Sri Lanka travel guide

What should you do in Sri Lanka? With its colonial and contemporary buildings Colombo is the staging post for all Sri Lankan holidays. Then explore the west coast, watching masked demon dances in Ambalangoda or lounging on golden sandy beaches near Galle. Discover the cultural triangle: the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, the rock-hewn citadel of Sigiriya and then the great national parks of Yala, Wilpattu and Gal Oya to spot leopards and elephants in their natural habitat. Travel down south and snorkel with blue whales, watch as turtles lay their eggs on a moonlit beach, stroll through rice paddy fields, see the iconic image of local pole fishermen on their stilts and recharge your batteries lounging beside the turquoise ocean. In the mountainous areas, visit tea plantations that appear as if they're floating in a misty landscape. Make sure not to miss the east coast, which is still relatively undiscovered by tourists and home to fishing villages and white sand beaches that are just as evocative as those further south. Now that the long civil war is over, Jaffna and the north can finally show visitors their true colours – expect excellent Tamil cuisine, Hindu temples and breathtaking coastlines. Explore our website to plan your trip to Sri Lanka. Read more