Plan your Sri Lanka trip.

🪨 Sigiriya Ancient rock fortress climbed by 1,200 steps above the jungle. 🖼️ Dambulla Golden cave temples painted with centuries-old murals. ☸️ Anuradhapura Sri Lanka's first capital and a sacred Buddhist city. 🗿 Polonnaruwa Well-preserved ruins of a medieval royal kingdom. 🛕 Kandy Hill capital and home of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. 🧘 Mihintale The mountain where Buddhism first came to the island. 🛐 Aukana A 12-metre standing Buddha carved from a single rock. 🌲 Ritigala Mysterious forest monastery ruins on a jungle mountain. 🏯 Yapahuwa A dramatic rock citadel with an ornate stone stairway. 🙏 Kelaniya A revered riverside temple just outside Colombo.

🍃 Nuwara Eliya 'Little England' — tea country with a cool, misty climate. 🌉 Ella Laid-back hill town with the iconic Nine Arch Bridge. 🚞 Haputale Ridge-top views and the walk up to Lipton's Seat. 🌄 Horton Plains A high plateau with the sheer cliff of World's End. ⛰️ Adam's Peak A sacred sunrise pilgrimage to a 2,243 m summit. 🏔️ Knuckles Range Misty peaks and cloud forest made for trekking. 🍵 Hatton Gateway to tea estates and mountain reservoirs. 🦢 Gregory Lake Boating and horse rides in the heart of Nuwara Eliya. 🚉 Badulla The scenic end of the hill-country railway line.

💦 Ravana Falls A wide roadside cascade wrapped in Ella legend. 🏞️ Diyaluma Falls The island's second-highest, with cliff-top pools. 💧 Bambarakanda Sri Lanka's tallest waterfall at 263 metres. 🌫️ St. Clair's Falls Broad twin falls nicknamed 'Little Niagara'. 🌈 Dunhinda Falls A misty 64 m fall reached by a short forest walk.

🏰 Galle A Dutch-era fort town of ramparts, cafes and boutiques. 🏖️ Unawatuna A sheltered curve of sand ideal for easy swimming. 🐋 Mirissa Whale-watching capital with a lively beach strip. 🎣 Weligama Gentle waves and a classic beginner surf beach. 🌊 Ahangama Cool surf breaks and rows of stilt fishermen. 🐢 Hikkaduwa Coral reef, turtles and a long sandy shoreline. 🚤 Bentota Watersports, river safaris and resort beaches. 🌴 Tangalle Quiet, wide golden bays away from the crowds. 🏝️ Hiriketiya A tucked-away horseshoe cove loved by surfers. ⛵ Negombo Lagoon, fish market and the closest coast to the airport. 🐬 Kalpitiya A windswept spit famed for kitesurfing and dolphins. 🏙️ Colombo The seaside capital — markets, food and Galle Face green.

🏄 Arugam Bay One of the world's great point-break surf spots. ⚓ Trincomalee A natural harbour town with temples and beaches. 🌅 Nilaveli Powder-white sand on the calm eastern shore. 🐠 Pigeon Island A tiny reef island made for snorkelling. 🏊 Pasikuda A shallow, sheltered bay you can wade far into. 🎶 Batticaloa Lagoons, an old fort and the legendary singing fish. 🏛️ Jaffna The cultural heart of the Tamil north. 🕉️ Nallur Kovil Jaffna's grand, gold-trimmed Hindu temple. 🐎 Delft Island Coral-walled lanes and wild ponies off the north coast.

🐆 Yala The best-known park for spotting leopards. 🐘 Udawalawe Reliable herds of wild elephants year-round. 🐻 Wilpattu The largest park — wild, quiet and full of lakes. 🦣 Minneriya Host to 'The Gathering' of hundreds of elephants. 🦌 Kaudulla Elephants, deer and rich birdlife by the reservoir. 🦩 Bundala A wetland haven for flamingos and migrant birds. 🌳 Sinharaja A UNESCO rainforest of astonishing biodiversity. 🛶 Gal Oya Boat safaris where elephants swim between islands. 🦜 Kumana A remote eastern park beloved by birdwatchers.

🚣 Kitulgala White-water rafting through emerald rainforest. 🛥️ Madu River A boat safari through mangrove islands and shrines. 🍼 Pinnawala The well-known elephant orphanage and river bath. 🏡 Meemure A remote village ringed by the Knuckles peaks. 🛣️ Riverston Grassy plains and a 'mini World's End' viewpoint.