Tailor-Made Sri Lanka: Leopards & Tea Country

The almond-shaped island of Sri Lanka is home to white-sand beaches, national parks with habitats for elephants through to rare birds, and historic landmarks that showcase over 2,000 years of history, from ancient Hindu temples to colonial-era fortresses. Just as awe-inspiring as sights that include rainforest-covered peaks and verdant tea plantations are UNESCO sites such as Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya, and the Dambulla Cave Temples. On top of everything, the locals are welcoming, the culture is rich, the cuisine is exceptionally flavoursome, and boutique hotels are scattered across the island. In spite of the country’s appeal – and location between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia – Sri Lanka remains uncrowded much of the time, and prices are friendly on your wallet. In other words, there’s no better time to visit this fascinating nation than right now.

Make the most of a 14-day trip to Sri Lanka, and you’ll discover the capital of Colombo, the sacred temples of Kandy, ancient ruins, the picturesque tea country, the fortresses of Galle, and the wonderful wildlife of the Yala National Park. Very few nations can offer such an array of unforgettable experiences in the space of a fortnight.

Sri Lanka at a Glance

A visit to Sri Lanka is a chance to embrace the slow life and soak up everything this island has to offer without being in too much of a rush. Winding train journeys that circumnavigate forested mountains, overnight treks to UNESCO-listed ruins, and tuk tuk rides in cities like Colombo may be slow, but that’s a benefit when there are so many sights to take in. You certainly don’t want to rush an adventure through the Hill Country. If you are looking for more adrenaline-fueled activities, rafting, kayaking and mountain hiking are all on offer in Sri Lanka. The north is less developed than the south, but it’s here that you’ll find the best port towns, hidden temples and deserted beaches. The south is the most populated part of Sri Lanka, where modern comforts can be found. Surfers might want to head to the east coast.

The monsoons from the north can affect the entire island, while the less severe storms from the south impact the south and west coasts plus the Hill Country. Still, coastal temperatures rarely fall below 25 degrees Celsius. It can get a little chillier further inland, especially as you ascend to higher altitudes. The west and south are best visited between December and April. Visit between May and October if you want to head to the east coast.

Amazing as Sri Lanka may be, it must be noted that outdated laws from the colonial-era regarding homosexuality remain in place. Homosexuality remains illegal, and it seems the government has no intention of reversing these rules. On a more positive note, societal attitudes tend to be more progressive, and laws on homosexuality haven’t been enforced for over 60 years. Gay scenes can be found in Colombo in the districts of Col 1, Col 3 and Col 7. Don’t expect to meet many openly gay locals due to the social stigma, unless using apps such as Lanka Love, Grindr or Gay Romeo.