Best Places To Stay in Srilanka

Whale watching spot comes at the top amongst the major attractions in Mirissa. You can find a number of operators around this area offering trips to the Indian Ocean for dolphins, whales, and turtles spotting.

Location:  Harbour Road, Mirissa, Sri Lanka.

Timings: Usually, the whale watching tour starts early in the morning around 6-7 AM and lasts for 4-5 hours approximately. The ocean gets rough due to sunlight in the afternoon, hence, it is difficult to spot a whale in the water at this time.

Price: The average cost for whale watching is Rs. 2500 - 3500. However, if you are a group of 4-5 people, you can negotiate the prices to get a better deal.

Best Time to Visit: The best time to spot whale is from December to March as the ocean is not rough during this time.

Distance from Mirissa: This place is located around 15-20 KM away from Mirissa beach.

The Nine Arches Bridge is one of the most beautiful landmarks of Sri Lanka and amongst the top places to visit in Ella. There is an interesting story behind this bridge. When the British stopped the construction of this bridge mid-way due to lack of steel during World War 1, the locals constructed it using stone and bricks. 

The bridge has stood strong without a single piece of steel since then. The setting of the bridge is extremely charming and is amongst the most popular tourist places in Ella. It is located inside a dense forest near a quaint little village with tea plantations surrounding it. Watching the old world trains pass through this bridge is a sight most loved by the tourists. 

Location: Between Ella and Damodara Station

Timings: The bridge is approachable all day around. However, early morning sunrise is the best time to visit. 

Price: There is no entry fee.

Sri Lanka is abundant with the legends of Ramayana. So much so that even the natural landscapes have compelling stories associated with them. The Ravana Falls and the nearby caves are said to be some of the places where the demon god Ravana hid. These legends and the striking landscape of this Ella attraction pulls many travellers to them. 

The waterfall is around 82 ft. in height and is layered in three tiers. The third tier is approachable after a sharp rock climb and rewards with some amazing views of the dense greens and the rocky landscape. 

Location: A 23, Ravana Wildlife Sanctuary, Ella

Timings: March- June, December- February

Price: There is no entry fee

The secret beach of Mirissa is not a secret anymore as it is easy to reach and well signposted nowadays. It is one of the amazing places to visit in Mirissa for capturing some beautiful moments and epic photographs.

Moreover, most of the beaches in Mirissa are crowded so the secret beach is the perfect place to relax and sit in a peaceful environment.

Location: Secret Beach Mirissa, Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Timings: Open for 24 hours.

Price: The best thing about Mirissa beach is there is no entrance fee for it.

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit this beach is either early in the morning to relax or in the evening to enjoy an incredible sunset.

Distance from Mirissa: This beach is located at a distance of approximately 1-2 KM from the heart of the Mirissa town. You can reach a secret beach in several ways like you can choose to walk, hire a moped or take a tuk-tuk. However, try to start early if you’re planning to go on a walk, otherwise, it will be 20 minutes of hard work in direct sunlight on a steep pathway.

Ravana’s Cave is a place of the legends and amongst the top places to visit in Ella. As per Hindu mythology, it is said that Ravana had hidden Sita in this cave after kidnapping her. Legends apart, the natural scenic beauty of this cave, located at a height of around 4,500 ft.) attracts hikers and adventure seekers from all over the world. 

This caving activity is exciting, as one has to climb around 1,000 steps to reach the huge cave. Travellers love to spend time in the cool dark interiors of the cave and amidst the dense greenery. 

Location: Bandarawela- Wellawaya Road, Ella

Timings: Best time to visit is early morning or evening to escape the heat. The caves are open all year round. 

Price: LKR 150, INR 58

If you want to enjoy a sunset dinner at a lovely restaurant then do not miss to visit Mirissa Beach. It is one of those attractions in Mirissa where you can find plenty of great restaurants offering a variety of seafood.

Although you will find this beach a little crowded yet, it will give you a very relaxing vibe.

Location: Mirissa, Sri Lanka.

Timings: Open for 24 hours.

Price: Visiting Mirissa beach is free of cost. In fact, you can enjoy the Lion beers on free sunbeds at a very reasonable price.

Best Time to Visit: The beach gets busy from 11 AM so it is recommended to visit this either early in the morning to avoid the crowd or in the evening to enjoy a lovely sunset.

Distance from Mirissa: Once you reach Mirissa from Colombo, you can easily found this exotic beach as it is only a couple of KM away from the Mirissa railway station.

Ella Rock is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Ella amongst the most interesting places to visit in Ella. A three-hour easy trek will take you further into the luxuriantly dense forested countryside of Ella attractions. During the trek up till the rock, you will see beautiful tea plantations and get a chance to interact with the tea planters. 

Once atop the rock, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the morning sun rising from behind the lush hills. You will get a bird’s eye view of the scenic valleys rolling for miles. Travellers love to spend some quiet time in peace atop the rock in this popular tourist place in Ella.

Location: Wellawaya-Ella-Kumbalwela highway, Ella

Timings: The best time for this hike is early morning around 5:30 am

Price: LKR 3,800, INR 1,500

Another one of the amazing places to visit in Mirissa is to climb up the Parrot Rock. This small and easily accessible rock will give you a stunning view of the Mirissa area. This is a place which will take your mind away from work and stress.

It is a very quiet place where you can relax watching surfers in the high tides of water. You can also chill out in the nearby restaurants of this place.

Location: Mirissa, Sri Lanka.

Timings: Open for 24 hours.

Price: You don’t need to pay any price for visiting this place.

Best Time to Visit: You can come early in the morning to enjoy with the low tides and the amazing morning sea breeze. Visiting it in the evening is also a great idea if you want to enjoy wrapping up activities looking at the breathtaking sunset.

Distance from Mirissa: The parrot rock is located to the left side of Mirissa beach. So once you reach Mirissa beach you can easily get on this rock to have an excellent sea view.