Beautiful, magical Sri Lanka is a land like no other. For an island that’s around the same size as Wales, its impact on visitors is mammoth. A tropical treasure chest of mind-blowing views, luscious landscapes, and unforgettable experiences, the ‘Teardrop Isle’ has much more to offer than you might have realised.
Although geographically dwarfed by the might and scale of neighbouring India, it’s a place that stands its ground confidently with a culture, character, and cuisine all of its own. Sri Lanka has a unique atmosphere that makes it stand out like the shining jewel it is.
If you’ve been considering a trip to South Asia but are unsure which of its stunning countries to explore, take a gander at some of what Sri Lanka has to offer…it might just help you make a decision. Here are nine great reasons to visit Sri Lanka.
1. To witness the diversity packed into one small island
From the North’s arid shrublands and backwoods to the luscious central highlands and all-around sparkling, sun-soaked coast, Sri Lanka’s diverse landscapes allow every visitor to find a slice of heaven. Thick rainforest for explorers, dramatic mountains for climbers, every type of beach imaginable for loungers…this island has it all.
And, with Sri Lanka being fairly small, you can easily get from the brilliant-green plantations to the golden shores of the south coast within half a day.
A great way to take in as much of Sri Lanka’s rich tapestry as possible is by booking a private Sri Lanka tour guide once you arrive. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to get around some of the country’s more remote central parks and plains safely and swiftly – and a good guide will bring you to some of Sri Lanka’s best spots to stay, eat, and explore.
2. For an idyllic train ride like no other
Whether chugging gently along the picturesque palm-lined coast or through the stunning plantations, train rides in Sri Lanka are a simple but great pleasure. The most famous train route in the country is from Kandy to Ella – and the train winds its way through mountains and valleys, plantations and rainforests for around seven hours.
Food vendors selling snacks and drinks, wide open doors and windows that immerse you in the surrounding beauty, and the peaceful rhythm of the train…this is a phenomenal way to experience the central highlands and plains while heading down south. Plus, if you’ve hired a private tour guide, they can drop you in Kandy and meet you at Ella.
Remember to book your train tickets well in advance. Each journey goes on sale 30 days before it’s scheduled and the reserved seating sells fast. You’ll want reserved seating unless the idea of standing in a crowded carriage in high humidity sounds appealing!
If you’d like air-con and comfort too, it’s best to go for the closed windows in a 1st class carriage. Or, if you’d prefer open windows and the warm rainforest air on your skin, we’d recommend a reserved seat in second class – it’s still comfortable, but a little closer to the beautiful world you’re moving through.
3. For once-in-a-lifetime whale watching
Sri Lanka’s prime location in the deep azure Indian Ocean means it’s a perfect base from which to see some of the greatest leviathans of the sea, who come here to enjoy the deep, warm, nutrient-rich waters that surround the island.
The Earth’s largest mammal, the majestic blue whale, is known to frequent the southern waters off the coast of Galle between February and March, pausing for its fill of a krill buffet during annual migration. At the same time of year, the northern waters of Kalpitiya can host ‘super-pods’ of sperm whales, with up to 150 in a group sloping through the seas – a magical, humbling sight.
In the summer months, Trincomalee’s seas are a hotbed of cetacean activity with whales, dolphins, and porpoises regularly breaching and putting on a show. There are plenty of tour operators in Sri Lanka that provide whale-watching experiences, but we recommend those that operate ethically to ensure the continued safety and well-being of these precious oceanic giants.
4. To have a cuppa, right at the source
You simply can’t visit Sri Lanka without enjoying a nice cup of tea while you gaze out upon the plantations from which it was harvested. Sri Lankan (Ceylon) tea is famous the world over, and for such a comparatively small island, remarkably, it’s the third largest exporter of tea in the world.
After tourism, tea is one of the country’s most important industries and has shaped the development and culture of the country since it was introduced in the early 1800s. It’s a fundamental part of Sri Lanka’s story.
The plantations are beautiful. Cascading tiers of perfectly placed terraces drape across the hills and valleys of central Sri Lanka, and you can visit them to see how the tea plants – Sri Lanka’s ‘green gold’ – get from the terrace to the teacup.
As with whale watching, some tours are more responsibly run than others. Be aware that the tea pickers are almost solely women, and are largely Tamil people – some of Sri Lanka’s lowest-paid workers. You can choose a tour at a plantation committed to worker’s rights, and stick to touring and tea drinking rather than taking part in the ‘picking’ experiences you might see on offer.
5. Snorkel with the turtles of Hikkaduwa beach
Stretched along the southwest coast, Hikkaduwa Beach is a famous and very busy spot. Not just because of its vast, golden, palm-lined sands, or its famously surfable waves, but also because of the hawksbill and green turtles who nest, feed and breed all along the shore.
