Trip planner: How to plan a trip to Sri Lanka

In our new series on travel, we shall take you through various vacation spots, telling you how to get there, what to see, where to stay and how much it will cost. ET starts with Sri Lanka, which features in several travel hot spot lists for 2013.

Don’t miss...
The Festival of the August Moon or the Kandy Perahera, a 10-night spectacular medieval costume pageant, begins on a full-moon day. It has been celebrated since 300 AD, and modern-day visitors can see extravagantly decorated elephant processions, fire jugglers, traditional dancers and musicians, and acrobats hitting the streets.

Festival of the August Moon


Best time to visit


The peak season is from December to March, but if you go in July-August, you get to see the country in a festive frenzy.

Trip Trail

Sri Lanka has something for everyone, from beaches and tea gardens to heritage monuments and wildlife. If you’re short on time, build an itinerary around a specific interest. If not, here’s a sample 7-8 day itinerary for you. Land in Colombo and take a taxi to Kandy for two nights. The best local attraction is the Temple of the Tooth.




On Day 3, head for Sigiriya, and on to Polonnaruwa to soak in history. Then move to Nuwara Eliya for a night. By next afternoon, get ready to catch a bus/taxi to Matara for two nights, from where you can make day excursions to Galle and Weligama Bay for whale watching. From Matara, catch a train/taxi back to Colombo, where you can spend a night.