12 best places for Sri Lanka 2-day trips

Posted on by Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Immerse yourself in the beauty and history of the island on a 2-day Sri Lanka trip. Walk around the ancient monument in the cultural triangle, venture on a jeep safari in a national park, explore the ancient walled city of Galle, stroll on the pristine south coast beach, and see the giant whale in southern Sri Lanka. The options are endless for your Sri Lanka 2-day trip. That is why we are here to help you choose the best seamless, 2-day tour of Sri Lanka to quench your thirst for exploration. You might be looking for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 2 days, in order to explore during the upcoming weekend and unwind from the routine office and household work. Perhaps you have flown to Sri Lanka from a faraway country, you are on holiday now, and you want to visit a few tourist places on this foreign soil. Whatever your requirement is, we have listed here the 12 best places to explore in a 2-day trip to Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka 2-day trips

Immerse yourself in the beauty and history of the island on a 2-day Sri Lanka trip. Walk around the ancient monument in the cultural triangle, venture on a jeep safari in a national park, explore the ancient walled city of Galle, stroll on the pristine south coast beach, and see the giant whale in southern Sri Lanka… The options are endless for your Sri Lanka 2-day trip. That is why we are here to help you choose the best seamless, 2-day tour of Sri Lanka to quench your thirst for exploration.

Leave all the planning to an expert like Serendipity and drive through the quaint villages, tea plantations, coconut plantations, beautiful countryside, and cities to visit interesting tourist places in Sri Lanka. Your personal driver guide will welcome you upon arrival (meet at the hotel) and take you directly to the attraction without wasting any of your valuable time. Your two-day trip includes an overnight stay in a hotel of your choice.

What should be considered when planing 2 days trip in sri lanka

When it comes to places to visit in 2 days trip in sri lanka, the number of places is overwhelming. However, after carefully considering the natural and historical importance of the places, as well as the time it takes to visit those places; we have listed below 12 places to consider for your two-day trip to Sri Lanka. The below-mentioned 2 days trips in Sri Lanka are mainly intended to visit from Colombo and west coast beach resorts.

I was considering writing this blog post on places to visit in Sri Lanka in 2 days for many weeks because I receive a large number of emails from our readers with questions like “What are the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 2 days?”, “What is the best 2 days trip in Sri Lanka?”, “Can you arrange a Sri Lanka 2 days tour package?”. Sometimes customers ask us to suggest a couple of 2-day trips to Sri Lanka in order to include them in their beach holiday packages. However, due to my very busy schedule, I did not have time to attend to this article. But I knew that I had to write this blog post sooner or later because many travellers are very hungry for the information I’m pouring into this article. This is a long blog post it takes 10 minutes for you to read and it took 2 days for me to write.

How to choose the best places for your Sri Lanka 2 days trip?

All two-day trip places in Sri Lanka are listed below giving you plenty of opportunities to engage in various interesting activities. There is a large number of places that you can include in a Sri Lanka two-day tour, but choosing the most suitable places to visit is important because you need to enjoy your trip and be engaged in the activities that you like; otherwise, there is no sense in doing it, for instance, if you have a cultural buff, there is no point of visiting Kithulgala, which is a place for adventure activities. There is no point in making a trip to the cultural triangle if you are an enthusiast of wildlife, instead of going to Sigiriya you should be heading to Yala in southern Sri Lanka, that’s the ideal destination for your two-day tour in Sri Lanka.         

All these two-day trip places in Sri Lanka can be visited from Colombo, from the airport, or from beach resorts on the west coast such as Bentota, Kalutara, Hikkaduwa, and Negombo in a 2-day trip. Usually, tourists who stay in beach hotels prefer to make 1 day Sri Lanka tours and they do like to return to their beach hotel for an overnight stay. However, we get a few bookings every month for Sri Lanka 2-day trips from beach resorts.

So you may add a few two-day trips in Sri Lanka listed below to your Sri Lanka land tour package. Eg if you plan 10 days Sri Lanka, 8 days Sri Lanak trip or a 9 days Sri Lanka trip you can easily add few 2 day trips to your itinerray..

Sometimes we organize 2 days trip to Sri Lanka for travellers, who are in transit to Colombo and they want to visit a few interesting places in Sri Lanka during their brief stay. Some other travellers, who book these 2 days’ trips in Sri Lanka are government delegates and they are on an official visit to Sri Lanka. 

