Sri Lanka can be a super budget-friendly place to travel if that’s your style. Everything from meals and hostel dorms to buses, trains, and tuk tuks can all cost just a few bucks each. But there are some activities in Sri Lanka that will bump your daily average budget up — and you should do them anyway. Here are 5 things not to miss and 2 you can safely skip.
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Expensive activities in Sri Lanka worth your time and money
These five activities might be a bit outside your usual price range if you’re a budget traveller, but I think they’re worth the money. YOVSLO.
Sigiriya Lion Rock
Because it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya Lion Rock is pretty expensive. Entry costs 30 USD and grants you access to a path that takes about 45 minutes of mostly stair climbing to reach the top. But it’s not just a viewpoint — the summit was once home to a monastery and a royal palace. It’s now just ruins, but it’s pretty incredible to see. There are also some 1,500-year-old “fresco” paintings in a cave that have held up incredibly well.
Some people compare Sigiriya to the neighbouring Pidurangala because they’re both hikes, I guess. And yes, Pidurangala is cheaper at 1,000 LKR. But it’s comparing apples to oranges — Pidurangala doesn’t have a 5th century fortress at the top.
Sigiriya Lion Rock is unlike anything else on Earth. So while it’s more expensive than the average Sri Lanka tourist attraction, it’s an important historical and cultural stop and undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Sigiriya.
It would even be worth spending a little more on the experience by hiring a guide who can tell you all about the history. There aren’t any signs or explainer plaques anywhere on Sigiriya Rock, but your ticket gives you access to a small museum at the base of the site where you can learn more about it before or after your walk up.
Jewellery workshop
Jewellery workshops start at about 15,000 LKR and only go up from there. If you choose to add a gemstone they can cost an extra 5,000 LKR or more. (Sri Lanka is famous for its quality sapphires and other gems!)
But the reason a jewellery workshop is totally worth the cost is that you’ll cherish the final product forever. It’s like the ultimate souvenir — something you can wear every day that reminds you of Sri Lanka.
Kandy and Galle are popular locations with several jewellery-making workshops. We did a workshop at Sapiens in Weligama and had the best time. It cost 15k per person and included 6 grams of silver, which is enough to make a normal-sized ring. I dropped another 15k on mine because I wanted to add a good quality (and pretty big) sapphire to my ring. No regerts!
Slender loris safari
So the 8,000 LKR you need to drop to see a slender loris feels expensive because it’s a 1 or 2-hour activity. Like, the tour we did was on foot essentially in someone’s backyard and we paid 8k each.
But you know what? Lorises are really hard to spot otherwise, and wandering around in the dark on your own puts you at risk of an unplanned elephant encounter. A guide will help you navigate the jungle and find some elusive slender lorises — something bucket list worthy for any keen wildlife watcher! Worth the comparatively high price tag.
Renting your own tuk tuk
Significantly more expensive than basically any other type of transport, it’s still totally worth it to rent your own tuk tuk in Sri Lanka. It’s a really fun way to get around and you don’t even need to do it for your entire trip. That said, lots of people rent them for several weeks and drive around the whole country. We just picked one up for three days and drove from Sigiriya to Kandy.
The daily rate is 24 USD, or 28 USD if you opt for an electric tuk tuk, like we did. I recommend going for a normal petrol tuk tuk for several reasons anyway.
But beyond the daily fee, which is already pretty high, there’s more that drives up the price. Most important is the special Sri Lankan driver’s license that covers tuk tuks — you need this even if you already have an International Driving Permit. Second is the fee for pick up and drop off. If you get your tuk tuk anywhere other than Negombo or the airport, it’ll cost ya. Our total for three days, one driving license, and pick up and drop off came to a total of 233 USD.
There are lots of pros and cons and it’s definitely an expensive activity, but you should still do it for at least a few days just to see what it’s all about.
National park safari
Before I got to Sri Lanka, I saw a lot of social media content about Yala National Park being overrated. And I do think there’s some truth to that. However, we went on a safari in Yala anyway (it was “free” with our stay at a coliving house in Hiriketiya) and we had a great time.
The Yala National Park entrance fees are around 40 USD per adult. Then you’ll also need to pay for a guide — easily another 20 USD for a half-day safari.
I think the key here is spending the extra money for a private safari Jeep. You can tell your guide you want to avoid the crowds, which will make the experience so much more enjoyable. (Ask to visit Block 5.)
If you’d rather skip Yala, Sri Lanka has lots of other national parks. Udawalawa National Park is accessible from the south coast and prime for elephant watching. So is Minneriya National Park near Sigiriya. However, if you’re really keen on trying to spot a leopard, Yala is the place. It has the highest density of leopard population in the world!
Activities in Sri Lanka to skip
Regardless of the price tag, these are two activities in Sri Lanka that you really don’t need to add to your itinerary.
Elephant riding
I’m surprised anyone still does this, but I’ll say it anyway: Don’t ride elephants. Not in Sri Lanka or anywhere else. It might seem like a cute photo op, but just because you don’t see them chained up or being poked with metal prods doesn’t mean it’s not happening behind the scenes.
Consider the kind of abuse these strong, intelligent animals have to go through to be broken down into compliance. It’s actually heartbreaking — and if we as tourists stop paying for these experiences, there won’t be any demand and they can live the rest of their lives in a sanctuary as part of a herd. Much better than carrying tourists around in circles or up and down a paved road and spending their off time chained to a post, alone.
If you don’t believe me, see Responsible Travel’s detailed breakdown of why elephant riding is an unethical tourism activity.
Ella to Kandy train
Controversial, I know. The train route between Ella and Kandy is undeniably beautiful. But TikTok fame has really ruined this and it’s now one of the most overrated activities in Sri Lanka. It’s entirely just for tourists now and you’ll need to queue for a turn to hang out the door for that classic pic.
As an alternative, take the south coast train from Colombo to one of the beach towns. It’s also incredibly scenic and you’ll share the train with actual locals on public transport rather than fighting other tourists for the perfect photo op. It’s just as hectic, but more authentic.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
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