Pack your camera, your binoculars and your specs, if you need them. Sri Lanka has more than its fair share of cinematic eye-candy, including eight Unesco World Heritage sites…
Unesco-listed Galle
Galle is a hip, bohemian city on the southwestern tip of the county, about three hours away from Colombo by car. It’s famous for Galle Fort, a 16th-century fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists, but its modern side is equally interesting: cool hotels, galleries and boutiques abound here.
Wildlife on safari
Sri Lanka offers a wealth of thrilling wildlife safaris: spot elephants, elusive leopards, rare birds and more, and admire the country’s dizzyingly diverse flora and fauna under wide open skies. Opt for a tented safari and you’ll fall asleep and wake up beneath the stars. There are plenty of different options to choose from, with many safaris suitable for families. Start with Yalla National Park, looking for leopards, sloth bears and buffalo.
Whales at Mirissa
Sri Lanka’s whale season runs from November to April/May. The small tourist town of Mirissa on the south coast is one of the most popular places to look for these gentle giants. The whales are drawn here by Mirissa’s plankton-rich waters. (Wave-seeking surfers also flock here.)
Buddhist statues
Prepare to be amazed by the Dambulla Buddha caves, where magnificent Buddha statues and ancient cave paintings await. It’s impossible to describe the caves’ atmosphere; you have to experience it for yourself. Dambulla is in the Matale District, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province.
Unesco-listed Kandy
The fascinating city of Kandy sits in central Sri Lanka, bordered by mountains. Grab your camera for glittering Kandy Lake (aka Bogambara Lake) and the city’s famous Buddhist sites, which include the Temple of the Tooth.
Tea plantations
Feel the temperature drop – and your eyes widen – in Sri Lanka’s cool, hilly tea regions, where verdant plantations stretch across the horizon. Hop on the train from Kandy to Ella, pausing at Nuwara Eliya for at least a few days. Visit one of the tea plantations and factories, meet plantation workers and – of course – sip some tea…
Sigiriya Lion Rock
Locals call Sigiriya the Eighth Wonder of the World; you’ll understand why when you clap eyes on it. This ancient palace and fortress complex in the Central Province is set on a breathtaking rock plateau formed by volcanic magma, towering 200 meters above the surrounding jungles and 370 meters above sea level.
Beautiful Beaches
Sri Lanka doesn’t hold back when it comes to jaw-droppingly beautiful stretches of sand: two favourites include Uppuveli and Nilaveli, which are both close to Trincomalee, on the north east. Surfers will love Arugam Bay, on the south east of the island. By night, the bay buzzes with beach parties.
Buddha – or Adam’s – footprint
Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and the Veddas (Sri Lanka’s early inhabitants) all agree that the top of Adam’s Peak is a sacred site: the imprint of a footprint here is believed to belong to a very holy person.
Virgin rainforest
Embark on breathtaking treks amid emerald scenery and go chasing waterfalls within Sinharaja rainforest: a beautiful natural heritage site (and the country’s last viable patch of tropical rainforest). Located in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is an eco-tourism hot spot.