Backpacking Sri Lanka: the best tips!

Sri Lanka, an incredibly versatile country with beautiful nature, an interesting culture and above all many characteristic features. Do you want to backpack through Sri Lanka? Then I say go for it! Sri Lanka is very popular among travelers and even if you start your trip alone, you will always meet someone. Sri Lanka is a very large island in the Indian Ocean located southeast of India. Traditionally known for its large tea plantations, convenient location for sea routes and of course Buddhism. Are you also eager to make a beautiful tour through Sri Lanka? That's great, because I'm sharing my backpacking route for Sri Lanka. Think of it as a starting point that you can expand.

Sri Lanka tour

When you go backpacking through Sri Lanka you can make it as expensive as you want. So you can choose whether you sleep in more luxurious hotels or do you prefer a hostel? If you have a slightly larger budget, you can choose to travel through Sri Lanka by taxi, for example. Would you rather take it easy? Public transport in Sri Lanka is easy to do and will take you everywhere you want to go. Personally, I will advise you to alternate all types of transport! This way you get to know Sri Lanka in all kinds of areas. For example, we really enjoyed taking a tuk-tuk ride, but for the really long distances we opted for a taxi.

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backpack route

Since we are real beach lovers, we chose to start our backpacking trip through Sri Lanka by traveling through the southern part of Sri Lanka. We also lingered here the longest, since you have a lot of nice relaxed places in the South of Sri Lanka. Every town has something unique and different sights that we all wanted to see. And admit it, you want to dine with your feet in the sand, don't you prefer to do it every night?

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Hikkaduwa, Galle and Unawatuna

Once arrived at Columbo we chose to travel straight to the coastal town Hikkaduwa† From Hikkaduwa we traveled to Galle, one of the most important ports of Sri Lanka during the VOC. You can choose to visit Galle on a day trip, but you can also definitely spend the night there. During our day trip to Galle we also visited the relaxed beach of Unawatuna en Dalawella Beach† Personally, Dalawella was a real favorite and you can watch very nice sunset here.

Tangalle and Ella

Then we decided to stay a few more days in Tangalle† The robust beach in combination with the wild sea creates a real holiday atmosphere. After the wonderful days at the coastal towns, we decided to go inland and the pleasantly laidback backpackers licorice Ella to visit. If you are backpacking through Sri Lanka, you should not miss this village. You will find many nice sights and activities.

Kandy and Negombo

From Ella we took the train to Kandy† When you arrive in Kandy you quickly notice that it is a busy city. We stayed here for 2 days and then continued to our last stop Negombo† This was more of a stopover for us to be close to the airport as we were flying to the Maldives the next day!

Combining Sri Lanka with the Maldives

We combined our backpacking trip through Sri Lanka with a trip to the Maldives† Since the Maldives was high on our bucket list, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to visit the Maldives. Azure sea, snow-white beaches and a beautiful underwater world, what more could you want? It gets even more beautiful, because Sri Lanka is the perfect travel destination from which you can fly to the Maldives. From Colombo it is about a 2 hour flight and there is a flight to the Maldives almost every day. In the Maldives you can also do many fun activities and contrary to what almost everyone thinks, you can also make a really cheap trip to the Maldives. Wondering how to make a budget-friendly trip to the Maldives?

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Before you can go backpacking in Sri Lanka you first need a visa. It visa for Sri Lanka (also called ETA Sri Lanka) can be applied for online. After arrival in Sri Lanka, this e-visa is then valid for 30 days. If you want to stay longer, you can request an extension on the spot at the Immigration Services Center in Colombo. With this extension, the visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days. 

Also read: How much does traveling in Sri Lanka cost? | Everything about budget and costs
Also read: Itinerary Sri Lanka in 2, 3 or 4 weeks | All must-sees and travel tips
Also read: 8x the most beautiful things you must see in Sri Lanka