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3 Days in Sri Lanka and 3 Day Trip Sri Lanka

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Venturing on a 3-day trip to Sri Lanka allows you to visit several interesting places on the island. You will not able to see the most interesting places within 3 days’ time, but you can visit several interesting places depending on the region you visit. However, with careful planning, you can visit a dozen of interesting tourist places and actively engage in interesting activities during the 3 days. In this article, you can read one of the most popular Sri Lanka 3 days trips, as well as the 11 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days.

Table of Contents

3 Day trip to Sri Lanka: how to plan it?

Are you planning to stay for 3 days in Sri Lanka? then there are many options that you can choose from if you like to see the island during your short stay. However, choosing the best program can be a bit tricky, because the options are endless.

3 days in Sri Lanka is a short period, however, with proper planning, you can make your stay a memorable holiday. I feel touring the island of Sri Lanka is the best way to explore this tropical destination and you can plan a 3-day trip to Sri Lanka for this purpose. It allows you to mingle with the general folk and experience the life of Sri Lankans. As a tourist, you need to visit local families and drop into places such as schools, farmlands, and village temples in order to see the real Sri Lankan life. It certainly gives you the pleasure of learning the rhythm of Sri Lankan life.

Roads around the island are in good shape and traffic moves fast in most areas apart from the cities. Driving in Sri Lanka can be hazardous if you are not familiar with the unique driving pattern of the island. Don’t be surprised if your vehicle is overtaken from the left side, or drives over a red light. You will soon get used to it.

Are 3 days enough for a Sri Lanak trip?

3 days is not enough for a Sri Lanka trip, not at all! You must have at least a 5-day Sri Lanka tour or a 7 days tour to see a considerable number of important tourist places in Sri Lanka. If you plan a beach holiday along with your sightseeing tour even 7 days may not enough for the trip and recommended to go for a 2-week Sri Lanka trip or a 10-day Sri Lanak trip package. Having said that, if you do can’t allocate more than 3 days for the trip; what can we do? Plan your 3 days trip very cautiously, still, you will be able to see many interesting places.

What can we see on a Sri Lanak 3 days trip?

What travellers see on a 3-day Sri Lanak largely depends on the type of trip they book. Due to the availability of limited time the 3 days tour packages are usually planned to cover a limited number of sites during the trip. These 3-day tours can be booked in many forms such as 3 days nature tour, 3 days cultural tour, a 3-day beach holiday, 3 days wildlife tour etc, as the name suggests, each tour package mainly covers tourist attractions pertaining to one specific type of attraction. However, 3 days trip can be customized as it is a private tour and you can get the tour itinerary changed according to your wish with help of the travel company.

BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE TOURS IN SRI LANKA
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.

To whom does the 3 days Sri Lanka tour suit most?

Sri Lanka 3 days tour is ideal for travellers, who can dedicate only a few days to their Sri Lanka trip. And it is also an ideal activity for your layover in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka 3-day trips are very popular among travellers from India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and many other Asian countries. Sri Lanka’s 3-day tour itineraries are popular activities among travellers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and many other Arabian countries. Travellers from those countries do not need to spend a lot of time on their flights and it is one of the main reasons for Sri Lanka’s popularity as a holiday destination among them.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour is also popular among MICE travellers. Sri Lanka is a popular MICE holiday destination and the island attracts many MICE groups from India. Sri Lanka 3 days tour is an ideal activity for them to see a few interesting places on the island during their seminar, meeting, workshop or conference in Sri Lanka. Usually, the itineraries for MICE groups are equipped with optional sightseeing tours such as 3-day tours and 2-day Sri Lanka tours and travellers can choose an activity of their choice

Sri Lanka 3 days trip as a transit tour

The 3 day trip in Sri Lanka is also known as the transit tour because most travellers who are in transit at Colombo international airport book this 3-day trip in Sri Lanka. Some are purposely extending their transit and making room for the 3-day trip in Sri Lanka trip.

