A First-Timers Guide to: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is such a special and unique country so I want to make sure you see all of the highlights and some hidden gems too! I spent one month exploring all Sri Lanka has to offer and I only share my personal recommendations that I have vetted myself. I include all of the best beaches, restaurants, cafes, bars (and parties), hikes, hostels, hotels, temples, ancient ruins, safaris, spas, and even tattoo shops. I focus my guide on all the tourist hot spots such as Colombo, Weligama, Mirissa, Hiriketiya, Ella, Kandy, and Sigiriya. I know how much over saturation there is in the travel market so I make sure to give you all the essentials without the unnecessary fluff. If you want to discover the magic of Sri Lanka, click into my guide and start prepping!

Guide by Tamara Knell
Made in English
5.0

Risha Fisher

August 2025

This guide was exactly as advertised. I thought the layout and design was appealing and easy to use. I downloaded the app and enjoyed using the offline map when walking around.

Eric Williams

August 2025

First time in Sri Lanka so didn’t know what to expect. This guide had tons of good tips and made me feel a lot better about flying there. I could tell she has actually been to all of these places so it felt like getting reccs from a friend.

Jake T

August 2025

Tamara gave some of the most useful, well-organized recommendations I’ve come across while planning a trip. She clearly knows Sri Lanka deeply- not just from passing through, but from real experience. Her suggestions around where to stay, what to do, and how to structure the route all felt grounded and practical.

What stood out most was how tailored her advice was. She doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach- she asks what kind of travel experience you’re looking for and gives suggestions that actually match that. It made the process efficient, thoughtful, and exciting.

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Tamara Knell
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Guide by Tamara Knell
Joined in April 2025

Hi! My name is Tamara and I'm 28 years old, originally from Los Angeles, California. Ever since I graduated from University, I took my backpack and started exploring and well... I can't really seem to stop.

I have been full time solo traveling for about 5 years now. My love for solo backpacking started in South East Asia and has brought me to Central America, Australia, South America, and Europe. I have been to 59 countries and next on the roster is India and New Zealand!

Traveling is my purpose and it brings me true joy and fulfilment. I want to share all my knowledge trips past so that more people can experience the life changing magic of going abroad. I want to encourage people (but especially women!!) to solo travel and discover a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

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