Sri Lanka travel guide, including map of Sri Lanka, top Sri Lankan travel experiences, tips for travel in Sri Lanka, plus leopards, temples and tea
Hanging like a tear-drop from the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Ringed by a necklace of palm-fringed beaches, its mountainous interior rears up in a jungled hinterland roamed by elephant and leopard, rising finally to the cool highlands that grow the country's famous tea.
Amidst all this there's culture too. Overwhelmingly Buddhist, Sri Lankans practice their gentle beliefs with a lavish enthusiasm. There are thronged temples and sacred relics, religious festivals and extravagant sacrements, at their most spectacular in the holy city of Kandy, home to the Buddha's tooth.
History lives on in the steep, lushly forested hills. This is where you'll find the mighty rock-top fortress of Sigiriya and a cluster of historic towns, including Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
The colonial era brought tea-planting on a massive scale to Sri Lanka's cool highlands. You can visit the bungalows of early British settlers as they sit amongst seas of tea-plants, watch pickers at work and factories in action. Walk the streets of Nurweya Eliyah and think Ascot, with timber-framed buildings, G&Ts at members' clubs and even a horse-racing track. European cultures blend in the southern city of Galle, with Portuguese and Dutch elements in this fortified outpost overlooking the Indian Ocean.
To see leopard and elephant in the wild there are a number of spectacular National Parks, lushly overgrown in the tropical climate: Yala is perhaps the most visited. Skilled guides point out the smaller wonders: a huge variety of birdlife and brightly-coloured jungle butterflies.
Last, but not least, there are beaches galore. Pick your beach to suit the season and your taste. There are quiet beaches while others catch great surfing waves. For a beach experience true to local life head to the south, where fishermen perch on stilts dug into the sand, casting lines into the ocean for their daily meal.
The Esala Perahera festival in Kandy has a long and loud procession so be sure to get a seat. Restaurants and shops along the route sell ticketed seats: book early.
Sri Lanka has two monsoons. The south, west and the hills are driest from December to March, while the dry season in the north and east runs from April to September. It’s generally warm all year, but far cooler in the hills. The dates of the Kandy Esala Perahera festival are based on lunar cycles, but the ten-day extravaganza is always in July or August. To see the elephants at Minneriya, visit from July to September.
Bandaranaike (CMB) is 29km from the city.
Public transport in Sri Lanka is cheap but crowded. Rickshaws ply the main towns. Driving is chaotic – better hire a car and driver, at around £40 a day, instead. Trains and buses serve main destinations around the island. Cycling is a great way to explore.
Prices are seasonal in Sri Lanka so it’s always worth asking for a discount outside peak times. Dormitory-style hostels are rare in Sri Lanka. Budget travellers are more likely to find room in hotels or guesthouses. Large resort hotels cater to package tourists. Some camping is available in the national parks. In Sri Lanka’s hill country, check out the lovely tea estate bungalows.
Meals involve a mountain of rice surrounded by curries, spiced vegetables, salads and pickles. String hoppers – pancakes of noodles - are local specialities. Vegetarians will thrive. Try a thambili (king coconut) – the juice is a refreshing hangover cure if you’ve overindulged in arrack, the local coconut tipple.
Most areas of Sri Lanka are now safe for travellers but check with the Foreign Office for the latest security information before you pick a route into the north. Ask your GP or travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis and make sure you’re up to date on other vaccinations. Drink only bottled or sterilised water.
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Exploring the colour, history, culture and wildlife of Sri Lanka.
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A relaxed itinerary encompassing the best of Sri Lanka, staying in the finest hotels on offer and including a long and restful beach stay. Wonderful Value for the quality of the hotels!
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Natural wonders and religious sites dominate this short, nine day tour of Sri Lanka giving you a glimpse of the small island with so many treasures to uncover. Visit quiet, historic temples and bus...
G Adventures
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Stop in the port city of Galle home to a historic fort, look for dolphins and whales along the way, stop by isolated beaches for snorkelling or swimming, have a beach barbecue
Wildlife Trails
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Sri Lanka leopard safari to Yala, with 7 private jeep safaris, maximum safari time
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A tailor-made journey through Sri Lanka, visiting its most impressive ancient monuments and beautiful beaches as you explore Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Kandy, Polonnaruwa and more. Discover white-s...
Selective Asia
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The perfect blend of city & culture, beach & safari and a journey through Tea Country. The great choice for May - October when the weather is at its best on the east coast.
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A superb itinerary visiting some of the country’s richest wildlife and culturally significant locations.
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A land of misty highlands, tea plantations, dense jungles, national parks and a wonderful coastline, Sri Lanka is ideally suited to cycling
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This itinerary is designed to avoid the adverse weather that areas of Sri Lanka experiences in the summer months from May to October, while still taking you to some stunning locations
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Designed with the first time visitor in mind. Explores the island's highlights without rushing through.
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14 day tour from £1995: Explore the wonders of Sri Lanka on our Emerald Isle tour.
