Sri Lanka for the Solo Travelers: Safety Tips and the Best Places to Visit
Sri Lanka is known to be a popular tourist destination, therefore it is considered to be one of the safest places for solo travellers to experience the greatness of the island.If you are a solo traveller, this article is for you! Find out some guides about safe-travel tips, top solo-friendly destinations, and activities you can explore and engage on your trip to this beautiful island!
Top Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka for Solo Travelers
1. Colombo
Colombo is a fun destination to visit on your solo trip, it has some fascinating places to go and explore, and a wide range of restaurants. Visit the Gangaramaya Temple, a beautiful Buddhist temple worth exploring. Also if you love architecture take a walk around Pettah Market or the Old Dutch Hospital which has been transformed into a modern commercial area with restaurants and stores. In male dominated Colombo, Viharamahadevi Park remains a green stretch where people can walk around and relax.
For something different, you may want to try a tuk-tuk tour where you would get to zip around and explore a few parts of Colombo. Resorts are just part of Colombo’s offer as one can treat oneself with hoppers and kottu roti served at street stalls as well as enjoy finer international cuisine in restaurants.
2. Sigiriya
Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock , is a world heritage site and one of the rock fortress constructed in the 5th century AD.
This mountain, famous for its scenic beauty, is more than 200 metres high from the land level and is terrifying with a 1200 steps upward journey.
On the way, you will also be able to view the ancient mirrored walls and the impressive frescoes of sky dwelling maidens. Fans of artefacts will get the chance to watch the remnants of King Kasyapa’s castle and admire the view of plenty of green trees, water gardens and the south of the castle.
For individual travellers, Otunna Guest House is cheap and you can also visit Sigiriya and its more silent, Pidurangala Rock which offers equally splendid views of the surroundings.
3. Kandy
Kandy is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka and the third largest city; this city is home to the Temple of the Tooth where the Tooth of Buddha is kept. The city transforms to the best during Esala Perahera which is a religious event where traditional dancers and elephants adorned in bright colours perform.
For the ones fond of quiet venues Kandy offers calm spaces such as the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, for those who like to take long walks in the nature and watch birds, and Kandy Lake is designed for those people who like to have a quiet walk. In the vicinity to the site the main attraction is the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, which also displays many types of orchids and avenues of palm trees. The adventurous persons can visit the Knuckles Mountain Range for hiking as well as trekking.
4. Ella
In the scenically rich hill-country village of Ella are grasping fame and recognition as one of the coolest and most calm and collected spots in the country.
The train journey from Kandy to Ella is reported to be one of the most scenic in the world as it has rolling green hills, tea plantations and waterfalls. While in Ella, a number of things could be done such as hiking to Ella Rock or Little Adam’s Peak for vantage views as well as Ella nine arch bridge sited in the middle of mysterious jungle and beautiful tea gardens.
If you are a loner then you can just take a swim in the Ravana Falls or even try to understand the tea making process in Halpewatte Tea Factory. Ella’s cosy cafes and boutique guest houses make it perfect for that.
5. Mirissa
Mirissa is a well-known beach town to enjoy and relax your holidays as a solo traveller.
There are also laid-back beach wholesale and seafood cafes and restaurants each offering a wide range of fresh seafood and tropical beverages, all served as the sun sets.
If you want to have an exciting trip consider going for a whale-watching tour because Mirissa is one of a few places on the planet where you could witness the life of blue whales, dolphins and many more.
For more explorations, there is the famous Coconut Tree Hill which is a short walking distance up the hill where you get to have a vantage view of the ocean. During the night time, the entire environment of Mirissa turns into beach night parties and bonfire night and it is quite safe for the single travellers who wish to party and meet new people.
Safe Travel tips for Solo travellers
Exploring all these wonderful places can be exciting and fun, but your safety is important as a solo traveller. Here’s a few safe travel tips you might need to know as a solo traveller when travelling to Sri Lanka.
Using public transport is relatively cheap and much easier while travelling, you can book a train to wherever the destination you plan to visit, this is a great way to speak to the locals and explore the daily life of Sri Lankans. Taking the bus would be convenient as well since locals are very knowledgeable about the arrival times of the buses, the directions, stopping times, and to reach the right destination.
It is essential to apply sunscreen often as Sri Lanka is a tropical country with hot weather most of the time. Repellent creams are needed to avoid mosquitoes, since the spread of dengue and malaria is around the corner. It is best to avoid these issues when solo travelling.
As a solo traveller it is best to be mindful about the monsoon seasons, being aware about the seasons in which extreme weather conditions and pleasant weather occurs. The month of May and September, the southern and western coasts experience rainfall, east and northern coasts experience rainfall in October and February, and the rest of the year it mostly has a moderate temperature.
Having bottled water and a first aid kit is essential when you are travelling solo, as it is not safe to drink from tap water, which might cause diarrhoea.
We hope this article is helpful for your journey as a solo traveller, we always need to make sure the travellers have a safe, fun and exciting trip!
