Discover serendipitous Sri Lanka
Centuries ago, Persian travellers sailing across the Indian Ocean happened upon Sri Lanka and named it Serendib, or ‘serendipity’ in modern English. It’s still an appropriate name for this beautiful island, where the search for one of its treasures will inevitably involve happily stumbling across several more. With delightful cities, incredibly lush countryside, relaxing beaches and ancient sites of historical interest, holidays in Sri Lanka hold something fascinating for every kind of traveller.
Sri Lanka: compact but diverse
The capital city is Colombo, an urban patchwork of all Sri Lanka’s different cultures. Colombo holds plenty of opportunities for shopping and fine dining as well as a wealth of cultural heritage. Sri Lanka’s second city is Kandy, an altogether more mellow place to experience. Capital of the central Hill Country, Kandy sits at a 500m altitude in glorious green countryside and offers a charming array of old shops and markets together with an excellent selection of hotels and restaurants perfect for lending extra luxury to more relaxed Sri Lanka holidays.
The island is overwhelmingly rural, so no holidays to Sri Lanka would be complete without enjoying its wonderful scenery. The Hill Country offers waterfalls, greenery and tea plantations plus canoeing and kayaking for the more adventurous. The village of Ella has some of Sri Lanka’s best views: from its valley location you can look out over the plain and across to the beautiful coast. The national parks contain a stunning range of wildlife: Yala National Park alone boasts leopards, herds of elephants and many exotic reptiles and birds.
Sri Lanka’s coast is edged with gorgeous beaches of golden sand, like Arugam Bay on the east coast. A laid-back, traveller-friendly destination specialising in surfing, delicious seafood and a relaxed party scene, from April to October it also enjoys the best surfing the island has to offer. The surrounding region teems with wildlife, perfect for trekking and exploring.
The ancient cities of Sri Lanka are a must for anyone interested in the country’s diverse and intriguing culture. Anuradhapura was the seat of kings for over 1000 years,
Polonnaruwa lies in north eastern central Sri Lanka and Sigiriya, a flat-topped rock formation, is impressive both geologically and archeologically, drawing in pilgrims and tourists alike.
Sri Lanka’s climate is tropical, with distinct wet and dry seasons complicated by two monsoons. December to March is the most popular time for tourists, but Sri Lanka’s many festivals draw in plenty of travellers at other times too: Kataragama in the south, a holy place for Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus, hosts a famous twoweek festival in July and August to which thousands make a pilgrimage.
Holidays in Sri Lanka with lastminute.com
With bustling cities or ancient relics, golden beaches or lush green landscapes, it really shouldn’t be possible to enjoy the treasures of Sri Lanka cheaply but that’s exactly what you can do by choosing lastminute.com’s affordable Sri Lanka holidays.