Handpicked Sri Lanka

The country’s culture is inextricably linked with the heritage of the Theravada Buddhism passed on from India throughout its history. The religion is the island’s major one, so entrenched in life that the government is bound by law to protect and foster it.

The Indian connection is plain to see across the island but that’s not to say there aren’t others. Indonesian, Southeast Asian and European influences can be found all across Sri Lanka, from its sports to its spices. On the subject of sport, we think it’s fair to say that the second religion here is cricket. The game is a massive part of island life and you’ll no doubt see games played when visiting; anything is a wicket here, from dusty roads to lush forest clearings.

For a small country, Sri Lanka has had an enormous influence on global cuisine. This is a foodie’s heaven, with everything from the most gorgeous light fish curries to the iconic hoppers forming part of a diet to die for. Our founder, Ludo, nearly did – but that was perhaps from overindulgence. If you’re in need of something to help wash everything down, pour yourself an arrack, a spirit made from palm tree sap. Steady, though, as it packs a punch.

The other part of Sri Lankan culture that packs a global punch is, of course, its tea. The plantations that swathe large parts of the south and centre of the island are a destination in their own right, and you’ll find yourself sipping cuppas – of all flavours – at every hour of the day.

There’s a documented history in Sri Lanka of over three millennia, so it’s unsurprising that the sites worth seeing here come thick and fast. In fact, there are 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on an island smaller than Ireland. The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital, is a Buddhist spiritual centre and is perhaps the best place on Earth to see the ruins and learn about the ancient Sinhalese civilisation.

The second capital – and also a World Heritage Site – is Polonnaruwa, another stunning archaeological relic to some of Sri Lanka’s first kingdoms. For those who prefer their history slightly younger, this is the backdrop to Duran Duran’s 1982 music video for Save a Prayer.

The third leg of this triumvirate of jaw-dropping ancient monuments is Sigiriya, a rock fortress which, according to Sri Lankan lore, used to be decorated in brightly coloured frescoes. When we say rock fortress, Sigiriya is dominated by a column of granite 180 metres high, on top of which there used to be a great palace.

On the subject of palaces, the Old Town of Galle is another of our favourites, the fortified area iconic to cricket-lovers across the globe. We could go on with an endless list of exceptional sites to visit here – instead, we prefer to let you discover some of the others in person.

Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of endemism anywhere on Earth – that is, species that can only be found in a single place. To provide some context, that’s 123 species of mammals, 185 species of reptiles, 122 species of amphibians, and 227 species of birds. It’s a lot, and it’s not even counting what’s out to sea.

For travellers who want to tick off the country’s very own Big Five, there’s the opportunity to spy a leopard, elephant, sloth bear, blue whale and sperm whale. Best of luck to you in your attempt – we’re sitting at 3 currently, with the notoriously tricky to find blue whale and leopard yet to be spotted.

If you turn your eyes skywards, Sri Lanka is one of the best places on Earth for bird life. There are dozens of bird sanctuaries and National Parks (Kumana and Bundala are our favourites) that offer hotspots from which to spy a phenomenal array of different flyers.

Wherever you turn in this amazing country, there’s another sort of natural wonder. For travellers who want to see one of the healthiest and most vibrant ecosystems on the planet, Sri Lanka is a must. There are safari and tour operators across the country who can help you out and we’re more than happy to get you going with that – just mention it when you call and leave the rest to us.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Sri Lanka without a ride on one of the country’s iconic trains. A hangover from the colonial era, the lines that crisscross the island have become a tourist must-do – and an Instagram sensation. Our favourite is the Colombo to Badulla route, a 291 kilometre stretch of track that snakes down gorges, up cliffs and around lakes rivers, and waterfalls. It’s laughably beautiful and, at 10 hours, it almost feels too short.

Another of the country’s most unique trips is one to Adam’s Peak. This 2000-metre plus peak is easily accessible from the tea regions and is a sacral place for islanders. A rock formation at the summit is said to be Buddha’s footprint and people travel from around the continent to see it. There are walking trails both around and up the mountain, of varying degrees of difficulty and the view cross country from the top is about as good as it gets.

The cities in Sri Lanka are laidback odes to life in the country. The capital, Colombo, combines the island’s ancient roots with the modern face of south Asia, whereas the slower moving cities of Kandy and Galle offer a glimpse into another world. This is a country for the traveller who doesn’t want to compromise – Sri Lanka really does have it all.