It’s been a difficult few years for Sri Lanka. Terrorism attacks, political instability and a financial crisis have tested the Indian Ocean to its limits. But finally it looks like change is on the horizon.
Interest in the destination is rapidly returning, with tour operators reporting a boom in bookings. Sustainable adventure specialists Intrepid saw 130 per cent customer growth from 2022 to 2023, and this year plans to run 350 trips to meet the increasing demand.
Here are a few of the top picks for travellers of all tastes.
A cultural odyssey
For a country of its size, Sri Lanka has an impressive number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit five key locations as part of a Highlights of Sri Lanka tour, ideal for first timers eager to experience everything on offer.
Climb ancient staircases hewn into a 600ft rock to reach the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, credited as a work of engineering brilliance thanks to its irrigation system, take a train ride through the waterfalls and tea plantations of the Hill Country and catch the sunrise at Lipton’s Seat (named after tea planter Thomas Lipton) on top of the Poonagala Hill near the Dambetenna tea factory in Haputale.
City tours in cosmopolitan capital Colombo and coastal hub Galle give a good overview of modern day Sri Lanka, while a trip to in Udawalawe National Park provides an opportunity to spot Asian elephants.
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Hiking ancient paths
Launched last year, the Pekoe Trail winds through tea plantations and hillside communities on paths used by local communities for decades. The 300km route can be broken down into 22 sections, averaging around 12km each, giving options for day hikes or multi-day expeditions.
Begin in central city Kandy, famous for the Temple of the Tooth, and head towards Horton Plains National Park, a high plateau inhabited by elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine and leopard. Eventually finish in the city of Nuwara Eliya – dubbed ‘Little England’ due to its cool climate and colonial-era buildings.
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Culinary capers
Scents of aromatic spices dance through the streets and hills of this fertile island. Cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg and cumin all grow here, providing the foundation for a cuisine as diverse as the country’s landscapes.
For a giddy immersion into the exotic flavours, join a six-night guided food tour combining bucket-list sites with local restaurants, spice gardens and cooking demonstrations.
Explore Dambulla (a cave monastery and pilgrimage site for 22 centuries) with a bull cart ride and mud house visit, cook with a local chef in sacred city Kandy, learn about spice cultivation at Matale Spice Garden and take a train into the Hill Country and visit a tea factory.
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Uncovering a wild world
From jungles and plains to wetlands and coastal regions, the variety of habitats in Sri Lanka are responsible for an impressive biodiversity. Discover some of the most iconic species on a new wildlife-focused trip from Intrepid, visiting key sites.
Go on safari in Yala National Park, home to one of the world’s highest densities of leopards, and witness elephants gather at an historic reservoir in Minneriya. Stay overnight in a rainforest lodge in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and join nature walks looking out for butterflies, jackals, big cats, wild boars and toque monkeys.
Along the coast, head out at night to watch sea turtles coming ashore to lay eggs at Rekawa Beach, witnessing the spectacle through infrared night goggles.
Various departures from June to October. Visit intrepidtravel.com.
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– With Sarah Marshall
