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15 Best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days Package (2024)

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

A 3 days Sri Lanka tour allows you to immerse yourself in the island’s beauty and history. Walk around the cultural triangle, go on a jeep safari in a national park, see the old colonial city of Galle, stroll on the beautiful south coast beach, and view the gigantic whales in southern Sri Lanka… the possibilities for your Sri Lanka 3-day tour are numerous. That is why we are here to assist you in selecting the finest seamless, 3-day trip to Sri Lanka to feed your hunger for discovery. You could be seeking the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days to explore over the next weekend and unwind from the monotony of workplace and domestic duties. Perhaps you have travelled to Sri Lanka from another country and are now on vacation, and you wish to explore a few tourist attractions on this foreign soil. Whatever your needs are, we have identified the 15 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days.

Table of Contents

Sri Lanka 3-day tour

Sri Lanka is a popular holiday destination in Asia and receives a large number of foreign travellers every year. As a local tour operator, Seerendipity Tours receives a large number of bookings for Sri Lanka trip packages. A large number of such bookings are for short trips, such as 3-day trips in Sri Lanka, and at the same time, we get many enquiries for Sri Lanka 3-day tours. I thought of crafting this article under the heading “Places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days” due to ever-increasing enquiries for Sri Lanka 3-day packages. This article would help immensely for travellers, who are looking for information on a Sri Lanka 3-day package.

From ancient wonders to pristine beaches, from misty mountains to wildlife-rich national parks, this compact island nation packs a punch when it comes to diverse experiences. Let’s dive into our carefully curated list of 18 must-visit places that will make your short Sri Lankan adventure truly epic!

Why Visit Sri Lanka?

Before we jump into our list, let’s talk about why Sri Lanka should be at the top of your travel bucket list:

  1. Rich Cultural Heritage: With a history spanning over 2,500 years, Sri Lanka boasts 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  2. Stunning Natural Beauty: From golden beaches to lush tea plantations, Sri Lanka’s landscapes are breathtakingly diverse.
  3. Incredible Wildlife: Home to elephants, leopards, and hundreds of bird species, Sri Lanka is a nature lover’s paradise.
  4. Warm Hospitality: Sri Lankans are known for their genuine warmth and friendliness.
  5. Delicious Cuisine: Sri Lankan food is a flavorful journey in itself, blending unique spices and fresh ingredients.

15 Best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days

The number of places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days is many dozens. But in order to make it easy to choose the places to visit on a 3 day trip in Sri Lanka, we have carefully filtered the below-mentioned 15 places and discussed these 15 places in this article.

The 15 places mentioned in this article are important tourist attractions and they are coming under historical monuments, natural attractions, and adventure places while some of them are man-made tourist attractions. Below mentioned Sri Lanka 3 day tour itineraries are planned exclusively to visit the “15 Best Places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days“.

I had wanted to write this blog post on “15 Best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days” for many weeks. Because we receive a large number of emails from travellers around the world with questions like “What is the best 3 day trip in Sri Lanka?” and “What is the best Sri Lanka 3 days package?”. A large number of readers are inquiring about Sri Lanka 3 days tours, that’s why I have decided to write this article about 3 day trip to Sri Lanka and places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days.

Why book 3 days Sri Lanka tour?

Perhaps you are also looking for a 3-day tour in Sri Lanka, in order to go on your kind of trip, during the upcoming school holidays. Perhaps you are a tourist from a foreign country, spend time in a beach resort, and now intend to explore a bit of Sri Lanka’s nature, wildlife, and culture on a 3 day trip in Sri Lanka. Maybe you are in transit and need to use your time carefully to explore a bit of the island. Whatever your requirement this article suggests 4 interesting Sri Lanka 3 days packages, allowing you to see many important tourist attractions.

How to choose the best places to visit on a Sri Lanka 3 days trip?

“What are the places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days ?“, “What are the popular 3-day tours in Sri Lanka ?”, “What are the best Sri Lanka 3 days tours ?” these are some of the popular questions that we receive every day. Many travellers, who visit Sri Lanka want us to suggest a good Sri Lanka 3 days package for them.

What are the best places to visit on a Sri Lanka 3 days tour totally depends on your interest. Eg. If you have a strong cultural buff plan your Sri Lanak trip to the cultural triangle, If you are a nature lover plan your Sri Lanak 3 days trip around wildlife reserves, rainforests and scenic hill country. if you are an adventure lover you definitely should consider planning a Sri Lanka trip with Kitulgala. We at Seerendipity Tours are ready to help you to choose the best places for your 3 days trip, so get in touch with us at admin@seerendipitytours.com.

