[2025 Hambantota Attraction] Travel Guide for Tissa Wewa (Updated May)

Hambantota, a coastal town in southern Sri Lanka, was an important node on the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Today, it has become an emerging tourist destination in Sri Lanka with its charming beaches, rich wildlife, and deep cultural heritage. Here, you can stroll along the white sandy beaches, explore ancient ruins, and experience the romance and tranquility of the Indian Ocean. Day 1: Arrival and exploration of Hambantota Arrive in Hambantota in the morning and check in to your hotel. We recommend the Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa, which offers a charming beachfront location and a wealth of leisure facilities. In the afternoon, head to the Dry Zone Botanical Gardens to explore this unique plant world and learn about the rich biodiversity of the area. Enjoy dinner at the hotel in the evening, sampling Sri Lankan specialties such as curry and seafood. Day 2: Nature and culture tour In the morning, head to Yala National Park for a jeep tour to see wild elephants, leopards, and a variety of birds. In the afternoon, visit Bundala National Park, a birdwatcher's paradise where you can also see spectacular flamingos. Return to the hotel in the evening and enjoy the hotel's spa services to relax and unwind. Day 3: Beach and leisure time In the morning, enjoy the sun and sand on the hotel's private beach or participate in water sports. In the afternoon, head to the nearby mangroves and take a boat ride to explore this ecological wonder and experience the tranquility of nature. Enjoy dinner at a seaside restaurant in the evening and watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Day 4: Culture and history tour In the morning, visit the nearby Tissamaharama Raja Maha Viharaya to experience the deep Buddhist culture. In the afternoon, head to Usangoda to explore this unique red land and admire the fascinating geological landscape. Hambantota is a charming place, with both natural scenery and cultural relics that are unforgettable. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature. If you are looking for a relaxing travel destination, Hambantota is definitely worth a visit. Here, every step is an exploration, and every moment is an enjoyment.

Hambantota, Sri Lanka Travel Guide: • Must-see attractions: • Unawatuna Beach: Swaying coconut trees, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters make this an ideal place to enjoy the sun and beach. • Tissamaharama Lake: Rent a bike and cycle around the lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery and flying birds. It's peaceful and healing. • Muthurajawela Wetlands: Wander among the ruins and feel the passage of time, imagining the past prosperity. • Food recommendations: • Seafood feast: Enjoy fresh seafood such as curry crab and garlic steamed shrimp at a seafood restaurant near the beach, paired with local coconut rice. • Sri Lankan hoppers: Shaped like a small bowl, served with coconut milk and curry, unique and delicious. • Accommodation suggestions: • Talalla Retreat: Convenient location, comfortable facilities, friendly staff, and delicious breakfast, suitable for travelers seeking a comfortable experience. • Shangri-La Hambantota: Features a large golf course and beautiful pool, offers excellent spa services, perfect for a relaxing vacation. • Transportation guide: • Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport: One of Sri Lanka's main international airports, with flights to and from around the world. • City transportation: You can take a taxi or rent a motorcycle, remember to bargain, or take the local bus system, which is economical. • Tips: • Best travel season: December to April, the weather is most pleasant, suitable for various outdoor activities and exploration. • Sun and mosquito protection: Hambantota is hot all year round, so bring sunscreen, swimwear, swim caps, and mosquito repellent bracelets.

