Sri Lanka: The Ultimate Backpacker Destination - Feel Free Travel Blog
Sri Lanka: The Ultimate Backpacker Destination Sri Lanka: The Ultimate Backpacker Destination

Sri Lanka: The Ultimate Backpacker Destination

Feelfree

Written by Matt Browne

Posted, 14th December 2022

The beautiful island of Sri Lanka sits just off the coast of India in South Asia. It’s a place that feels like countless countries all rolled into one. Whether you are looking for surf, wildlife, landscapes, or heart-warming locals… Sri Lanka has it all! The diversity of bucket-list experiences makes Sri Lanka such an incredible place to travel and gets awarded by us as the ‘Ultimate Backpacker Destination’.

Weather ☀️

With Sri Lanka being so close to the equator you’ll get warm tropical weather pretty much all year round. You can see here the best time to visit, there are a few monsoons that cycle through the island but that only adds to this luscious paradise 🌴

Food 🍛

Food can either make or break a trip. If you’re treated to delicious mouthwatering meals time and time again then that will elevate even the worst of experiences. The opposite is just as bad! Eating awful food over and over, maybe even getting ill, can turn any paradise into a nightmare. Good thing Sri Lanka has some of the best eats you can find!😍

Being so close to South India means the food is certainly similar, but still uniquely different. You can get one of the best curries you’ve ever had in your life, and also amazing western foods with Sri Lankan twists. Rice And Curry is the dish of choice for most locals so I highly advise you to gorge yourself on as much of it as possible! 😋

If you find yourself in the popular seaside town of Unawatuna then check out our food tour guide to guarantee each meal is better than the last 😍

If you find yourself in the popular seaside town of Unawatuna then check out our food tour guide to guarantee each meal is better than the last 😍

Wildlife & National Parks 🐘

The wildlife in Sri Lanka will leave you lost for words. You will be ticking things off your bucket list at lightning speeds with all the incredible sights. Udawalawe National Park is THE ONE – do not miss this place. Get yourself booked onto a sunrise open-jeep-safari and get searching for animals. Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, water buffaloes, crocodiles, and elephants in the wild. You’ll be falling in love in no time 💕

TIP: Book yourself into a glamping style resort with a swimming pool for those chilled safari vibes!

TIP: Book yourself into a glamping style resort with a swimming pool for those chilled safari vibes!

Unique Experiences 🚂

Yep, you must know what I’m about to talk about here. It doesn’t get much more iconic and unique than the famous scenic train ride to Ella. The breathtaking views as you travel through the mountains are just phenomenal, if you visit Sri Lanka you absolutely MUST do this train ride.

We board the train at Nanuoya and sit tight all the way through to Ella. Usually, that sort of experience would be the pinnacle of any trip… but not Sri Lanka. Once you reach Ella there are walks to some unbelievable views such as Little Adams Peak and the 9 arches bridge

Beaches & Surf 🏄‍♂️

The quality of surfing in Sri Lanka can rival the best in the world. Being an island, which isn’t landlocked from any side means one thing… killer waves all year round 🌊. The golden sandy shores of the South Coast await, which is the perfect place to hop on a board and surf until your heart’s content. It’s worth having a lesson or two if you’re new to it all. The local teachers here have spent more time on boards than on dry land, and they’re more than happy to show you how it’s done 🤙🏼.

There are a few IG spots in the Unwatuna area, 1 of which is the sunset swing and the other is viewing the giant sea turtles right off the beach. Jump on tour with us to experience both 💪🏼

There are a few IG spots in the Unwatuna area, 1 of which is the sunset swing and the other is viewing the giant sea turtles right off the beach. Jump on tour with us to experience both 💪🏼

Incredible Landscapes 🏞

Sri Lanka is vastly beautiful if you couldn’t already tell from all of the above. If the glorious beaches, luscious jungle, awesome wildlife, terrific train, and mouthwatering food don’t do it for you then the rest of the landscape should.

In Dambulla, you can visit the ancient Pidurangala Rock which is home to glorious 360-degree views of the astounding Lions Rock, Sigiriya.

