Sri Lanka: tea, elephants and the ocean — an island for every taste

The Cultural Triangle

The island's great historic sites are concentrated in its heart. Sigiriya Rock, with palace ruins on its summit and ancient frescoes, is perhaps the most famous place in the country. Nearby are the Dambulla cave temple, with its paintings and Buddha statues, and the ancient capitals of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura with their enormous stupas.

Kandy and the tea country

Kandy is the island's cultural capital, where the Temple of the Tooth guards the country's most sacred Buddhist relic. A large botanical garden lies close by. Beyond it, the road climbs into the hills, to the tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya and Ella.

The train ride from Kandy to Ella through the tea hills is one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. In Ella, hike up Little Adam's Peak and see the Nine Arch Bridge that the train rolls across.

Safari

In Sri Lanka's national parks you can see elephants, buffalo, peacocks, crocodiles and, with luck, a leopard. Udawalawe is known for its elephants, Yala for its leopards, and in Minneriya large herds of elephants gather at a certain time of year.

The south coast

Galle is an old fort with ramparts, a lighthouse, galleries and cafés, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beaches of Unawatuna, Mirissa and Hiriketiya stretch along the south coast. In season, boats head out from Mirissa to watch whales, while on the east coast surfers gather at Arugam Bay.

What to try

Sri Lankan food is spicy, fragrant and wonderfully varied.

• Rice and curry — rice served with several curries of vegetables, fish or meat.
• Hoppers — thin, bowl-shaped pancakes, sometimes with an egg inside.
• Kottu roti — chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables and spices.
• Coconut sambol — a fiery relish of coconut and chilli.
• Ceylon tea — right on the plantation where it is grown.
• King coconut — a refreshing drink on a hot day.

Good to know before you go

Sri Lankans are welcoming, and Buddhist traditions are held in deep respect.

• At temples, take off your shoes and hat, and keep your shoulders and knees covered.
• Don't take photos with your back to Buddha statues, and don't pose beside them.
• Agree the fare with tuk-tuk drivers in advance, or use an app.
• Tickets for the popular trains into the hills are best bought ahead.
• Drink bottled water and don't forget sunscreen.

Staying connected

In Sri Lanka you need data all the time: to call a tuk-tuk, find a guesthouse on a tea estate, check your train or reach your safari driver. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so there's no need to hunt for a SIM card at the airport after you land. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before payment: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in the phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.