Sri Lanka is sometimes described as India’s little brother, but this enchanting island is a top notch destination in its own right, tempting travellers with a winning combination of culture, beaches and wildlife. An escorted tour is the ideal way to experience everything that Sri Lanka has to offer, and there are some lovely boutique hotels and lodges scattered around the country.
Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’ is a remarkable concentration of Buddhist temples, ancient fortresses and holy cities, and forms the centrepiece to most tours of the island. The highlands offer the chance to cool off at a verdant tea plantation, while the coast is fringed with golden beaches. It’s no secret that Sri Lanka’s recent history has been wracked by conflict, but the end of the civil war in 2009 has seen previously off-limits areas in the north and east of the island opening up, offering a more rustic alternative to the beach resorts on the south west coast. Wildlife is another big draw in Sri Lanka, from the majestic elephants that adorn so many postcards to the leopards that stalk the jungles of Yala National Park. For a small island, Sri Lanka really does pack a lot in.