Quick answer
The culture, wildlife and beach route leaves out the hill country (Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Ella and the scenic train), Sinharaja's rainforest, Jaffna and the north, the east coast in winter, Colombo, Adam's Peak, the Knuckles range, Wilpattu (on the winter route) and Arugam Bay. Ella can be added by swapping Udawalawe; Sinharaja by replacing a beach night; the rest fit best on a three-week trip or a second visit.
Key takeaways
- The hill country, with Ella and the scenic train, is the biggest omission.
- Sinharaja's rainforest can be added by replacing a beach night.
- Jaffna and the north need at least three or four extra nights.
- The east coast features in the May to September version of the route.
- A second trip to Sri Lanka could focus on the hill country, the north and the east.
The hill country
The biggest omission is the hill country: Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains and World's End, Ella, the scenic train through the tea estates and the tea factories. For many visitors, these are central to Sri Lanka, and the route leaves them out to give more time to culture, wildlife and beaches.
Ella can be added by swapping Udawalawe and one Tangalle night for two nights in Ella, taking the train from Kandy. Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains need another night. Adam's Peak, the sacred mountain climbed at night in the pilgrimage season, roughly December to May, needs a night near the base at Dalhousie.
The Knuckles range, a wild area of forest and walking trails north-east of Kandy, is another hill-country highlight left out.
- →Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains.
- →Ella and the scenic train.
- →Adam's Peak.
- →The Knuckles range.
Sinharaja and the rainforest
Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the island's last large area of lowland rainforest, with endemic birds, plants and a rich canopy. It is left out to keep the route's focus, but it fits easily: replace a Tangalle or Mirissa night with two nights on Sinharaja's Deniyaya side, roughly two and a half hours from either.
Sinharaja suits birdwatchers and nature lovers, and adds a seventh UNESCO site to the route.
Jaffna and the north
Jaffna and the north have a distinct Tamil culture, with Hindu temples, the Nallur festival, islands and a history quite different from the south. They are left out because they need at least three or four extra nights to reach and enjoy, roughly three to three and a half hours from Anuradhapura.
The north fits well on a three-week trip, starting after Anuradhapura, or on a second visit. Wilpattu, between the north and the Cultural Triangle, is in the route's May to September version and three-week version.
Mannar and Delft island are further options for a northern trip.
- →Jaffna's temples and culture.
- →The islands and Delft.
- →Wilpattu on the summer and three-week versions.
The east coast and Arugam Bay
The east coast, with Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay, is left out of the December to April route because it is affected by the north-east monsoon early in the season and is far from the south coast. It features fully in the May to September version, when it is at its best.
Arugam Bay, the east coast's surf centre, is a detour on both versions. Surfers can swap Pasikudah for Arugam Bay on the summer route. Gal Oya and Kumana National Parks, in the east, are further wildlife options.
- →East coast: in the summer version.
- →Arugam Bay: a swap for surfers.
- →Gal Oya and Kumana parks.
Colombo and the west coast
Colombo, the capital, is left out because most travellers prefer to head straight from the airport to the sights. It has interesting museums, temples, markets and colonial buildings, and a day can be added at the start or end. The west coast beaches, such as Bentota, Negombo and Hikkaduwa, are left out in favour of the quieter south.
Lankan Stays & Trails can add Colombo, Bentota or Hikkaduwa for travellers who want them, usually at the end of the trip near the airport.
Planning a second trip
Many travellers return to Sri Lanka, and the places left out make an excellent second trip. A hill-country and north trip, combining Kandy, the Knuckles, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Jaffna and the islands, would complement this route perfectly. An east-coast summer trip, with Wilpattu, Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay, is another.
For a single longer trip, the three-week version of the route adds Wilpattu, and swapping it for Ella brings in the hill country.
- →Hill country and north: a second trip.
- →East coast summer: another option.
- →Three weeks: add more in one go.
Frequently asked questions
What does the culture, wildlife and beach route leave out?
The hill country, including Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Ella and the scenic train, plus Sinharaja's rainforest, Jaffna and the north, the east coast in winter, Colombo, Adam's Peak, the Knuckles range, Wilpattu on the winter route and Arugam Bay.
Can I add the hill country?
Yes. Swap Udawalawe and one Tangalle night for two nights in Ella and take the train from Kandy. Adding Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains needs another night. Three weeks allows the hill country without losing anything.
Can I add Sinharaja?
Yes, by replacing a Tangalle or Mirissa night with two nights on Sinharaja's Deniyaya side, roughly two and a half hours from either. It adds a seventh UNESCO site and excellent birding, at the cost of beach time. Go early for the best birding.
Is Jaffna worth adding?
For travellers interested in Tamil culture and history, yes. But Jaffna needs at least three or four extra nights, roughly three to three and a half hours from Anuradhapura. It fits best on a three-week trip or a second visit.
Why is the east coast left out?
In the December to April window, the east coast is affected by the north-east monsoon early in the season and is far from the south coast. It features fully in the May to September version, when it is dry and calm.
What would make a good second trip?
A hill-country and north trip, with Kandy, the Knuckles, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Jaffna and the islands, complements this route well. An east-coast summer trip, with Wilpattu, Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay, is another good option.