Going on a Sri Lanka 2 days tour package is better than making 2 one day trips because it considerably reduces the time spent on travelling and spare time for relaxation and sightseeing. Since you have 2 days at your disposal, it is possible to explore some of the very important tourist hotspots such as Sigiriya rock and Polonnaruwa from Colombo.

How to choose best places for 2 days trip in sri lanka?

You might be looking for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 2 days in order to explore during the upcoming weekend and unwind from the routine office and household work. Perhaps you have flown to Sri Lanka from a faraway country, you are on holiday now, and you want to visit a few tourist places on this foreign soil. Whatever your requirements are, we have listed here the 12 best places to explore in a 2 days trip in sri lanka.

Below mentioned tourist attractions are some of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. Many of them such as Sigiriya, and Dambulla are coming under UNESCO world heritage sites. A few places such as Kitulgala and Galle are easy to reach from Colombo and therefore, can be easily explored on a day trip from Colombo. However, these tourist attractions are best suited for a 2 days trip from Colombo due to the long-distance travelling involved with these trips. After all, having 2 days trip allows you to explore these important places at your own pace and same times have some leisure.

What are the 12 best places for 2 days trip in sri lanka?

  1. Sigiriya-170 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  2. Dambulla- 160 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  3. Kandy-117 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  4. Yala national park-166 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  5. Nuwara Eliya-126 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  6. Polonnaruwa-230 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  7. Galle-120 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  8. Mirissa-152 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  9. Udawalawe-150 km from Colombo-4+ hours drive
  10. Adam’s peak-137 km from Colombo-5+ hours drive
  11. Kitulgala-90 km from Colombo-3+ hour drive
  12. Sinharaja-138 km from Colombo-3+ hour drive

When is the best time for the Sri Lanka 2-day trips?

The northeast monsoon, from November to April is considered the best time of the year to visit Sri Lanka. During this period most parts of Sri Lanka except the north and east have a very sunny and warm climate, making it suitable for outdoor activities. During the same time, the sea off the south and west coast become very safe for all saltwater-based activities such as diving, snorkelling, surfing, swimming, etc.

All two-day trip places mentioned above are to be found on the west coast, southern coast, or in Sri Lanka’s hill country. These areas have very good weather during the north-east monsoon (November to April) and the rest of the year from April to November most places mentioned above come under heavy rain due to the influence of the monsoon.

What can I do on my 2 days trip in sri lanka?

OK! We jump into our subject. With only 2 days’ time at your disposal, you cannot expect to do much on the two-day trip to Sri Lanka, however, there is a possibility of exploring a couple of important tourist attractions on the way, one or two important tourist places during the trip. Perhaps you may even visit three places on your 2-day Sri Lanka trip, from the two days trip places in Sri Lanka mentioned above. For instance, you can visit Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Pinnawala elephant orphanages on a 2 day trip to Sri Lanka because all these places are located on the main road from Colombo to Sigiriya.

On the 2 days of the Sri Lanka trip to Kandy, you will be able to visit the Tooth relic temple, the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, the royal botanical garden, and the Sri Lanka mountains.

Below mentioned five Sri Lanka 2-day tours are very popular among travellers. Each tour has a different combination of tourist attractions and activities. therefore, it is important to choose the best tour package depending on your interest. Eg the Cultural triangle tour includes many interesting historical places, if you choose the southern Sri Lanka tour it is more like a wildlife tour with few historical places and beaches.

Sri Lanka 2 days hill country tour

Day 1: 07.00 am leaving for Kandy, which is the hill-country capital of Sri Lanka and one of the most picturesque cities on the island. En route, there will 2 stops before reaching Kandy one at the Pinnawala elephant orphanage and the other stop will be at the spice garden. In the afternoon make a visit to the gem museum and lapidary and later witness the Kandy cultural show. The day wind-up with the visit to the tooth relic temple. Overnight in Kandy.

Day 2: After the break takes the Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road and drive to Nuwara Eliya via the Ramboda plateau. En route make stops at the Tea garden, tea factory, and Ramboda waterfalls. At noon Nuwara Eliya sightseeing tour and then proceed to Colombo via Ginigathhena and Kitulgala.