The people who make business visits to Sri Lanka are also another segment of travellers who often book Sri Lanka 3 days tours. Some of them are visiting the island for conferences and seminars. The 3-day trip to Sri Lanka is a perfect tour package organized by Seerendiopity tours to experience the essence of Sri Lanka within a short period of time.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour as a shore excursion from Colombo

Sri Lanka is a popular destination for cruise ships and a large number of cruise ships report to the Sri Lankan ports. Being the largest port on the island most of these cruise ships anchor in the Colombo port, therefore, demand for Colombo shore excursions is very high and tour operators such as Seerendipity tours offer Sri Lanka day trips, Sri Lanka two days trips, and 3 days Sri Lanka trip as a shore excursion to foreign travellers. If you are on a cruise ship and looking for 3 day Sri Lanka trip below mentioned trip packages are very suitable options for you.

Sri Lanka 3 days trip as part of the beach holiday

Three days trip to Sri Lanka is available in many forms such as adventure tours, wildlife tours, cultural tours, etc. A large number of travellers combine these three days tours with their beach holidays, therefore they can visit a few important tourist places during their beach stay. A short trip like 3 days tour not only allows them to visit interesting tourist places in Sri Lanka but also enables them to break their monotonous lifestyle in the beach resort. Some travellers take their 3 days tour during the beach stay, however, some others are opting to have the 3 days tour before or after the beach holiday.

How to travel on 3 days Sri Lanka tour?

Sri Lanka has a well-maintained road network allowing you to reach any part of Sri Lanka, therefore, road travel is the best option for you to travel on this 3 day Sri Lanka trip. It is best to hire a car with a local driver/guide. With an experienced driver/guide you will not miss any tourist of the places mentioned in your itinerary, on the other their experience helps you to have an enjoyable tour within a short period of time. Travelling by private taxi is safe, affordable and most of all it saves your time, which is an important factor on a short trip like 3 days tour.

You may be thinking of public transport such as buses and trains as a viable option on your trip because it is very cheap to travel by public transport in Sri Lanka. But, unfortunately travelling by public transport might suck your time because they are behind schedule most of the time.

2 days kandy kitulgala tour
Venture on a Southern Sri Lanka tour to see the important tourist attraction on Sri Lanka’s south coast such as Wildlife parks, beaches, forts, museums, parks, and town

How much does it cost for Sri 3 days tour?

The cost of a Sri Lanka 3 days tour depends on many factors such as the type of accommodation you choose, and the places you visit on the trip. Accommodation is the main contributor to the price of teh 3 days tour. If you book the 3 days tour with affordable accommodation you can slash the price of the trip by around 30 per cent. The second biggest contributor to your 3 days tour package price is the entrance fees and the transport cost follows.

In this lengthy article, we discuss five 3-days trips to Sri Lanka, the most popular 3 days trips in Sri Lanka. However, there are many other versions of Sri Lanka 3 days trips apart from these five versions. Usually, most 3 days trips to Sri Lanka do not touch the north and eastern coasts of Sri Lanka due to the remoteness from Colombo. The five 3-day tours mentioned in this article also do not include the tourist attractions located on the north and eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

  1. 3-day itinerary Sri Lanka to Cultural Triangle
  2. 3-day itinerary Sri Lanka with Beach
  3. 3-day itinerary Sri Lanka to upcountry
  4. 3-day itinerary Sri Lanka with adventure
  5. 3-day itinerary Sri Lanka with Colombo

Variety of 3-day trips in Sri Lanka

You can find many variations of 3 days tours in Sri Lanka and it is up to the tourist to choose the best Sri Lanka 3 days tour by carefully considering the inclusions of the trip. You can explore a fraction of the tourist attractions available on the island during the 3 days. Usually, most 3 day tours start in Colombo, some of the variation of 3 days tours as below.

one-day trips from Colombo

Sri Lanka 3-day tour with Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla golden temple Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya

1: 3 Days tour of Sri Lanka to the cultural triangle

Explore Sri Lanak rich historical past is on the bucket list of most visitors to Sri Lanka. And visiting the cultural triangle is the best bet for travellers, who like to explore Sri Lanka’s historical mo numents, therefore, Sri Lanak cultural triangle tour is a very popular activity among teh travellers.

