket?
You can. The Kandy to Ella train takes about six to seven hours and fits well into a week before the series. Book reserved seats early, especially in July and August, and send heavy luggage ahead with a driver. Then drive from Ella to Galle.
How do you get used to the heat in Sri Lanka?
Sightsee in the mornings and late afternoons, rest through the midday heat, drink plenty of water with rehydration salts, wear a hat and light clothing and limit alcohol during the day. After a few days, long days in the stands become much easier.