Sri Lanka 3 days tour to cultural triangle

Day 1: Early morning leave for Anuradhapura via Chilaw. Anuradhapura is the oldest capital of Sri Lanka with hundreds of crumbling monuments dating back to the 3rd century BC. In the afternoon Anuradhapura city tour and later proceed to a hotel in Sigiriya.  Overnight in Sigiriya.

Day 2: After breakfast trek to the pinnacle of Sigiriya rock fortress and afterwards visit Dambulla golden temple. Afterwards, proceed to the hotel in Colombo, En route visits the Pinnawala elephant orphanage.

Sri Lanka 2 days tour -wildlife and south coast

Day 1: 07.00 AM leave for Udawalwe via Rathnapura (the gem city). En-rouet visits the gem museum, gem mines, and museum and proceeds to the hotel in Udawalawe. Udawalawe is popular for wildlife tours and Udawalawe national park is one of the best places to spot wild elephants in Sri Lanka. Overnight in Udawalawe.

Day 2: Early morning leave for a wildlife tour of Udawalawe national park. Later leave for a hotel in Kandy via Galle, En-route stop at Galle fort, Hikkaduwa beach, and Bentota beach tour.

Transport on Sri Lanka 2 days trip

However do not cram your Sri Lanka trip by adding all the tourist attractions (minor and important attractions) into the program, because you need to allocate time for travelling too. On the chaotic roads of Sri Lanka, it is very difficult to estimate the exact time required to travel between two destinations, it is always a plus and minus.

When you pack your two-day trip to Sri Lanka with attractions and activities invariably you have to limit the time that you allocate for each site that you visit, making you have an unnecessary rush. In fact, you need some time to hang around attractions and explore them; otherwise, what is the purpose of undertaking your Sri Lanka 2-day tour?   

This article is mainly on two-day trips places in Sri Lanka, however, I’m not going to restrict the article to those chosen places. I’m going to give you an insight into some other tourist attractions as well, which are within easy reach of our chosen tourist attractions. If time permits you can visit those minor tourist attractions too, on your two-day trip to Sri Lanka. 

You might be looking for a two-day tour in Sri Lanka to go on the approaching weekend and unwind yourself from the routine office and household work. Perhaps you have flown to Sri Lanka from a faraway country and you are on a holiday now, and you want to visit a few tourist places on this foreign soil.

Best activities for Sri Lanka 2-day trips

You can add important activities such as shopping, visiting historical monuments, doing wildlife safari, rainforest trekking, exploring Sri Lanka upcountry, and engaging in adventure (water rafting, waterfall abseiling) to your Sri Lanka 2 days trip. Perhaps you can indulge yourself in a 2 day Ayurveda spa treatment if you are not in the mood to travel a lot. Lying on the beach and doing nothing, occasionally sampling the fresh Sri Lankan seafood and sipping a cocktail in a luxury beach resort also sounds goooooood I think!

You should seriously consider not using public transport to travel around Sri Lanka during your 2 days trip because it can suck up your time and jeopardize your entire holiday plan. Plan your 2-day trip in Sri Lanka with private transport, that’s the best way of travelling on the island, never think of using public transport, as it wastes time and is always behind the schedule. On the other hand, travelling by private transport is very convenient and comfortable. Usually, public buses and trains are very crowded in Sri Lanka.

Having private transport you can save time and it is safe too. You have only 2 days time on this trip (of course there is an overnight stay) and therefore it is important to minimize the time spent on travelling. You have to spare as much time as possible for sightseeing and don’t forget you can visit the sites only during the day. 

So, have you bagged ready, and set off on a 2-day trip to Sri Lanka to treat yourself and enjoy life at your best? Seerendipity tour has dozens of pre-planned Sri Lanka 2 days tour packages, browse our Sri Lanka trip packages here and check if we already have the 2-day tour you look for. You can ask Seerendipity tours staff to make a customized Sri Lanka tour package for you, our staff will do it for you without any charge, whether you book the tour with us or somewhere else.  

