The sun-kissed island of Sri Lanka is a mesmerizing melting pot of culture and natural beauty. Ancient temples immortalize relics of Buddha, but reminders of the colonial-era can still be seen. Time-worn cities peek through the balmy jungle, while modern resorts pepper palm-fringed beaches.
With so much to see, do, and explore, making the most of your time in Sri Lanka is no mean feat. But with these itineraries for first-timers, you should be able to take advantage of its mostsignificant and stunning highlights.
Image bylakpuratravels used under Creative Commons license CC BY 2.0
Beaches
Sri Lanka is surrounded by nearly 1,600 kilometers of pristine coastline, making it a dream come true for beach dwellers. Even though most travelers will head south from Colombo for their fix of sun, sea, and sand, the island’s east coast has vast stretches of untouched beaches too.
Beaches in the south:
Beruwala – Closest to Colombo, famous for its serene bay
- Benthota – Dotted with luxury resorts
- Mirissa – Slow-paced but best for whale and dolphin watching
- Unawatuna – Popular beach town with lively nightlife
Beaches in the east:
- Arugam Bay – A surfer’s paradise
- Uppuveli – Excellent swimming and snorkeling
Image byk Bandara used under Creative Commons license CC BY 2.0
History
With a history that dates back nearly 3000 years, the places and people of Sri Lanka have several stories to tell. But you could easily spend a week exclusively exploring the island’s ancient cities and their palaces, temples, and monasteries. Some unmissable historical sites include:
- Anuradhapura – Former capital, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and sacred Buddhist site
- Polonnaruwa – Short-lived kingdom but one of the country’s best planned archaeological relic sites
- Digamadulla – Agricultural and spiritual capital of the country during the Anuradhapura kingdom
Nature
From elephants and wild buffaloes to macaque monkeys and sloth bears, Sri Lanka’s wildlife is incredibly diverse. This doesn’t even take into account the 106 species of amphibians, 433 species of bird, and 26 species of cetaceans in its surrounding oceans. Here are some of the top wildlife locations:
- Yala National Park – Head on Safari in pursuit of elusive leopards
- Sinharaja – The country’s last viable primary tropical rainforest
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – See orphaned baby elephants being bottle fed
- Peradeniya Botanical Garden – Sri Lanka’s arboretum of local and foreign plant species
What you need to know
- Getting around – Although transport options are in abundance, don’t expect to get anywhere fast on Sri Lanka’s winding roads and steep inclines.
- Food and drink – As Runaway Juno previously found out, people don’t eat out much in Sri Lanka. But some of the best food can be found in small guesthouses.
- Accommodation – Sri Lanka is still a cheap destination, but accommodation will probably be your biggest expense.
Regardless of your reasons for visiting Sri Lanka, you will be warmly welcomed with open arms by its truly hospitable people who are proud of a country that has something for virtually every kind of visitor.
