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Sri Lanka Holidays
from £ 788 pp
View All DealsFrom world-famous tea plantations to national parks made for safaris, Sri Lanka has plenty to tempt you away from the beach.
A taste of the exotic
Poised above the equator, south-east of the subcontinent, Sri Lanka is often described as ‘India lite’. And it offers the perfect introduction to this part of the world. There’s enough of a culture difference to make you feel like you’re somewhere properly exotic, and yet everything is so easy. The food is fantastic, English is widely spoken, and the island’s bijoux size means you can fit a lot into a small amount of time.
Palm-lined beaches
The main tourist zone runs along the south-west coast of the island, from Negombo to Galle. Here, football pitch-sized swathes of sand are washed by the Indian Ocean and pinned down by skyscraper palms. In parts, rivers and lagoons run in to the sea, providing the ideal conditions for watersports like kayaking and paddle boarding.
Temples and tea
Elsewhere, more than 2,000 years of history have left their mark on Sri Lanka. An island that’s smaller than Scotland, it packs an astonishing amount into its borders. One minute you can be sipping a cup of traditional brew at a tea plantation, the next wandering around a vast ancient city or intricate temple.
At a glance
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Sip a cup of Ceylon tea on one of Sri Lanka’s world-famous tea plantations
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Spy on elephants in their natural habitat at Minneriya National Park
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Climb to the top of Sigiriya Rock and explore the ancient fortress
Destinations in Sri Lanka
Top Destinations
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Beruwala
Holidays to Beruwala bring you to a slice of unspoilt seaside, with a touch of authentic charm.
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Kalutara
With a pristine beach, roadside stalls and a spectacular shrine, holidays to Kalutara give you Sri Lanka at its traditional best.
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Bentota
With holidays to Bentota, you get ancient Buddhist temples, diverse cuisine and one of Sri Lanka’s most treasured beaches.
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Waikkal
Holidays to Waikkal put the big beach towns in the rear-view mirror, offering hotels secreted away between serene beaches and colonial canals.
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Negombo
Wide sandy beaches, tuna snared and seared the same day, and ornate Portuguese-era Roman Catholic churches – experience it all on a holiday to Negombo.
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Wadduwa
Wadduwa holidays are all about R&R. For when you’re not lazing on the sand, there are traditional spa treatments and culture-packed outings on the cards.
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Ahungalla
If you’re looking for a taste of laidback Sri Lanka, holidays to Ahungalla fit the bill perfectly. The beach here is as pretty as they come, and pleasantly crowd-free.
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Hikkaduwa
Holidays to Hikkaduwa put you in the heart of Sri Lanka’s party playground. Spend your days lazing on the sand, and your nights dancing on it.
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Kammala
Holidays to Kammala put you on Sri Lanka’s popular west coast, where you can take advantage of top-class beaches and once-in-a-lifetime excursions.
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Galle
Holidays to Galle are part Sri Lankan, part European. Think stilt fishermen and Tamil cuisine, coupled with Colonial battlements and old-school churches.
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