The popularity of the Sri Lanka 3 days tour

Sri Lanak 3 days trip is one of the most popular activities in Sri Lanka. We at Seerendipty Tours receive many dozens of booking every month for 3 days trip in Sri Lanka.

We have also noted that the “Sri Lanka 3 days package” is a very popular key phrase on Google and other search engines. With the increasing number of travellers on the island over the last few years, the booking for Sri Lanka 3 days tours are also considerably increased. And the number of email inquiries for 3 days Sri Lanka trips is also increasing.

This is a quite long blog post, it took 2 days for me to write and it will take around 15 minutes for you to read. However, I have piled up as much information as possible in this article, and thereby hope it is going to help travellers to choose the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days.

Simply Sri Lanka 8 Days Private Tour with Luxury Accommodation- This eight-day private tour takes you to the most important tourist places on the island such as Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla golden temple, and the tooth relic temple of Kandy, the national park of Udawalawe. Towards the end of the trip, you will be anchoring on the empty beaches of Mirissa.

What are the 15 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days?

Most places mentioned here are popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. They are coming under cultural, historic, and religious natural tourist attractions. If you boom a 3 days Sri Lanka trip, your trip definitely includes a few of those places mentioned below.

  1. Anuradhapura-200 km from Colombo-6+ hours drive
  2. Bentota Beach- 101 km from Colombo-2+ hours drive
  3. Dambulla- 160 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  4. Sigiriya- 177 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  5. Kandy-117 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  6. Minneriya national park– 177 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  7. Yala National park-166 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  8. Nuwara Eliya-126 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  9. Polonnaruwa-230 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  10. Galle-120 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  11. Mirissa-152 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  12. Udawalawe National park-150 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  13. Adam’s peak-137 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  14. Kitulgala-90 km from Colombo-3+ hour drive
  15. Sinharaja rainforest-138 km from Colombo-3+ hour drive

3 days Sri Lanka trip route

The trip route of your Sri Lanka tour depends on your interest and the places you choose to visit. The trip route can be the southern Sri Lanka travel route, the travel route of the east coast or the travel route of the central province.

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Choosing the activities for the 3 day Sri Lanka trip

With 3 days at your disposal, you will only have the opportunity to scratch a popular travel route in Sri Lanka. Travel routes that we list in this article include many important tourist attractions as well as interesting activities for tourists. However, we are talking about the most interesting things that you can do on a 3 day trip in Sri Lanka, it means that there can be other important tourist places on these routes that we neglect due to time constraints, we do not concentrate on them due to the time constraints.

Eeventhogu you have 3 days for the trip, you have to allocate time for 2 overnight stays and the time required for travelling. Therefore, the time left for sightseeing is much much lesser than you imagine. That’s why careful planning is essential to get the most out of your 3 day trip to Sri Lanka.

We discuss 3 travel routes and 3 Sri Lanka 3 days tours, they are carefully crafted giving you the best opportunity to visit many tourist attractions listed under the “15 Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days”.

What are the best travel routes for Sri Lanka 3 days tours?

Each of these travel routes includes many places mentioned under the “15 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days”. You will be able to visit many interesting places on these 4 travel routes. Same time there are a few other lesser important places to visit on these routes, however, if time permits you to do it.

1: Sri Lanka 3 days travel route to the cultural triangle- Colombo, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy

3 Days cultural triangle tour starts in Colombo and covers all major cities in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. The cultural triangle 3 days tour not only includes cultural places but also national parks and botanical gardens and the beautiful hill country of Sri Lanka.

3 days Sri Lanka’s travel route to the cultural triangle includes the most number of cultural sites and UNESCO world heritage sites of Sri Lanka. This travel route is recommended for travelers, who are interested in culture, religion, and history.

Sri Lanka 3 days tours on this route enable you to visit the most historical city of Sri Lanka “Anuradhapura” as well as the last capital of the Sri Lankan monarchy “Kandy”. Other interesting places to visit in Sri Lanka on 3 days trip are the Sigiriya rock fortress, Mineriya national park, Kandy, and Dambulla cave temple.

Map of Sri Lanka 3 days tour to upcountry

2: Sri Lanka 3 days travel route to the mountains-Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kitulgala

3 days Sri Lanka travel route to the mountains contains many interesting places such as an elephant orphanage, a tooth relic temple, and Peradeniya botanical gardens.

