Negombo
A relaxed beach town minutes from the airport, with a busy fish market and old Dutch canal.
Destinations
A small island with a lot on it
You can go from the beach to tea country to a leopard safari within a few hours. Here is every stop you can add to your trip, by part of the island.
01
West coast
Colombo
The busy capital: markets, temples, colonial buildings and a lively seafront.
Bentota
Long beaches and a calm river, a little over two hours from the airport.
Wilpattu
The island's largest national park, with far fewer jeeps than Yala and a real chance of seeing a leopard.
Kalpitiya
A long, quiet peninsula north of Negombo, known for dolphin trips in the calm months and kitesurfing when the wind blows.
02
South coast and safari
Galle and Unawatuna
Stroll the ramparts of the old Dutch fort, then swim in the bay at Unawatuna.
Mirissa and Weligama
The south coast's whale-watching base, with an easy-going beach and surf at Weligama nearby.
Tissamaharama (Yala)
A quiet lakeside town at the gate of Yala, Sri Lanka's best-known national park.
Udawalawe
Open grassland and large elephant herds, on the way between the hills and the south coast.
Hikkaduwa
A busy, sociable beach town with a shallow reef, good beginner surf and plenty of places to eat.
Ahangama and Midigama
A relaxed stretch of coast between Galle and Weligama, with surf for all levels, good cafés and yoga.
Hiriketiya
A small, palm-fringed bay near Dikwella, with an easy surf break, a sociable beach and calmer water at one end.
Tangalle
Long, quiet beaches on the deep south coast, with turtles coming ashore to nest at nearby Rekawa.
Sinharaja Rainforest
A protected rainforest full of birds, butterflies and plants found nowhere else, explored on foot with a local guide.
03
Hill country
Ella
A small, friendly hill town with tea-country views and some of the best short hikes on the island.
Nuwara Eliya
Sri Lanka's high tea country, with old colonial bungalows and cool evenings.
Kandy
A lakeside city in the hills, home to the Temple of the Tooth and the start of the scenic train.
Hatton and Adam's Peak
Steep tea estates and blue reservoirs, and the starting point for the pilgrim climb up Adam's Peak.
Haputale
A small hill town on a narrow ridge, with tea estates, Lipton's Seat and huge views on a clear morning.
Knuckles Range
A wild mountain range north-east of Kandy, with cloud forest, waterfalls and remote villages, best explored on foot with a guide.
Riverston
A high, windswept corner of the northern Knuckles, with a Mini World's End viewpoint and waterfalls close to the road.
Kitulgala
A rainforest village on the Kelani River, best known for white-water rafting and as a stop on the way into the hills.
Belihuloya
A quiet riverside stop where the hills meet the plains, close to Bambarakanda, the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.
04
Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya
Climb the great rock of Sigiriya, watch the sunrise from Pidurangala and catch elephants at Minneriya.
Anuradhapura
The island's first great capital, with huge white stupas that are best seen by bicycle.
Polonnaruwa
The island's second ancient capital, with palaces, temples and great stone Buddhas beside a vast old reservoir.
Dambulla
Climb to the cave temple, five caves full of Buddha statues and painted ceilings, with wide views over the plains.
05
East coast
Trincomalee and Nilaveli
Soft sand, calm water and snorkelling at Pigeon Island when the south and west are wet.
Pasikuda and Kalkudah
A wide, shallow, sheltered bay that suits families and quiet beach days.
Arugam Bay
A laid-back surf town with long point breaks and lagoon safaris, at its best from May to September.
Batticaloa
An easy-going east coast town wrapped around a huge lagoon, with a Dutch fort, old churches and Hindu temples.
Gal Oya
A quiet national park around a vast reservoir, where you watch elephants from a boat and sometimes see them swim.
06
The north
Mix and match any of them
Pick the places you like on the map, and the designer works out the drive times, the hotels and the price for your dates.