4. You can find your own slice of barefoot heaven
Sri Lanka has a seemingly endless supply of beaches, from the bucket-and-spade resorts of Beruwala and the all-night-party action of Unawatuna through to the remote surfing hangout of Arugam Bay. For the very best beaches, though, you’ll need to head to the far south of the island, around Tangalla, where a chain of idyllic sandy coves nestle amidst endless palms – still blissfully unspoilt, unlike the hoards of concrete engulfing other parts of the coast.
There’s been a spate of outstanding recent beach-based hotel openings across the country, including the cool new Zephyr boutique hotel in Talalla and the rustic Dots Bay House at Hiriketiya. Meanwhile, slightly longer-running favourites like the gorgeous Buckingham Place in Rekawa and the very chilled-out Mamboz Beach Cabanas at Kalametiya are still guaranteed to please.
5. You can witness an incredible wildlife spectacle
Sri Lanka is an absolute treasure trove of biodiversity. There’s some of the planet’s best leopard-spotting at Yala National Park, whale-watching at Mirissa, glimpses of dolphins in Kalpitiya, rare birds everywhere and much more besides.
However, there’s no question that the elephant is the king of the Sri Lankan jungle. There are more wild pachyderms per square mile here than in any other Asian country. These majestic beasts are best seen during Minneriya National Park's remarkable “The Gathering”. Usually taking place in August or September, this is the largest meeting of Asian elephants anywhere in the world, an annual event that brings hundreds of elephants from across the northern plains to congregate on the waters of Minneriya Tank.
6. Now is a great time to join in the nation’s cricket frenzy
Cricket is a national obsession in Sri Lanka, with all the country’s sporting passions poured into the red (or white) ball and strip of willow. All-time Sri Lankan cricketing greats Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene may have now retired, but the national team still boasts some serious talent, including star bowler Rangana Herath, the world’s best-ever left-arm spinner. Matches are played in Colombo, Galle, Dambulla, Hambantota and Kandy – and with the England team touring the island in autumn 2018 (playing nine matches, including three tests), now is a great time to catch a match.
Comments