SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is the perfect tropical holiday destination. If you travel to Sri Lanka you can expect great beaches, varied cultural sights, beautiful hill country, excellent wildlife and direct flights. The highlights can be easily combined into a two week holiday, with plenty of time on the beach at the end. Alternatively you could base yourself on the beach and see many of the sights in day or overnight trips. Since the cessation of hostilities in 2009 the opening up of the East Coast has also meant it is a pretty much year round destination. It is also a perfect introduction for families to Asia.
The holiday was absolutely fantastic and made so easy by a brilliant driver. It was an excellent mix of culture and wildlife. Overall, I think there is a lot more wildlife than I imagined and Minneriya was absolutely fabulous. The temples, sculptures etc are also really interesting and the joy of Sri Lanka is that you see a lot within relatively short distances. I thought the trip was really well organised in terms of seeing things.
N & K Daly, New Malden, Sri Lanka, Aug 2013
Beaches galore
There is no shortage of beach options with 3 coasts to choose from. The water is warm all year round and some of the beaches have excellent snorkelling or surfing. Accommodation options vary to suit all budgets and in the last few years and increasing number of boutique properties have appeared to appeal to the luxury end of the market. If you are basing yourself on the beach it is easy to add on nights inland to see the sights or equally take day trips to the capital Colombo, historic Galle, Kandy or Yala National Park.
Kandy and the Hill Country 
Kandy is the capital of the hill country and has a lovely centre with the Temple of the Tooth (Buddhas) set around a lake with lush hilly surrounds. It is the jumping off spot for the tea areas and the former hill station of Nuwara Eliya with its mock-tudor bungalows and clubs. For more of an adventure try a climb to the top of Adam’s Peak (2224m) or river rafting.
Outstanding accommodation in the Hill Country
Sri Lankan Wildlife 
For a relatively small island Sri Lanka packs a big wildlife punch with a sizeable leopard population, plenty of wild elephants, excellent bird watching and, increasingly, great opportunities to see whales. Yala in the south-west has the highest leopard populations and is also close to the wetland areas of Bundala famous for its bird life. The south coast is the best place to spot Sperm and Blue whales between December and April. Elephants can be viewed several parks including Yala and Uda Walawe however it is the “gatherings” in Minneriya that are perhaps the most famous when during the dry season hundreds can gather on the edges of the tank. All easily combinable with culture, the beautiful hill country and time on the beach.
The Cultural Triangle – UNESCO World Heritage sites 
The Cultural Triangle in the north comprises the ancient capitals of Polonaruwa and Anuradhapura plus the stunning rock palace of Sigirya – well worth a climb to the top. Nearby the rock temples of Dambulla and shrines at Minitale can be added or equally ease off and visit some the local villages by bicycle. Elsewhere the capital Colombo is becoming more worthy of a stop and you should definitely try to include a visit to the fortified seaport of Galle.
Land of Coconuts
- Two weeks will allow you to see most of the cultural highlights and spend time on the beach.
- The Esala Perahera festival in Kandy (July/August) is becoming increasingly popular so you will need to book up early for this.
- Take a train ride – the coastal track to Galle and the ride up to Kandy are only surpassed by a journey through the hill country to Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
- Visit and stay on a tea plantation – there are some really excellent opportunities to enjoy the tranquillity and views of a historic colonial bungalow.
- There are accommodation options for all budgets and a huge growth in the number of excellent boutique options.
- Drink coconut milk – fresh, cooling and healthy (see the coconut video opposite).
- For a taste of the Raj, and a chance to practice your billiards, try The Hill Club in Nuwara Eliya.
- The beaches – west, south and east coasts mean they are great year round
- The hill country is stunningly beautiful with its carpet of tea plantations and more dramatic formations like Adam’s Peak.
- The wealth of wildlife from leopards, elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles to dolphins and blue whales.
- Visit the ancient cities of the cultural triangle and climb the unique rock palace of Sigiriya.
- Stroll the ramparts of the fortified town of Galle with its Dutch colonial architecture and atmospheric streets
- Experience the sights and sounds of the Esala Perahera in Kandy (July or August)
- Visa Required: E-visa (in advance)
- Population: 20 million
- Capital City: Sri Jayawardena Kotte/Colombo
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
- Flying time from London: 10 hours, 30 mins to Colombo (direct)
- Classic Dishes: “Curry”, seafood, hoppers, rice,
- Cost of Local Tipple: Lion beer (£1)
- There are two different monsoon systems and you can visit year round. In general we would say Winter – December to April with a summer window in July & August.
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by TMS