This 3-day trip to Sri Lanka allows you to explore fascinating tropical Sri Lanka within a short period of time. The cultural triangle 3 days tour takes you to the tourist attractions in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. It includes the most important tourist places in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka namely Sigiriya, Dambulla cave temple, Polonnaruwa and Kandy.

Visit Jetawanrama stupa ( At 122 metres (400 ft), Jetyawanarama stupa was the 3rd tallest brick building in the world and the world’s tallest stupa, it was built by King Mahasena of Anuradhapura (273–301).) and many other historical marvels on your cultural triangle 3 days tour. Some of teh interesting monuments included in this 3 days tour are,

  • Sri Maha bodhi
  • Ruwanveli stupa
  • Jetawanram stupa
  • Twin ponds
  • Samadhi Buddha
  • Galvihara
  • Parakama bahu palace
  • Tooth relic temple
  • Rankoth Vihara
  • Sigiriya rock fortress
  • Dambulla golden temple

You will not only be able to see the most interesting places in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. But chances are there to see a few interesting places such as wildlife parks, during your short vacation, if you plan your Sri Lanka 3 days tour properly. Seerendipity tours is a truly Sri Lankan company and we are able to help you to plan the best tour package with our expertise in Sri Lankan tourism.

2: 3 Day trip in Sri Lanka to mountains

This tour takes you to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and several other tourist attractions in the mountains such as tea gardens, tea factories, and waterfalls. This 3 day trip to Sri Lanka is concise but packed with many important tourist attractions and experiences. 

Upcountry 3 day trip in Sri Lanka is a very popular Sri Lanka road trip, especially among travellers from India, Maldives, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Pakistan. There is a big demand for this 3-day trip because it includes the central mountain range of Sri Lanka with green-capped mountains, tea gardens, waterfalls, rivers, and many other natural attractions.

This is the only Sri Lanka 3 days trip that includes important Ramaya sites. The tourist, who books this trip able to visit Seetha Amman temple, hanuman temple, Ashok Vatika, and many other tourist places in Nuwara Eliya.

3: 3 Days southern Sri Lanka tour with wildlife

This tour is mainly a wildlife exploration trip and includes wildlife reserves such as Udawalawe national park and Yala national park. The trip also includes whale watching in Mirissa. Even though it can be described as a wildlife trip, it also includes many ancient monuments such as Galle Fort as well as popular beaches such as Hikkaduwa beach and Unawatuna beach. During the 72 hours, travellers can cover many interesting tourist attractions in southern Sri Lanka. This is one of the Sri Lanka tour packages that can be easily customized because this tour package is offered as an individual Sri Lanka tour. Travellers can easily make twists and turn to the tour itinerary to accommodate cultural sites, historical places, adventure activities, and many other interesting experiences.

4: 3 Days Sri Lanka adventure tour

This 3 days tour includes many interesting activities such as whitewater rafting, rainforest exploration, bird watching, and safari. The kicks off from Colombo and head on to Kitulagla on day 1 and later proceed to Udawalawe. On the last day of the trip, the guests proceed to Colombo via Galle and Bentota and explore the tourist attraction in southern Sri Lanka such as Galle Fort, Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary, Boat trip at Madu estuary, visiting mask museum, jeep safari at Udawalawe national park, and beach hopping in Bentota.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour to southern Sri Lanka

Day 1: 07.00 AM leave for southern Sri Lanka port city of Galle and En-route visit Hikkaduwa beach, Bentota beach, Sea turtle conservation project, and Madu River estuary. Your day winds up with the guided walking tour of Galle Fort, where you witness hundreds of 17th-century Dutch-built houses and mansions. Most buildings are now been converted into hotels, guest houses, restaurants, galleries, museums, and shops, which are selling a wide range of products such as batik, lace, gem, jewellery, Tea, spices, and hand-made souvenir. Overnight stay Galle

Day 2: After breakfast leave for Tissamaharama, the remote village by Tissamaharama lake, which is the gateway to Yala national park. you will be accommodated in a hotel near the Yala national park. Afternoon set off on the Yala safari. Overnight stay in Tissamaharama.