Visiting picture-perfect countryside on a 2-day Sri Lanka trip to southern Sri Lanka

2-day trips in Sri Lanka are available in many flavours and choosing the most suitable package is up to you. 2-day trips in Sri Lanka can be broadly categorized into the below categories,

  • Sri Lanka 2-day leisure holidays (beach holidays)
  • Sri Lanka 2 days adventure tour
  • 2-day Sri Lanka wildlife tour package
  • 2-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour
  • 2 days southern Sri Lanka trip
  • 2-day tour package to Sri Lanka upcountry.

5 alternative places for two-day trips in Sri Lanka

  1. Udawalawe national park – Udawalawe national park is one of the best places for wildlife holidays in Sri Lanka. Udawalawe national park is included in most Sri Lanka beach holiday packages with a safari. These 2 days Sri Lanka trip allows you to visit some of the important historical monuments such as Galle and Kande Vihara Buddhist temple. Udawalawe 2 days trip can be booked from Colombo and most other beach resorts on the west and south coast. If you are based in Ella the trip to Udawalawe is a convenient one-day trip.
  2. Adam’s peak- Venturing on Adams peak hike is always a 2 days trip, however, you will have a very short night as the hike at Adams peak is a moonlight hike. The upward journey on the hike at Adams peak takes around 5 hours and the downward march lasts around 3 hours.
  3. Kitulgala – If you are an adrenaline junkie, there is no better place to travel than Sri Lanka. However, the trip to Kitulagala should not be a 2-day Sri Lanka trip all the time because Kitulgala is only 100km away from Colombo. The drive from Colombo to Kitulgla takes around 2 hours. However, it is recommended to plan 2 days trip to Kitulaga as it offers many dozens of adventure activities such as river rafting, mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, etc.
  4. Anuradhapura ancient city – Anuradhapura is a historical city and it is an archaeological zoo, with more than thousands of crumbling ancient monuments spreading over more than 40 sq km. Anuradhapura is a UNESCO world heritage site and a trip to Anuradhapura is recommended to be a Sri Lanka 2 days trip in order to explore important monuments, museums, and temples.
  5. Sinharaja Rain forest-this Gondwana forest is one of the oldest patches of forests in the world dating back to the Gondwana land era. Sinharaja rainforest trip can be booked as a one-day tour from Colombo, however, it is recommended to book Sinharaja as a Sri Lanka two days trip in order to thoroughly explore the fauna and flora of the rainforest. The drive from Colombo and most beach resorts on the west coast to Sinharaja takes around 3 hours.

Places to visit on two-day trips in Sri Lanka

As I have mentioned above, you can find hundreds of places to visit on your 2-day tour in Sri Lanka, but when I was choosing the below places, I followed a criterion, it should mainly provide the value of time that you put into the and it should provide a memorable, thrilling experience.

The places listed in this article range from scenic mountains with tea gardens and crumbling historical monuments in the cultural triangle to the gloomy rainforest and idyllic beach resorts on the western and southern coasts. Plan your day trips from Colombo or the airport to relax, look for activities, and be blessed by the divine.

Sigiriya rock fortress is a 5th-century palace complex with landscaped gardens, moats, swimming pools, fountains, paintings, and a palace. At the top of the monolithic rock, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea level, King Kashyapa built his royal palace. The frescoes are to be found halfway down the track on the upward journey.

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Ultimate 2 days trip to Sri Lanka cultural triangle

1. Sigiriya Rock-170 km from Colombo 5+ hours drive from Colombo

The 2-day trip from Sri Lanka to Sigiriya rock fortress rank among the best activities for travellers, you will understand its popularity upon reaching the site, and you will encounter hordes of tourists at any time of the day here.

The Sigiriya rock fortress is the most visited iconic tourist attraction that most travellers encounter on their Sri Lanka trip. If you undertake a multi-day Sri Lanka sightseeing tour, it is highly unlikely that you have a tour itinerary without a Sigiriya rock fortress. Sigiriya is located at the very heart of this ancient cultural oasis better known as Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. With hundreds of ancient construction such as swimming pools, granite caves, walls, moats, and palaces, this historically significant town was inhabited in the 5th century AD and is being sensitively restored.

It is set in an oasis that is a testament to ancient techniques of water management, irrigation, and land use. It is a lush and fertile area that stands in dramatic contrast to the land around it.

