Hatton, Hill Country

Located in Hatton, the Argyle is a modern hotel offering a comfortable getaway in the hill country. The Argyle in Hatton commands a fine view of the hill country and Sri Lanka’s famed Adam’s Peak.

Udawalawe, Tissa & Kataragama

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort is a modern four-star hotel which lies just 10 minutes away from the Udawalawe National Park entrance. Set in seven acres of tropical gardens, this 57-room hotel is a welcome addition to an area where accommodation options are limited.

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

50 Lighthouse Street is a charming four-bedroom colonial-style villa in the heart of Galle Fort. This stylish accommodation is ideal for couples, groups of friends and families with older children.

Unawatuna, Galle Coast

Coco Bay, just minutes away from lively Unawatuna Bay, is a modern 12-room hotel blessed by a quieter aspect than the main beach strip. It has vibrant interiors and spaciousrooms with sea views.

Udawalawe, Tissa & Kataragama

Visit the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe National Park, a rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephant calves, in the confidence that you are supporting an ethical commitment towards enhancing their chances of survival in the wild. The Elephant Transit Home exists for the primary objective of rehabilitating orphaned elephant calves before releasing them.

Udawalawe, Tissa & Kataragama

Udawalawe, in Sri Lanka's south-central sector, is the area that most resembles an African game park. Elephant sightings are pretty much guaranteed in a national park that is conveniently positioned between the southern highlands and the south coast. It centres upon Udawalawe reservoir and although it is about a third of the size (at around 300sqkm) and less well known than Yala, it can be somewhat quieter and it generally packs a punch. Opened in 1972, as Sri Lanka’s fifth national park, It is open all year round for safaris even in the dry season in September and October. The nearby Elephant Transit Home is another attraction with good ethical credentials.

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then further developed by the Dutch and the British over the next 350 years. It covers nearly 4sqkm and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18th century, the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance to the Fort, but subsequently the British built the Main Gate that is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel),the lighthouse and bell tower. The Dutch also developed what was then an innovative tide-based sewage-system within the Fort.

Galle, Galle Coast

Learn how to make rice and curry, Sri Lanka’s delicious and underrated traditional cuisine, which is overshadowed on the international culinary stage by the food of its neighbours, such as India. Although it sounds simple, rice and curry is actually a complex dish comprised of seven different elements, including curries, spiced vegetables in a variety of textures, sambols, chutneys and rice.

Galle, Galle Coast

Galle’s rural inland landscape is largely unfrequented by tourists who visit this region, as they are often more preoccupied with visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort, or relaxing on the popular beaches along the Galle Coast. However, the countryside around Galle is truly picturesque and is particularly nice to explore if you are looking to discover the ‘authentic’ Sri Lanka which is sometimes hidden on the tourist trail – cycle past lush green paddy fields dotted with water buffalo, bright white egrets and vibrant kingfishers, sloping tea plantations, rice fields, small villages, temples and colourful gardens growing spices and fruit.

Weligama, South Coast

True cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka and has been coveted by travellers from across the world for many centuries. Globally, it is still known as Ceylon cinnamon, and its appeal has led to wonderful stories, wild claims and even wars between competing traders. In recent years, modern science has begun to acknowledge the health benefits of cinnamon that have been long upheld in Ayurvedic practices, and the spice’s sweet aroma continues to enchant people across the world.

Weligama, South Coast

Learn to surf the waves at Weligama Bay on Sri Lanka's blissful south coast with the extra assurance of your own instructor to guide you every step of the way.

Mirissa, South Coast

Go whale watching in Sri Lanka, acclaimed as one of the best places in the world to see whales. Spot dolphins, sperm whales and blue whales near Mirissa. The island’s shoreline lies unusually close to the continental shelf, the point when the ocean floor drops dramatically and where larger marine life is found, and so it does not take too long to reach these deep waters from Sri Lanka’s western, southern and eastern coastlines. Whale and dolphin watching is possible from Kalpitiya, Bentota and Mirissa between December and April, and from Trincomalee and Pasikudah on the east coast between June and August, but Mirissa is widely thought of as the best place for whale watching in Sri Lanka.