Manike Mage Hithe
"Manike mage hithe
Muduwe nura hangum yawi
awilewi
Neriye numbe naage
Maage net eha meha yawi
sihiwewi
Ma hitha langama dawatena
Huru Pemaka Patalena
Ruwa nari
Manahari
Sukumali numba thama
Hitha lagama dawatena
Huru pemaka patalena
Ruwa nari
Manahari
Sukumali numba thama
Manike mage hithe"
~Chamath Sangeeth, Satheeshan, and Yohani
A 10-day itinerary for South of Sri Lanka: The perfect place to celebrate New Years Eve
Day 1: Colombo
Day 2: Colombo to Yala (5 hours by train & cab)
Day 3-4: Yala National Park
Day 5: Yala to Mirissa (2.5 hours by cab)
Day 6: Mirissa beach
Day 7: Beach town exploration around Mirissa (Welligama, Midigama)
Day 8: Galle Fort
Day 9: Mirissa (Snorkeling with sea turtles / whale watching / surfing)
Day 10: Colombo
$1000 per person
10
days
26/12/22-06/01/23
​Stay
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Yala National Park
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Stay at Chaarya Resort & Spa, Tissamaharma​​
Food Much
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Colombo
Vacilando Recommended*
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Ministry of Crab
Must try,
Garlic chilli crab; Pepper crab; Seer Teriyaki; Chilli prawn; Crème brulee
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Mirissa
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Shady Lane Mirissa: Breakie & Coffee
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Welligama
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Ceylon Sliders: For brunchy brunch
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Currency
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Sri lankan Rupee
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Safari in Yala National Park
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Entrance Fee: 3688 LKR ($28)
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Safari: 37458 LKR ($125) for 2 full day safaris with lunch and refreshments
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Guide: Naveen +94763062327​
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What’s the best way to travel across Sri Lanka?
One of the best ways to travel through Sri Lanka is by train. It is supremely well-connected and especially as one descends towards the south, one gets to enjoy the stunning views of the coastline that runs into the horizon. If you’re taking the afternoon train back to Colombo, you might even enjoy a sunset from within your compartment.
Main station in Colombo: Colombo Fort
Purchasing Tickets: If you know your itinerary in advance, best to go to the train station on the first day and block your tickets in advance since tickets do get sold out and online bookings might not be the most straightforward.
Download the app ‘Pickme’ for easily available cab services
Which areas should I plan to see in Sri Lanka?
While south Sri Lanka has a complete beach vibe, the north of Sri Lanka is filled with ancient historical sites, so best to plan your trip based on what you’re looking to experience.
In terms of local languages, Sinhala is spoken in the southern, central and western parts of the country, and Tamil is spoken dominantly in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
We decided to spend 10 days exploring the South and the North of Sri Lanka would be a different leg.
What’s the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
December-April is a fantastic time to visit, and we would strongly recommend spending New Years Eve in the beach towns, because it is a celebration to be remembered!
Where should I plan to celebrate New Years Eve in Sri Lanka?
Plan to spend new year’s eve in the beach town of Mirissa, where multiple stages are set-up, all with different genres of music to bring in the night. With toes dipped into the sand, waves gently bobbing along the shore and the breeze on your face, the night is one of celebration that only peaks further with the sunrise!
Colombo
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As you land in Colombo, the blue expansive coast awaits especially as you drive towards Kollupitiya, the stretch where you will find all the stay options.
Highlights | Must-do’s:
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Colombo National Museum
Entrance Fee: 1000 LKR ($3.34)
Plan to spend a morning at the museum, which includes excavations especially from Anuradhapura and a lot of synergies between Sri Lanka & India goddesses given the shared mythological history of the Ramayana.
Ministry of Crab
Can’t recommend this place enough, founded by chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa and Sri Lankan cricket legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, it has the MOST delicious crab I have eaten.
Yala National Park
Getting there: Take a train from Colombo Fort to Beliatta (around 3 hours) and from Beliatta a Cab to Yala, which is 1.5 hours away. Hotels arrange a pick-up so do fix up in advance.
Yala Safari
Entrance Fee: 3688 LKR ($28)
Safari: 37458 LKR ($125) for 2 full day safaris with lunch and refreshments
With one of the best, most insightful guides, the safari at Yala remains one of the most memorable. Naveen knew exactly where the animals would be because of which we saw around 4 leopards and what Yala is notoriously known for, the Sloth bear. It was simply magical, highly recommended.
Mirissa
Getting there: Cab from Yala to Mirissa [the hotels can organize it]
Secret beach is not so secret but totally worth visiting. It takes you through what appears to be a hidden path into one of the delightful spots with clear blue waters, making for a beautiful day at the beach.
Hire a bike to explore Welligama and Midigama, which has cute restaurants, coffee and brunch spots. Ceylon Sliders was a favorite.
We were in Sri Lanka during new years and Mirissa is the place to celebrate and dance the night away. With 6 music stages spread out across the beach, it is a party through and through. You can walk around and find your kind of music, as the night progresses the crowd clears out and you enjoy the ocean into the wee hours of the sunrise as you get groovy to the beats.
Galle Fort
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Take a train from Mirissa to Galle.
Cost: 1000-2500 LKR ($3-8)
Duration: 55 mins
A bike ride would also take an hour.
A super quaint town with the lighthouse as its landmark, one can easily spend one night and two days at Galle.
Pedler Street is inundated with souvenirs and the Old Dutch hospital has myriad cafes, bars and restaurants. The fortification stretches along the coast which you can walk along while also dipping into the water. Built in baroque style, the Dutch reformed church also known as De Groote Kerk can also be visited.
The city of Galle dates back to before the 13th century. In 1587, the Portuguese seized the city from the Sinhala Kings. It seems that they initiated the construction of the fort as they used the port as a trading hub, which was later expanded and further consolidated by the Dutch in the 17th century. In the 18th century, it came under the British rule for 350 years. In 2004, the Tsunami hit the fort hard. Today, it stands tall filled with charm and beauty, and as you meander through the alleyways, you witness contemporary lives reclaiming their historical past.