Day 3: On the last day of the 3 days tour, there are no major activities planned. However, you will travel via Rathnapura, which is the city most famous for Gems and jewellery in Sri Lanka, where you have the option to visit a gem museum and a Gem lapidary.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour to ancient cities

Day 1: 07.00 AM leave for Kandy via Pinnawala. The first stop on the trip is at the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, which is an important tourist attraction on this 3 day Sri Lankan trip. Afterwards, continue to Kandy and you will be stopping at the spice garden a few kilometres before Kandy. Later drive to Kandy and continue with the Kandy city tour. During the city tour of Kandy, you will be visiting the gem museum and lapidary, Kandyan cultural show, and tooth relic temple. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Day 2: On the second day of the three days tour, you will be picked up early morning from your hotel in Kandy. Because you will be visiting 3 iconic tourist attractions in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa. The journey takes place via Sigiriya and Dambulla. The first stop of the day will be in Dambulla in view of visiting the golden cave temple, the second stop will be at Sigiriya to witness one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world and to see Sigiriya frescos. Afterwards, continue to Polonnaruwa ancient city, and see the ruins. Overnight stay in Sigiriya.

Day 3: Early morning leave for Anuradhapura to visit the oldest city of Sri Lanka and to witness a large number of ancient structures such as Dagobas, temples, Buddha statues, palaces, gardens, and museums. Later in the day continue to Colombo.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour -hill country

These 3 days Sri Lanka tour with hill country is one of the most popular short trips on the island. The trip includes many important tourist places such as Kandy tooth temple, Nuwara Eliya, Kitulgala, etc. This is an ideal trip for nature lovers as it includes rainforests, a botanical garden, tea plantations, waterfalls, and many other natural attractions.

Day 1: 07.00 AM leave for Nuwara Eliya via Kitulgala while taking a glimpse into the beautiful tea-carpeted hill country. Sri Lanka tea country is one of the most scenic regions on the island with cascading waterfalls, green-capped mountains, terraced rice fields, and patches of forests. You will be taking part in a Nuwara Eliya city tour in order to visit Seetha temple, Gregory lake, Victoria park, and downtown Nuwara Eliya. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 2: After breakfast leave for Kandy vis Ramboda plateau, En route and visit Peradeniya botanical garden. Kandy is one of the most popular cities on the island and most tourists make visit Kandy during their trip to Sri Lanka. Kandy harbours many interesting tours attractions such as temples, gardens, shopping, tea plantations, museums, and many more. In the afternoon Kandy city tour and visit Kandyan cultural show and tooth relic temple. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Day 3: After exploring Kandy, you will be visiting another 2 UNESCO world heritage sites today, located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya, and Dambulla golden temple. Due to the distance to cover today you will be picked up early morning leave from your hotel in Kandy and drive to Sigiriya and trek the Sigiriya rock fortress, and later visit the Dambulla golden temple before heading to Colombo.

How to book a 3 day trip to Sri Lanka?

