A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE COUNTRY

Sri Lanka is an enchanting island rimmed with sandy crescent beaches partially shaded by coconut palms, beautiful green mountains, cascading waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife. Be it a romantic holiday with your partner, quality time with your family, or a fun-filled holiday with your friends, there is an ideal itinerary for everyone. Sri Lanka’s vibrant orange sunsets, breath-taking scenery, fascinating history, and a delectable selection of gastronomical delights will have you sharing tales of adventures in this sunny isle for many years to come.

Currency

The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka

CULTURE

Sri Lanka is a land of great cultural diversity; its rich culture is unique and thereby contributes to the Sri Lankan identity. Sri Lankan culture includes many customs and rituals handed down from each generation. Religion plays an important role in moulding Sri Lankan culture and traditions.

WEATHER

The best time to visit the west and south coasts, as well as the Cultural Triangle, is between December and April, while on the east coast the climate is at its finest from May through to October.

PEOPLE

Hospitality is also one of Sri Lanka’s prominent characteristics, making the island nation one of the friendliest in the world.

CUISINE

Being an island with a tropical climate, Sri Lanka does not lack for vegetables and coconuts, which are the lifeline of the local cuisine. Rice and curry are also two of the most influential components, though various kinds of bread, both roti-style flatbreads and regular loaves of baked bread, are very common.

Travel Information

VISA INFORMATION WEF 1st January 2012, all Holiday or Business travellers to Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for entering the country. Please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more information.

Holiday Types

Adventure Tours / Family Holidays / All-inclusive Tours / Beach Holidays / Gastronomical Journeys / Wildlife Tours / Escorted Tours / Wellness Tours / Honeymoon Packages / Destination Weddings / Luxury Tours / Special Interest Tours / Student Trips / Women-only Tours / Sports Tours / Multi Centre Holidays / Trekking Tours / Village Tours / Villa Tours

Place to Visit - Destinations

Anuradhapura: The capital city of the North Central Province, and one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. Considered one of Sri Lanka’s eight World Heritage sites, and famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization.

Bentota: Golden sandy beaches offering tourists a wide selection of luxury resorts and smaller boutique hotels.

Colombo: The capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo is located on the west coast, and is the country’s largest city in terms of population. Surrounded by white sand beaches and an impressive harbourfront, it’s the perfect destination for guests to experience in the way of culture, history and recreation.

Dambulla: A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, Dambulla is home to the world's most acclaimed cave complex of magnificent Buddha images and rock paintings. This cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest and best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. This historic town in Sri Lanka is located to the north of Knuckles Range.

Ella: Ella is a small village located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Famous for its cool, breezy weather and awe-inspiring views, Ella is filled with tea estates, mountains, waterfalls, offering guests a taste of adventure, romance and exploration.

Galle: This charming southern city is best known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. The Galle Lighthouse stands on the fort’s southeast tip, and notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Popularly known for its focus on the arts, Galle is also home to Sri Lanka’s famous literature festival,the Galle Lit Fest.

Hikkaduwa: A seaside resort town in southwestern Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa is known for its strong surf and beaches. Popularly called ‘Hikka’, the town transforms itself into a lively night-time party atmosphere almost every night of the week.

Jaffna: A city located on a flat, dry peninsula at the island’s northern tip, Jaffna has a strong Hindu influence, and is a beautifully colourful city to discover Sri Lankan-Tamil culture and history. Jaffna is home to the star-shaped Jaffna Fort (which was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and later occupied by the Dutch and British), the Jaffna Lagoon, Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, and the Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Kovil.

Kalpitiya: Kalpitiya is one of the most beautiful and untouched coastal stretches in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. A peninsula located to the north-west of Sri Lanka, Kalpitiya is a coastal town that has become popular for dolphin-watching and kitesurfing. The consistent and strong wind and surf conditions makes it a heaven for avid kite surfers from all over the world.

Kalutara: Kalutara is one of the most scenic places to visit in Sri Lanka. It is a popular tourist destination, and this sea-side setting has an intriguing history and a lot to offer. There are many heritage sites to be explored in Kalutara, and perhaps the most significant of these is the ‘Kalutara Chaitya’, which is said to be the only hollow stupa in the world. Another popular location is Richmond Castle, a beautiful two-story mansion built in 1896.