People & Culture 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏾

Even if you’d lived in a cave all your life you will probably still know that Sri Lanka is synonymous with cricket 🏏. Their distinctive delicious dishes are also a huge part of their culture, but it doesn’t end there. There are many religions throughout Sri Lanka, but the main one is Buddhism. From the moment you land you can see that the love and affection for all living things, which goes hand-in-hand with the Buddhist belief, it’s also well-engrained within the local people too. They are kind, and warm-hearted and will gladly welcome anyone into their home to eat with them. It makes for a great opportunity to learn even more about the local customs and way of life.

With all our trips to Sri Lanka, we make sure our groups get local authentic experiences. We introduce all our guests to our incredible friends who are the most hospitable around. I won’t say too much more about that because it’s a top-secret evening that only our guests are treated to 🤫.

In the city of Kandy, Sri Lankas 2nd largest city, you can visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth which is home to an incredible relic. A tooth of none other than Buddha himself 😲.

In the city of Kandy, Sri Lankas 2nd largest city, you can visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth which is home to an incredible relic. A tooth of none other than Buddha himself 😲.

Spectacular Sunsets 🌅

You may have seen some good sunsets in your life, but if you haven’t visited Sri Lanka then you are yet to see the best there is. One night it can be jaw-dropping deep orange hues and then those classic candyfloss skies the next. If you’re near a beach then you are in for a sunset you won’t be forgetting anytime soon. You ain’t seen anything like this before 👀.

The best pay to enjoy a sunset in Sri Lanka is with a bunch of new travel buddies and a few Lion beers 🍻

The best pay to enjoy a sunset in Sri Lanka is with a bunch of new travel buddies and a few Lion beers 🍻

Cost 💸

Like most places in South East Asia , Sri Lanka is likely cheaper than what you’ll be used to back home. You can party without fear of checking your account the next morning, stay in beautiful idyllic places, eat the most delicious food and not miss out on any of the awesome experiences. Being able to do all of this, in a beautifully warm tropical climate and on a budget is just mindblowing 🤯.

Join us on Tour 😃

If you’re new to Sri Lanka, or maybe you visited before but missed out on a few things last time, come and join us on our Lanka Loop 12 day trip. The team are passionate about what we do and love planning unforgettable trips to some of the best locations. We like to think we are Sri Lanka experts with a whole bunch of hidden gems up our sleeves, combo that with a bunch of fellow travelers and you’ll be having the time of your lives!

Why spend day after day cross-referencing and researching only to still end up missing out on something spectacular that you had no idea existed? Who knows when you’ll get the chance to come back, so do it right the first time! Join us on tour and we’ll guarantee you the trip of a lifetime 🙌🏼


Whether you’re looking to travel solo or bring a friend along for the ride, our group tours in South East Asia & Australia are the perfect balance of culture, adventure, chill time & nightlife. You’ll arrive as strangers and leave as the best of friends.

Here are a few useful links to help with that planning;
👉🏼 View all Trips
👉🏼 Frequently Asked Questions
👉🏼 Check out our Reviews
👉🏼 Why choose us?
👉🏼 How does it all work?

If you’ve got any burning questions or just need a little travel inspo… jump in the DM’s with the team via either Whatsapp, Livechat or Instagram.

Feelfree

Written by Matt Browne

You'll find Matt hopping around the islands of Indonesia fuelled by coconuts and smoothie bowls. He's one of the travel writers here at Feel Free Travel and when he's not getting creative he's out exploring on 2 wheels or testing his skills out on the surf (usually being barrelled over). At weekends Matt will be sipping on Bintang's while catching up with the latest premier league action!

Posted, 14th December 2022

Feelfree

Written by Matt Browne

You'll find Matt hopping around the islands of Indonesia fuelled by coconuts and smoothie bowls. He's one of the travel writers here at Feel Free Travel and when he's not getting creative he's out exploring on 2 wheels or testing his skills out on the surf (usually being barrelled over). At weekends Matt will be sipping on Bintang's while catching up with the latest premier league action!

Posted, 14th December 2022

More travel inspo