22 places to visit on Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Are you looking for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 5 days? Are you looking for places to visit on a Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 5-day tour package? Believe me, choosing the best Sri Lanka itinerary for 5 days and places to visit will be a daunting task, especially if you are traveling with someone else with a different choice. However, we have crafted this blog post with 22 places to visit in Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary. The main selection tool in choosing the places. Sri Lanka is a beautiful island, and there are hundreds of places to visit within five days. Wildlife reserves, crumbling historical monuments, temples, parks, bustling cities, mouth-watering dishes, spellbinding scenery, tropical fruits… The list goes on.

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Places to visit on Sri Lanka 5-day tour package

If you are looking for a couple of places to visit in Sri Lanka’s 5-day adventure tour package, Are you looking for a Sri Lanka itinerary of 5 days? Believe me, choosing the best Sri Lanka itinerary for 5 days and places to visit will be a daunting task, especially if you are traveling with someone else with a different choice. However, we have crafted this blog post with 22 places to visit in Sri Lanka in 5 days and a few Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary. The main selection tool in choosing the places. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, and there are hundreds of places to visit within five days. Wildlife reserves, crumbling historical monuments, temples, parks, bustling cities, mouth-watering dishes, spellbinding scenery, tropical fruits… the list goes on.

Are 5 days enough for a Sri Lanka trip?

“What is the best Sri Lanka 5-day tour?” “What are the places to visit in Sri Lanka in 5 days?” and “What is the best 5-day Sri Lanka itinerary?” are a few questions we get often via email. If you’re also wondering if 5 days is enough in Sri Lanka, my answer is no. No, because there are so many places to visit in Sri Lanka, a 5-day trip will only scratch the surface; you will barely be able to explore either northern or southern Sri Lanka, and you won’t see much of the island.

If you are looking for a couple of places to see in Sri Lanka in 5 days, believe me, it will be a daunting task to make the selection, especially if you are traveling with someone else with a different choice. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country that attracts a lot of visitors. The number of places to visit exceeds many dozens, making it difficult to choose the places to visit within 5 days.

If you are planning to visit Sri Lanka and do a 5-day trip, this article can be very useful to you. After considering the customer reviews that we received from our past customers, we have lined up the below-mentioned 22 places to visit during your upcoming Sri Lanka tour. You may not be able to cover all places within the next five days, but you can cover at least some of them.

What can we see on a Sri Lanka 5-day itinerary?

Your choice of trip determines what you can see on a 5-day Sri Lanka tour. A 5-day Sri Lanka trip is available in many variations, such as a 5-day wildlife tour, a 5-day Sri Lanka nature tour, a 5-day Sri Lanka cultural tour, a 5-day Sri Lanka beach tour, etc. So, choose the best package for you. If you cannot find a suitable pre-planned 5-day package tour, ask your tour operator to make a customized 5-day trip itinerary for you, and usually it won’t cost you anything extra. With a properly organized, customized 5 days Sri Lanka trip you can visit a large number of places, in fact, you can make a trip to historical places, wildlife parks, scenic hill country as well as beaches.

  • Heritage Tour-Sri Lanka 5 days tour- This is mainly a trip that revolves around Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. This 5 days trip starts in Colobm and ends in Colombo.
  • Beauty of Sri Lanka Tour Sri Lanka 5 days tour- is another popular 5-day Sri Lanka trip covering major tourist attractions in the cultural triangle and teh hill country.
  • Cultural triangle Tour Sri Lanka 5 days tour- this 5 days tour not only cover cultural but also major historical place in southern Sri Lanka.
  • Nature Cocktail / Trekking Tour Sri Lanka 5 Days – ideal for a nature lover. The trip includes wildlife parks, rainforests, beaches and many important natural resources.

When is the best time for a 5 days tour in Sri Lanka?

You can embark on a Sri Lanka five-day tour at any time of the year, as Sri Lanka is a year-round holiday destination. However, due to the effect of the monsoon, travelers should be careful when choosing a destination for a beach holiday. For example, the east coast beaches are ideal for beach holidays from May to October. From November to April, the west and south coast beaches provide the best setting for beach holidays. Each beach holiday destination mentioned above is suitable for beach holidays only for 6 months every year and the rest of the year it is not ideal for beach holiday activities due to the rain and rough sea.

If you plan to take one of the above-mentioned Sri Lanka 5-day tour packages, it is best to start them from November to April. During this period, a large part of Sri Lanka remained dry. Most importantly, the places included in the above-mentioned tour packages largely remain dry from November to April.

Travel around Sri Lanka on your 5 days tour

Traveling is one of the most important parts of the Sri Lanka trip package. Therefore, it is very important to have a proper and time-saving transport mode like a taxi. We always recommend a taxi for Sri Lanka tour packages because it gives you comfort and safety while saving a lot of time for you to relax in your hotel and study interesting tourist attractions leisurely. Most Sri Lankan tour packages typically include taxis as a mode of transportation. Other time-wasting modes, like public buses and trains, should exceed the allocated transport time during the tour.

How much does it cost for a Sri Lanka 5 days tour?

Many factors, such as the category of accommodation you choose, the types of places you visit, and the activities you choose to do on the tour, determine the price. Usually, the accommodation makes up the largest portion of the package price, and the cost of entrance fees and activist costs follows immediately behind. The cost of transportation and the driver/guide fee have a moderate impact on the tour package price. Talk to your tour operator and request that they create a tour package that fits your budget. Most tour operators are willing to make itineraries for you at no extra cost.

Can I book the hotels on my own for the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary?