D5 Horton Plains National Park Horton Plains National Park Our journey today starts with a hike in Horton Plains. We took a chartered car from Nuwara Eliya, which took about 1.5 hours. The plains are located at an altitude of 2100 to 2300 meters and is a national park in Sri Lanka that allows visitors to hike. The highlight of Horton Plains is the cliff that drops straight down at a height of 870 meters. If you face the morning light and mist and look far away, you can vaguely see the southern coast and the Indian Ocean. This is the legendary "end of the world". The entire Horton Plains is like a big circle, so if you hike, you can choose clockwise or counterclockwise directions. No matter which direction you start from, you will eventually return to the starting point. If you want to avoid tourists, you can choose the counterclockwise direction. Along the way, you will also encounter a big waterfall. The whole journey is about 9.5 kilometers and takes 3-4 hours. Tisza-Mo-Haramegye Lake Afterwards, go to Lake Thissamaharama. The lake is not big but the scenery is beautiful. In the evening, there are a lot of egrets perching on the surrounding trees, which looks like a tree full of white flowers from afar, very artistic. Tips: 1. The road in Horton Plains is rugged, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes that fit well. 2. Horton Plains opening hours: 06:00-18:00. The best time to visit the end of the world* is from 6:00 to 10:00, during which you can see the villages at the foot of the mountain, the tea gardens in the distance, and even the southern coast. After that, the clouds and mist will quickly cover the view. *Note: "End of the world" is a popular tourist attraction in Horton Plains, Sri Lanka. 3. The temperature difference in the Horton Plains is large. Long sleeves and pants are needed in the morning and evening, but it's scorching hot at noon, so sun protection should be taken into consideration. 4. Bring enough food and water for the hiking trip, as there are few places to purchase them in the park. D6 Nuwole Aleye Yala Yala National Park Many people long for a wild hunting trip in Africa, but unfortunately it is difficult to realize due to the long distance. However, Yala National Park in Sri Lanka can give you a fantastic hunting trip. Visiting Yala National Park requires an early start because many animals will hide in the deep forest after the sun comes out, so you have to hurry to see more wildlife. Riding in a jeep and shuttling through the zoo, you will encounter water buffaloes soaking in the river, peacocks strutting arrogantly on the roadside from time to time, wild elephants and monkeys blocking the road, and you can also see spotted deer, crocodiles and various birds. You cannot get off the car halfway through the zoo, you have to go to a centralized rest area by the seaside to get off and rest. Meirei Beach We drove along the seaside from Yala Zoo and arrived at our second destination today - Mirissa Beach. You can freely enjoy the beach, running and playing in the soft sand and waves, or simply bask in the sun for a relaxing time. Tips: 1. When visiting the zoo, be prepared for dust. The scenic area is all dirt roads, so prepare headscarves, masks, and other items. 2. It is recommended to bring binoculars to easily observe small animals in the distance. 3. Sunscreen is necessary, apply more sunscreen and wear sunglasses.

Tissa Lake can be said to be the holy lake of Sri Lanka, with a quiet environment and pure water quality. It is located in the Tissa city area and is an artificial lake built a long time ago for irrigating rice. The trees in the lake are estimated to be ancient, among which there are two pairs of trees that lean against each other, becoming a beautiful background for everyone to take pictures. Although there are several cute small yachts parked on the lake for tourists to sightsee and play, the extremely quiet environment and the natural beauty of the original ecology make the whole lake like a flawless jade, exuding a picturesque fairyland beauty. The iconic reflection of the two unbeatable beautiful trees on the surface of Tissa Lake makes it feel like all the water reflections seen before were just clouds. The two umbrella-shaped green trees standing quietly on the wetland, like being carefully pruned by a skilled gardener, directly create a new height of beauty. They are fully reflected on the mirror-like surface of the lake, creating a picture of a fairyland on earth. Sri Lanka is known as the country in Asia that is most suitable for observing wild animals. However, Tissa is very close to Yala National Park, which is famous in Sri Lanka. Therefore, tourists here usually stay for one or two nights, and friends who like the original ecological environment can stay for a few more days. Recommended Sri Lanka southern route (two weeks): Colombo - Hikkaduwa - Galle - Mirissa - Tangalle - Tissa - Ella - Nuwara Eliya - Kandy - Colombo.

Lake Tisse is a man-made lake. Although the lake is not big, the surrounding scenery is very beautiful~ Looking at the distant trees and the sound of birds singing, the heart calms down and becomes calm~ The trees around the lake will have a large number of egrets perched on the evening, and in the distance they look like a tree full of white flowers. Sitting by the lake, feeling the sunshine bathing, the birds and flowers around the ear, watching the locals playing in the lake, this atmosphere is very harmonious ~ Original Tissamoharam is just for me to go to Yala The national park and the stopover of the station, I did not expect to see more rainy days, the bright sunshine of Tissamahama Lake gave me unexpected surprises~

-- There is a huge man-made lake outside the town of Tissamaharam, 1.5 km from the town centre. You can also go for a walk by the lake when the sun sets, and the scenery is very pleasant. --Although the lake is not big, but the surrounding scenery is

The beautiful Lake Ticsee is also the most beautiful lake I have ever seen in Sri Lanka. There are many kinds of wild animals here. It is very harmonious with human beings. I don't see anyone hurting them, all kinds of waterfowl, bats, monkeys. Even the crocodile, you can easily meet, even on the roadside there are wild elephants on the road, the kind people see it, will consciously slow down the speed, and even take the banana on the car to feed it... ... The people here and nature, in harmony, no one is harming small animals, and the small animals here are not afraid of people.