It also includes Kitulgala, better known as the adventure playground of Sri Lanka, allowing you to engage in adrenaline-pumping activities such as water rafting, hiking, and trekking. This is the most scenic travel route according to our past customers.

The tourist can visit scenic mountains, beautiful tea gardens, cascading waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and patches of forests in this 3 day Sri Lanka trip.

3: Sri Lanka 3 days travel route to the south -Colombo, Galle, Mirissa, Yala, Udawalawe, Ratnapura

On Sri Lanka 3 days package to the south coast of Sri Lanka, you will be able to visit 5 important tourist attractions, namely Galle Fort, Bentota Beach, Mirissa, Yala national park, and Udawalawe national park. This Sri Lanka 3 days package can be best describes as a wildlife exploration tour.

This Sri Lanka 3 days package gives you the opportunity to engage in 2 wildlife safaris and a whale-watching boat trip. This Sri Lanka 3 days package also includes a sea turtle conservation project, where you can witness many species of endangered sea turtles.

4: Sri Lanka 3 days travel route with a twist of adventure -Colombo, Kitulagla, Ella, Udawalawe, Galle

This travel route is the best option among all the travel routes mentioned in this article for adventure junkies. This 3 day Sri Lanka tour includes activities such as rainforest trek, bird watching, whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, and safari. Places to visit on this 3 days travel route are Kitulagla, Horton plains national park, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Udawalawe National Park, Galle fort and Bentota beach.

Travelling on Sri Lanka 3 days tour

Even though on Sri Lanka 3 days tours you spend far less time in the vehicle compared to the one-day tours, you will be travelling around 150 km a day on average. It means you spend around 2-3 hours travelling every day. Generally, public transport is not a viable option for Sri Lanka 3 days tours, because you need to complete the tour within 3 days (inclusive sightseeing tours).

It is possible to visit many interesting places on a Sri Lanka 3 days tour, however, do not pack your trip with all the possible things that your encounter on the way, and keep some room to relax and leisure. In fact, you need a bit of time to explore the places you visit and you also need time to travel between tourist attractions.

In this article, we indicated the estimated time to travel between cities because it is a daunting task to give you the exact time to drive between cities. With chaotic traffic, it is always a daunting task to indicate the exact time to travel between cities in Sri Lanka. If you pack your Sri Lanka 3 days tour with activities and places to visit, invariably you are limiting the time you can spend on your stops, making an unnecessary rush.

It is necessary to have your own vehicle or a taxi to travel on these trips. Having private transport is the key to the success of all these Sri Lanka 3 days tours. If you opt to use public transport such as train and bus, you may not be able to do the tour as planned, because these private transports suck your time.

This article is mainly written on the 15 Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days, however, we are not going to limit it to those 15 places. We are hoping to make a full picture of Sri Lanka 3 days tour route that we indicated at the start of the article. You will also get information about other minor tourist attractions, places to eat, and places to stay.

This nature tour includes rainforest trekking, white water rafting, safari, hiking, and trekking. This adventure tour also includes whale watching based in southern Sri Lanka. If you

How to choose the best travel route for your Sri Lanka 3 days trip

All the three-day trip places in Sri Lanka, including in this article, give you the opportunity to engage in various interesting activities. We discuss 15 places and 3 travel routes to include in a Sri Lanka 3 days tour, but you cannot include all places in one trip. Therefore, tourists have to choose the best travel route based on their interests.

Each travel route comes with a set of interesting places. E.g Sri Lanka 3 days travel route with a twist of adventure includes many adventure activities but it does not include temples or cultural sites. On the other hand, 3 days trip to the cultural triangle includes temples, and historical monuments such as Sigiriya, and Dambulla but no adventure activities. Choose the best travel route for your 3 days trip to Sri Lanka, thereby you to engage in the activities you most like and enjoy the trip.

Where does the 3 days Sri Lanka tour start?

The 15 Best Places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days, coming in this article can be easily reached from Colombo or any other beach resorts on the west and south coast. Most of the places also can be visited on a day tour from Colombo, but you have to limit the trip to one or two places.

Tourists can join the trips to Colombo airport or from the port, therefore, travellers can start the tours right after landing in Sri Lanka. However, all three 3 day tour packages mentioned in this article start not only in Colombo but also in beach resorts. These tours start from 140+ beach hotels on the west and southern coast of Sri Lanka. If you wish to take one of these 3 days’ Sri Lanka tours, please get in touch with the local tour operator Seerendipity tours.