Yes, you can book the hotels on your own for the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary. However, it can cause your tour package price to rise by around 15-20%. We always recommend our readers book the entire package (transport, guide, accommodation, sightseeing tours, entrance fees) with one supplier, so they can get the best price for the trip.

Can I book a Sri Lanka 5 days tour from the beach resort?

Yes, Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary can be booked at the beach resort. Usually, the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary starts from Colombo; however, due to a large number of requests, we now start the trip from Colombo, Colombo airport and 400+ beach resorts on the west coast and south coast.

TRAVEL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKA, visitng temples, Dambulla Sigiriya Polonnaruwa in one day tour, Car and driver Sri Lanka cost
This 5 day Sri Lanka tour includes many iconic tourist places such as the Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla golden temple, and tooth relic temple. This 5 days private tour also takes you to the breathtaking scenery in Sri Lanka’s hill country. The travellers will be able to explore Sri Lanka’s fascinating wildlife on a safari too.

Visiting hill country on Sri Lanka 5 days tour

Sri Lanka’s tea country or hill country rises up to 2524 meters above sea level. The hill country of Sri Lanka is to be found in the middle of the country which gradually increases its height from the beaches. Depending on the altitude Sri Lanka is divided into 3 parts, low country, mod country, and hill country. The hill country of Sri Lanka is undeniably captivating. It stands in stark contrast to the picturesque coconut-tree-lined beaches and the crumbling monuments of the historical-cultural triangle. If you’re planning a Sri Lanka 5-day tour with a twist of adventure, you should consider adding Sri Lankan hill country to your trip. Because in the hill country, you get the opportunity to soak up many adrenaline-pumping activities such as mountain climbing, water rafting, jungle trekking, hiking, waterfall abseiling, ziplining, and more.

Visiting the hill country capital of Kandy on your Sri Lanka 5 days tour

Described by Sri Lankan people as “Kanda-Uda-Rata,”  which literally means the capital in the hills, in the 1800s, Kandy enjoyed the status of the capital of Sri Lanka and enjoyed independence from foreign rulers. Before its glory days, Kandy was a little quiet village in the central mountain range of Sri Lanka, but with its transformation into the capital of Sri Lanka, the fortunes of the village changed, and the village transformed into a sacred city with the arrival of the tooth relic of Buddha. Tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees visit Kandy Temple every day, making it the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka.

Important hill country cities included in Sri Lanka itinerary for 5 days

Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Bandrawela are the most popular hill country resorts in Sri Lanka. Therefore, your Sri Lanka 5-day tour may incorporate one or more of these hill country resorts. However, the number of hill country cities included in the 5-day tour program and the duration highly depend on the type of 5-day tour itinerary.

  • Kandy
  • Nuwara Eliya
  • Ella
  • Bandarawela
  • Haputale
  • Badulla

What are the important places to visit on the hills on Sri Lanka 5 days tour?

The hill country of Sri Lanka has a wide range of natural attractions. The hilly country shows a different contrast against the palm-fringed beaches on the west coast and cities like Kandy, Colombo. Here is a list of popular tourist attractions in the hill country. I must tell you that you will not be able to visit all the places mentioned below on your Sri Lanka 5-day trip. But with correct planning and a good local driver or guide, you will be able to cover many of the sites mentioned below.

  1. Waterfalls such as Rambodal falls, Devon fall, and St, Clair falls
  2. Rivers such as the Mahaweli river
  3. Tea plantations such as the Rothshield tea estate
  4. Kandy City
  5. Gregory Lake
  6. Golf course
  7. Racecourse
  8. Single tree hills
  9. Sta Amman temple
  10. Hanuman Temple
  11. Ambewela Farm
  12. Strawberry farm
  13. Horton plains national park
  14. Galway bird sanctuary
  15. Victoria Park
  16. Haggala botanical garden
  17. Moon plain Nuwara Eliya
  18. Tea factory

Visiting Beaches on Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary

Sri Lanka is predominantly a beach vacation destination. More than 1300km of pristine beaches on the island offer relaxing holidays throughout the year. If you plan to add Sri Lankan beaches to your Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary, you must find the best beach after thoroughly considering the monsoon weather pattern. If you plan the trip from November to April, choose the west and south coasts for your beach holiday as a guideline. If you travel on the island from May to October, you need to head to the east coast in search of a beach with dry weather.

Sri Lanka is still a popular beach holiday destination around the world, and the island attracts a large number of beach holiday lovers every year. Despite the island’s pristine beaches spanning 1700km, Sri Lanka’s west coast beaches remain the most popular destinations for beach holidays. A few places on the east coast,coast, such as ArugamBay, are Bay, are also visited by some travelers;travelers; however, this is a very low figure compared to the number of tourists that visit the west coast beaches. Here are some of the popular beaches for a Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary.

  • Negombo
  • Kalutara
  • Bentota
  • Beruwala
  • Induruwa
  • Hikkaduwa
  • Galle
  • Unawatuna
  • Mirissa

Visiting Sri Lanka cultural triangle on a 5-day Sri Lanka trip

Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle harbors a large number of ancient temples, palaces, lakes, gardens, stupas, Buddha statues, museums, and many other ancient constructions. Visiting the cultural triangle is on the bucket list of most travelers, especially since it is very popular among first-time visitors to Sri Lanka. Allocate at least two days to travel within the cultural triangle. Traveling the cultural triangle for 2 days gives you the opportunity to explore the most important historical monuments in the triangle.

What are the important monuments to visit in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka?

  • Anuradhapura historical city
  • Polonnaruwa historical site
  • Sigiriya rock fortrwess
  • Tooth relic temple Kandy
  • Dambulla golden temple

What are the 11 best things to do on a Sri Lanka 5 days tour?

