Destination guide

Visit Sri Lanka

Golden beaches, ancient cities, misty tea country and wildlife — one island, endless ways to explore it.

Size: 65,525 km²
UNESCO sites: 8
Coastline: 1,340 km

Regions

Where To Go

When in Sri Lanka, you can explore an array of destinations that meet the aspirations of every kind of traveler.

The gateway to this paradise island is Colombo, the commercial hub of the country, on the west coast. The West Coast presents a long swathe of golden sand. The South Coast is where you'll find all the superb modern features of civilization blended with the ancient.

Inland from Colombo lies Kandy, the last royal city, still a vibrant crucible of the island's traditional arts and architecture. Towards the south, tea estates swathe the heights of the Hill Country.

North of Kandy, the Cultural Triangle holds the island's most absorbing archaeological remains, centered on the ruins of the great cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the rock citadel of Sigiriya, Mihintale, and the exquisite cave temples of Dambulla.

The East Coast offers a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant culture of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Experiences

What To Do

Sri Lanka is rich in novel and unparalleled experiences that can be safely enjoyed by any avid traveler looking for exceptional luxury holiday experiences.

Whether you want to join in activities, learn more about the island's fascinating history, see how village people live, explore the lush wilderness, photograph wildlife or taste native cuisine at its source, we have designed tours to satisfy both the intrepid adventurer and the more relaxed traveler.

Encircled by the ocean, the island lets you enjoy an unlimited array of ocean activities and internationally organized ocean sports festivals.

If water is not really your area of interest, why not indulge in hiking, trekking and other more relaxing activities that can be found amidst the lush greenery or among the ancient monuments.

Culture

Taste, heal, celebrate

Three traditions that shape everyday life on the island.

Sri Lankan Food

Sri Lankan cooking has evolved mainly around rice. The national staple meal is referred to as "rice and curry": a mountainous plate of rice generally accompanied by assorted meat and/or vegetable curries, various pickles, sambols, and a handful of tiny pappadums.

More than 15 varieties of rice are grown on the island, from tiny white translucent varieties to long-grained basmati and the nutty red brown rice. Locals take balls of cooked rice and rub the highly spiced accompaniments into them, massaging the mixture gently between the fingers to blend the flavors.

Ayurveda

Sri Lanka's ancient medicines are more popular than ever, whether in treating disease or maintaining health and fitness.

According to legend, Ayurveda, the science of life (Ayur = life, longevity; Veda = knowledge, science), was a gift of the Hindu God Brahma to humankind as a token of his compassion.

This holistic approach to health has for millennia used Sri Lanka's prolific herb and plant life to cure and revitalize. Its origins can be traced back more than 5,000 years to the Vedas of India – and it has had a profound influence on Chinese and Tibetan medicine, and even Western surgery.

Festivals

Sri Lanka's festival calendar holds a rich diversity that reflects the socio-cultural and religious diversity of the country. It is said that Sri Lanka has more festivals than any other country, and though it's difficult to prove the claim, there's no mistaking the number and importance of the religious celebrations and other festivals which regularly bring life on the island to a standstill — including the religious festivals of the island's Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, and the Sinhala & Tamil New Year.

Top attractions

Ten moments not to miss

01
Get up close to elephants at Pinnawala
The undeniably enjoyable Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is home to the world's largest herd of captive elephants, from majestic old tuskers to the cutest of newborns.
02
Seek leopards in Yala National Park
Sri Lanka's foremost wildlife destination is home to the world's highest concentration of leopards, alongside elephants aplenty, fabulous birdlife and skittish monkeys – plus a wonderful landscape of unspoiled jungle and salty lagoons.
03
Admire the view from World's End
The hill country at its most dramatic: the sheer cliffs of World's End fall away beneath your feet for the best part of a kilometer, offering heart-stopping views over the distant plains & surrounding ranges.
04
Climb to the top of Sigiriya
The mighty rock fortress of Sigiriya towers high over the surrounding plains as one of Sri Lanka's most sought after natural sights, with fascinating historical interest.
05
Admire Buddhist art at Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is where you'll find Sri Lanka's finest collection of ancient Buddhist art and architecture - from the magnificent rock-carved statues of the Gal Vihara to exquisitely decorated ancient temples.
06
Wander along Galle Fort's atmospheric streets
A perfectly preserved colonial town, the quiet streets of Galle Fort ooze old-world atmosphere, with Dutch-era mansions encircled by a venerable chain of ramparts and bastions, and crashing waves making it a breathtaking sight to capture.
07
Go whale-watching
Southern Sri Lanka (famously Mirissa) is arguably the best place in the world to see both blue and sperm whales together, along with lots of friendly dolphins.
08
Linger around Anuradhapura's ruins
The capital of Sri Lanka in ancient times, its enormous dagobas and jungle-swathed ruins are among the island's most magnificent and atmospheric ancient remains, of global significance.
09
Enjoy traditional dance in the royal city of Kandy
The cultural capital of Sri Lanka has a vibrant traditional arts scene and an array of Buddhist temples and palaces steeped in ancient tradition.
10
Tuck into rice and curry
For the truly native flavor of Sri Lanka, savor an authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry, a miniature banquet of contrasting ingredients and flavors – with a fair bit of spice thrown in.