Off the Beaten Path: The Best Hidden and Beautiful Places in Sri Lanka

With beautiful beaches, friendly people and a wealth of cultural sights to see, Sri Lanka is quickly emerging as a trendy tourist destination. Head to the popular beaches in the south, or spend a couple of days in Ella, and you may think you’ve accidentally landed in Tulum or the banana pancake trail of Southeast Asia.

But if you’re looking for something a little quieter, or a bit more authentic, never fear because there’s still heaps of this wonderful country to explore. Sri Lanka has tons of amazing hidden gems. In this guide to the best hidden and beautiful places in Sri Lanka, we’ll uncover the ultimate off-the-beaten-path locations this country has to offer. 

Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gem for Adventure: Riverston

The Riverston region is as far off the beaten track as you can get in Sri Lanka. This magnificent area, situated in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, is a lush playground, complete with rolling hills, dramatic escarpments and more waterfalls than you can shake a stick at. There are beautiful villages untouched by tourism and unlimited trekking opportunities. It’s our top pick amongst Sri Lanka’s hidden gems. 

Best accessed from Kandy, this is the place to go if you’re looking for a quiet escape into nature without the crowds of Ella. It’s a unique place to visit in Sri Lanka (or the world, for that matter).

Looking for an epic trek through the jungle? You can’t do better than Duwili Ella in the Knuckles Mountain Range. Just want a short walk without skimping on amazing views? Try Mini World’s End. 

You can easily access either of these Sri Lanka hidden gems independently or as part of a tour.

Uncover these adventurous Sri Lanka hidden gems with our guides to Riverston’s Mini World’s End and Duwili Ella Waterfall

Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gem to Relax: Uppuveli and Nilaveli Beach

Whilst the south and west coasts of Sri Lanka receive more than their fair share of visitors, the northeast hardly receives any traffic at all, making it one of Sri Lanka’s biggest hidden gems.

With beautiful stretches of sand, gentle waters, and a great community vibe, Nilaveli Beach and Uppuveli Beach are great places to settle down for a few days (or even a week). You’ll find plenty of activities to keep you occupied, but if it’s beach bumming you’re after, don’t worry – you’ll also find that here. 

While you’re in the region, be sure to check out the beautiful Pigeon Island for the best snorkelling the country has to offer. 

It’s an excellent location to snorkel with black-tip reef sharks. We had more than 10 shark sightings during our visit!

Read more in the Ultimate Travel Guide to Uppuveli and Nilaveli Beach

Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gem for Explorers: Jaffna and The North

The north of Sri Lanka is an explorer’s paradise: there’s beautiful scenery, incredible food, rainbow-coloured Hindu temples and barely any tourism at all. It’s a completely different world up north and very few travellers make it up here to experience it, making it a top off the beaten track experience in Sri Lanka.

This is a place ripe for exploration: hop on a scooter and let your sense of adventure guide you, and be sure to eat as much delicious food as you can. This is really one of the best of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems.

Experience one of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems with our complete guide to Jaffna and the North 

Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gem for Waterfall Chasers: Gartmore Falls

In a land of beautiful waterfalls, Gartmore Falls ranks near the top. This stunning two-tier waterfall features not only a dramatic 30-metre drop but a natural infinity pool that you can bathe in. It’s one of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems, and an exceptionally beautiful one at that.

And if all that wasn’t enough, it’s completely off the beaten track in Sri Lanka, meaning few foreign tourists even know about it, let alone visit. Need we say any more? 

Discover Sri Lanka’s hidden gem waterfall with our Guide to Gartmore Falls 

Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gem for Wildlife: Wilpattu National Park

With an abundance of unique and beautiful animals, Sri Lanka is a great place to go on a safari. While most tourists head to the busy national parks in the south, why not seek out a more peaceful experience at one of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems and head north?

Wilpattu National Park, located in the north of the country near Anuradhapura, is the ultimate place for wildlife lovers in Sri Lanka to get off the beaten track.

It’s home to all of the exciting fauna you could want to see (including the elusive Sri Lankan leopard), minus the sky-high tourist numbers of the more popular southern parks. It’s a wildlife paradise, yet still off the beaten track in Sri Lanka.

Think more animals, fewer jeeps. Whoop whoop!

Read all about visiting Wilpattu National Park, the ultimate Sri Lanka safari destination

Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gem for Beach Bums: Goyambokka and Silent Beach

Goyambokka and Silent Beach (next-door neighbours) are the perfect slices of paradise in the south and have remained largely unaffected by the overdevelopment affecting every other inch of this region. There’s not a lot here other than beautiful sand and water and a few little places to eat and drink. It’s the best hidden gem in Sri Lanka if you just want to sit around on the beach.

If you want to stay for a few nights, Villa Lucky Star is a great place to stay. 

To get these off the beaten track Sri Lanka destinations, take the turn-off between Tangalle Beach and Hiriketiye Beach. 

Read next: 14 Awesome Things to Do In Sri Lanka

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