When to go
The best time for a safari in Kenya is one of the dry seasons, between June and October as well as January and February. The famous wildebeest herds are in the Maasai Mara in September and October.
Travel to
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, the Resplendent Isle, the Pearl of the Orient. Splendid temples, ancient ruins, welcoming people and flavourful food are all to be found within this small country. Search the jungles for elephant, leopard and water buffalo, walk among tea plantations and waterfalls to rainforest-covered peaks and take a spectacular train ride through the highlands. Top it all off with some time on the dazzlingly white and often untrod beaches.
When
Best time to go to
Sri Lanka
Places
Best places to go in
Sri Lanka
Experiences
Key experiences in
Sri Lanka
Itineraries
Best tours in
Sri Lanka
Best time to Travel to
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, the Resplendent Isle, the Pearl of the Orient. Splendid temples, ancient ruins, welcoming people and flavourful food are all to be found within this small country. Search the jungles for elephant, leopard and water buffalo, walk among tea plantations and waterfalls to rainforest-covered peaks and take a spectacular train ride through the highlands. Top it all off with some time on the dazzlingly white and often untrod beaches.
Must-See Places in
Sri Lanka
Signature Experiences in
Sri Lanka
Colombo
At once multicultural, cosmopolitan, dynamic, sprawling, sometimes charming and often anarchic, Colombo also has tumbledown cafés with great local food, Buddhist shrines, multi-coloured Hindu temples, colonial churches, crowded bazaars, shady boulevards and modern chic in the form of stylish eateries and galleries. The city is booming: Fort is having its colonial architecture restored, while Pettah is all markets and unbridled commerce.
Anuradhapura
One thousand years of history are on display at Anuradhapura, one of the great cities of history, known as far afield as ancient Greece and Rome. Huge dagobas (stupas), tall brick towers and crumbling monasteries and temples dot the landscape. Some of the latter remain in use as holy places where ceremonies give Anuradhapura a certain vibrancy.
Dambulla Cave
At the Royal Rock Temple of Dambulla five magical caves are packed with Buddha statues and decorated with some of the finest murals Sri Lanka has to offer. Climb up and enjoy some superb views over the surrounding lands.
Sigiriya
Perhaps Sri Lanka's most famous site, the 200-metre high cliffs at Singiriya lead to a flat-topped summit, on which sit the ruins of an ancient capital. Visit it early morning to witness spectacular views of mist rising up from the surrounding forests.
Polonnaruwa
800 Years ago, Polonnaruwa was a thriving commercial and religious centre, one of the great urban centres of South Asia. Within a century though it had been abandoned to the jungle, where it lay virtually unknown, for seven centuries. The extensive and well-preserved remains give a great insight into the city that once was.
Kandy
Set amidst steep green hills and centered on a beautiful lake, Kandy's unique music, dance and architecture make it the undisputed cultural capital. Discover colourful houses, spontaneous street markets and the famous Temple of the Tooth, the country’s most important religious shrine.
Adam's Peak
Adam's Peak is revered as either the place where Adam first set foot on earth or where the Buddha left a Sacred Footprint as he headed towards paradise. Whichever it is, the peak has attracted pilgrims for more than 1000 years during the pilgrimage season (December through May). Climb at night aided by the lights of thousands of lights, and see the sun rise over the hills below.
The Hill Country
Sri Lanka's Hill Country offers a cool, green contrast to the beaches and coastal lowlands. Hills covered in tea plantations and forests, rise up to rugged peaks where waterfalls tumble into the mist below. Up here you can hike and raft, enjoy stunning views, attend a cultural ceremony and snuggle up by a log fire at night. Nurawa Eliya is known as Little England, while the train ride to Ella and the views from World's End are stunning.
Yala National Park
Dry woodland and patches of grasslands, overlooked by viewpoints on rocky outcrops, and a stunning array of plants, birds and wildlife, make Yala National Park Sri Lanka's most rewarding wildlife reserve. It is one of the best places in the world to spot leopard.
Galle
The one place on the south coast you should not miss is Galle - an old trading post full of colonial buildings, mansions, mosques and churches. At the heart of the city of Galle lies the Fort, the old Dutch quarter. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean it is a working community and home to plenty of offices, schools, boutiques and cafes. Amble around the streets lined with Dutch-period homes, many of which still have their original street-facing verandas and red-tiled roofs, and be transported back in time.
Beaches
Miles of sandy beaches make for a great relaxed end to your visit. Tangalle has pretty coves and great temples in its hinterland, while Mirissa is the best place to see whales. Kalutara is conveniently close to Colombo and, like Bentota, has upmarket hotels.
