Sri Lanka is one of those alluring places that is full of history, culture, and life. It’s scenery is diverse and raw, making it one of the best places to go for adventure holidays. It’s an adrenaline filled country with loads of awesome experiences to take on. From deep sea fishing, world class surfing, to something as crazy and unusual as joining a tuk tuk race. So, let’s get straight to it- here are some of the top adventures in Sri Lanka that you shouldn’t miss out on.
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- Go Surfing in Sri Lanka
- Trek Through Sri Lanka’s Mountain Tops
- Experience Diving in the Deep Blue Sea in Sri Lanka
- Race Around Sri Lanka on a Tuk Tuk
- Go Deep Sea Fishing
- Get Wet and Go Whitewater Rafting in Sri Lanka
- Up and Away on a Hot Air Balloon
- Fly High Kitesurfing in Sri Lanka
- Stand in Awe and Go Whale Watching
- Experience Close Encounters in Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Safaris
Go Surfing in Sri Lanka
For all the hardcore water enthusiasts out there, Sri Lanka has loads of sandy bottom point breaks and hidden reefs which swell consistently during the monsoon season. Although the beaches can get a bit crowded, there are still loads of places like Gurubebila beach where you can find 5ft waves giving you around 450m long rides. Surfing in Sri Lanka is bound to get you stoked! Another gnarly spot to check out is Ahangama which is a cool little surf town with sweet breaks, good food, and interesting markets. For more intermediate surfers, check out Arungam Bay Beach located 314km from Colombo. Arungam Bay is one of the top 10 surf points in the world so it’s something you should definitely check out when planning a surfing escapade in Sri Lanka.
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Trek Through Sri Lanka’s Mountain Tops
Trekking is one of the best activities to do in Sri Lanka for nature lovers. Traverse through epic rainforests and mountains to see the Knuckles Range where you can see various spices and rare animals along the way. Stretching to an impressive 155 sq km, with five major forest formations, expect to see spice gardens, vegetable fields, tea plantations, along with various wild animals. Another option is to explore Adam’s Peak Wilderness Sanctuary which is commonly hiked at night in order to catch a glimpse of it’s stunning sunrise. In Bandarawela, you can find popular walks like Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock, and the Namunukula Mountain Range. In short, trekking in Sri Lanka is pretty amazing with many opportunities for exploration.
Read: 10 Epic Treks in Asia That You Have to Do in Your Lifetime
Experience Diving in the Deep Blue Sea in Sri Lanka
As most of Asia boasts of stunning dive sites, Sri Lanka is no exception. Here, you can expect to find lots of colorful coral gardens, wreck dives, and tropical fish. November to April are the best times to go diving in Sri Lanka, giving you the best conditions and visibility. Apart from the abundant marine life along the West Coast, don’t miss out on checking out other dive spots like Unwatuna, Weligama, Trincomalee, Kapitalya, and Hikkaduwa to name a few. As Sri Lanka was centrally located along popular ancient trade routes, the amount of wrecks to explore here are plentiful!
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Race Around Sri Lanka on a Tuk Tuk
If you’re looking for a once in a lifetime epic adventure…this is it. Imagine driving a tuk tuk around Sri Lanka for 10 days, competing against multiple teams while completing challenges along the way. THINK: amazing race like challenges from eating chilies to finding people to teach you how to sing a local song. Don’t get me wrong, It will be hard. Your tuk tuk will break down, you will get lost…but one thing is for sure. It will be an incredible experience and will be something you won’t forget. Large Minority, the company organizing it has been doing this since 2009 and have mastered the art of making impossible adventures possible.
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Go Deep Sea Fishing
Strategically located by the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a haven for deep sea fishers as they have access to a massive shoreline spanning over 1,140 miles. Marlins, Tuna, and other large deep water game roam Sri Lanka’s deep seas. You are spoilt for choice as you can go fish straight from the beach,troll fishing, or out on a fiberglass motorboat. Due to it’s popularity, there are many tour providers that will take you out for a couple of hours to enjoy this sport.