Seerendipity tours are the sole organizer of all these 3 days’ Sri Lanka tours. All trips are private programs. When you book tours directly with seerendipity tours, you can avoid the heavy commissions charged by the 3rd parties and online booking portals.

Sri Lanka 3 days package: for whom is it suitable?

We usually do not get bookings for these 3 days tours from guests staying in beach resorts. Instead of 3-day trips they mostly book Sri Lanka 1 day tours because they like to return to the beach resort on the same day for the overnight stay. Usually, most tourists, who book these 3-day tours are from Colombo or from the airport. And they do the 3 days tours before heading to the beach resort, thereby their beach holidays will not be interrupted.

1 day Sri Lanka trip Vs 3 days Sri Lanka trip

Perhaps you might be considering doing a few 1-day trips instead of 1 Sri Lanka 3 days package. But, there are many benefits in engaging in a three-day trip against a few one-day trips, check the below table.

One 3 days tourSpend less time travelling
Spend more time travelling,
travel as twice as the 3-day trip		 Spend more time traveling,
travel as twice as the 3-day trip
More time for sightseeing Less time for sightseeing
Affordable Comparatively expensive
Opportunity to have leisure No time for leisure
Time to visit places not mentioned
in the itinerary		No extra activities due to
the time constraints
Can drive to tourist attractions far
away from the resort		Cannot visit places far away from
the resort due to the time
taken on travelling
2 overnight stays in the places
you head on to		No overnight stay

What are the activities available on Sri Lanka 3 days package?

Usually, most Sri Lanka 3 days packages include all interesting activities like most other multiday Sri Lanka tour packages, and the 4 Sri Lanka 3-day tours mentioned in this article include,

Sri Lanka 7 days tour with a fascinating blend of history, culture, nature, wildlife, and leisure

3 days Sri Lanka Beach Holiday

Lying on the palm-fringed pristine beaches, doing nothing, and occasionally sipping an arrack cocktail while chewing fresh Sri Lankan seafood in a luxury beach resort also sounds goooooood I think!

Being an island Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. The island is a popular beach holiday destination in the region and attracts a large number of sun worshippers every year. There are many thousands of beach resorts along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka and most of them are located on the western and southern coasts. If you are not in the mood to travel and like to have leisure, then 3 day Sri Lanka beach tour is the best option for you.

Many beach resorts have an interesting offer for short vacationers. Most beach resorts offer interesting activities such as Ayurveda treatments, boat tours, snorkelling, watersports, animations and many other activities for their in-house guests.

If you like to know about the current beach holiday offers please write to info@seerendipitytours.copm

So, have your baggage ready, and set off on a 3 day trip to Sri Lanka to treat yourself and enjoy life at your best. Seerendipity Tours has dozens of pr-planned Sri Lanka 3 days tour packages, browse our tour packages and check if we already have the 3-days Sri Lanka tour you look for. You can ask Seerendipity Tours staff to make a customized package for you, our staff will do it for you without any charge, whether you book the tour with us or somewhere else.  

How to choose the best 3-day trips in Sri Lanka?

3-day trips in Sri Lanka are available in many flavors and choosing the most suitable package is up to you. 3-day trips in Sri Lanka can be broadly categorized into 3 day leisure holidays (beach holidays), 3-day adventure tour packages, 3-day wildlife tour packages, 3-day cultural triangle tours, 3 days southern Sri Lanka trips, and 3-day tour packages to Sri Lanka upcountry.

4 popular 3-days Sri Lanka tours

  1. Sri Lanka 3 days cultural triangle tour- historical places, culture, elephant, shopping, city life.
  2. Sri Lanka 3 days upcountry tour- historical places, culture, elephants, tea gardens, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes.
  3. Sri Lanka 3 days southern Sri Lanka tour- Historical monuments, wildlife reserves, beaches, turtle conservation projects, and whale watching.
  4. Sri Lanka 3 days beach holiday – leisure with optional activities such as Ayurveda massage, and watersports.

