What type of holiday can Sri Lanka offer you? 

The travel websites concentrate on beaches, culture and heritage sites of which there are many.  In addition to this, think adventure, sport, natural beauty, family fun and best of all relaxation. 

I am often asked what I like to do in Sri Lanka so here’s my top 10:                               

  1. Visit a wildlife park for game viewing (e.g. leopards, sloth bear, deer & elephant) and stunning birdlife.  Try Yala, Wilpattu, Uda Walawe, Minneriya and Sinharaja to name only a few.  If elephants are your thing you may catch some wild ones on your travels or visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage to watch them work and bath in the river.
  2. Dive into the Southern Beaches. Besides the white sandy bays, rolling waves and warm hospitality, you may catch the Blue Whales, dolphins (Dec – Apr) and turtles (Jan to July).  Ayurvedic and wellness spas are also around to chill out and detox.
  3. Go ‘up country’ to the Nuwara Eliya tea plantations. Let your eyes feast on the ‘emerald carpets’ and your taste buds savour the tea!  This place has a colonial feel and has preserved tea plucking traditions.   It is cooler and sometimes even cold so pack accordingly! 
  4. Discover the cultural triangle in the central-north. There are numerous sites and towns to visit but I can recommend Sigiriya (rock fortress full of history, frescoes of beautiful women and architectural feats), Polonnaruwa (ancient religious and kingdom sites filled with impressive stone carvings like the giant reclining Buddha), Anuradhapura (the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka) and Dumbulla Caves (rock temple and carved Buddha statues).
  5. Explore Kandy with its own lake, history, Temple of the Tooth, cultural centre and nearby botanical gardens.  The annual Kandyan Perahera, starting at the end of July, is Sri Lanka’s most famous and lavish evening festival that has over 100 decorated elephants and hundreds more drummers and dancers parading in the streets.
  6. Venture into Ratnapura ‘The City of Gems’. Learn all about Sri Lanka’s precious and semi precious stones at the gem museums and existing gem mines. 
  7. Trek Adams peak.  Test your fitness with a 7km walk for sunrise and be rewarded with the spectacular view and a sacred footprint.  Some believe it is Adam’s, others say Buddha or Shiva. This is a holy pilgrimage site and popular during April when the path is lit at night with rest stops along the way.
  8. Enjoy Colombo city and night life.  Colombo has fantastic restaurants and live music.  The Dutch Hospital precinct and the many 5-star hotels have excellent options.
  9. Experience a live Cricket match.  Cricket is a national obsession in Sri Lanka.  If you are lucky enough to see an international match you’ll be treated to a great atmosphere.
  10. Go shopping. Every hotel lobby has a gem store to tempt the ladies and inspire husbands.  Noritake china, distinctive batiks, leather goods, wooden painted masks, spices and tea are just a few of the different things to buy.  Sri Lanka has a healthy rag trade, so good value and quality clothing is available at the many chain stores like Odel.