Spotted in the wild: where to see Sri Lanka’s ‘Big Five’

From sloth bears to sperm whales, Sri Lanka is home to some of the most remarkable wildlife on the planet.

One step beyond: the world’s most impressive lesser-known mountains

How many of these have you climbed?

Adam’s Peak

A monumental granite prominence that rises in pyramidal isolation above the surrounding hills, Adam’s Peak is quantitatively only the fifth-highest summit in Sri Lanka,…

Sinharaja Forest

Sri Lanka’s most important biodiversity hotspot and number-one birdwatching destination is the 88km² Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which protects the largest remaining tract of rainforest in…

Yala National Park

Sri Lanka’s best and most popular safari destination, Yala National Park protects a vast tract of low-lying dry-zone wilderness which once formed part of…

Kandy

As sweet and ripe for exploration as its irresistible name suggests, Kandy finds its way on to the itinerary of pretty much every visitor…

Colombo

Set on a fine natural harbour on the island’s west coast, Sri Lanka’s largest city and main commercial hub is the focal point of…

Jaffna

The capital of Northern Province, Jaffna is the main historic focal point of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population, and the country’s ninth-largest city, supporting a…

Travel and visas in Sri Lanka

Visas Nationals of all countries except for the Maldives, Singapore and the Seychelles require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka, which…

Food and drink in Sri Lanka

Food Restaurants Most restaurants in Sri Lanka slot into one of four broad categories. Most expensive, and largely confined to Colombo and to a…

Health and safety in Sri Lanka

Health Sri Lanka is home to several tropical diseases unfamiliar to those living in more temperate and sanitary climates. However, with adequate preparation, the…

When to visit Sri Lanka

Climate Sri Lanka can be visited at any time of year, provided that you tweak your itinerary to allow for regional seasonal variations that…

Arugam Bay

Sri Lanka’s top surfing destination and one of its most popular backpacker chill-out venues, the great curving coastline of Arugam Bay is fringed by…

Galle Fort

The history of Galle is spun around the sombre grey walls of its historic fort. These brooding hulks of stone – shipped to Sri…

Horton Plains National Park

Gazetted in 1988, the 31.6km² Horton Plains National Park protects a biodiverse watershed of montane grassland and dwarf forest perched at elevations of greater than…