Superlatively beautiful, Sri Lanka offers a stunning blend of history, culture and wildlife, with lush jungles and emerald tea plantations. It’s unlike any other Asian destination – Sri Lanka’s jewel in the crown is its sheer diversity. It’s one of the world’s most intriguing and complex countries, with simply so much to do and all within a few hours of each other. It’s the only place, where you can visit a 300BC city in the morning and take a leopard safari in the afternoon. With something for everyone, Sri Lanka surpasses all expectations.

“Sri Lanka feels both brilliantly familiar and exotically different”

This small island with its big personality is overburdened with experiences and is unfairly blessed with cool hill stations, ancient capitals and sandy beaches. Not overlooking the sheer abundance of wildlife, Sri Lanka has the highest density of leopards in the world. Experience majestic elephants, sloth bears and a dizzying assortment of scaled amphibians and with whales and dolphins breaching the water line, the ecological stage is a crowded one. It’s the only place in the world where you can see the largest land and sea mammal all within a few hours of each other.

Tear yourself away from the idyllic palm-fringed beaches and you will be rewarded with impossibly scenic train rides, cascading waterfalls, some of the best cuisine in the world and incredibly warm, friendly people.

A trip to Sri Lanka is an immersion in tropical wilderness, unrivalled wildlife, warm weather, all in wide screen technicolour with hospitality that feels like a huge hug.

 

WHAT TO DO

  1. GO LEOPARD SPOTTING

A private family safari in a national park is unbeatable. Spy the iconic Asian leopard camouflaged on a branch or a sloth bear snorting a termite mountain or witness up to 300 elephants emerging at the end of a dry season.

Insider Tip: Stay at one of the super luxe safari residences that nestle among dunes and lush jungle at the ocean’s edge, where it’s not unusual to wake up to elephants crashing around in the hotel’s lily pond. Complete with junior ranger programmes, these wildlife immersion stays are unmissable.

2. TAKE TEA ON THE VERANDAH OF A PLANTERS BUNGALOW

A stay in the tea country is a heart stopping experience with mist shrouded mountains, rolling tea plantations, cascading waterfalls and quaint hill-top villages rising over 2500 metres.

Expect lush-terraced emerald hills of green tea, interrupted only by splashes of colour from the Tamil women’s saris. Stay in luxuriously converted tea planter bungalows that proffer a rich heritage with infinity pools overlooking verdant views. Sipping tea on your hotel verandah whilst taking in the spectacular lush views, will feel both brilliantly familiar and exotically different.

Insider Tip: Wake early one morning to catch the spectacular sunrise across the tea plantations and infinity pools. Listen out for the spellbinding Hindu morning chants. Take a walk through the emerald tea plantations and meet the tea pickers. If you’re lucky you might be able to test the sheer weight of the planter sacks and leave in awe at how these heavy bags are carried all day!

3. GET ON THE INSIDE TRACK

Sri Lanka has an astonishing number of experiences but for those looking to go beyond the ordinary, get on the inside track of Sri Lankan culture with a curated itinerary that will give a rare and remarkable insight into some of the local traditions. Be a guest at a local wedding or watch your children as they take part in a music lesson or cricket game in a local school. Go on a nature tour with the indigenous Veddah people or participate in the Sri Lankan New Year traditions in a local home. The list is endless! These unique insider experiences are rich encounters and it’s in these moments that everlasting memories are made for you and your loved ones.

Insider Tip: Participate in the beautiful local Culture

Sri Lanka’s ancient civilisations bestow the island with a myriad of colourful festivals. Hardly a month goes by without a unique celebration, taking place over several days with hugely colourful celebrations, drummers, dancers and mesmerising traditions. Take part in a festival, wearing traditional costumes, receive family blessings, walk with the festival parade. It’s an extraordinary chance to soak up the deep cultural traditions along with vibrant costumes and wonderful cuisine.