Even though we talk about 22 places to visit on a Sri Lanka 5-day trip, I’m afraid to tell you that it is a daunting task to visit all these places on your Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary because this 5-day trip involves about 800 km of traveling by car across Sri Lanka. Therefore, travelers can choose only some of the 22 places mentioned in this article to visit during their 5-day adventure.

  1. Sri Lanka jungle tours/ Visiting wildlife reserves
  2. Visiting Crumbling historical monuments
  3. Visiting Temples, parks
  4. City tours and Shopping
  5. Sampling Mouth-watering Sri Lanka cuisines
  6. Enjoying Spellbinding scenery
  7. Exploring tropical forests
  8. Trekking through the Mountains
  9. Visiting waterfalls
  10. Swimming in Rivers, Lakes
  11. Visiting palm-fringed beaches…the list goes on and on

Sri Lanka 5-day tour package: What can we see?

You might wonder how to do all those things in five days in Sri Lanka. Imagine being able to visit all these places on a 5-day tour of Sri Lanka! NO WAY! After all, you need to have some leisure time during the trip; otherwise, it will not be a holiday. Therefore, you have to choose a few places to see on your 5-day Sri Lanka tour. So, now you are in a dilemma when it comes to choosing places to see in Sri Lanka in 5 days. That’s why I thought of writing this blog post.

So you have to make a choice with regards to the places that you visit on your Sri Lanka 5-day tour. That’s difficult. Many travelers contact us at this stage and ask for our help in choosing places to see in Sri Lanka in 5 days. Sometimes they want us to plan a 5-day Sri Lanka itinerary with the best places to see in Sri Lanka in 5 days. We do not turn them down and make a good Sri Lanka trip package for them; it is free, and most importantly, we do not expect them to book the trip with us.

Can I combine my 5 days tour with a beach tour package?

This 5-day Sri Lanka tour can be combined with your Sri Lanka beach trip. A large number of travelers, especially foreign travelers, would like to have a separate sightseeing tour to visit important tourist places on the island while having leisure on the beach toward the tail end of this Sri Lanka trip. However, there are a few twists to your Sri Lanka 5-day tour if you plan to combine your beach tour with the 5-day trip.

Are 5 days tour packages for Sri Lanka private or public tours?

A Sri Lanka 5-day tour can be booked as a private tour or a public tour. If you book Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary as a private tour, you will receive a dedicated driver and guide, as well as a dedicated luxury vehicle. All activities on the trip, such as transfers and sightseeing tours, are on a private basis. The Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary are also available as a public group tour, which means you are a participant in a group of like-minded travelers. Typically, the trip’s participants come from all over the world. On the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary, you’ll meet them for the first time. There can be instances where one or two of the fellow travelers may cause some kind of inconvenience; however, it is very rare. Sri Lanka 5-day group tours have fixed starting dates and ends; therefore, your travel arrangements, such as arrival dates, should match. A lack of participants may cancel pre-announced 5-day group tours at any time. 

Can I customize the Sri Lanka 5-day tour package?

Travelers can customize their 5-day Sri Lanka trip, and we have a dedicated staff ready to assist them. If you have booked a Sri Lanka 5-day private tour, you can customize the trip in whatever way you like. You may even change the tour itinerary or trip route. However, if you have booked the 5-day group tour, you may not be able to customize the trip.

What are the 22 places to visit in Sri Lanka in 5 days?

  1. Colombo-The Commercial capital of Sri Lanka is the most populated city and offers a shopping experience, historical places, parks, beaches, and vibrant nightlife.
  2. Elephant orphanage Pinnawala- is one of the very popular day outing places in Sri Lanka in 5 days, which attracts a large number of travellers every day. Pinnawala elephant orphanage is a place to see the largest herd of tamed elephants in the world, located near Kandy,
  3. Sigiriya rock fortress-the iconic tourist attraction is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 5 days. Sigiriya rock fortress is the most popular historical site and UNESCO world heritage site with landscaped gardens, ruined palaces, pools, paintings, fountains and moats, and walls, dating back to the 5th century AD.
  4. Dambulla golden cave temple-UNESCO world heritage site, one of the oldest temples on earth, dates back to the 1st century BC. The place to see 150 Buddha statues and a large number of religious paintings.
  5. Minneriya national park-Wildlife reserve in the north-central province of Sri Lanka to do a jeep safari and spot a large gathering of wild elephants.
  6. Tooth relic temple-Most sacred Buddhist temple, which is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The tooth relic temple is not a popular tourist place in Kandy.
  7. Royal botanical garden Kandy-The biggest Botanical garden in Sri Lanka featuring more than 8000 trees and plants located near Kandy on the bank of the Mahaweli river.
  8. Kandyan cultural show-The evening show takes place in the city of Kandy and features traditional Sri Lanka dancing and musical performances.
  9. Tea garden-You will encounter a tea garden in the tea country better known as the Sri Lanka mountains. The healing climate, rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, breathtaking scenery, and tea plantations are the main features here.
  10. Tea factory – See the entire process of tea manufacturing
  11. Sita Temple-Closely connected to Ramayana, this is the temple believed to be the place, where Sita lived as she was under the captivity of Ravana.
  12. Gregory Lake-Located 1800 meters above sea level in the city of Nuwara Eliya. Activities available here are boating, walking, trekking, and pony riding…
  13. Sinharaja rain forest-one of the oldest patches of forests. A place to live with nature.
  14. Madu river estuary-Explore the mangrove forest which is diminishing fast along with hundreds of avian Fauna species.
  15. Moonstone mines-Semi precious stones found only in Sri Lanka, which are believed to have health benefits. You have the opportunity to see a traditional gem mine
  16. Sea turtle conservation project-These are privately managed turtle conservation projects, you can see the animals belong to 5 species of endangered sea turtles.
  17. Galle fortress-medieval time city built by the Dutch featuring hundreds of structures with old Dutch architecture.
  18. Whale watching Mirissa, One of the best opportunities to spot blue whales and sperm whales.
  19. Yala wildlife reserve-Leopard spot is the best activity and most memorable for travellers, who set off on a jeep safari at Yala. elephant, crocodile, bear, jackal, and many other animals are on the list too.
  20. Kitulgala -better known as the adventure playground of Sri Lanka offers a wide range of adrenaline-pumping activities like Whitewater rafting, kayaking, rainforest trekking, mountain climbing, and waterfall abseiling…
  21. Adam peak-nick-named the temple in the sky is located well over 2300 meters above sea level. It attracts thousands of pilgrims every day during the pilgrimage season from Nov-April. To Non-Buddhist this is a place to have a light adventure and the opportunity to breathtaking scenery.
  22. Udawalawe national park-Another popular national park for Sri Lanka wildlife tours is to see a large gathering of wild elephants.
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Spend five memorable days on a tour of Sri Lanka with a variety of sightseeing activities. Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, bicycle around the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, tour Sigiriya Rock Fortress, and see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) — all UNESCO World Heritage sites.

