Leopards to Locals: top things to do in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tropical treasure chest with ancient cities, epic wildlife, golden beaches and food that packs a punch. We've cherry-picked the top things to do, from high-energy thrills to tasting your way through local life.

Best for wild wonders: Yala Half Day Jeep Safari

Wake early for a classic Sri Lanka safari and rumble through Yala National Park’s dusty tracks. This is one of the island’s best wildlife spots with lagoons, forest and open plains attracting elephants, crocodiles, brilliant birdlife and more. If you’re lucky, you might even glimpse a leopard. The half-day set up means you’ll be back in time to cool off at the pool when the heat kicks in.

Try it on a route like Wild Sri Lanka

You might also love:

• Wilpattu Jeep Safari – A quieter, wilder alternative with the same big-cat thrill

• Minneriya Jeep Safari – Time your visit right and witness the Great Elephant Gathering

Best for foodies: Kamatha Dining Experience at Uga Ulagalla

Tuck into royal flavours in the heart of a working rice paddy. This immersive dining experience is foodie heaven – an open-air kitchen where clay pots bubble on wood fires and centuries-old recipes are brought back to life. Expect garden-grown vegetables, heirloom rice and family-style dishes once served to kings, all cooked using timeworn techniques that still hold their own.

Try it on a route like Ultimate Sri Lanka

You might also love:

• Crab Curry Cooking Class – Master this east coast speciality in a beachside guesthouse

• Authentic Dining at Cinnamon Lodge – Homestyle dishes cooked in clay pots and served with warm Sri Lankan hospitality

Best for nature lovers: Walk the Pekoe Trail

Follow an easy path through Sri Lanka’s tea hills, past colourful Hindu kovils and hillside churches. Stop to admire the mirror-still Singamalai Lake and picnic with views over Hatton’s emerald hills. This is tea country at its most tranquil.

Try it from Uga Hallowella

You might also love:

• Mangrove Boat Ride – Drift through tangled roots and spot kingfishers, monkeys and monitor lizards

• Slow Loris Night Walk – Torch up and join a naturalist-led night walk at Jetwing Vil Uyana for the chance to spot the rare, wide-eyed loris.

Best for culture buffs: Kandy Highlights & Fire Dance Tour

Holy relics and hot coals: this half-day hit list in Kandy pairs sacred sites with serious spectacle. Tick off the Temple of the Tooth, wander lush botanical gardens and wrap it up with a fire dance finale that’ll leave you wide-eyed.

Try it on a route like Cultural Triangle and the East Coast

You might also love:

• Colombo City Walk – Meet the real Colombo on a walking tour packed with market bites and quirky sights

• Galle Fort Photography Walk – Focus in on Dutch villas and colourful alleyways on this guided photo stroll

Best for thrill-seekers: Ultimate Ella Experience

Ella is Sri Lanka’s hill-country playground, and this all-action day captures it at its best. Hike up Adam’s Peak at sunrise, pose by the Nine Arches Bridge, fly down a double zipline and toast your efforts with a cocktail and a mountain view at a pool club.

Try it on a route like A Boutique Sri Lanka Journey

You might also love:

• Surf’s Up at Weligama Bay – Beginner-friendly breaks and a laidback beach-town vibe

• Kandy Horse Riding – Trot through tea country on a gentle thoroughbred

Best for scenic souls: Scenic Train Journey – Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

All aboard the world’s prettiest commute. This iconic rail ride winds through emerald hills, tea estates and misty mountain passes. Snap open a window, snack on crispy vadai (the go-to trackside treat) and soak up views made for slow-mo reels.

Try it on a route like Classic Sri Lanka

You might also love:

• Ceylon tea picking experience – Don a basket, hit the hills and try your hand at picking the leaves behind Sri Lanka’s most famous brew

• Hot Air Balloon Ride – Drift over the Cultural Triangle as the world wakes below

Best for heritage hunters: Galle Fort Photography Walk

Wander through time with a camera in hand. This guided stroll through the 17th-century Galle Fort covers crumbling ramparts, spice-scented streets and faded Dutch villas, plus pro photo tips to help you nail the shots worth framing back home.

Try it on a route like Sri Lanka In Depth

You might also love:

• Highlights of Colombo in a Day – A mix of old-meets-new, from colonial landmarks to buzzing street markets

• Heritage Galle Walking Tour – Dig into the fort’s history with a local guide and all the good gossip

Best for tea & spice aficionados: The Cinnamon Experience

Crackling leaves underfoot, a woody, warming scent in the air: welcome to cinnamon country. On this working plantation tour, you’ll watch skilled hands strip and curl bark into quills, learn the secret to its aroma and see how this sweet-savoury spice goes from stick to shelf.

Try it from a beach base like The Fortress Resort & Spa

You might also love:

• The Art of Creating Sri Lankan Tea – Learn the secrets of blending and tasting in the misty hills

• Ceylon Tea Tour & High Tea – A behind-the-scenes look at the Heritance Tea Factory with cakes to match

Best for local life lovers: The Lunuganga Experience

Explore the former home of Geoffrey Bawa, a praised seminal architect and the creative mind behind many of the island’s hotel designs. Just a short drive from Bentota, his lakeside estate is all sculpture-dotted gardens, leafy courtyards and signature tiled villas. A guided wander through Lunuganga shows how his eye for design shaped so many landmarks across Sri Lanka.

Try it from Cinnamon Bentota Beach

You might also love:

• The Art of Drumming – Beat out ancient rhythms in a lively, music-filled workshop

• Learn the Art of Lace Making – Delicate, intricate and surprisingly therapeutic

Where to go from here

Every experience here can slot into a tailor-made Sri Lanka holiday. Whether you're hopping between multi-stop itineraries or kicking back at one of our handpicked hotels, we'll help shape an adventure that hits every high note. Chat to our experts and let’s make it happen.

This article was created on 8th July 2025. The information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Feature by Heather Flanagan.