In our minds, we go to Sri Lanka to play Robinson Crusoe and explore the treasure island. The tropical climate of Sri Lanka ensures an average temperature of 28 degrees and an ideal ocean temperature all year round. Leave the cold and fog and set off to this enchanted country to take a break from your daily routine and travel back in time. In search of serenity, spirituality and homecoming, you will find in Sri Lanka a chance to dream and relax. Fulfilment is often synonymous with nature; from the top of Adam's Peak or on an idyllic beach, find yourself surrounded by the simple and essential things, nestled on your paradise island when you travel to Sri Lanka.
On this small island, the astonishing diversity of its population is linked to the many influences that marked its turbulent history: Sinhalese, Tamils, Malay and Moorish descendants of Arab merchants. To this diversity, a plurality of religions is added: Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus. You will be amazed by this cultural melting pot! From ancient royal cities to the wild coast of the East, from Galle fishermen to Nuwara Elya tea pickers, the variety of encounters you will have when you travel to Sri Lanka is just like the country itself. With smiles on all faces, Sri Lankans are curious and welcoming: Ayubowan!
With 30% of its territory covered with forest, Sri Lanka is a big green country with lush vegetation! Thanks to the rains that water the country, the flora is abundant and diverse: rice fields, tea plantations, rainforests, mountainous areas, jungles and many national parks, Sri Lanka is a dream destination for nature lovers. You can quickly find yourself away from classic routes, in small mountain villages or at the edge of the big reservoirs of the country. In the heart of the highlands, go hiking to enjoy the exceptional views of the coastal plain. When you travel to Sri Lanka, a number of day trips are possible: cycling in the rice paddies, horseback riding in Kalpitiya, walking in the Knuckles Mountain Range or a "tuk-tuk" ride in the vicinity of Haputale!
Sri Lanka, voted destination of the year by Lonely Planet in 2019, will mesmerize you with its natural beauty and sandy beaches. Its large stretches of white sand also offer a good choice of accommodation, activities and a different atmosphere depending on the chosen beach. With small tropical inlets and long beaches swept by winds and waves, you have truly arrived in a paradise amidst sun and coconut trees! Off-the-beaten-path, small gems await you in Kalpitya, Tangalle, Kirinda or Pigeon Island. Feel free to set off with your flippers and mask for an unprecedented dive in Sri Lankan waters. For the more adventurous ones, try your hand at surfing the waves of Mirissa or Arugam Bay when you travel to Sri Lanka!
The religious diversity of Sri Lanka results in a plethora of unique festivals bringing together Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims for ceremonies that are scattered throughout the year. This is an opportunity to discover the different religious structures of the country: colourful Hindu temples, glittering churches and pristine white dagobas. Every full moon is celebrated across the country, with particularly intense celebrations during the months of July and August during which the "Esala Perahera" of Kandy and the Kataragama pilgrimage take place. When you travel to Sri Lanka, don't forget to attend the magnificent dances and amazing elephant processions that symbolize the cultural and religious wealth of the island.
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The festivals of Sri Lanka
Given the size of the country, one can only be surprised by the variety of animal species present in Sri Lanka. Peacocks, butterflies, lizards, crocodiles… And this is just the beginning. Animal watching is one of the most captivating activities on the island. Sri Lanka’s unusual fauna features a diverse range of mammals (elephants, leopards, buffaloes, bears), fish, reptiles, and birds. With no less than 14 national parks, it is very easy to include a safari into your program. Each season, in the national park of Uda Walawe, Yala or Gal Oya, the show continues. From December to April, set off with your family for a chance to witness the magical dance of dolphins and whales that migrate through the Sri Lankan coastline!
Just married and looking for a destination for a romantic escape in the sun? Less touristy than Bali and more culturally rich than Mauritius or the Caribbean, opt for Ceylon, the island of wonders. You will fall under the charm of its refined hotels, idyllic beaches, colonial villas close to the Indian Ocean, incredibly lush nature and unparalleled hospitality. Be mesmerized by the mythical precious stones of the island as you discover its secrets. Sri Lanka has all the elements for an incredible honeymoon!
Travel to Sri Lanka and visit the birthplace of one of the best teas in the world. In Sri Lanka’s highlands, the plantations stretch as far as the eye can see, offering spectacular views as the mist rises to make way for the first rays of the sun. The very neat alignment of these small shrubs forms a green wave flooding the landscape. Meet the Tamil pickers who light up the tea fields with their smiles, visit a factory and get acquainted with the manufacturing process that makes Sri Lanka the world's second-largest exporter of tea! You have definitely found the best souvenir to bring back from this island.
For travellers who want everything in one trip: nature, sea, mountain, adventure, spirituality, you can also add "culture and history" to the list. With it's 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Sri Lanka is full of treasures. Inside the Cultural Triangle, visit the ancient royal cities and Buddhist remains of Anuradhapura, admire the shrine that houses the Buddha's tooth inside the famous Kandy Temple and discover a multitude of Buddha statues, often lying down, resting peacefully in the caves of the rock temples of the island.
A trip to Sri Lanka would be wasted without a discovery of the island’s cuisine! Influenced by Indian flavours, Sri Lankan cuisine has the advantage of complementing traditional Indian coconut and fish dishes with many of its specialities. Participate in a traditional cooking class during your trip to impress your friends upon your return! Discover the ingredients that make your dishes so tasty: coconut, cinnamon, peppers, pineapple, coriander, and the mythical turmeric! Rice and curry, a kind of Indian thali or Nepali dal-bhat, brings together the essentials: lentils, meat, fish and vegetables. Try the "hoppers", delicious little pancakes which are eaten on the go, "sambol", grated coconut salad and the freshly grilled seafood waiting for you along the beaches or in the gourmet restaurants of Colombo or Galle!
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Sri Lankan cuisine
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