In this blog post, we discuss mainly three Sri Lanka 5-day trip packages. These three trips are very popular among Sri Lankan travelers, particularly foreigners. The tour itineraries are carefully crafted to cover three major areas and serve as a leisure tour package, a nature tour package, or an adventure trip.

  • Culture cocktail tour Sri Lanka 5 days
  • Nature cocktail tour Sri Lanka 5 days
  • Adventure tour Sri Lanka 5 days

According to my experience, five days is not enough to explore the island; even with a two-week tour, you can only scratch a part of it (either south or north). I have worked as an interpreter for many of the world’s leading tour operators, such as TUI, Neckerman, Firs Choice, ITS, and Thomson, and most of them offer 5-day tours in various forms.s.

Transport

Choosing the best transport mode for Sri Lanka is very important. Over the course of five days, you need to visit numerous locations while ensuring safe travel across numerous cities. When it comes to transportation, there are many options to consider, but we will highlight three main ones below.

Travel by Taxi

If you are wondering, what is the best mode of travel during your Sri Lanka 5-day trip? A private taxi with a local driver is the best bet for you. Both local and foreign travelers can apply this principle. Traveling by taxi is safe, and most importantly, it saves you valuable time. Hiring a private vehicle allows you to explore the island at your own pace and gives you maximum privacy. A taxi is a bit expensive compared to public transport, but it is cheaper than air transport. Traveling by taxi is the most sought-after option among travelers in Sri Lanka.

On the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary mentioned in this blog post, we expect that you stick to a private taxi and thereby move swiftly between cities. Saving time on this Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary is extremely important for the tour’s success. During the trip, you have to travel over 1000 km while visiting many dozens of important tourist attractions. Another benefit of using a private vehicle is the ability to reach tourist attractions in every nook and cranny.

Using public transport on your Sri Lanka 5-day tour package

If you use public transport, you are required to use shuttle buses or any other transport mode to reach most tourist places, as public buses ply the main roads. You have to face the same scenario if you plan to use domestic air transport, as the airports are located only in major cities.

Every Sri Lanka trip package that we discuss in this article includes many hours of travel, and you will travel at least 1000 km in every trip package. Traveling in Sri Lanka can be a daunting task and it could be uncomfortable and drain your valuable time if you do not stick to the best transport mode.

Sri Lanka itinerary 5 days with TUK TUK, is it a viable option?

Certain travel options, such as TUK TUK, can pose a significant risk. Traveling by TUK TUK on long-distance trips can be uncomfortable and involve a lack of safety. The TUK TUK is a compact vehicle with three small wheels, and a leather sheet protects the passengers inside. Even though the passenger compartments feature an iron frame, the vehicle’s small iron pipes still pose a significant risk.

How much does it cost for Sri Lanka 5 days trip?

The cost of the trip is determined by a variety of factors, including the hotel category and the number of people in the group. If the number of people in your group increases, the per-person rate can be significantly reduced. For example, the cost of a single-person tour is about 50% higher than the cost per person for two people. The accommodation is also a reason for the high cost of your trip.

The cost of the trip increases dramatically as you go for a higher category of hotels, such as 4-star and 5-star. However, the cost of the 5-day Sri Lanka trip with comfortable accommodation was around $500 per person. If you need to find the exact rate for a Sri Lanka 5-day trip, please write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com.

Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour

Big players in the tourism industry, such as ITS, offer the “Beauty of Sri Lanka.” The “Sri Lanka 5-day tour” covers a variety of captivating locations in Sri Lanka. This 5-day tour primarily covers historical and cultural sites such as Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and the Tooth Relic Temple. The Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary dedicates three days to exploring important cultural sites on the island.

Sri Lanka 5 day tour package: nature cocktail

Some tour operators offer a “Nature Cocktail Tour of Sri Lanka for 5 Days,”  which also includes many places to see in Sri Lanka; however, most of them are natural attractions such as wildlife reserves and rain forests. These 5-day tours take you to unspoiled and little-visited places, as well as tourist attractions that are packed with travelers, such as Yala National Park. The tour covers approximately 900 km of road from beginning to end, so you will be traveling more than 100 km almost every day. The tour revolves mainly around southern Sri Lanka, which is one of the greenest parts of the island.