You will see their shadows rising in the breaking waves as they ‘surf’ in the shallows, finding seaweed and other tasty morsels to eat – and as used to humans as they are, it’s possible to get close to them.
The beach can be thronged, with groups gathering to interact with these stunning and surprisingly tame creatures. So, for a more relaxed experience, try to get to the beach early. If you are a particularly early bird, you can get a little sunrise solo time with these gentle giants – feed them a little kelp and enjoy their graceful energy without the crowds.
But if that’s not an option, we highly recommend renting some fins and a mask, and swimming out a little, where you might get to snorkel alongside them, as they ride the waves and cruise the shallows. Though, to keep them safe, just remember not to touch them!
6. To do a spot of leopard gazing
Elegant as they are elusive, Sri Lanka’s native leopards are a really special sight to see prowling through their natural habitat. And while nature is never a sure thing, for the best chance to witness these majestic cats, it’s worth booking a safari in Yala National Park.
Yala is a stunning nature reserve nestled in the southeast of Sri Lanka’s teardrop land, and it’s home to the highest concentration of leopards in the country. You have a higher chance of seeing these beasts between March and October, and if you can, book at least a full-day tour (if not an overnighter).
Even if you aren’t lucky with leopards during your safari, you can expect to have unforgettable encounters with the other abundant wildlife in the park. Herds of elephants, sloth bears, jackals, parading peacocks shaking their iridescent tail feathers, the distant squawk of the hornbill in the distance as you watch quietly cruising crocs patrol the waterways… Yala offers a truly spellbinding safari experience. Bird watchers, this is your heaven.
7. To surf (or to watch others surf)
Even a complete beginner can find the right waves in Sri Lanka, no matter how small they need to be – and with the Sri Lankan beachfront lined with surf school after surf school, it’s never too late to start. Sri Lanka is a world-famous surf destination, with year-round surfing made possible by alternating seasons on each coast.
While there are lots of mammoth swells reserved for the super surfers who come here to spend full days in the warm waters honing their expertise, there’s also an abundance of gentle breaks in quieter and more manageable coves. Here, beginners can get a taste of the meditative, freeing, exhilarating thrill of waiting for (and maybe even catching) a wave, however timid.
Even if surfing isn’t for you, you’ll enjoy spending a day on a lounger in the sun, drink in hand, admiring the incredible skill of accomplished surfers as they ride waves until the sun starts to fall. Keep an eye out for the stilt fishermen too, as they perch themselves above the water to get their daily catch.
8. Because you can order curry for breakfast
And it’s not at all as weird as it might sound – it’s really delicious, even if it does feel like a very big departure from marmalade on toast, or a bowl of porridge. A traditional Sri Lankan breakfast is a fragrant and mildly-spiced joy, and the perfect set-up for a busy day exploring.
You’ll get hoppers and string hoppers (a type of pancake bowl and a Sri Lankan breakfast noodle); veggie, chicken, jackfruit, and fish curries; hearty yellow and orange dahl; coconutty potato soup, and a selection of sambals (flavourful condiment/sauces). Step out of your comfort zone and try a local breakfast, and you might find you don’t want to go back to bowls of cereal.
A more Western breakfast, lunch, and dinner is of course available in most places, as Sri Lankans are used to catering for visitors from Europe and America. Most people find, however, that the delicate flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine are appealing to even less adventurous palates.
9. To discover history, heritage, and ancient holy sites
Throughout Sri Lanka, the beautiful landscapes are punctuated with incredible archaeology and heritage sites. Buddhist temples are dotted from north to south, many of which date back over two millennia and leave a real tangible sense of the profound influence of Buddhism on Sri Lanka’s culture and people.
Some highlights include the white-walled Temple of the Tooth in Kandy – which is home to a sacred relic of the Buddha and is still a major Buddhist pilgrimage site – and the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
Here, you’ll see colossal stupas (hemispherical structures/domes containing sacred relics), intricate and beautiful stone carvings, and the ruins and remains of royal palaces that recall the opulence and grandeur of Sri Lanka’s early kingdoms.
The ancient Rock Fortress of Sigiriya in the northern Matale District is another highlight and a truly incredible sight, the type of imposing and surreal structure you might expect to see on Game of Thrones. You can visit the towering rock palace, see the ancient frescoes, and wander its elaborate gardens.
Final thoughts…
Sri Lanka has such a wealth of experiences and character that it ‘feels’ bigger than its 65,610 square kilometres. It’s a place of immense and vibrant colour and culture, flavour, and magnificent beauty, and it could easily keep you entertained and enthralled indefinitely.
Each spectacular area being such a manageable distance from the last, is also the icing on the cake – after all, who wants to spend their whole holiday on highways?
Have you been to Sri Lanka? Or would you like to visit? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.