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This classic 2 week itinerary takes you on a tour of Sri Lanka’s essential sights and showcases the huge variation that is crammed into this small Island. The tour starts with a night in Negombo..
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Have a hand in the conservation of Sri Lanka's beautiful sea turtles.
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The teardrop shaped island in the Indian Ocean is a truly magical place. The legacy of its position on the sea route to the East is evident for all to see; from the Moslem fishing villages which sa...
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Sri Lanka, land of rolling tea plantations, wild cinnamon groves, heaps of elephants and amazing surf breaks. And really incredible food. Chow on curry in Negombo, check out Buddha’s tooth in Kandy...
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A road cycling holiday, north to south across the exotic island of Sri Lanka
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Encounter the beautiful Asiatic elephant deep within the heart of the Sri Lankan jungle.
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See the real Sri Lanka on this tropical paradise walking holiday
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This 14 day Sri Lanka Off The Beaten Track itinerary offers wildlife and adventure combined with a sprinkling of Sri Lanka's key highlights.
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Explore Sri Lanka’s land of hidden temples and caves, sacred Buddhist sites and Hindu shrines. Venture into the British tea plantations, nature reserves and botanical gardens of the hill country. V...
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Around Sri Lanka in comfort, visiting some amazing sites whilst staying at an excellent range of top hotels. (14 nights) Ł2539 per person inclusive of international flights and private transport
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The balmy waters around Sri Lanka are home to a wealth of cetacean life, including blue whales, sperm whales and spinner dolphins. On land, the national parks have elephants and leopard, and this i...
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From sweeping tea plantations to UNESCO-listed treasures and the wildlife of the Yala National Park, spend two memorable weeks exploring the history, culture and beaches of this Indian Ocean gem, a...
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Wildlife Worldwide
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A fabulous itinerary taking in elephants in Udawalawe National Park, leopards in Yala National Park, and blue whales off Sri Lanka's south coast.
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A week-long trip to Sri Lanka, including the Sinharaja Rainforest, Yala National Park, and whale and dolphin watching on the south coast
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Visit areas of stunning natural beauty, national parks boasting some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in all of Asia and wander through bustling towns and cities. Southern Sri Lanka has m...
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This 10-day itinerary explores Sri Lanka’s least visited regions: spending time exploring the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka’s far north, before relaxing on an unspoilt east coast beach.
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Start with the hectic pace of northern Delhi before heading to the beaches of Goa and the fishing nets of relaxed Kochi in the first leg of this epic subcontinental journey. Finish it all off in th...
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This is a classic Sri Lanka trip which comprises some of the island's best boutique and luxury hotels reputed for their character and ambiance. This trip covers culture, nature, wildlife and beache
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Sri Lanka’s finest cultural landmarks and spectacular wildlife!
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Adventure enthusiasts considering Sri Lanka for their next holiday will not be disappointed. From whitewater rafting to trekking in UNESCO-protected parks, plus unique wildlife & world class beaches
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A fabulous two week itinerary to explore the stunning scenery, wildlife and heritage sites of this beautiful country.
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Experience the best of Sri Lanka on our comprehensive discovery holiday
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Explore Sigriya rock fortress, enjoy local flavours at a village meal, gain insight into the national heritage at a tea plantation, relax on pristine beaches
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Explore ruins and archaeological sites with local experts, take in a lecture on Ayurvedic medicine by a local practitioner, search out leopards at Wilpattu National Park, enjoy "high tea" at the hi...
TravelLocal
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For those with a few days to spare; this tour encompasses the highlights of Sri Lanka’s shimmering south-west in a glorious cluster.
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Trek through luscious green hills, journey by train through Sri Lanka's most breath-taking scenery, sample local cuisine at a village meal, inhale local flavours at a spice garden, explore southern...
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A great trip for those looking for a slightly more active and off the beaten track trip. Try some trekking, cycling, and nature walks as well as getting to know the locals and their way of life
G Adventures
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Explore stunning beaches, search for wildlife on a safari, gain insight into the national heritage at a tea plantation, indulge in the world-class flavours of Sri Lanka
TravelLocal
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Short on time? This one week trip packs in some of the highlights of Sri Lanka - and any extra time you can spare can be spent relaxing on the beach!
G Adventures
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Get a quick intro to the diversity of South India before heading off to Sri Lanka, a small island nation that packs a huge punch. Make your way down India’s southwest coast, watching sunsets throug...
TravelLocal
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A slower paced trip that shows you the variety that Sri Lanka has to offer, at a relaxed pace
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G Adventures
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Visit a spice plantation to interact with Ayurveda students, Tour a tea plantation and chat with a local expert, Hike up Little Adam's peak, spot Sri Lankan elephants on a reserve safari, Explore G...
TravelLocal
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Embrace the slow-paced and carefree way of life that Sri Lankans have been following for centuries with a trip that has it all - fascinating history, endearing culture and stunning natural wonders.