Get Wet and Go Whitewater Rafting in Sri Lanka
If you’re looking for a heart pumping adrenaline filled afternoon, consider taking on Sri Lanka’s rapids. For the most action, head on over to Mahaweli which has a consistent amount of class 3-5 rapids. Kithulgala and Sitawaka also pretty epic rapids which range from class 2-4 rapids. For more experienced rafters, select tour operators run trips in River Kotmale allowing you to paddle through class 4-5 rapids lasting around 6 hours whilst being surrounded by stunning mountains.
Read: Best Places to Go Whitewater Rafting in Asia
Up and Away on a Hot Air Balloon
While floating away on a hot air balloon isn’t necessarily the most adventurous thing ever…it doesn’t mean it’s not a must do while in Sri Lanka! Drift along above the clouds over breathtaking hills and forests on a multi-colored hot air balloon. The best part about it? As you are literally flying on top of lush jungles, you may be lucky enough to spot elephants and water buffaloes roaming freely. It is just magical!
Fly High Kitesurfing in Sri Lanka
If you’re keen to fly high while in Sri Lanka, consider taking up kitesurfing. It is the ultimate adrenaline filled activity that will get you stoked! The kiteboarding capital, Kalpitiya is small town located in the middle of nowhere in the North West of Sri Lanka. Kiting in Sri Lanka is paradise for beginners as you can enjoy their flatwater lagoos which averages 18-20 knots during the season.
Stand in Awe and Go Whale Watching
Whales are magnificent creatures. They are enormous yet one of the most graceful creatures I have ever seen. Not far off the coast of Sri Lanka, you can spot blue whales, the largest animals that ever lived. Blue whales can reach a whopping 100ft in length and seeing them is a very overwhelmingly beautiful experience. Along with blue whales you can also spot humpback whales and dolphins in Dondra Point, a place accessible from Galle, Mirissa, and Hikkaduwa. Go out on a boat and stand in awe if you spot one of these incredible creatures.
Experience Close Encounters in Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Safaris
Unknown to many, Sri Lanka has a wide range of wildlife safaris waiting to be discovered. From budget to luxurious safaris, Sri Lanka provides a variety of options. Make your safari dreams come true as you see elephants, a plethora of exotic birds, and if you’re lucky, maybe even the elusive leopard. Willpattu National Park and Yala National Park are a few famous parks where you can enjoy these close animal encounters.
I learned so much about Sri Lanka from this post! I had no idea it was a top surf spot. Also had no idea they had safaris! I love hearing about unique destinations for popular activities. Thanks for sharing!
I heard you could surf in Sri Lanka. Seems like it’s actually becoming a more and more popular destination for water sport enthusiasts. Personally, I’d hit the safari and see the animals!
Asia is the best. I´ve never been in Sri Lanka, but i really want to go. I did not know all of those things to do there. Nice post and suggestions.
Sri Lanka has a lot of things to do. The visitors there, are never disappointed with the quantity and quality of activities. I am certain that you will go back to Sri Lanka soon enough because 1 trip to this island nation is not enough.
Don’t know if I realized there were so many great activities in Sri Lanka. Would love to go diving for sure. And getting in a good Trek up a mountain is always a good way to explore a new place.
Oh my gosh, I want to do it all! Whale watching looks fun and the views while hiking, look to be amazing! Looks like I have another destination to add to my bucket list.
I would LOVE to visit Sri Lanka particularly for the safaris, and those hikes look incredible too!
This is fab. I have always thought of Sri Lanka as just beaches and tea plantations. It looks beautiful though. I have never thought of diving there though and was told it wasnt very good. I would love to know what you saw, visibility etc
For us the highlight of Sri Lanka was the food and those train rides through the clouds in the tea country – absolutely stunning. Also amazing safaris in Udawalawe and Yala 🙂
Never thought that Sri Lanka sounds like an exciting country to visit! Thanks for sharing the other side of Sri Lanka. This is one neighboring country that I should visit soon too.