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Destinations

Where to go.

Twenty-two of our favourite places, from sacred cities to surf towns. Tap the map or browse by region, then let us weave them into your tour.

Sigiriya Lion Rock seen across green forestCultural Triangle

Sigiriya

A 5th-century palace built on top of a sheer granite rock, guarded by giant lion paws and painted with frescoes. Climb it at sunrise, or watch it glow at sunset from neighbouring Pidurangala.

  • Sunrise climb past the Mirror Wall
  • Pidurangala Rock at sunset
  • Village walks & lake canoe rides
Best Feb–Sep6 tours
Seated Buddha statues inside the Dambulla cave templeCultural Triangle

Dambulla

A UNESCO-listed cave temple where more than 150 Buddha statues sit beneath vividly painted rock ceilings, high above the plains.

  • The five painted caves
  • Sunset views from the rock
  • Fresh fruit at the Dambulla market
Best Feb–Sep2 tours
The white Ruwanwelisaya stupa in AnuradhapuraCultural Triangle

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka's first great capital, where colossal white dagobas and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree (grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha found enlightenment) draw pilgrims every day.

  • Ruwanwelisaya at sunset
  • The Sri Maha Bodhi
  • Mihintale, cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism
Best Feb–Sep3 tours
Rock-cut Buddha statues at Gal Vihara, PolonnaruwaCultural Triangle

Polonnaruwa

The medieval royal capital, best explored by bicycle: palaces, lotus ponds and the serene rock-carved Buddhas of Gal Vihara.

  • Gal Vihara rock sculptures
  • Cycling the ancient city
  • The vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir
Best Feb–Sep3 tours
Kandy city and lake seen from the hillsHill Country

Kandy

The last royal capital, wrapped around a lake in the hills and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most revered shrine.

  • Evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth
  • Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
  • Esala Perahera procession (Jul/Aug)
Best Year-round6 tours
Lush tea estate near Nuwara EliyaHill Country

Nuwara Eliya

"Little England" in the clouds: misty tea estates, colonial bungalows, rose gardens and crisp mornings at nearly 1,900 metres.

  • Tea factory tour & tasting
  • Boating on Gregory Lake
  • Day trip to Horton Plains
Best Jan–Apr4 tours
Ella Gap valley in the hill countryHill Country

Ella

A laid-back village in a gap between the mountains, famous for the Nine Arch Bridge, ridge-top hikes and one of the world's most beautiful train rides.

  • The Nine Arch Bridge
  • Little Adam's Peak & Ella Rock
  • Ravana Falls
Best Feb–Sep5 tours
World's End cliff at Horton PlainsHill Country

Horton Plains

A high, windswept plateau of cloud forest and grassland that ends abruptly at World's End, a sheer drop of around 870 metres.

  • World's End at dawn
  • Baker's Falls
  • Sambar deer & endemic birds
Best Jan–Mar1 tour
Misty peaks of the Knuckles mountain rangeHill Country

Knuckles Range

Wild, rarely crowded mountains north-east of Kandy, where trails link cloud forest, waterfalls and remote villages. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • Multi-day village treks
  • Pitawala Pathana grasslands
  • Meemure, a village at the end of the road
Best Jan–AprTravel guide
Seema Malaka temple on Beira Lake in ColomboSouth & West Coast

Colombo

The buzzing capital by the sea: colonial landmarks, street food on Galle Face Green, great restaurants and Geoffrey Bawa's floating temple at Seema Malaka.

  • Galle Face Green at sunset
  • Pettah markets & the Red Mosque
  • Gangaramaya Temple
Best Year-round1 tour
Golden sand and waves at Bentota beachSouth & West Coast

Bentota

Golden beaches where the river meets the sea, perfect for water sports, mangrove boat safaris and lazy days at classic resorts.

  • Madu River mangrove safari
  • Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa's garden estate
  • Sea turtle hatchery visit
Best Nov–Apr2 tours
Galle lighthouse on the fort rampartsSouth & West Coast

Galle

A UNESCO-listed fort town of sea-facing ramparts, lighthouse views, boutique hotels and cafés tucked into old Dutch streets.

  • Sunset walk on the ramparts
  • Boutiques & cafés inside the Fort
  • Stilt fishermen near Koggala
Best Nov–Apr5 tours
Mirissa beach with clear blue waterSouth & West Coast

Mirissa

A crescent of palm-fringed sand and the island's whale-watching capital. Blue whales pass by from around November to April.

  • Blue whale watching
  • Coconut Tree Hill
  • Secret Beach
Best Nov–Apr3 tours
Goyambokka Beach in Tangalle with turquoise waterSouth & West Coast

Tangalle

Quiet coves and wide golden bays on the deep south coast, with turtle-nesting beaches and some of Sri Lanka's most stylish hideaways.

  • Goyambokka Beach
  • Night-time turtle watch at Rekawa
  • Mulkirigala rock temple
Best Nov–Apr2 tours
Pigeon Island off Trincomalee with turquoise reef waterEast & North

Trincomalee

One of the world's great natural harbours, with clifftop Koneswaram Temple, white-sand Nilaveli beach and snorkelling around Pigeon Island.

  • Snorkelling at Pigeon Island
  • Koneswaram Temple on Swami Rock
  • Whale & dolphin trips (Mar–Aug)
Best May–Sep2 tours
Shallow blue lagoon at Pasikudah from aboveEast & North

Pasikudah

A long, shallow, glass-calm bay where you can wade far out to sea, ideal for families and swimmers.

  • Swimming in the calm bay
  • Kalkudah Beach
  • Batticaloa lagoon & Dutch fort
Best May–Sep1 tour
The curving bay and beach at Arugam BayEast & North

Arugam Bay

A legendary surf town with a relaxed beach-shack vibe, close to lagoons, Kumana's birdlife and quiet jungle ruins.

  • Surfing Main Point & Whiskey Point
  • Lagoon safari for crocodiles & elephants
  • Kumana National Park
Best May–OctTravel guide
The golden gopuram of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in JaffnaEast & North

Jaffna

The heart of Tamil Sri Lanka: golden kovils, a Dutch fort, palmyra-lined islands and a distinctive, fiery cuisine.

  • Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
  • Ferry to Nainativu island
  • Jaffna crab curry
Best Jan–Sep1 tour
Sri Lankan leopard resting in YalaWildlife Parks

Yala

Sri Lanka's most famous national park, with one of the highest leopard densities in the world, plus elephants, sloth bears and crocodile-filled lagoons.

  • Leopard safaris at dawn
  • Sithulpawwa rock monastery
  • Coastal lagoon birdlife
Best Feb–Aug3 tours
Elephant family with a calf in Udawalawe National ParkWildlife Parks

Udawalawe

Open grasslands around a great reservoir make this the most reliable place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants, often dozens in a single drive.

  • Elephant herds on almost every drive
  • Elephant Transit Home feeding time
  • Raptors & water birds
Best Year-round2 tours
A herd of elephants grazing at MinneriyaWildlife Parks

Minneriya

From roughly July to October, elephants converge on the shrinking reservoir here for "The Gathering", one of Asia's great wildlife spectacles.

  • The Gathering (Jul–Oct)
  • Kaudulla & Hurulu Eco Park nearby
  • Sunset jeep safaris
Best Jul–OctTravel guide
Spotted deer in Wilpattu National ParkWildlife Parks

Wilpattu

Sri Lanka's largest national park: quiet, wild and dotted with natural lakes called villus, where leopards and sloth bears roam with few jeeps around.

  • Leopards without the crowds
  • Sloth bear sightings
  • Ancient ruins at Kudiramalai
Best Feb–Oct2 tours

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