Hiking at Sigiriya rock fortress

The hike at Sigiriya takes around 3 hours, it includes an upward and downward journey, and the time required to see the ruins and enjoy the scenery. However, the starting time of your hike is a crucial factor and largely decides how long you need to do the hike. Starting the hike in the early hours is highly recommended thereby you can avoid the pilgrims and other travellers, who pile up in the queue to the summit. So the best way of exploring the Sigiriya fortress is to have an overnight stay near the rock and start the hike early morning (07.00 am) the next day.

What to see in Sigiriya?

By far Sigiriya rock is the most visited tourist attraction on the island and attracts many thousands of travellers every day. Visiting the Sigiriya rock fortress is the main reason you booked this Sri Lanka 2-day trip.

This UNESCO world heritage site is one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world with gardens, swimming pools, palaces, ponds, caves, an audience hall, and ancient paintings. Sigiriya is under the purview of the Sri Lanka archaeological department and visitors are required to purchase the entrance ticket, which cost $35.00 USD.

IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ON SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS PLEASE CHECK MY ARTICLE ON, “SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS SRI LANKA”

What are the places included in Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Sigiriya?

  • Sigiriya rock fortress
  • Pidurangala ancient temple
  • Dambulla cave temple
  • Safari at Minneriya national park
  • Hiriwadunna village (village tour and cooking class)
  • Bird watching in Sigiriya forest reserve

Visitig Pidurangala temple on Sri Lanka 2-day trips

Another historical monument but it has far less importance compared to the rock, This Buddhist temple also dates back to the 5th century AD and was patronaged by the founder of Sigiriya rock fortress, King Kashyapa. The beautiful temple is to be found a few kilometres away from the rock and houses many Buddha statues and temple paintings.

Dambulla cave temple

Rank among the top tourist attraction on the island, the Dambulla cave temple is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its historical value. Dambulla cave temple is one of the oldest cave temples in the world dating back to the 1st century BC. More than a hundred Buddha statues, god figures, and Buddhist paintings are to be found in the temple.

Minneriya National Park

Exploring wildlife on foreign soil is a thrilling experience that most travellers like to do. You have the opportunity to take a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park on this Sri Lanka two-day tour; however, it is subject to the availability of time. If you have started your Sri Lanka 2-day tour from Negombo or Colombo, you will be able to find time for the safari. However, if you finish the Sri Lanka two-day tour in southern Sri Lankan cities such as Bentota and Galle, you might not be able to find time for it.

Pinnawala elephant orphanage The orphanage is a popular tourist attraction that can be visited with a small detour. If you are going back to the west or southern coast of Sri Lanka, you can uneasily visit the orphanage, which is on the way. However, if you are going back to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the orphanage is way off the track.    

10 days Sri Lanka Buddhist tour includes the major Buddhist religious sites on the island, that you do not encounter on most trips. The tour covers some of the major temples such as Somawathiya, Mahiyangana, Girihandu seya, Seruwila raja maha vihara, Kiri vehera, Tissamaharama raja maha vihara, etc. Most temples that you encounter on this trip are not included in popular Sri Lanka trips. This trip is specially designed for Buddhist devotees. This is a private trip that can be customized to meet your specific requirement. The trip includes all entrance fees, Accommodation in luxury hotels, a luxury vehicle, a live guide, daily breakfast and dinner as well as all taxes.

2. Places to visit in Sri Lanka, Dambulla -160 km from Colombo 5+ hours drive

Dambulla cave temple

Another important tourist attraction in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka is another UNESCO world heritage site. The temple is believed to be used as the residence of King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC when the capital (Anuradhapura) was invaded by the south Indian Chola army. Later the king returned to Kandy by defeating the Chola army.

Dambulla cave temple is located very close to Dambulla town and it takes only a few minutes to reach it from the Dambulla city centre. If you are coming from places like Bentota, Galle, or Negombo and heading to historical places such as Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, invariably you have to pass Dambulla, which means you can visit the Dambulla cave temple without any extra drive. Usually, Sri Lanka’s 2-day tour to Sigiriya includes the Dambulla cave temple in the program.

The entrance fee to the Dambulla cave temple is USD 10.00 and one is required to properly dress upon entering the site.

IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ON DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE PLEASE PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK

What are the places included in Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Dambulla?