5 alternative places for three-day trips in Sri Lanka

  1. Ella – Ella is a laid-back small village with a healing climate in the Sri Lankan mountains. Ella attracts a large number of travellers every year and is considered one of the most scenic tourist destinations on the island.
  2. Adam’s Peak– travellers can easily integrate the Adams Peak hike into 3 day Sri Lanka southern trip. Adams Peak is the 5th highest mountain on the island and it is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country. A large number of devotees of Buddhists make the 5 hours of moonlight hike in Adams Peak in order to worship the footprint of Buddha.
  3. Trincomalee- Trincomalee is the capital on the east coast and is predominantly a Hindu city. Trincomalee offers a few places such as Nilaveli and pigeon island for a memorable time with sun, sea, and sand.
  4. Eco-park Sigiriya-another popular wildlife reserve in the north-central province, which offers the opportunity to spot large herds of wild elephants.
  5. Sinharaja Rain forest-this Gondwana forest is one of the oldest patches of rainforests in the world dating back to the Gondwana land era. Singaraja rainforest is considered a super biodiversity hotspot, as it is inhabited by a large number of Fauna and Flora. Sinharaja trip can be easily integrated with 3 days trip to Southern Sri Lanka.

Places to visit on three-day trips in Sri Lanka

As I have written in the early part of the article, the number of places to visit on a 3 days trip is endless, but we have carefully filtered 15 places. I followed a criterion, it should mainly provide the value of time that you put into it and it should provide a memorable, thrilling experience.

The 15 places listed in this blog post cover crumbling historical monuments in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, scenic mountains with tea gardens and cascading waterfalls, the gloomy rainforest, and idyllic beach resorts on the western and southern coast, plan your Sri Lanka 3 days day trips from Colombo/airport to relax, look for activities and be blessed by the divine.

1. Anuradhapura ancient city distance of 200 km from Colombo and 5+ hours drive from Colombo

Anuradhapura is the first stop on the 3 day Sri Lanka tour to the cultural triangle. Anuradhapura is the most historical city in Sri Lanka and is part of most Sri Lankan cultural tours. The historical city of Anuradhapura hides many thousands of crumbling monuments dating back to the 3rd century BC. The city tour of Anuradhapura lasts about 3 hours and it includes visits to ancient Buddghots temples, palaces, lakes, gardens, and many other ancient structures.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour- Important things to do in Anuradhapura

2. Bentota beach-distance 100 km from Colombo and 2+ hours drive from Colombo

By far Bentota Beach is the most popular beach resort in Sri Lanka, it is also known as the golden mile on the west coast. Bentota beach resort serves many thousands of beach holiday lovers every month, especially during the peak holiday season starting from November to April every year. Bentota is not only popular for multi-day Sri Lanka beach tours but also for Sri Lanka day outings. The unique location of Bentota makes it very suitable for beach holidays.

Bentota Beach is flanked by the Bentota River on one side while it is the Indian Ocean on the other side. A large number of luxury beach resorts are concentrated on Bentota Beach and therefore it is most suitable for luxury beach holiday seekers.

Sri Lanka 3 days trip-things to do in Bentota on

Ultimate 2 days trip to Sri Lanka cultural triangle

3. Sigiriya Rock fortress-distance 170 km from Colombo and 5+ hours drive from Colombo

Sigiriya is one of the key attractions of Sri Lanka 3 days tour of the cultural triangle. Sigiriya is located at the centre of the cultural triangle and provides easy access to all tourist hot spots in the cultural triangle. There 2 overnight stays during the 3 days cultural triangle tour and guests stay in Sigiriya for 1 night and visit Sigiriya Rock, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Dambulla cave temple from Sigiriya Rock. Sigiriya lion rock is the major attraction in Sigiriya and this iconic tourist attraction is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Sri Lanka 3 days trip-things to do in Sigiriya

4. Dambulla cave temple-distance 160 km from Colombo and 5+ hours drive from Colombo

Dambulla golden cave temple better known as “Rangiri Dambulla” is a UNESCO world heritage site. The temple is one of the oldest temples in the world, which dates back to the 1st century BC. Dambulla golden cave temple is consisting of 5 spacious natural caves. These 5 natural caves hide more than 150 Buddha statues, god figures and statues, and a few other figures. The inner wall of the caves is elaborately decorated with colourful paintings. These paintings are depicting various sceneries from the life of Buddha.

5. Minneriya National Park-distance 171 km from Colombo and 5+ hours drive from Colombo

Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world for elephant safari, it is mainly due to the large concentration of wild elephants. According to the elephant survey, the island is inhabited by more than 5000 wild elephants. Compared to the size of the island it is a very high number and most of the elephants are concentrated in the wildlife reserves.

Minneriya national park is tucked away from Colombo in the north-central province of Sri Lanka. Minneriya is one of the most popular national parks on the island and is visited by a large number of travellers heading to the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.