Sri Lanka 5 days tour: Adventure trip

The 5-day Sri Lanka adventure tour also covers many interesting places to see in Sri Lanka; however, they feature activities such as trekking, hiking, water rafting, etc.  

I have only mentioned a few 5-day Sri Lanka tours above, but the island offers a wide variety of other 5-day tour options. I’d like to focus on the three Sri Lanka 5-day tours mentioned above. I feel it is going to serve the masses because it helps you choose the Sri Lanka 5-day tour package that suits you best, broadly under 3 categories. A nature tour, an adventure tour, or a cultural tour make sense, right?

Sri Lanka trips are categorized broadly under Nature, Culture, or Adventure

99 percent of Sri Lanka tour itineraries fall into those three categories, or a combination of them. Below, we present three 5-day Sri Lanka itineraries that you can customize to suit your specific needs. For example, if it is a cultural tour, you can add a little bit of beach stay and adventure; if it is a nature tour, you can add a bit of adventure; and likewise, you can add a little bit of culture to your 5-day Sri Lanka trip that revolves around nature.

Do I have time to relax on the Sri Lanka 5 days tour?

If you are in the mood to have a relaxing, leisurely holiday, then you should be heading to the beach. Very recently, I sent a tour itinerary to a traveler in the UK, which was predominantly a cultural tour; however, I have included a few adventure activities as well as a jeep safari in a national park as optional activities.

It was a 7-day Sri Lanka tour itinerary with one overnight stay on the beach. Because he was interested in culture, I feel it was a well-balanced tour program.  But the customer turned back, asking for changes to his tour itinerary. The client wanted to make further changes to the tour itinerary and added more time for leisure and beach time. After making a few changes, we converted the tour itinerary into a beach holiday package with three one-day tours.

If you are also the kind of traveler who cherishes leisure and needs time to relax on your 5-day trip to Sri Lanka, you better book a 5-day Sri Lanka beach holiday and organize a few day tours to important tourist attractions with your resort guide. If you are in a position to add a few more days to your plan, you can make a 5-day Sri Lanka tour and beach stay separately. Usually, most travelers that come to Sri Lanka spend 10 to 14 days on the island. In the first half of the trip, they take a tour, and towards the end of the trip, they spend time on the beach while relaxing.

Sri Lanka travel itinerary 5 days what do you need to know?

Now it is time to jump into my main point. Hereafter,  I discuss the Sri Lanka 5-day trips that I mentioned above. We have planned all these tour packages to include important places to visit in Sri Lanka within 5 days.

Each tour itinerary covers many places to see in Sri Lanka in 5 days. There are numerous 5-day trips to Sri Lanka that include beach stays, but in this article titled “Places to See in Sri Lanka in 5 Days,” I won’t delve into a detailed discussion about beach vacations. You read about many places that are listed under “places to see in Sri Lanka in 5 days.” In this article, I won’t give a lengthy description of these places. I have already written separate articles (dedicated to each site) on all of them, giving a complete picture of each place. So, if you need a much clearer picture and a full description of sites, please head on to the attached URL.

Sri Lanka 5 days tour, sri Lanka trekking tour, sri lanka 5 days trip, 5 days Sri Lanka tour package, Sri Lanka in 5 days
Spend five memorable days on a tour of Sri Lanka with a variety of sightseeing activities. Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, bicycle around the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, tour Sigiriya Rock Fortress and see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) — all UNESCO World Heritage sites. Your comprehensive itinerary includes breathtaking scenery of Sri Lanka’s hill country, jungle trek, tuk-tuk transport and an ox-cart ride in a rural village. Includes 3-star hotels with daily breakfast.

Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour

We can describe this 5-day Sri Lanka tour as a cultural tour due to its abundance of cultural attractions. This tour focuses on cultural sites and includes many historical places to see in Sri Lanka in five days. It covers many important tourist attractions in the cultural triangle, such as the Sigiriya rock fortress, the Dambulla cave temple, Polonnaruwa ancient city, and the Kandy tooth relic temple. All these places are located within Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle.

The tour also includes whitewater rafting and a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park as optional activities. The itinerary for Sri Lanka spans 5 days, commencing in Colombo. Although the tour begins in Colombo, it does not include a Colombo city tour or shopping; however, the program includes a Kandy sightseeing tour and shopping. On this Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary, you will also be able to visit important tourist places in Sri Lanka’s hill country, including the cultural triangle, tea factory and tea estate, Ramboda waterfalls, Nuwara Eliya, and Gregory Lake, which are some of the highlights of the hill country tour.

Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour itinerary

  • Day 1 – Colombo/Sigiriya
  • Day 2 – Sigiriya/Polonnaruwa
  • Day 3 – Sigiriya / Kandy
  • Day 4 – Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
  • Day 5 – Nuwara Eliya / Colombo

Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour and places to visit in Sri Lanka in 5 days

  • Colombo
  • elephant orphanage Pinnawala
  • Sigiriya rock fortress
  • Dambulla golden cave temple
  • Minneriyan national park
  • Tooth relic temple
  • Royal botanical garden
  • Kandyan cultural show
  • Tea garden
  • Tea factory
  • Sita Temple
  • Gregory Lake

Accommodation on the beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour

This 5-day Sri Lanka tour primarily revolves around Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, which means you will be traveling to Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya. There are four overnight stays on the trip: Sigiriya (2 nights) and Kandy (2 nights). It will be very easy to find accommodation in both cities, as there are a large number of hotels in both places. Every budget can get a suitable type of accommodation. Travelers can book cheap dormitory types of accommodation, ranging from 5-star to luxury boutique hotels, based on their requirements.