  • Dambulla golden cave temple
  • Safari at Minneriya national park
  • Pinnawala elephant orphanage
  • Sigiriya rock fortress
  • Pidurangala temple
  • Herbal/Spice garden

3. Places to visit in Sri Lanka, Kandy-117 km from Colombo 4+ hours drive

Kandy is a historical city with a large number of Buddhist temples and is also regarded as the cultural centre of Sri Lanka. Kandy is surrounded by many interesting places to visit such as botanical gardens, temples, tea gardens, lakes and rivers, wildlife sanctuaries, cultural shows, and the Pinnawala elephant orphanage. Kandy is one of the best places for a top-notch shopping experience, where you can buy gems and jewellery, clothing, leather products, tea, spices, and souvenirs. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KANDY.

Tooth relic temple

Visiting the tooth relic temple is the most important activity of this Sri Lanka 2 days trip. The tooth relic temple resides in the city of Kandy, which is the most important Buddhist temple on the island. The temple is visited by tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees every day and visitors should be very attentive to the dress code while visiting the temple. CLICK HERE TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE.

What are the important places to visit in Sri Lanka on a 2 days trip to Kandy?

  • Tooth relic temple
  • Historical museum
  • Tea museum
  • Royal botanical garden
  • Kandy lake (boating)
  • Tea factory
  • Pinnawala elephant orphanage
  • Kandyan cultural show
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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

4. Places to visit in Sri Lanka, Yala national park-166 km from Colombo 3+ hours drive

Sri Lanka 2 days tour package to Yala is one of the very popular activities among foreign travellers because it enables them to see one of the rarest animals in the world, the leopard. The 2 days trip to Yala can be booked from 40+ hotels in western and southern Sri Lanka. The 2 days trip to Sri Lanka is available either with a full-day Yala safari or a regular 3 hours jeep safari.

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Yala?

  • Yala national park
  • Galle fort
  • Hikkaduwa beach
  • Madu River estuary
  • Sea turtle conservation project
  • Mask Museum

5. Nuwara Eliya-126 km from Colombo 5+ hours drive

sitting at an elevation of 1800 meters above sea level Nuwar Eliya is one of the most popular hill country resorts in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka hill country resorts such as Nuwar Eliya and Ella are undeniably captivating. It comes in such contrast to the picturesque coconut tree-lined beaches, and the bustling cities of Colombo and Negombo. The world-renowned Ceylon tea comes from the hills of Sri Lanka’s inland tea stations. Nuwara Eliya was one of the most popular settlements among colonial rulers due to its healing climate.

The drive from Colombo and most other beach resorts on the west coast to Nuwara Eliya take around 5 hours due to a large number of bends on the steep road. Nuwara Eliya sits 1800 meters above sea level which is the main reason for its popularity as a holiday destination. Road travel and rail travel are the most popular transport modes to drive to Sri Lanka’s hill country. Travelling by train or bus gives you the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery of the hill country. But travel by train is very popular among travellers and the Sri Lanka hill country train ride is considered one of the most scenic train trips in the world. And it’s part of Sri Lanka’s unexpected charm in the variety of landscapes and culture for a small island nation.

Nuwara Eliya is a holiday destination with a healing climate, where the temperature hovers around 20 degrees Celsius. Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by mountain peaks as well as tea gardens.  Unlike most other 2-day trips in Sri Lanka, you will not encounter many religious sites here, most importantly it is highly unlikely to visit a Buddhist temple with historical importance. However, you will visit the Sita temple and Hanuman temple, both Hindu shrines.

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Nuwara Eliya?

  • Gregory lake, tea factory
  • Ambewela farm
  • Horton plains national park
  • strawberry farm
  • Seetha Temple
  • Waterfalls
  • Haggala botanical garden
  • Victoria Park

6. Places to visit in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa-230 km from Colombo 5+ hours drive

The historical city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan kings in the 11th century ruled the island from Polonnaruwa. The historical city of Polonnaruwa hides many dozens of historical places that are dating back many centuries.

The main reason for venturing on a 2 day Sri lank trip to Polonnaruwa is to visit the historical monuments because Polonnaruwa is a living testimony of the rich culture and history of ancient Sri Lanka. In the archaeological site, you can see parks, lakes, gardens, palaces, temples, and many other historical monuments.  

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Polonnaruwa?