Minneriya national park is included in the 3 days Sri Lanka trip from Colombo. Tourists are visiting the Minneriya national park from their hotel in Sigiriya on the 2nd day of the trip.

6. Kandy-117 km from Colombo and 3+ hours drive from Colombo

Kandy is the last kingdom of the Sri Lankan monarchy until it was ceded to the British crown in 1948. However Kandy had been an important city on the island despite the change of power, it is mainly due to the tooth relic temple. Tooth relic temple is the iconic tourist attraction in Kandy and it is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The tooth relic temple is considered the most sacred Buddhist temple on the island and is visited by thousands of tourists every day.

Kandy is surrounded by many important tourist attractions such as the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, tea plantations, the Royal botanical garden, and Udawattekele Sanctuary.

The tooth relic temple is included in both the upcountry 3 day trip in Sri Lanka and 3 day trip in Sri Lanka to the Cultural Triangle.

Other important things to do in Kandy

This 2-day Sri Lanka tour includes 2 most important tourist attractions in southern Sri Lanka Yala and Galle Fort, on this 2 days private tour you will be visiting many tourist attritions such as the Madu River estuary, Yala national park, Galle Fort, Moonstone Mines, sea turtle conservation project, Galle fort as well as Yala wildlife reserve. The tour includes a full-day safari at Yala national park with a picnic lunch. The tour includes entire ground transportation places to visit in Sri Lankan, a live guide, accommodation, and all taxes

7. Yala National park-166 km from Colombo and 3+ hours drive from Colombo

Yala national park is one of the most popular national parks on the island and provides opportunities to see a large number of wild animals. Therefore, Sri Lanka 3 days trip to southern Sri Lanka with Yala national park is one of the most popular activities among travellers.

Yala national park is one of the best places to see leopards in the world and you will never fail to spot a leopard in a full-day jeep safari at Yala national park. A safari of Yala national park is included in the 3 day southern Sri Lanka tour along with Udawalawe national park.

Other important things to do in Yala

8. Nuwara Eliya-126 km from Colombo and 4+ hours drive from Colombo

Nuwara Eliya, at a height of 1800 meters above sea level, is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular hill country resorts for Sri Lanka 3 days tour. Hill country resorts in Sri Lanka, such as Nuwara Eliya and Ella, are indisputably appealing. It stands in stark contrast to the idyllic coconut-tree-lined beaches and lively towns of Colombo and Negombo. The world-famous Ceylon tea is produced in the highlands of Sri Lanka’s inland tea stations. Because of its therapeutic climate, Nuwara Eliya was a favourite location among colonial rulers.

Due to the steep route and numerous twists, the travel from Colombo and most other beach destinations on the west coast to Nuwara Eliya takes around 5 hours. The fact that Nuwara Eliya is 1800 meters above sea level is the fundamental reason for its attractiveness as a tourist destination. The most popular forms of transportation for driving to Sri Lanka’s hill area are road travel and train travel. Travelling by rail or bus allows you to enjoy the wonderful beauty of the hill area. However, rail travel is immensely popular among tourists, and the Sri Lanka hill country train ride is regarded as one of the most picturesque train rides in the world. And it’s part of Sri Lanka’s surprising beauty in terms of landscapes and culture for such a small island nation.

Nuwara Eliya is a vacation spot with a healing climate, with temperatures averaging approximately 20 degrees Celsius. Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by mountain ranges and tea plantations. Unlike most other 2-day tours in Sri Lanka, you will not find many religious attractions here, and it is quite unlikely that you will see a Buddhist temple of historical significance. You will, however, visit the Sita temple and the Hanuman temple, both Hindu temples.

Important things to do in Nuwara Eliya

This 3-day Sri Lanka tour includes important cultural and historical monuments such as Sigiriya rock, Dambulla golden temple, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. The tour also includes wildlife tours, a spice/herbal garden, Peradeniya botanical garden, and many other places.

9. Polonnaruwa-230 km from Colombo and 5+ hours drive from Colombo

Polonnaruwa is a major tourist attraction on the island and is rarely missed by tourists, who are interested in Sri Lankan culture and history. This 11th-century capital harbours many dozens of historical monuments. Palaces, temples, audience halls, image houses, lakes and many other crumbling monuments can be still seen at Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is included in Sri Lanka 3 days trip to the cultural triangle, the tourists visit the city on the 2nd day of the tour.