  1. You can book a 3-day tour at the travel counter of your hotel
  2. You can book Sri Lanka 3 days tour with local tour operators
  3. It is possible to book a Sri Lanka 3 days tour through booking portals
  4. Sri Lanka 3 days tour can be done as a solo trip

11 Best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days

  1. Colombo-undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days as it is the economic hub of the island. It offers a wide range of places for shopping, dining, and recreational activities.
  2. Kandy is also the best place to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days due to its historical monuments and natural attractions. The 3 days tour to Kandy will be a busy program due to a large number of tourist attractions to visit on the trip.
  3. Pinnawala elephant orphanage- is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island and we have included it under the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days. The orphanage is conveniently located on the Colombo-Kandy main road giving easy access to all the travellers heading to the cultural triangle and the central mountain range.
  4. Peradeniya botanical garden-located near Kandy is another tourist hotspot on the island
  5. Udawattekele sanctuary – Another tourist hot spot to see a large number of avian fauna species and trees and plants
  6. Tooth relic temple-Most sacred Buddhist temple on the island and which is a UNESCO world heritage on island.
  7. Gregory Lake-A wide expanse of water in the city of Kandy is a perfect place to engage in various interesting activities such as boating, fishing, and rowing.
  8. Nuwara Eliya-the city nestled among the green-capped mountains of Sri Lankan upcountry. Nuwara Eliya is one of the tourist hot spots and attracts a large number of travellers. The healing climate of Nuwara Eliya is the main reason for its popularity among travellers.
  9. Tea plantation / factory-Visiting tea factory is on the card of every Sri Lanaknvisitors, in fact, Sri Lanka produces the best tea in the world under the brand of “Ceylon Tea”.
  10. Cultural triangle-visiting the cultural triangle allows you to see a large number of historical monuments and resides in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, and Dambulla.
  11. Yala national park-this southern Sri Lank tourist hot sport is a real attraction for wildlife lovers. Yala national park attracts the most wildlife enthusiasts in Sri Lanka. Yala is one of the best places to spot leopards in the world. A full-day safari at Yala ended up mostly with the opportunity to see leopard, crocodile, bear, elephant, jackal, wild buffaloe, monkeys, and many other animals and bird species.

When is the best time to visit above mentioned 3 day trip places in Sri Lanka?

Generally, the best time to travel in Sri Lanka swings between the southwest monsoon (from April to November) and the northwest monsoon (from November to April). Therefore, the best time to travel largely depends on the region you plan to explore on your Sri Lanka trip. E.g if you hit the island from April to November, the east coast is the best place to travel. If you travel to the south, west, and central part of Sri Lanka, plan your Sri Lanka trip from November to April.

November to April is the peak holiday season in Sri Lanka and during this period, Sri Lankan resorts see a large influx of foreign travellers, mainly from western countries. Travelling in Sri Lanka from November to April can be very expensive due to the high demand.

Above mentioned 3-day trip places are located on the south coast, west coast, or in the central mountains, which means these places are largely spared from the north-west monsoon. Therefore above-mentioned places have bright, sunny, warm weather from November to April. During this period of above mentioned 3 days trips, places rarely come under heavy rain. However, the trip places mentioned above see often, heavy, sudden rain from April to November, suggesting these places may not very suitable for outdoor activities from April to November.

What includes a 3 day trip to Sri Lanka?

This article is about a 3 day trip in Sri Lanka that revolve around upcountry or better known as tea country, which is packed with many tourist hot spots like Kandy, Tooth relic temple, Pinnawala elephant orphanage, Nuwara Eliya, Tea gardens, Gregory lake, waterfalls, Sita temple and many more.

Are you looking for some activities to make things happen during your 3 days tour to Sri Lanka, you are on the right track, keep on reading this article help you to plan a very interesting 3 day trip in Sri Lanka and turn your 3 days in Sri Lanka into a memorable holiday experience.

Galle 2 days tour from Bentota, places to visit in Sri Lanka in 2 days, 2 day trips sri lanka, 2 days trips sri lanka, sri lanka in 2 days, diving in Hikkaduwa, Bentota to Galle day tour
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

Best 3-day trips in Sri Lanka for short vacationers

Are you live in India or Maldives and look for a short holiday from your home country? Look no further Sri Lanka is the best and most convenient place to reach. Pristine beaches, hot Ramayana sites, adrenaline-pumping thrilling activities, interesting wildlife, and many fun-filled activities, Sri Lanka is one of the most alluring holiday destinations within easy reach of most leading Asian countries.