  • The historical city of Polonnaruwa
  • Sigiriya rock fortress
  • Dambulla cave temple
  • Minneriya national park (safari)
  • spice garden
  • handicraft centre
  • Hiriwadunna village (village tour and cooking class)
  • Pinnawala elephant orphanage

7. Galle-120 km from Colombo 4+ hours drive

Galle is the capital of southern Sri Lanka and a popular beach resort. Galle Fort is the most popular landmark in the city and is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its historical importance. Galle Fort is the best preserved Dutch-built Fort in the region and it dates back to the 15th century AD.

The Fort is protected by a huge wall and inside the fort is a complete city with big houses and offices. Today most buildings function as hotels, guest houses, restaurants, shops, cafes, bars, and, museums. Take a stroll along the cobblestoned narrow streets and see the well-preserved Dutch-built mansions in the old Dutch style.  

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Galle?

  • Galle Fort
  • Hikkaduwa beach
  • Madu River estuary
  • Bentota beach
  • Mask Museum
  • Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary
  • Sea turtle conservation project-visiting the sea turtle conservation project on the Galle tour is an important highlight to most travellers because it offers a close look at this endangered marine creature.
  • Moonstone mines

This whale-watching day tour starts from Colombo and other major beach resorts on the west coast of Sri Lanka. This one-day tour includes an all-inclusive whale-watching tour off Mirissa and a guided walking tour of Galle fort. You will be also visiting the spice garden, mask museum, and sea turtle conservation centre on this one-day tour. The private tour includes entire ground transportation in a luxury vehicle, breakfast, a live guide, and all taxes.

8. Places to visit in Sri Lanka Mirissa – 152 km from Colombo 2+ hours drive

Mirissa is a multi-faceted holiday destination in Sri Lanka and Mirissa is a family beach holiday destination in Sri Lanka as it offers a wide range of activities for the entire family. Mirissa is the whale-watching hub in Asia and one of the most popular spots for whale-watching tours in the world.  Mirissa had been a popular beach resort in the south but today it is more than a beach resort due to the popularity of whale-watching tours.

A large number of travellers set off on boasts from Mirissa in search of blue whales, and sperm whales. Spotting whales is quite easy in Mirissa, especially from November to April as a large number of whales migrate to the Sri Lankan waters from the Arabian Sea.  Two day trip in Sri Lanka to Mirissa usually includes an overnight stay in Mirissa in view of the early departure of whale-watching boats from the harbour.

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Mirissa?

  • Mirissa Beach
  • Galle fortress
  • Hikkaduwa beach
  • Madu River estuary
  • Bentota beach
  • Mask Museum
  • Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary
  • Sea turtle conservation project
  • Moonstone mines

9. Udawalawe national park-150 km from Colombo 3+ hours drive

If you make a trip to Udawalawe it is purely due to the wildlife observation at Udawalawe national park, Udawalawe national park is one of the best places to sport a large gathering of wild elephants. The remote tourist attraction can be visited on a day trip from Colombo however if you would like to explore the national park without much haste, it is recommended to boos Sri Lanka for 2 day trip to Udawalawe.

Important tourist places that you can visit on this 2 day trip in Sri Lanka are Galle fortress, Hikkaduwa beach; Udawalawe elephant transit camp, Madu River estuary, Bentota beach, Mask Museum, Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary, Sea turtle conservation project, Moonstone mines.

The two-day trip in Sri Lanka to Udawalawe national park can be easily combined with other tours such as a Yala national park tour, the whale watching trip, and the Galle two-day trip.

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Udawalawe national park?

  • Udawalawe national park
  • Udawalawe elephant transit camp
  • Mirissa Beach
  • Galle fort
  • Hikkaduwa beach
  • Madu River estuary
  • Bentota beach
  • Mask Museum
  • Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary
  • Sea turtle conservation project
  • Moonstone mines

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

Sri Lanka is blessed with many dramatic and beautiful mountains, many of these mountains see only a handful of travellers every year; however, there is an exception with regard to Adams peak. Adam’s peak or Sri Lanka’s holy mountain has become a popular pilgrimage site for local travellers and a popular adventure site for foreign travellers.