Important things to do in Polonnaruwa

10. Galle tour-120 km from Colombo and 3+ hours drive from Colombo

It has never been so easy to reach Galle from Colombo. With the expansion Southern expressway, the travelling time from Colombo to Galle has been reduced to 2 hours from 4 hours. Galle is one of the most important tourist attractions of Sri Lanka 3 day tours to southern Sri Lanka. Galle is popular on the island for its beaches and Galle Fort. A large number of beach resorts are located just south of Galle and some of the places such as Unawatuna rank among the best beaches in the world.

A walking tour of Galle Fort is included in Sri Lanka 3 day tours. It allows the tourist to witness the grandeur of this 16th-century Dutch Fort. The labyrinthine cobbled streets are flanked by Dutch houses, palaces, museums, galleries, shops, pubs, restaurants, and hotels.

The Dutch fort was carefully laid out by the engineers and later converted into a city. The fort is surrounded by a gigantic granite wall giving the best protection against outside enemies. However Dutch forces could not withstand the firepower of the English army and the Fort was ceded to the British East India Company in 1796.

Today many thousands of travellers visit the Dutch fort and some of them, anchor, here for many weeks because it has the best setting for relaxation. Dutch Fort is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Sri Lanka.

Important things to do in Galle

11. Mirissa-152 km from Colombo and 3+ hours drive from Colombo

Mirissa is a popular whale-watching hot spot in the world. Unlike most other whale-watching destinations, in Mirissa tourists are able to spot whales throughout the year. The best time of the year for whale watching in Mirissa is from March to May. Mirissa includes Sri Lanka 3 day tours to the southern coast.

Mirissa is also popular among beach holiday lovers. The beaches of Mirissa are largely isolated compared to most other crowded places such as Bentota and Hikkaduwa. Swimming, diving, snorkelling, and surfing sea turtles are some of the popular activities in Mirissa.

Important things to do on 3 days Sri Lanka tour to Mirissa

12. Udawalawe National park-152 km from Colombo and 4+ hours drive from Colombo

Udawalawe national park is located at the foothills of the central mountain range. Udawalawe national park is one of the most popular places for safari tours and Udawalawe safari allows you to spot a large number of wild elephants within a short period of time. Elephants, jackals, mungoes, monkeys, deer, and crocodiles are the most common animals in Udawalawe national park. Sri Lanka 3 day tours with the southern coast include Udawalawe national park as well as Yala national park.

What are the important tourist places to visit on Sri Lanka 3 days trip to Udawalawe?

13. Adam’s peak-137 km from Colombo and 4+ hours drive from Colombo

Adams Peak also known as the temple is a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhist travellers. Adams Peak is mainly a tourist attraction for Sri Lankan travellers, however, there are many foreign travellers who also undertake this 5 hours of moonlight hike due to its thrilling adventurous experience. Adams Peak is the 5th highest mountain on the island and the moonlight hike at Adams Peak lasts around 5 hours. The Adams Peak hike reaches its climax upon reaching the summit.

Watching the sunrise and enjoying spellbinding scenery are the 2 other intentions of the trip to Adams Peak, along with worshipping the footprint of Buddha. Adams Peak is tucked away a37 km from Colombo and it is surrounded by rainforests known as peak wilderness.

What are the important tourist attractions to visit on Sri Lanka 3 days trip to Adam’s Peak?

Sri Lanka adventure trip, special Price US$ 690, save $60, Regular Price US$750

14. Kitulgala-90 km from Colombo and 2+ hours drive from Colombo

Sri Lanka 3 day tours to the mountains take you to many interesting places such as the tooth relic temple, elephant orphanage, royal botanical garden, tea gardens, and Kitulgala. Sri Lanka 3 day trip to Kitulagla is the only 3 day Sri Lanka tour that gives you the opportunity to engage in some thrilling adventures. Mountain climbing, rainforest trek, bird-watching tours, whitewater rafting, hiking, and trekking are some of the activities available on this 3 days trip.

Kitulgala on Sri Lanka’s west coast is a wonderful destination in its own right, with boulder-rich rugged terrain, scenic trekking, rain forests, and terrain ranging from steep escarpments and rainforests to granite caves and green-capped mountains. There are just a few fixed routes, thus there are several options.

For most visitors, a 3-day trip to Kitulgala in Sri Lanka will be an exciting and exciting vacation that includes numerous adrenaline-pumping activities such as mountain climbing, rainforest trekking, water rafting, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, and caving. This journey is popular with adventure seekers, and it is offered from more than 40 hotels in western and southern Sri Lanka, as well as the airport. With fewer activities like water fasting, kayaking, and jungle hiking, the tour may easily be done as a day excursion from Colombo.