Sri Lanka is a cultural melting point and shelters people of many ethnic groups and religions such as Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Chinese, Indian, Burghers, Europeans, and Africans…Many ethnic groups and many religions live in peace and harmony.

Delicious seafood, old-world charm, rich shopping experience, fine arts, you can find all of this and many many more here. Here’s a Sri Lanka 3 days tour package allowing you to experience the best of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka 3 days trip from India

You can book an India to Sri Lanka flight from Many Indian cities. Every week there are many direct flights from Mumbai to Sri Lanka, Chennai to Sri Lanka, Delhi to Sri Lanka, and several other cities. Book your flight and try to reach Sri Lanka early, therefore you can use the short time available for your Sri Lanka 3 days tour package to the maximum. Same time book your return flight late evening and make use of as much time as possible to explore some interesting places near the airport such as Colombo city, Negombo beach area, or Ramayana sites in Chilaw.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour features in this article in a nutshell

Day 1: leave for Kandy-En-route and visit Pinnawala elephant orphanage, spice garden, tooth relic temple, Kandyan cultural show, and Kandy city tour.

Dat 2:Leave for Nuwara Eliya-En-route visit the Royal botanical garden, and tea garden, trek to Ramboda waterfalls, Gregory lake, Seetha Amman temple, Udawatteklele sanctuary, and Nuwara Eliya city tour.

Day 3:Leave for Colombo-En-rote white water rafting and river bath in Kitulgala and later Colombo city tour.

Map of Sri Lanka 3 days tour

Map of Sri Lanka 3 days tour
Map of Sri Lanka 3 days tour

Day 1 of 3 day trip to Sri Lanka

Today is the first day of your Sri Lanka 3 days tour package and we assume your Sri Lanka 3 days tour package begins in Colombo (Katunayake international airport), as for most foreign tourists. Head into Kandy on day one of your Sri Lanka 3 days tour package to explore the most popular destination among foreign tourists in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the cultural heart of the island and is dotted with shops, colonial buildings, eateries, and religious sites, Kandy has a neighbourhood with rich ethnic diversity.

Tooth relic temple-places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days

Kandy has the most prominent religious monument for the Sri Lankan Buddhists known as the temple of the tooth relic. And this hot attraction is included almost in every Sri Lanka road trip. Tooth relic temple is the palace of the Kandyan King and one of the most popular landmarks in the city. The temple is pouring with devotees during the pooja hours for religious observances.

Kandy walking tour

The best way to explore Kandy is by taking a walking tour around the city. If you come across the city by coincidence with the Kandy Esala ceremony, you have a lot to experience from a cultural perspective other than the usual historical and natural attractions. The main roads are lined-up with a large number of shops selling clothing, souvenirs, paintings, handicrafts, gems, and jewellery. They are selling modern designs as well as products with typical Sri Lankan designs.

If you are hungry and need to choose a good place to eat among restaurants in Kandy, then, don’t think twice head to the silk garden restaurant for lunch. This is a modern trendy restaurant with a large variety of food in its buffet and a la carte menu. The Lunch Buffet is packed with a large variety of local and foreign food items.

Don’t forget to have a boat tour of Kandy lake and experience the rich biodiversity around the lake. The lake is surrounded by thick green foliage and next to the lake is the tooth relic temple. The royal botanical garden of Peradeniya is just a few minutes away from Kandy and should be part of Sri Lanka 3 days tour package. in fact, Peradeniya cannot be missed out on if you visit Kandy. Peradeniya botanical garden is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.

Kandyan cultural show

You can wind up the day by witnessing the acrobatic rhythmic movements of Kandy dancers. Kandyan cultural show, which is a unique show performed only in Kandy, kick-off at around 5 pm every day. There is no better place to experience the typical Sri Lankan dancing and musical performances on the island.