The 2 days trip in Sri Lanka to Adam’s peak essentially involved a 5-hour hike to visit the footprint of Buddha, which resides at the pinnacle of the mountain. The hike can be a very tiring task making you rest for a few days at your hotel. However many travellers take this challenge and make the upward journey on their feet. The mountain sits in a reserve surrounded by lush green forest. The abundance of spellbinding scenery is the biggest reason for its popularity among foreign travellers.

What are the important places to visit on Sri Lanka 2 days trip to Adam’s peak?

  • Adams peak
  • Kitulgala
  • Ratnapura saman devala
  • Gem museum/factory
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

11. Kitulgala-90 km from Colombo 3+ hours drive

Although most famed as a destination for Whitewater rafting, Kitulgala on Sri Lanka’s west coast is a wonderful destination in its own right, with boulder-rich rugged terrain, scenic trekking, rain forests, and terrain varying from steep escarpments and rainforests to granite caves and green-capped mountains. There are a few set routes, which makes for many possibilities. 

A 2 days trip in Sri Lanka to Kitulgala will be a very thrilling and happening tour for most travellers, and it involves many adrenaline-pumping activities such as mountain climbing, rainforest trekking, water rafting, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, and caving. Usually, adventure lovers boo this trip and it is available from more than 40+ hotels in western and southern Sri Lanka as well as from the airport. The trip can be easily done on a day trip from Colombo with fewer activities such as water fasting, kayaking, and jungle trekking.

Kitulgala is not purely an adventure holiday destination and it offers many patches of forests suitable for Sri Lanka jungle tours and treks. Kitulgala rainforest is one such rainforest located bordering the Kelaniya river, which can be used for jungle trekking. The duration of the Sri Lanka jungle tour based on the Kitulgala rainforest is very short, it may not lasts more than 2 hours, because it is small in extent compared to most rainforests in Sri Lanka.

Belilena a pre-historic cave located near Kitulgala is another noteworthy tourist attraction, considered to be a residence of a pre-historic man in Sri Lanka. A large number of stone implements have been discovered in the cave during the excavations.

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

There is no shortage of jungle cover in Sri Lanka, at least for the moment; some 24% of the island is covered by forests. A large part of the remaining forest cover of Sri Lanka consists of steamy rainforests, so pristine rainforests such as the Sinharaja rainforest are considered ecosystems with one of the richest and most biologically important habitats.

Sri Lanka’s primaeval forest cover shrank considerably in the 18s due to the expansions of tea plantations and other crops within its border. Deforestation was considerably lowered during the post-colonial era. However, there had been a rainforest massacre in the recent past, based in Wilpattu national park. A large portion of the Wilpattu national park was encroached on by the politicians to expand human settlements.

Sinharaja rainforest has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site, it is mainly the rich biodiversity of Sinharaja rainforest, therefore, it is on the radar of the international community. Sinharaja rainforest is one of the few last remaining rainforests in the world. Visiting this most valuable natural asset of Sri Lanka would undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience for any traveller. The lush green forest of Sinharaja is one of the oldest patches of rainforests in the world and its roots go back many millennia (Gondwanaland era).

The travellers have the valuable opportunity to visit the Sinharaja forest by venturing on a Sinharaja rainforest tour, the travellers can trek through the Sinharaja forest and see the immense natural wealth of the forest. The trek lasts about 4 hours and visitors are escorted by one of our nature experts giving them all the bits and pieces of information about this ecological marvel. Sinharaja rainforest is one of the best places for Sri Lanka jungle tours and it is part of most Sri Lanka nature tours.

How to book 2 days trip in sri lanka?

Seerendipity Tours is a fully owned local travel company that organises all-year-round Sri Lanka trips. Please contact us at admin@seerendipitytours.com for more information. The travellers can book or get more information about Sri Lanka by calling us on 0094774440977 or WhatsApping us on 009477www0977.

Seerendipity Tour is a fully locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Seerendipity tours and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka. When you book a tour with us, you directly book the tour with a local tour operator, which means there are no middlemen between you and the tour company, therefore, you can eliminate the commissions charged by third parties and online booking portals.

Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see. Our staff makes a personalized program for you, which you can change until you find the best package for you. You can also browse our existing Sri Lanka tour packages for inspiration; all our ready-made tour packages are customizable and can be tailored to meet all your expectations. Write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com.