Cultural Triangle & Hill Villages of Sri Lanka | PART 1 of the BEST Two Week Travel Itinerary

Welcome to Sri Lanka!

In this 3 part tour of the 'Teardrop of India' (how poetic is that?!), we travel around the country in 2 weeks, encountering mist-shrouded mountains, rolling tea plantations, wildlife-rich jungles & golden beaches. The variety of landscapes in this country is astounding.

In PART 1, we visit the picturesque cultural triangle, pass through lush green mountains, experience historical colonial influence at some of Sri Lanka's tea plantations in the central highlands and hill regions, survive (joke) an iconic train ride and go off the beaten track more times than I can remember!

More specifically, we visit Dambulla, climb Sigiriya (the iconic Lion Mountain), get up at 4am to hike to the top of Pidurangala, experience the chaos in Kandy, walk through some tea plantations in the quaint colonial Nuwara Eliya and aboard the train to Ella. We then spend a magical few days in the gorgeous hill village of Ella. For all of you hiking enthusiasts, I also answer the question: "Is it better to climb Sigiriya or Pidurangala?"

Along the way we enjoy many curries and tropical fruits for breakfast, meet friendly locals and learn about Sri Lankan custom and culture! I also learn so much about travelling to Sri Lanka that I wish I'd known before departing!

Stay tuned for PART 2 where we go on safari in Yala National Park and attempt to find a Sri Lankan leopard and PART 3 where we explore and relax on Sri Lanka's beautiful rugged beaches and stay within some incredible resorts.

I’ve spent about 4 years perfecting this itinerary - we were set to go 4 years ago just before Covid hit and we had to cancel. It was a blessing in disguise because I think I’ve crafted the 2 weeks into an even better one than we initially planned! Without further ado… this is our journey and one I’d recommend to anyone with 2 weeks in this highly underrated and beautiful country.

I've also got a few treats up my sleeve - videos on specific lesser-well-known locations in Sri Lanka, as well as an accommodation guide and my 'tips and tricks' for travelling around this island. I hope these help if you're planning a trip here.

Thanks for joining me in Sri Lanka! x

#travelsrilanka #srilankatourism #hillview #dambulla #sigiriyarock #sigiriya #pidurangala #kandy #kandysrilanka #nuwaraeliya #ella #ellasrilanka #travelvlog #travelphotography

Thank you to ‪@mstarling79‬ for your incredible Canon and insta360 footage. You're a genius!