Usually, the day in Kandy is long due to the large number of things and places to explore and you might be also exhausted due to a long day. Fortunately, there is a large number of Kandy hotels due to the high demand, you can find a place to rest with ease. Most Kandy hotels are concentrated in the city area giving easy access to most of the places mentioned above. If you need to find budget hotels in Kandy still you have plenty of opportunities. Try your luck in the upper lake area, where you get a large number of middle-class and cheap Kandy hotels.

Day 2 of 3 day trip to Sri Lanka

Visiting Udawattakele sanctuary

It is well worth investing time on a trek in the Udawattekele sanctuary, which is a rainforest that includes many Sri Lanka 3 days tour packages. Travellers walk through the lush vegetation of the rainforest, where travellers can spot a large number of birds, butterflies, and animals as well as many species of tropical trees and plants.

The forest is located towards the southern end of Kandy city, just behind the temple of the tooth relic. It will be difficult for you to believe the existence of a rainforest in a busy city like Kandy. So don’t forget to step into this patch of rainforest and see the rich fauna and flora of Sri Lanka. The forest is open to the public daily from 6.000 am to 6.00 pm.

Visiting Nuwara Eliya- places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days

A most important part of today’s program is the exploration of Sri Lankan mountains including the “city of light”, Nuwara Eliya. Many Ramayana sites are scattered in the city of Nuwara Eliya, Seetha Amman temple, and Hanuman temple are 2 popular places that can be added to your Sri Lanka 3 days tour package without any additional cost. If you wish to visit Ashok Vatika, it is also located in Nuwara Eliya. But the entrance fee is US$ 10 per person.

April to May is the festival time here with Wasantha Udanaya, the annual carnival in the city. The annual event kick-off parallel to the start of the flowering season in the mountains and colours sweep the city of Nuwara Eliya, through the beautifully landscaped garden, parks, and lawns around Gregory lake.

If you want to enjoy the beautiful mountains, waterfalls, patches of forests, and tea plantations, you can join a group tour organized by Seerendipity tours or you can have your own tailor-made Sri Lanka 3 days tour package if you love to have privacy during the tour.

Day 3 of 3 day trip to Sri Lanka

Visiting pettah market

Today is the day for the Colombo city tour and shopping tour during this 3 day Sri Lanka tour package. Colombo is Sri Lanka’s busiest city for the best shopping experience in Sri Lanka. Here you find high-end shopping malls with leading multi-national branded products. Pettah is the corner for thrifty shoppers with a large number of products at various prices. Pettah shopping area is clearly demarcated according to the variety of goods sold and avenues. Textiles, leather goods, electronic equipment, Ayurveda medicine, vegetable, and many other things are available here at an affordable price.

On the other side of Pettah is the modern part of the city with high-rise buildings, apartments, hotels, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, casinos and discos. Here you find the old parliament building built after Roman architecture, today it houses the presidential secretariat.

Colombo sightseeing tour

Galle face green just south of the old parliament is also worth a visit. Galle face green has an about 2 kilometres long beach promenade and offers many activities, especially for kids. Later in the day head to Sri Lanka’s most visited Zoo, located just outside of Colombo, near Dehiwala. This is the number-one spot in Sri Lanka to spot animals.

Dehiwala zoological garden places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days

Dehiwala zoo offers night visits as well. Have a walk in the zoo or choose a tram car and have an easy ride, you can choose the most convenient way. If you go for a tram car you need to pay for the ride and tram cars are available only during the night. If you have timing constraints you can visit the Zoo at night and it is open to the public till 22.00 hrs every day. But I would suggest a daytime walk at the Zoo because I feel you see more animals during the day.

You can easily make your Sri Lanka 3 days tour a culinary adventure because there are so many nice restaurants to eat at across Colombo from high-end European restaurants to small wayside eateries.

Dining in Colombo

If you are a food lover and like to experience authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, Colombo is one of the best places to pamper your taste buds. Colombo is also one of the best places to experience fine dining. From traditional Sri Lankan food to contemporary food items as well as many international recipes are awaiting you here. A large number of top restaurants in Sri Lanka reside here and simply you can’t afford to neglect this opportunity.

