Explore Sri Lanka

The 5th-century Lion Rock fortress rising from the central plains — a UNESCO masterpiece of frescoes and royal gardens.

• Lion Rock Citadel
• Ancient Frescoes
• Water Gardens

Misted highlands of cardamom and eucalyptus, threaded by the Nine Arch Bridge and the legendary blue train south.

• Nine Arch Bridge
• Little Adam's Peak
• Tea Train

Sri Lanka's sacred lakeside capital — home to the Temple of the Tooth and the rhythms of Kandyan dance.

• Temple of the Tooth
• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Kandyan Heritage

Cool colonial hill station of clipped lawns, plantation bungalows and emerald tea estates at 1,900 metres.

• Pedro Tea Estate
• Horton Plains
• Colonial Bungalows

A walled Dutch port reborn as the island's most elegant address — ramparts, lighthouses and ocean cafés.

• Galle Fort
• Lighthouse Walk
• Boutique Galleries

Crescent of palm-fringed sand where blue whales pass and sunsets are taken on a cocktail by the surf.

• Blue Whale Safari
• Coconut Tree Hill
• Secret Beach

The world's highest density of leopards — open plains, lagoons and dawn safaris into the wild interior.

• Leopard Safari
• Sloth Bears
• Bundala Birds

Lagoon-and-ocean playground of luxury villas, water-sports and Geoffrey Bawa's tropical-modern architecture.

• Lunuganga Estate
• River Safari
• Beach Villas

A bohemian east-coast surf town where point-breaks meet jungle lagoons and elephants drift through at dusk.

• Surf Point
• Kumana Park
• Lagoon Kayaking

The island's first great kingdom — sacred bo trees, monumental dagobas and 2,300 years of Buddhist devotion.

• Sri Maha Bodhi
• Jetavanaramaya
• Ancient Tanks