A lush tropical island with nothing below it but the huge expanse of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a hive of energy. And with the Galle film and literary festivals coming up in early 2010, it’s also a hotspot for culture vultures. Visit fifth century fortresses, learn how tea is made and explore gorgeous beach front villages, all while staying in some of our favourite new hotels in the world, such as the thatched bungalows of Vil Uyana and Reef. Visit now before the crowds head for the countryside, and while you can still enjoy the likes of restaurants with wine cellars made from reclaimed railway tracks.
Take an elephant safari through Minneriya, visit Buddha’s tooth (yes, really), and brave the rapids in Kithugala before sipping the freshest cuppa of your life on a working tea plantation. Top this all off soaking up the rays on Galle’s golden beaches, and snack on local delicacies such as fermented coconut sap (much tastier than it sounds). With new boutique hotels and visitor-friendly roads popping up all the time, Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for those looking for a culture like India’s without the enormous cities and long train journeys.
Click here to see our Sri Lanka: countryside to coast experience