Kitulgala is more than just an adventurous vacation location; it also has various parts of forest suited for Sri Lanka jungle excursions and treks. Kitulgala rainforest, which borders the Kelaniya River and may be used for jungle hiking, is one such rainforest. Because the Kitulgala rainforest is modest in size compared to the rest of Sri Lanka’s rainforests, the duration of the Sri Lanka jungle trip may not take more than 2 hours.

Belilena, a pre-historic cave in Kitulgala, is another notable tourist site that is thought to be the home of a pre-historic man in Sri Lanka. During the excavations, a great number of stone artefacts were uncovered in the cave.

15. Sinharaja rainforest-138 km from Colombo and 3+hours drive from Colombo

Sinharaja rainforest is a super biodiversity hotspot, which harbours a large collection of Fauna and Flora. Therefore, the Sinharaja rainforest is one of the best places to include in your Sri Lanka 3 days tour. Sinharaja is one of the oldest patches of rainforests in the world and its origin goes back many millions of years. Sinharaja is the best rainforest on the island to see birds and it allows you to see the most number of birds in any given patch of forest on the island. A visit to the Sinharaja rainforest can be easily integrated with Sri Lanka 3 day tours to the mountains.

At the time, there is no scarcity of jungle cover in Sri Lanka; forests occupy around 24% of the country. Because steamy rainforests make up a major portion of Sri Lanka’s remaining forest cover, virgin rainforests like the Sinharaja rainforest are regarded as ecosystems with some of the richest and most ecologically important habitats.

Due to the spread of tea plantations and other crops inside its borders, Sri Lanka’s primaeval forest cover fell significantly in the 18s. During the post-colonial period, deforestation was significantly reduced. However, there had just been a jungle slaughter in Wilpattu national park. Politicians encroached on a big chunk of the Wilpattu national park in order to increase human settlements.

Sinharaja jungle has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is primarily the rich biodiversity of Sinharaja rainforest that has put it on the worldwide community’s radar. Sinharaja jungle is one of the world’s last surviving rainforests. A visit to Sri Lanka’s most prized natural treasure will definitely be an amazing experience for every visitor. Sinharaja’s rich green forest is one of the world’s oldest sections of rainforest, with roots dating back millennia (Gondwanaland period).

Travelers may hike through the Sinharaja forest and observe the tremendous natural richness of the forest by embarking on a Sinharaja rainforest tour. The trip lasts around 4 hours, and tourists are guided by one of our wildlife specialists who provides them with all the information they need about this natural gem. Sinharaja rainforest is one of the top destinations for Sri Lanka jungle excursions and is included in the majority of Sri Lanka nature trips.

Seerendipity Tour is a 100% locally owned tourism company based in Colombo. Seerendipity Tours’ highly experienced local personnel is a crucial strength, and they can arrange your fantasy Sri Lanka vacation. When you book a trip with us, you are booking directly with a local tour operator, which means there are no intermediaries between you and the tour business, allowing you to avoid commissions imposed by third parties and internet booking sites.

Practical Tips for Your 3-Day Sri Lanka Adventure

  1. Transportation: Consider hiring a driver for your trip. It’s affordable and allows you to relax between destinations.
  2. Accommodation: Book hotels in advance, especially during peak season (December to March).
  3. Weather: Sri Lanka has a tropical climate. Pack light, breathable clothing and don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent.
  4. Respect local customs: Dress modestly when visiting temples and remove shoes before entering.
  5. Stay hydrated: The tropical climate can be dehydrating. Drink plenty of water throughout your trip.
  6. Try local cuisine: Don’t miss out on Sri Lankan specialties like hoppers, kottu rotti, and fresh seafood.

Why you should book Sri Lanka 3 days trip with Seerendipity tour

Serendipity Tour is an entirely locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Serendipity Tours, and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka.

The best price guaranteed for your Sri Lanka trip

When you book a tour with Serendipity Tours, you directly book the tour with the local company, which means there are no middlemen and therefore you can guarantee the best price. Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see.

Plan your best Sri Lanka trip with-expert

Our staff makes a personalised program for you, which you can change until you find the best Sri Lanka trip package for you. Visit www.sirilaktours.com to browse our existing tour packages, which you can customise to meet all your expectations. Write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com, tel. 0094-77-440977, WhatsApp 0094-77-4440977.

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