Miles And Meals

Without The Social Media Fluff.

Planning a vacation often starts with three questions: When should I visit? Where should I go? What’s my budget? While budget and duration are subjective, the real magic lies in how you experience a destination. As travel bloggers passionate about experiencing authentic journeys, we offer personalized travel itinerary services to help you explore places like Sri Lanka in a way that avoids tourist traps and embraces cultural depth.

Why Sri Lanka Deserves a Spot on Your Travel Bucket List?

Sri Lanka is trending as one of Southeast Asia’s top destinations—right after Thailand and Indonesia. But unlike its neighbors, this island offers a rare blend of coastal beauty, mountainous serenity, colonial architecture, and ancient heritage. From surfing beaches to tea estates and cave temples, Sri Lanka is a mosaic of experiences.

There are two main ways to explore Sri Lanka:

• Full Circle Route: Colombo → South → Ella → Kandy → Back to Colombo
• Reverse Route: Colombo → Kandy → Ella → South → Colombo

Your route depends on your interests—whether you’re chasing waves or hiking through tea country. Be sure to check monsoon cycles before committing to any itinerary route.

Our Itinerary:

Skip Colombo and head straight to Dambulla for a more immersive experience. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple and enjoy peaceful surroundings away from the tourist rush. Don’t miss a snack stop at Pereira & Sons (P&S)—perfect for road trip munchies (which in full disclosure was recommended by our cab driver on the way to Dambulla).

Day 2–3: Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa

By staying in Dambulla, we had ample time to hike up to the Dambulla Cave Temple. We could meander along the peaceful area surrounding it. All this was while avoiding the tourist influx (usually in the mornings/afternoons depending on the day trip route that tourist providers offer from Colombo). You have more time to spend in experiences such as hiking Sigiriya Lion Rock or Pandurang Rock at sunrise for breathtaking views. Then explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa for a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s rich ancient history.

Day 3: Nuwara Eliya Over Kandy

Instead of Kandy, head to Nuwara Eliya for its cool climate and lush tea estates. Trust us and skip the full scenic train ride from Kandy to Ella —only the stretch from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is truly worth it. Accommodate that route in your itinerary instead if you really want to experience a train journey in South-East Asia.

Day 4: Underrated Gregory Lake Walking Loop

Avoid the over-hyped tea plantation tours as they have lost their charm and are popular tourist traps. Instead, take a tuk-tuk to Gregory Lake and walk the scenic loop which spans about 3 km. Stop by the Nuwara Eliya Post Office for a quick photo opportunity or add some custom stamps to your collection.

Day 5: Ella

This destination we have mixed opinions about as though there are a lot of natural hikes in and around Ella, there are also a lot of tourists which drive accommodation prices up and take away from the serenity of the location.
Sightseeing spots in Ella are well documented on social media channels and would recommend you to only stick to visiting the major destinations like the hike to view the Nine Arches Bridge, trek Little Adam’s Peak and be cautious of inflated prices and overcrowded waterfalls promoted by tuk-tuk drivers.

Day 6: Unmissable Safari Adventure

Be it the Udawalewe National Park or the Yalla National Park, we would highly recommend you to visit one of these parks and go on a safari as you will witness some of the most mesmerising encounters with elephants and other wildlife. It’s a definite must, so please don’t miss out on this.

What We Skipped (And Why)

We intentionally skipped coastal towns like Galle due to high temperatures and personal preferences. If surfing is your thing, these coastal towns in the South are worth considering—but timing is key.

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Ready to plan your Sri Lanka adventure? Let us help you craft a travel experience that’s authentic, memorable, and tailored to your style.