EXPLORE
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Nov - Mar
CURRENCY
Sri Lankan Rupee
AVG COST PER DAY
$100 / day
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Sri Lanka's most popular beginner surf beach, with a long bay, consistent waves and the tiny Taprobane Island sitting just offshore. The town behind it has grown into one of the best bases on the south coast.
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A quieter stretch of southern coast that has become a favourite for longer-stay travellers. Stilt fishermen still work the shoreline here, and the boutique cafes and surf breaks draw a relaxed, unhurried crowd.
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A highland village at around 1,000 metres, surrounded by tea estates and walking trails. The Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam's Peak at sunrise and the cool air make it one of the most visited spots in the hill country.
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Sri Lanka's most celebrated wildlife reserve, with one of the highest leopard densities in the world. A morning jeep safari through the coastal scrub also brings elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species.
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A world-class surf point on the east coast that is also one of the most laid-back towns in Sri Lanka. Best from June to September, when the waves are at their peak and the beach cafes stay open late.
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A crescent-shaped beach on the south coast known for whale watching, good food and a slower pace than the towns nearby. Blue whales and sperm whales pass through the offshore waters from December to April.
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A high-altitude national park with rolling grasslands, cloud forest and the dramatic World's End cliff, where the plateau drops 880 metres in a near-vertical fall. Best visited early morning before the mist rolls in.
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A short climb from Sigiriya with a rewarding payoff: a view of Sigiriya Rock Fortress rising above the jungle canopy. Less crowded than Sigiriya itself and worth combining with an early morning visit to the fortress.
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A colonial-era railway viaduct built entirely from stone and brick, set deep in the jungle between Ella and Demodara. Watching a blue train pass overhead through the arches is one of Sri Lanka's most photographed moments.
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The most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka, set beside the Kandy Lake in the heart of the city. The temple houses a relic of the Buddha's tooth and draws pilgrims from across the island, with puja ceremonies three times daily.
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A medieval capital with some of the best-preserved ruins in Sri Lanka. The royal palace, council chambers and Gal Vihara Buddha statues are all within cycling distance, and the site is far less crowded than Anuradhapura.
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One of the ancient world's great cities, with massive stupas, sacred bo trees and monastery ruins spread across a wide plain. The Sacred City is an active place of worship as much as a historical site.
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Five cave shrines carved into a granite outcrop and decorated with over 150 Buddha statues and murals spanning 22 centuries of Sri Lankan painting. One of the best-preserved Buddhist temple complexes in Asia.
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A Dutch colonial fortress on the southern tip of Sri Lanka, now home to boutique hotels, galleries, cafes and quiet streets within the old ramparts. The evening walk along the sea walls at sunset is one of the island's great simple pleasures.
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A 5th-century royal palace built 200 metres above the jungle on a single granite rock — climb by 7am to beat the heat and reach the frescoes of heavenly maidens before any other group arrives.
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Pickled eggplant cooked down with vinegar, sugar and mustard seeds into a sticky, sweet-sour relish. A standard side dish at a Sri Lankan rice and curry spread.
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Large lagoon crabs cooked in a fiery red curry with coconut milk, pandan and a heavy hand of spice. A signature dish of the coastal south and best eaten with your hands.
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A fresh coconut relish mixed with chilli, lime and Maldive fish. Served as a side with almost every Sri Lankan meal and the condiment most visitors end up eating at every opportunity.
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Cylinders of steamed rice flour and grated coconut with a crumbly, slightly dense texture. Eaten for breakfast with coconut milk, curry or a ripe banana.
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Red lentils simmered with coconut milk, turmeric and tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves. The most reliable dish on any Sri Lankan table, found everywhere from roadside cafes to fine restaurants.
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A Malay-influenced mixed rice plate with small portions of meat, vegetables, peanuts and sambal arranged around a central scoop of rice. Popular in the east coast Muslim communities of Sri Lanka.
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A Dutch Burgher dish of rice, curry, frikkadel and sambol wrapped in banana leaf and baked. A Colombo institution tied to Sri Lanka's colonial history and still made the traditional way by a handful of bakeries in the city.
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Rice cooked in thick coconut milk until it sets firm, then cut into diamond shapes and served at New Year, weddings and other auspicious occasions. Simple, fragrant and deeply tied to Sri Lankan culture.
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Chopped flatbread stir-fried on a hot griddle with egg, vegetables and your choice of chicken, beef or cheese. The sound of the metal blades chopping the roti is one of the defining sounds of a Sri Lankan street at night.
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Thin, bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice batter, crispy at the edges and soft in the centre. Eaten for breakfast with a fried egg inside and a scoop of spicy sambol on the side.
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A dry sour fish curry from the deep south, made with goraka fruit, black pepper and a careful balance of spice. Keeps well without refrigeration and is one of the most distinctly Sri Lankan things you can eat.
Tell us how you want to travel. Sri Lanka works equally well as a two-week adventure or a focused five-day escape, and we will build it around you.
From heritage residences to secluded retreats, our boutique stays are handpicked for character, privacy, and timeless comfort. Best price guaranteed.
Sri Lanka has been surprising travellers for centuries. Here are a few things worth knowing before you arrive.
Spirit of Sri Lanka
Arrack is Sri Lanka’s traditional distilled alcohol made from fermented coconut sap or sugarcane. It's smooth, strong, and often enjoyed with soda, lime, or on the rocks.
A Parade of Faith and Fire
Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of Asia’s grandest festivals, featuring dazzling fire dancers, whip-crackers, and a majestic procession honoring the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.
The Great Elephant Gathering
Each year during the dry season, hundreds of elephants gather at Minneriya National Park’s reservoir in a spectacular natural event known simply as “The Gathering.”
Train to the Clouds
The train ride from Kandy to Ella is considered one of the most scenic in the world, passing through tea plantations, misty forests, and breathtaking mountain views.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Rising nearly 200 meters above the jungle, Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress with frescoes, royal gardens, and a summit that offers panoramic views of Sri Lanka’s heartland.
The Southern Coast’s Stilt Fishermen
Along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, you can spot fishermen balancing on wooden stilts as they catch fish in the shallow waters, a traditional and photogenic way of life.
Spirit of Sri Lanka
Arrack is Sri Lanka’s traditional distilled alcohol made from fermented coconut sap or sugarcane. It's smooth, strong, and often enjoyed with soda, lime, or on the rocks.
A Parade of Faith and Fire
Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of Asia’s grandest festivals, featuring dazzling fire dancers, whip-crackers, and a majestic procession honoring the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.
The Great Elephant Gathering
Each year during the dry season, hundreds of elephants gather at Minneriya National Park’s reservoir in a spectacular natural event known simply as “The Gathering.”
Train to the Clouds
The train ride from Kandy to Ella is considered one of the most scenic in the world, passing through tea plantations, misty forests, and breathtaking mountain views.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Rising nearly 200 meters above the jungle, Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress with frescoes, royal gardens, and a summit that offers panoramic views of Sri Lanka’s heartland.
The Southern Coast’s Stilt Fishermen
Along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, you can spot fishermen balancing on wooden stilts as they catch fish in the shallow waters, a traditional and photogenic way of life.
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