Victoria park-Places to visit in Sri Lanka in 3 days

Make room for victoria park during your 3-day Sri Lankan vacation, try to make it to Victoria Park after some sightseeing and shopping in the city, Victoria park is the largest inner-city park of Colombo and is located at the heart of Colombo. The park is a colonial heritage, which is lavishly decorated with trees, plants, and waterholes. Trees and other plants that are native to Sri Lanka take up more than half of the park. Taking a free guided walk is the best way to explore this green oasis in a busy metropolis.

Making the Most of Your 3-Day Sri Lanka Trip

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, keep these tips in mind:

  1. Transportation: Pre-book a private driver or join a small group tour to maximize your time and reduce stress.
  2. Accommodation: Stay in centrally located hotels to minimize travel time between destinations.
  3. Packing: Bring comfortable walking shoes, modest clothing for temple visits, and plenty of sunscreen.
  4. Currency: While some places accept credit cards, it’s best to carry Sri Lankan Rupees for small purchases and tips.
  5. Language: Learn a few basic Sinhala phrases to connect with locals. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
  6. Food safety: Stick to bottled water and be cautious with street food to avoid any stomach issues.
  7. Respect local customs: Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting religious sites, and remove shoes when entering temples.

Conclusion

While three days may seem short, this itinerary allows you to experience the best of Sri Lanka’s cultural treasures, natural wonders, and warm hospitality. From ancient rock fortresses to misty tea plantations, you’ll leave with unforgettable memories and a strong desire to return for a longer stay.

Remember, this is just a taste of what Sri Lanka has to offer. For a more in-depth exploration, consider extending your trip to include beach time in the south, a visit to Yala National Park for leopard spotting, or a trek through the scenic hill country.

No matter how you choose to spend your time, Sri Lanka’s diverse landscapes, rich history, and friendly people are sure to capture your heart. So pack your bags, bring your sense of adventure, and get ready for an incredible journey through the Pearl of the Indian Ocean!

Book Sri Lanka 3 days tour with Seerendipity tours

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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Sri Lanka’s official tourism site

12 thoughts on “3 Days in Sri Lanka and 3 Day Trip Sri Lanka”

  1. Your article is good and full of content, however, I have a big doubt if a tourist can accomplish so much on a 3-day tour in Sri Lanka. We were in Sri Lanka many years ago, and according to our experience, it takes many hours to travel from one place to another in Sri Lanka. The roads are in bad shape and it takes a lot of time to pass the towns.

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  2. We are hoping to travel to Sri Lanka in the month of August next year with kids. We are still planning the Sri Lanka trip and most probably go for a beach holiday and considering taking Sri Lanka for 3 days tour from teh beach hotels as you suggest in this article. thanks for teh idea.

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  3. You must have dedicated a lot of time to write this type of detailed article on Sri Lanka3 days trips. Very interesting article and very detailed.

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  5. Very good article. We are at the moment contemplating traveling to Sri Lanka as soon as their social unrest comes to end. We like Sri Lanka 3 days tour to the hill country, we have heard that hill country is very beautiful in Sri Lanka. Same time we have heard that the hill country train trip in Sri Lanka is wonderful with beautiful scenery. Will, it be possible to book a hill country 3 days tour with a train trip for 5 people.?

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  7. Excellent article on Sri Lanka 3 day trips, we have collected lot of information for our Sri Lanka trip from this article.

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  8. We took Sri Lanka 3 days trip to the cultural triangle on our trip to Sri Lanka last year and it was great and enjoyed lit. It was very intersting as this article points out.

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  9. We were in Sri Lanka on a 2 weeks trip and mainly we planned to have a relaxing trip with much of the time on the . However, we included one of the 3 days trip (yala and southern sri lanka) with our beach tour and it was an interesting break for our beach stay.

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  11. We did not make any of the 3 days Sri Lanka trips mentioned here but we gathered lot of information for our trip. And we found the perfect local trip organizer for our trip through the article.

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