Essential Sri Lanka

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, spot elephants and leopards and sloths (oh my!) in Yala and have a whale of a time in Unawatuna. Highlights/r/n

• Shark, squid, barracuda and hundreds of things with fins that nobody knows the name of – visit the sensational Negombo fish market.
• Practice sticking out your little finger and delicately holding a teacup with your thumb and forefinger. Why? To prep for a delicious cuppa in the tea-heartland of Kandy.
• Leave the imprint of you face on the train window as you stare out wide-eyed from Kandy to Ella – it’s basically a 6-hour movie of amazing scenery.
• Go on safari in search of leopards and elephants in Yala National Park.
• Three days (and nights) on Unawatuna's golden beach can cure almost all of life’s problems.