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If you have traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia but never been to Sri Lanka, you need to get back to the drawing board at once! With its fair share of beautiful sandy beaches, tropical climate, and incredible cuisine, Sri Lanka is a vacationer’s paradise. Once you look past the conventional destinations, you will notice the country is home to a diverse geography, interesting history, and welcoming locals. If this is your first trip to the island, most travel agents in Sri Lanka can help you chalk out an itinerary. Some experienced travel planners can also arrange sri lanka private tours if you are up for it.

If you are still looking for reasons to include the island in your travel bucket list for the year, here is a list of reasons that make Sri Lanka special!

Pristine and Secluded Beaches

Sri Lanka is home to some of the most picturesque beaches in the world. Save for a few located towards the southern part of the island, most Sri Lankan beaches are devoid of foreigners. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean and Laccadive Sea on all sides, Sri Lankan beaches are as varied as it gets.

If you are looking to sunbathe in peace, a trip to Mirissa is recommended. The beach at Unawatuna is perfect for partying. While Bentota is ideal for the adrenaline junkies who are looking for activities like para-cycling and kite surfing.

Multiple Surf Spots

With a large number of sand bottom breaks and consistent waves, Sri Lanka is home to some of the best surfing spots in the world. Arugam Bay is among the leading surfs on the island, slowly gaining popularity with pro surfers. Sri Lanka is also home to a number of amateur surfing spots. The coastal village of Hikkaduwa being a great example.

Home to Some Rare Animal Species

Despite its limited size, Sri Lanka boasts of 26 wildlife reserves. The country is home to over 215 bird species, has a high density of Asian elephants, leopards, mugger crocodiles, and is a nesting place of sea turtles. The renowned Yala National Park has the highest density of Sri Lanka’s leopard population. The ideal time to spot one is during the night or early morning. The coral reef off the coast of Pigeon Island is home to over a 100 species of colorful corals and 300 species of reef fish, making it an ideal spot for deep sea diving.

When we think about Sri Lanka, we think about its vast sunny beaches, extended coastlines, clear blue water, and palm-lined stretches. However, the country has a plethora of other attractions to explore. From the incredible central mountains, to the cultural capital of Anuradhapura and Kandy, a Sri Lankan vacation is incomplete without exploring the far ends of the land.

Although you will find numerous sri lanka tours and travel packages, the terrain is ideal for backpacking. However, traveling with an agent has its perks. If you plan on a DIY vacation, here is a list of factors that you need to keep in mind.

Figure Out the Budget

Unlike other popular Southeast Asian countries, Sri Lanka is not very cheap. You need to plan your accommodation and food expenses carefully before carrying on with the rest of the itinerary. Foreigners also have to shell out considerably more than the locals when visiting popular tourist sites.

An average backpacker will need to spend close to $60 daily on accommodation, food, and transport. All entry fees and leisure expenses will further add to the cost. You will find guesthouses and homestays throughout Sri Lanka. Luxury hotels and hostels are a rare sight found only in the major cities.

If you are traveling alone, check with a local travel planner if they can set you up with a group. That way you end up saving a few extra bucks on transport and accommodation by sharing. Stick to the local cuisine as it is cheaper. Western food is pretty expensive and is not up to the mark.

Staying in Sri Lanka

While most sri lanka holiday packages include staying at expensive hotels whenever possible, along with a chauffeured ride. Traveling on a budget means foregoing such luxuries. If you are unwilling to travel like a backpacker, you could always book a sri lanka tour package. Merganser Holidays offers an extensive list of destinations, packages, and sightseeing options across a wide price bracket. Follow the link to check out some of the best offers.

If you do plan on traveling solo, opting for local transportation is the best way to travel the country. Sri Lanka is well-connected by a network of roadways and railways. Traveling to some of the remote corners will require hiring a cab. If you want to keep costs further down avoid visiting every tourist destination on your first visit. Prepare a travel itinerary covering the must-visit places, and stick to those activities. The Sri Lankan cuisine closely resembles Indian cuisine with a twist. Travelers are encouraged to stick to the local cuisine to further cut down on travel expenses.

If you like cross-country road trips, we suggest taking one through the heart of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan road network is developing rapidly, making it ideal for road trips. With the influx of foreign tourists, self-drive car rental is picking up the pace. However, if you are inexperienced in driving in Southeast Asian countries, we recommend a chauffeured sri lanka driver hire.

Explore the Mountains

Take a trip through the central mountains starting in Colombo, through Nuwara Eliya. The climate changes rapidly in the three-hour drive from the coast to the highlands. The road is lined with beautiful tea estates open to the public. Stop at any plantation that you like and experience how the leaves are harvested and processed first-hand. Spend the night at Nuwara Eliya.

Visit Horton Plains National Park first thing in the morning. Do not miss the opportunity to hike the summit at World’s End. The view from the top is simply breathtaking. Get a taste of the local cuisine at one of the tea houses at Horton Plains and continue your journey to Ella. You can spend a night at one of the numerous homestays in town.

Ella is home to a number of popular hikes. You can spend a few days in town exploring some of them. The hike to Little Adam’s Peak is quite popular with tourists. Once you are done exploring Ella move on to Kandy.

Visit the Cultural Hubs of Sri Lanka

The cultural tour of Sri Lanka begins from Kandy. Start by exploring the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, Royal Palace of Kandy, World Buddhist Museum, and more. Next in line is the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, where Lord Buddha is believed to have first stepped foot on the island. Notable tourist attractions include the Bodhi tree or giant dagoba.

Next in the list are the temples of Polonuwara, and the giant statue of Lord Buddha. Move on to Sigiriya Lion rock and hike the summit to witness the remnants of the ancient ruins of the Sigiriya fort. The panoramic view of the sunset from the peak is blissful. Spend the night at Sigiriya, and cary on to Colombo in the morning. Thus, concluding a week-long road trip in Sri Lanka.

Merganser Holidays is a renowned local travel partner specializing in planning custom travel packages, road trips, wedding and honeymoon packages, and more in Sri Lanka. If you are looking for Sri Lanka driver hire, Merganser holidays can make all necessary arrangements on your behalf. Visit the website for more details on their services, package deals, and charges.