Kandy: Kandy is Sri Lanka's second largest city after Colombo, brimming with a fascinating history, rich culture, spectacular beauty, and old-world charm. Known as a pilgrimage destination for the Temple of the Tooth Relic (a sacred tooth of the Buddha), Kandy is a sacred city, due to the importance and spiritual significance of this temple. Kandy is a short drive away from the Victoria Golf Country Resort, Hanthana Mountain Range, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, and the Knuckles Mountain Range.

Mirissa: Located in a small village between Galle and Matara, Mirissa is a gem of the south coast of Sri Lanka, and the perfect place to unwind on the beach. The sparkling blue waters teem with marine life, from turtles to big blue whales, which are the biggest reason that tourists flock to Mirissa.

Negombo: While not the main place to stay and enjoy your holiday, Negombo's proximity to the main gateway to the country, the Bandaranaike International Airport, make it one of the most visited places. Located at the lagoon-mouth, Negombo is a major tourist destination with a large and thriving fishing industry.

Nuwara Eliya: Located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, the north-east section of Nuwara Eliya plays host to Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. This highland almost mirrors a quaint British countryside lined with British architecture, including bungalows, Tudor-style hotels, lush greenery and an array of tea estate mazes.

Pasikudah: If you’re looking for a tropical paradise with swaying palms, endless sandy beaches, a relaxed and easygoing vibe, you’ll love the breath-taking white sands of the sickle-shaped Pasikudah Beach. Most days are cloudless, the ocean is warm, and water clarity is very good which makes it ideal for snorkelling, diving, sailing and a host of other water sports.

Polonnaruwa: The Ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka for three centuries, a stronghold for royalty, and ran as a thriving commercial and religious centre. The richness and the glamour of this kingdom are still evident, making Polonnaruwa one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom’s first rulers.

Ratnapura: Situated southeast of Colombo, on the Kalu River, this city is famously known in Sri Lanka as the gem and jewellery capital of the country. The city is Sri Lanka’s chief source of precious and semi-precious stones (including rubies, sapphires, and cat’s eyes), which are found in the valleys around the town.

Sigiriya: Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress and palace built by King Kashyapa. The city includes a number of impressive archaeological and architectural features. Located to the north of Dambulla, Sigiriya is a mix of natural and engineering creativity, and is possibly Sri Lanka’s most dramatic sight. Visitors who complete the approximate 1,200 ft climb early in the morning are witness to spectacular views of paradise island.

Talpe: Talpe is a quiet village on Sri Lanka's south coast with a coconut palm-fringed beach stretching for miles to the north and south. Talpe offers spellbinding sunsets, snorkelling, and kayaking. This socially exclusive beach town is beautifully dotted with charming boutique hotels and excellent restaurants.

Trincomalee: Trincomalee is located on Sri Lanka’s north eastern coast, and any introduction to Trincomalee begins at its magnificent natural harbour, considered for millennia to be one of the finest in Asia. Some of the town's highlights include a spray of white-sand beaches, exceptional diving, whale-watching voyages, the history of Fort Frederick and the Koneswaram Temple.

Tangalle: Strung out along one of the South's most stunning stretches of coastline, Tangalle is known for its wide-open spaces and beaches along the south-east of Sri Lanka. What gives Tangalle added appeal is the number of rewarding attractions in the surrounding countryside, such as the giant Buddha and shrines of Wewurukannala, and the magnificent rock temples of Mulkirigala.

Unawatuna: Surrounded by green palm trees, Unawatuna is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, and a great spot to unwind, ditching the routine. The beach looks like a banana and has golden sand with sparkling water. Here, the lush palm trees not only make the beach look extra scenic but also contribute to keeping the environment pleasant on most days.

Yala: Nestled in the south-eastern corner of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is the island’s main national park, and offers the greatest diversity of animal and birdlife in the country. Yala National Park is known for its variety of ecosystems and rich biodiversity. It is situated in a semi-arid climatic region which hosts various ecosystems from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands.

Things to do

Colombo / Galle / Kandy / Bentota / Kalutara / Hikkaduwa / Mirissa / Hambantotal / Nuwara Eliya / Ella / Jaffna / Cultural Triangle covering Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa , Sigiriya , Dambulla ect … / Passikuddha / Trincomalle / National Wildlife park ect…..