A warm welcome in Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Southern Province has a hot, tropical climate and a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. Its three districts provide stunning scenery, glorious beaches and intriguing ancient sites; it’s up to you whether you choose to explore the lush landscape or just relax on the beach and let your everyday worries drift away.
Southern Province holidays: culture, wildlife and relaxation
The three districts that make up Southern Province are Galle, Hambantota and Matara. All offer fabulous possibilities for Southern Province holidays but the most notable of the three is Galle. A 36-hectacre Dutch fort, built in 1663 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, occupies the bulk of the oldest part of Galle. Still exhibiting the influences of the Dutch, Portuguese, British and Muslim communities that have passed through, the fort is a fascinating miss-mash of architecture and traditions. The encircling walls allow for stunning views inwards to the town and outwards to the sea. But it’s not just its historical interest that makes it special; Galle remains an energetic functioning town, so much so that many travellers now choose to stay at one of the boutique hotels within its walls and make day trips out to nearby beach resorts.
One of the best beaches available for holidays in Southern Province is the beach at Polhena, 3km outside Matara. The beach here is spotlessly clean with pristine white sand and gorgeous sea. Surfing is popular here and it also boasts a coral reef, perfect for snorkelling around. Hikkaduwa also has magnificent beaches and is famous for its excellent surfing.
The National Parks of Southern Province are teeming with exciting wildlife. On the remote plains of Yala National Park in the east you’ll find elephants, monkeys and leopards along with all kinds of exotic birds and reptiles. The more central Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see elephants, being home to about 500 of them, as well as wild buffalo and sambar deer. It’s even possible to stay within the Park, in a campsite or safari village.
Southern Province holidays also offer visitors some of Sri Lanka’s best cultural experiences. Kataragama is a holy city for Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus and is one of the most important sites for pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. The ancient city of Tissamaharama, or Tissa, can also be found in this Province, surrounded by lush rice paddies with ancient temples scattered amongst them.
Great value holidays in Southern Province with lastminute.com
Booking with lastminute.com makes the diversity of this sunny, laidback region affordable, so, whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, explore on safari or soak up some of Sri Lanka’s extraordinary cultural history, cheap holidays in Southern Province offer something for every kind of traveller. Book your holiday to Sri Lanka today with lastminute.com