Travel to Sri Lanka

Travel to Sri Lanka usually denotes taking a long flight. Thus you owe it yourself to a rest a day or two to recover and also to adjust to the heat and the way of life. I suggest getting the trip to Colombo over and done on arrival, so from the airport you should head straight for the city of Colombo and relax. The next day you could explore the city and attend to any travel business, such as confirm onward tickets, banking, buy rail tickets, or hire a car and driver, etc.

Travel to Sri Lanka… and then

By Train

Although trains do not go everywhere in Sri Lanka, they cover the most interesting parts of the island. Using trains and taxis would enable you to see most of the country without doubling back. However, the railway system in Sri Lanka suffers from lack of maintenance and journeys are an adventure rather than a comfortable way of traveling. Here are two rail/road itineraries to see a lot during a two week stay.

Here are some more travel to Sri Lanka suggested Sri Lanka itineraries

Colombo to Kandy

Take intercity train to the hill country via Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya).

Take day train to Haputale or Banadarawela.

Take taxi to Tissamaharama.

Hire a jeep for Yala safari.

Take a three wheeler to Matara.

Take a train to Galle.

Take a train to Hikkaduwa or Bentota for beach stay.

Take a train to Colombo or taxi direct to the airport for departure.

This could also be done in reverse if you prefer to relax on the beach before exploring.

If you want to include the Cultural Triangle by train and road, you may want to try:

Colombo to Anuradhapura

By train- take taxi to Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Matale. Take a train to Kandy.

Take train to Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya).

Take train to Bandaarawela.

Take taxi to Tissamaharama.

Take jeep for safari to Yala.

Take three wheeler to Matara.

Take train to Hikkaduwa or Bentota for beach stay.

Take taxi to the airport.

By Bus

The above itineraries can be followed using intercity and local buses instead of trains. Long distance bus travel is even more uncomfortable than train and is not recommended for tourist unless you are tenacious and traveling with a companion, and unfazed by reckless driving and frequent security searches at police of military roadblocks.