Map of Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour

map of Sri Lanka 5 day culture tour package, Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary
Map of Sri Lanka 5-day tour package. This 5 days cultural tour of Sri Lanka includes important tourist places in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka such as Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy.

Day 1 of Beauty of Sri Lanka 5-day tour package-Colombo/Sigiriya

Ninety-nine percent of travelers visit the island of Colombo because it is Sri Lanka’s main international airport. Even if you embark on a cruise ship to Sri Lanka, you will arrive in Colombo, as the majority of cruise ships dock in the city’s international harbor.  Given the limited time available on your Sri Lanka 5-day tour package, we recommend opting for a short Colombo sightseeing tour. As a result, you can visit important places in Colombo and save time for other important activities that your operator has planned for your Sri Lanka 5-day tour package.

Is it worth visiting Colombo?

Colombo is not an extravagant tourist attraction. On your Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary, I believe it is a waste of time to have a Colombo city tour. If you need to see the city badly, you can make time for a Colombo city tour on the last day of the tour, and you can have a half-day city tour. A half-day tour of the city is more than enough to explore Colombo. Further reading on Sigiriya.

Assuming you drive directly from your flight to Sigiriya, it will take approximately 4 hours to arrive at the hotel. Naturally, today’s program includes a brief break. The distance to cover is around 175 km; however, it takes around 4 hours on the journey. Perhaps you can drive 200 km in 2 hours in your country, but in Sri Lanka, it takes a bit more time.

The duration of the drive is also highly unpredictable due to the heavy traffic in cities. But according to my experience, you can reach Sigiriya from Colombo in 4 hours’ time (without stops). If you land in Sri Lanka early in the morning (around 4 a.m.), you will be able to reach Sigiriya in 3 hours’ time. However, there will be a processing time for formalities at the arrival lounge, which can range from 30 minutes to more than an hour.

Pinnawala elephant orphanage

Colombo is a coastal city near the beach, and from here, you will drive to the interior of Sri Lanka. The drive on the countryside road is very picturesque, and you will frequently encounter patches of forests, coconut plantations, rubber plantations, and isolated villages. Pinnawala elephant orphanage is the first stop of the day; however, you can make a stop any time before that if you need a small break. Usually, most travelers opt to take a break in Kajugama (before the Pinnawala elephant orphanage) and drink tea or coffee. Read more about the Pinnawala elephant orphanage.

Dambulla cave temple

The next stop on the 5-day Sri Lanka itinerary is the Dambulla Cave Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a main tourist attraction on the island. The distance between the two places is 98 kilometers, and it takes around 2 hours to reach Dambulla from Pinnawala. Further reading on the Dambulla cave temple

After Dambulla golden cave temple it takes around 30 minutes to reach the hotels in Sigiriya and Habarana.

Day 2 of Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour -Sigiriya/Polonnaruwa

On day 2 of the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary, you will go deeper into Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle and visit the most popular iconic cultural and historical monument in Sri Lanka, the Sigiriya rock fortress. Later in the day, you visit the most ancient capital of Sri Lanka, known as Polonnaruwa. You will not be traveling as much as you did the previous day; however, there will be around a 2-hour drive. Further reading on Polonnaruwa.

On day 2, you will be able to find time for a jeep safari in Minneriya. Usually, the Sigiriya hike takes around 2 hours, and the visit to the Polonnaruwa historical city lasts around 3 hours. You can also book an optional village tour in Sigiriya, which includes cooking and bird watching; however, you must adjust the itinerary’s main ingredients to accommodate the required time for these activities.

Day 3 of Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour –Sigiriya, Kandy

Today you will drive to Kandy, which is the heart of Sri Lankan culture and home to a large number of temples, gardens, museums, nature reserves, and museums. However, you do not have much time in Kandy on this Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary. So, plan your trip with the tooth relic temple, royal botanical gardens, and Kandyan cultural show. You may also have the opportunity to engage in some shopping during your visit to these attractions. Continue reading about Kandy.

Day 4 of Beauty of Sri Lanka 5 days tour-Kandy, Nuwara Eliya

You are traveling to Sri Lanka’s tea country on the day of the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary. Nuwara Eliya sits 1800 meters above sea level and is home to many dozens of cascading waterfalls, rivers, lakes, patches of forests, and many other natural attractions. You will be enjoying the overwhelming natural beauty for the entire day, so make an overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya. Unlike other places you’ve visited so far, it can be really cool here; sometimes the temperature dips to minus degrees after the sunset. Further reading on Nuwara Eliya.

Day 5 of Beauty of Sri Lanka -Nuwara Eliya / Colombo

On day 5 of the Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary, you will be traveling to Colombo from Nuwara Eliya, and the journey will last around 5 hours. You will be visiting two picturesque waterfalls today. Most importantly, as you come across Kitulgala today, you have the opportunity to go water rafting. As I told you, if you need to visit important places in Colombo, you can make time by leaving the hotel in Nuwara Eliya a little bit early.

nature cocktail trekking tour Sri Lanka, 5 days tour sri lanka, sri lanka tour 5 days, train trips in Sri Lanka, train trips sri lanka, train journey sri lanka, the 6 best hiking places in Sri Lanka
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

Nature cocktail/trekking tour Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary

  • Day 1 – Colombo/Sinharaja / Galle / Mirissa
  • Day 2 – Mirissa/Yala
  • Day 3 – Yala / Nuwara Eliya
  • Day 4 – Nuwara Eliya / Kitulgala
  • Day 5 – Kitulgala / Colombo

What are the 11 places to visit in Sri Lanka 5 day nature tour package?

