Sri Lanka packs an unusual amount of variety into a small island: ancient cities, rainforest, tea country and beaches are all within a few hours' drive of each other. If this is your first trip, here's where we'd point you.
1. Sigiriya Rock Fortress
A 5th-century royal citadel built on top of a 200-metre granite outcrop, with frescoes, water gardens and a summit palace. It's a genuine climb, around 1,200 steps, so go early.
2. Yala National Park
The park with the highest recorded leopard density anywhere in the world, plus elephants, sloth bears and prolific birdlife. Go with a driver who works with trackers rather than just following other jeeps.
3. Kandy
The last royal capital before British rule, home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and a lake built by the last king of Kandy in 1807.
4. Ella and the hill country train
The rail journey between Kandy and Ella, particularly the Nanu Oya to Ella stretch, runs through tea estates and along ridgelines that are hard to see any other way.
5. Galle Fort
A Dutch colonial fort from the 17th century that's still a living neighbourhood: cafés, boutiques and a lighthouse inside the ramparts.
And the rest of the list
Polonnaruwa's Gal Vihara rock carvings, the elephant gathering at Minneriya, Nuwara Eliya's tea estates, Mirissa's whale watching season, and Anuradhapura's Sri Maha Bodhi round out a solid first-timer's list. Most of these fit naturally into a 7 to 10-day loop rather than requiring separate trips.
