Luxury Sri Lanka Tours & Travel

Where to visit in Sri Lanka

Our travel experts have collated their top recommendations of where to visit in Sri Lanka.

• 

  Colombo

  Colombo is home to Sri Lanka’s only international airport, which means most visits start here. This cosmopolitan city boasts a rich colonial heritage and diverse cultures, where you’ll see bustling street markets overflowing with colorful silks, aromatic spices, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Discover its diversity through temples, mosques and churches that congregate on the same streets, and explore iconic sites like the Khan clock tower, Fort Station and the Red Mosque. Take a tuk tuk ride around the city, sip high tea in a colonial-style hotel that overlooks the ocean and indulge in a mouthwatering array of cuisine.

• 

  Galle

  Galle is one of the most charming cities in Sri Lanka, jam-packed with history. There’s an ever-present aroma of exotic spices as you stroll the bustling alleyways and explore crumbling colonial relics, with the magnificent seaside setting adding to its allure. It’s a melting pot, with the feel of a European city that’s been stolen and dropped into the tropics. The late 16th-century Galle Fort is filled with hotels, cafes and boutiques housed inside transformed Dutch colonial buildings, with the flavor of Ceylon tea and cinnamon never far away.

• 

  Kandy

  The cultural capital, Kandy is the gateway to tea country, the mountainous emerald heart filled with tea plantations and misty hills. The city has managed to preserve its unique culture, customs and art, which can be seen in many historic and cultural sites like the Temple of the Tooth relic, the most important religious shrine in Buddhism, said to be the location of a portion of Buddha’s tooth. There are many ancient temples, beautiful gardens, colonial architecture, and delightfully chaotic streets to explore, making it worth spending time here.

• 

  Yala National Park

  Located along Sri Lanka’s south coast, with parts stretching down to the Indian Ocean, Yala National Park is still relatively undiscovered, but it can give Africa a run for its money when it comes to wildlife safaris. It’s home to many different bird species, like peacocks and crested serpent eagles. Monkeys swing through the treetops and there are many spotted deer, wild boar and monitor lizards, along with elephants, crocodiles and leopards. In fact, it boasts the highest concentration of leopards in the world. As it can only be accessed by vehicle, the best way to experience it is to hire a guide.

• 

  Sigiriya

  One of Sri Lanka’s most important historical sites, Sigiriya is home to the Sigiriya Rock, the eighth wonder of the ancient world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 5th century, it was the official residence of King Kasyapa. The rock fortress is dominated by a massive column of rock rising over 650 feet from the ground. Climbing it is one of the most popular ways to experience it, but you can also visit Asia’s oldest surviving landscape gardens, a water garden and the Sigiriya Frescoes, paintings of the ladies of the harem of King Kasyapa I.

• 

  Ella

  The small town of Ella is nestled in the high country among lush, brilliant green hills and cascading waterfalls. One of the most beautiful areas on the island, it’s home to Diyaluma Falls, the second tallest in Sri Lanka, the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, endless tea plantations and mountain passes. The village itself offers a laid-back base for enjoying it all, including hikes made more pleasant in the cooler climate. The view through Ella Gap is jaw-dropping, and on a clear night you’ll be able to spot the glow of the lighthouse on the south coast.

• 

  Bentota

  A resort town on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Bentota is the place to come to enjoy unspoiled golden sands and waves popular for surfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding and more. Bentota beach offers the quintessential swaying coconut trees and is an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Among the reef off Bentota, there are over 500 different types of fish species from angel fish and parrot fish to groupers and jack fish. Check out turtles in their natural habitat at the Kosgoda Turtle Conservation Project and head to one of the many spas to relax and enjoy hot stone therapy, aromatherapy and more.

• 

  Ulagalla

  The small village of Ulagalla makes a popular base for exploring the area known as the Cultural Triangle, home to five of Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Within the triangle is the famous Sigiriya Rock, the Dambulla cave monastery, the Mihintale Buddhist center and intriguing ancient hospital ruins that date back to the 9th century. In Minneriya National Park, elephants can often be spotted. The area is filled with lush paddy fields and tranquil reservoirs, making it especially atmospheric.

• 

  Bogawantalawa Valley

  Tucked within Sri Lanka’s emerald Central Highlands, the Bogawantalawa Valley, also known as “the Golden Valley of Tea,” is one of the most stunning tea growing areas in the country. It sits an an elevation of more than 4,921 feet and overlooks mist-enveloped rolling hills and serene Castlereagh Lake, with its waters so still it looks like glass. Kayak tours allow you to paddle around enjoying a magnificent perspective of the lush, tea-blanketed mountains. With the Dunkeld Tea Factory here, you can also enjoy a tour and tea tasting.