  1. Colombo
  2. Sinharaja rainforest
  3. Madu river estuary
  4. Moonstone mines
  5. Sea turtle conservation project
  6. Galle fortress
  7. Whale watching Mirissa
  8. Yala wildlife reserve
  9. Sita temple
  10. Tea factory
  11. Kitulgala

As with most Sri Lanka trip packages, this Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary starts in Colombo and ends in Colombo. As the name suggests, the tour mainly revolves around ecological tourist attractions. The tour includes whale watching in Mirissa, a full-day safari at Yala National Park, trekking in the Sinharaja rainforest, a boat tour at the Madu River estuary, and Horton Plains National Park. The tour also includes Galle Fort and the Ceylon Tea Trail.

The initial part of the trip takes place along the southern and western coasts of the island. You will visit many tourist attractions in the region. After visiting Yala National Park in southern Sri Lanka, you drive to the mountains, where you encounter Horton Plains National Park.

Finding accommodation on the 5 days Sri Lanka nature cocktail tour

The primary purpose of this Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary is to explore southern Sri Lanka. Southern Sri Lanka is one of the best places to see Sri Lanka’s natural beauty; as a result, this tour package is ideal for nature lovers. The tour revolves around beaches, wildlife parks, rainforests and picturesque Sri Lanka’s hill country. The tour includes four overnight stays in Mirissa (1 night), Yala (1 night), Nuwara Eliya (1 night) and Kitulgala (1 night). In all places except Kitulgala, finding accommodation will not be a concern.

Map of nature cocktail tour Sri Lanka 5 days

map Sri Lanka 5 day nature tour package
Map of Sri Lanka 5 day nature cocktail tour. The best time for this Sri Lanka 5-day tour package is from November to April due to the effect of the monsoon.

Day 1 of nature cocktail tour Sri Lanka 5 days -Colombo, Sinharaja, Udawalawe

You will be traveling to Sinharaja and Udawalawe via Kalutara from Colombo. The journey will take place along the western border of the island, along beaches, with the sea view dominating throughout the entire trip. The first stop on the trip is the Sinharaja rainforest. The journey from Colombo to the Sinharaja rainforest lasts approximately 2 hours, and then you embark on guided trekking in the rainforest. Further reading on Sinharaja.

Sinharaja Forest trek on 5 days Sri Lanka trip

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Sinharaja rainforest is one of the last remaining primaeval rainforests on the island. This natural jewel harbors a large number of trees, plants, and veins. While more than 60% of the vegetation (trees, plants, veins, and orchids) is endemic to Sri Lanka, many of them are considered rare. Sinharaja boasts a high endemism among its fauna, with an estimated 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic animal species, including butterflies, amphibians, birds, snakes, and fish species, residing here. Most importantly, the forest is considered to be one of the best places for birds, with 95% of endemic birds.

The virgin forest of Sinharaja has a large tract of hilly areas as well as a lowland rainforest, both of which are considered important ecological areas of the forest. The valuable ecological environment of Sinharaja has largely remained intact over the last thousands of years. In 1978, the World Biosphere Reserve declared Sinharaja rainforest. The World Body declared this virgin rainforest a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.    

Due to the high density of trees and plants in Sinharaja, it may not be the best place to spot animals; however, the Sinharaja rainforest is one of the best places to experience the unique atmosphere of the rainforest while enjoying the sights of many dozens of bird species. According to the naturalists, there are 3 elephants and about 15 leopards living in the forest. The purple-faced langur is the most frequently seen animal in the Sinharaja rainforest, which is also endemic to the island.

Usually, sightings of a flock of birds in the canopy and upper canopy are very common, so you need a binocular to have a clear view of them. The Sri Lanka Crested DroVisitors often spot the Sri Lanka Crested Drongo and the boisterous orange-billed babbler in this area. ecies, 20 species of endemic birds of Sri Lanka occur here, including some of the rare species such as the red-faced malkoha, green-billed coucal, and Sri Lanka blue magpie. The rainforest harbors a large number of amphibian species, including a large number of tree frogs. The endemic green pit vipers and hump-nosed vipers are among the reptiles visible here. Invertebrates include the common birdwing butterfly and leeches, which are endemic.

Udawalawe national park safari on Sri Lanka 5 days tour

Udawalawe National Park is situated in the foothills of Sri Lanka’s central highland, bordering Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces. The Udawalawe multi-purpose project established the park by clearing a large tract of the jungle for a new settlement. The sanctuary was created to provide a safe home for the displaced animals due to the new settlements and the expansion of the Udawalawe reservoir.

Every year, Udawalawe attracts a large number of tourists, and it is one of the best places to spot wild elephants. This open elephant habitat has many unique features, such as grasslands and the Udawalawe reservoir, which allow the jumbos to thrive. One of the most interesting features of the park is the Udawalawe reservoir, which provides plenty of water to the jumbos even during the drought. An estimated 250 elephants reside in the park.

Rarely, visitors can spot Sri Lankan leopards, rusty-spotted cats, and fishing cats on the safari. Visitors rarely see the endemic Sri Lankan sloth bear, despite its presence. Sri Lankan sambar deer, Indian muntjac, Sri Lankan axis deer, wild boar, Sri Lankan spotted chevrotain and water buffalo are among other mammal species. Golden jackals, toque macaques, Asian palm civets, grey langurs, and Indians are also residing in the park. Researchers have spotted five species of mice in Udawalawe. In 1989, researchers recorded the endemic Ceylon spiny mouse in Udawalawe’s Yala National Park. The national park also records Indian bush rats and three species of mongoose.

