Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka fits beaches, tea highlands, ancient capitals and leopard-bearing national parks into an island you can cross in a day. The two monsoons hit opposite coasts at opposite times, so there is always a good side of the island to be on. Trains through the hill country are slow and among the best rail journeys in Asia.

Cities

Ella

Ella is a small hill town in a gap in the escarpment, with tea estates, short peak hikes and the much-photographed Nine Arch Bridge. It has become the backpacker centre of the highlands and the main street is busy, but the surrounding walks empty out quickly. Nights are cool enough for a jumper.

Galle

Galle Fort is a Dutch-built walled town on a promontory on the south coast, now full of restored merchant houses, cafés and small hotels inside the ramparts. Sunset walks along the walls are the ritual. The surf and turtle beaches of Unawatuna and Weligama are twenty to forty minutes away.

Kandy

Kandy is the cultural capital in the central hills, built around a lake and the Temple of the Tooth, the most important Buddhist site in the country. It is the junction for the hill country train and the cultural triangle to the north. Evening puja at the temple is the thing to time your visit around.

When to go

See all seasons

• Hill country: Clear mornings in Ella and Nuwara Eliya, cold nights.
• East coast season: Dry on the east coast at Arugam Bay and Trincomalee.
• Inter-monsoon: Rain on both coasts, lowest prices, green highlands.

Entry & visas

Entry rules for this country aren't published here yet.

Always confirm entry rules with the official source before you book.