Catch a game
Cricket is Sri Lanka's national sport, so learn the rules and spend an agreeable afternoon watching a game of cricket, G & T in hand.
Climb a peak
Adam's Peak has attracted pilgrims for more than 1000 years. From December through May you can join them and climb the steep trails at night aided by the lights of thousands of lights, to see the sun rise over the hills below.
Go colonial
Galle's Fort, the old Dutch quarter, is Sri Lanka's best preserved colonial town. Spend an afternoon ambling around the streets lined with Dutch-period homes, poking into little boutique shops and cafes and just see where your feet take you.
Spot a leopard
Board a jeep and ride the tracks in Yala National Park where the highest density of leopards in the world makes this one of the finest places to see them.
Glorious food
Cultures as varied as Dutch, Portuguese, South Indian, Malay, Arab and British influenced Sri Lankan cuisine resulting in a long list of tasty choices. Kotthu rotti, curries, vadai (deep fried snacks) and fresh seafood are but some of the highlights.
Find a bird
Get out your binoculars and take a stroll through the countryside. With 235 resident and 200 migratory species, Sri Lanka is one of the finest bird watching destinations in the world.
Visit a temple
Thousands of years of history influenced by the four major world religions has left Sri Lanka with many a beautiful temple. From small ornately carved village shrines, to Kandy's famous Temple of the Tooth, a visit to a holy place should be on every itinerary.
Climb to a fortress
Take an early morning hike past lily-pad-covered moats, water gardens and quiet shrines and up the steep staircases leading to the top of Sigiriya. Your reward is a spectacular vista of mists rising from the forests far below.
Watch a whale
Board a boat and head out on the high seas. Sri Lanka sits right next to the annual migration of blue and sperm whales between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. December and April are great months to see whales (the months in between only slightly less so).
Hit the beach
Miles and miles of sandy beaches make for a great relaxed end to your tour of Sri Lanka. Crack open a coconut, find a hammock and snuggle up with a good book. Tangalle, Mirissa, Bentota and Kalutara have some of the best beaches.
Feast at a festival
Some say Sri Lanka has more festivals than any other country in the world and you may witness Buddhist parades, complete with elephants, dancers and drummers, or Hindu festivals, at any time during the year.
Ayurveda
Being locked up in a steaming vessel may not look all that inviting, but follow your Aryuvedic steam bath with a massage, and you will come away renewed and rejuvenated.
Ride the rails
Travelling by train from the Hill Country to the surrounding lowlands is a spectacular ride. Within 90 minutes your drop 800 metres as the train travels through cloud forest and tea plantations, offering breathtaking views along the way.
Cycle the backroads
Saddle up and follow the quiet backroads of Sri Lanka. Chat with the locals and stop to smell the flowers. Cycling enhances your senses, slows the world down and brings it into focus.
Suggested Tours
East African Wildlife Safari
Tour code: FEAW
Why we love this trip: Our best-selling safari visiting all major game parks in Kenya and Tanzania
Places visited: Nairobi, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Lake Victoria, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Amboseli.
Signature Experiences: Lots of game drives, Great Migration, village visit, canoe trip, optional balloon safari
Length: 14 days
Accommodation: Safari lodges & luxury tented camps
Included meals: breakfast in Nairobi, all meals while on safari
Transport: Minivan & 4x4 Landcruiser
Departures: Set small-group dates and daily private departures
Customizable? Yes, price on request
Price: Small group departures priced from $3995(low season) - $5280(high season)
Kenya Wildlife Safari
Tour code: FKWS
Why we love this trip: This popular safari visits all major game parks in Kenya
Places visited: Nairobi, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara
Signature Experiences: Lots of game drives, Great Migration, village visit, optional balloon safari
Length: 8 days
Accommodation: Safari lodges & luxury tented camps
Included meals: breakfast in Nairobi, all meals while on safari
Transport: Minivan
Departures: Set small-group dates and daily private departures
Customizable? Yes, price on request
Price: Small group departures priced from $1995 (low season) - $2781(high season)
Gorillas & Maasai Mara
Tour code: EWYU
Why we love this trip: This popular safari visits major game parks in Kenya and offers gorilla tracking
Places visited: Nairobi, Lakes Naivasha & Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Jinja, Lake Bunyonyi, Volcanoes NP, Kigali
Signature Experiences: game drives, Great Migration, village visit, optional balloon safari, rafting, gorilla trek
Length: 16 days
Accommodation: full service camping in campsites, permanent tented camps, hotels
Included meals: 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 13 dinners
Transport: overland vehicle
Departures: set small-group dates
Customizable? Yes, we can tailor this in lodges and hotels - price on request
Price: Small group departures priced from $3910