At the end of the 5-day nature cocktail tour, you will head to Yala or Tissamaharama for an overnight stay.

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

Day 2 of the nature cocktail 5 days tour

On the second day of your 5-day Sri Lanka trip, you will explore the Yala National Park. Your Yala safari begins early in the morning. The chances of spotting animals are high in the early morning, especially leopards. Your personal driver or guide will take you to the park for the full-day Yala National Park Safari, which begins early in the morning. You will be able to spot many animal species, such as leopards, elephants, crocodiles, monitors, etc.

Day 3 of nature cocktail 5 days tour – Ella

You will begin day three of Sri Lanka’s 5-day tour (nature cocktail tour) with a drive to the country’s hills. As you head to Nuwara Eliya, en route, visit waterfalls, tea plantations, and a tea factory.  A few temple visits are also in the program; however, you can omit them if you wish. Further reading on Yala.

Day 4 of nature cocktail 5 days tour – Ella, Horton plains, Kitulgala

On day 4 of the Sri Lanka 5-day tour (nature cocktail tour), you will be heading to Horton Plains National Park with a packed breakfast and making a 2-hour trek through the breathtaking cloud forest. This is Sri Lanka’s natural jewel, one of the island’s last remaining cloud forests. The forest is unique in many ways. In this forest, you encounter a variety of trees and plants that are unique to Sri Lanka; the vegetation has evolved to endure the chilly climate and constant wind. Further reading on Kitulgala.

Day 5 of nature cocktail tour -Kitulgala, Colombo

Kitulgala is very popular among adventure enthusiasts and offers many adrenaline-pumping activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain climbing, waterfall abseiling, and mountain biking. Kitulgala is also a laid-back village with an extensive green cover; you will be doing a rainforest trek in the morning. In the afternoon, you will be heading to Colombo, which is approximately a 2-hour drive away. Further reading on Colombo.

Sri Lanka 5 day adventure tour package

  • Day 1 – Colombo/Kitulgala
  • Day 2 – Kitulgala / Adam’s peak
  • Day 3 – Adam’s peak / Udawalawe
  • Day 4 – Udawalawe / Mirissa
  • Day 5 – Mirissa / Colombo

What are the places to visit on Sri Lanka 5 day adventure tour package?

  • Colombo
  • Kitulgala
  • Adam’s peak
  • Udawalawe national park
  • Mirissa
  • Galle Fort
  • Madu river estuary
  • Sea turtle conservation project

Sri Lanka is a leading beach holiday destination in the world, possibly because it is an island. Still, a large number of travelers plan beach holidays without knowing the existence of other interesting places such as wildlife reserves and adventure sites. Therefore, only a few travelers ask for adventure tours in Sri Lanka.

Map of adventure tour Sri Lanka 5 days

map of Sri Lanka 5 day adventure tour package
Sri Lanka 5 day tour package (adventure). This Sri Lanka 5-day tour package covers mainly the west coast, Sri Lanka hill country, and southern Sri Lanka tourist attractions. The tour package includes trekking, hiking, water rafting, bird watching, safari, whale watching, and many more.

Day 1 of adventure tour Sri Lanka 5 days -Colombo, Kitulgala

On the first day of this Sri Lanka 5-day tour, you will be heading to Kitulgala to give your tour a flying start. The distance from Colombo to Kitulgala is 100 km, and it takes around two hours to reach the Kitulgala Water Sports Centre. Your driver will escort you to the adventure sports center. There will be three activities planned for today: whitewater rafting, kayaking, and rainforest trekking. 

Day 2 of adventure tour -Kitulgala, Adam’s peak

After breakfast, leave for Adam’s peak and take a rest in your hotel. You will take the largest hike on the island, which lasts 5 hours (only the upward journey). Many people undertake this venture due to religious reasons but for tourists, this is a wonderful place to experience rich natural wealth with a twist of adventure.

If the best walks are the oldest—the pilgrim trails and the ancient ways—then the most delightful of all are the drovers’ paths, their contours forgiving, their prospects timeless. This 5-day Sri Lanka trip includes the hike to Adams Peak, along with the ancient track believed to have existed for many thousands of years.

Adams’ Peak is the 3rd highest mountain on the island (2300 meters above sea level). The hike begins with the fall of night, and you will be at the summit before sunrise, which means you are here to witness the sunrise. Adam’s Peak is considered one of the best places to see the sunrise. You’ll finish the hike in the morning and have a small rest and breakfast at your hotel on Adam’s Peak. Further reading on Adam’s peak.

Day 3 of adventure tour -Adams peak, Udawalawe national park

After the hike, head to Udawalawe National Park and relax in the nearby hotels. In the afternoon, go on a jeep safari at Udawalawe National Park to see wild animals such as elephants, crocodiles, jackals, monkeys, buffalo, etc. 

Day 4 of adventure tour -Udawalawe national park, Mirissa

On the fourth day of the 5-day Sri Lanka adventure tour, you will head to Mirissa in the afternoon and relax at the beach resort. Further reading on the Udawalawe safari.

Day 5 of adventure tour -Mirissa, Colombo

Early morning, leave for a whale-watching trip off the southern coast and later leave for Galle. En route, visit the Galle fortress and sea turtle conservation center, and take a boat tour at the Madu River estuary.

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One thought on “22 places to visit on Sri Lanka 5 days itinerary”

  1. Very good content, very detailed article on the sri Lanka 5 days tour package. I never been to Sri Lanka but I think I must travel there once. Thank you for the great content.

    Reply

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