Share this article
Last updated 30 seconds ago
When you think of an exotic trip to Southeast Asia, you probably picture lazing around on the beaches of Thailand or Bali.
Both destinations attract large numbers of tourists and are both victims of their own success.
So where should we go next? Well, there’s a new hot spot in town.
Sri Lanka is set to record its highest ever tourist numbers.
Data up to mid-July shows that 1.1 million foreign tourists have already visited the country this year.
Sri Lanka is a breathtakingly beautiful place, and here are some reasons why you should consider visiting this next destination in Southeast Asia.
Breathtaking beaches
Sri Lanka is home to an abundance of stunning beaches, so if you’re looking for a traditional beach holiday, you won’t be disappointed.
The best beaches are on the west and south coasts of the island.
One of Sri Lanka’s best-known coastal cities is Galle, on the southwest coast.
The first thing you’ll notice here is the imposing colonial fort, but the fishermen perched on slender stilts are the iconic image of this popular spot.
For those who prefer to relax on a lounger under a beach bar or parasol, the nearby beaches of Unawatuna, Talpe and Widjiya are great spots.
Unawatuna also tops the list as one of the best surfing beaches in Sri Lanka.
Unawatuna is a 15-minute drive from Galle, but the best way to travel between the two places is by train.
The journey takes just nine minutes and costs approximately 20 LKR (0.66 cents).
Awe-inspiring wildlife encounters
Sri Lanka has much more to offer than just its gorgeous beaches.
It’s also home to all sorts of fascinating animals and is one of the best places outside of Africa to see wild cats in their natural environment.
Two notable animals that can be seen here are the leopard and the Asian elephant.
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife park, where you can see both (and many other animals).
The park encompasses approximately 130,000 hectares of protected land and features a diverse landscape of light forests, scrubland, grasslands, waterholes and lagoons.
This magnificent national park is home to 44 species of mammals and 215 species of birds.
Many tourists choose to go on a safari tour as part of a small group with a private driver.
However, you don’t have to join a tour group to visit Yala National Park – you can go in your own high-clearance vehicle, as long as it’s a high-clearance van, or you can rent a safari jeep at the entrance.
If you want the convenience of a tour, you can book with Sri Lanka Ride.
The price depends on the number of people per vehicle: $90 for one person and $135 for two people. If you are traveling in a group of four, the price drops further to $230 ($57.50 per person).
The great thing about a Sri Lanka safari tour like this one is that it only takes a day.
This means you don’t have to choose between a beach holiday and a safari holiday (unless you want to), you can enjoy both!
Beautiful natural beauty
One of the things that makes Sri Lanka so unique is the diversity of its landscape: you can be relaxing on the beach one day and hiking through a rainforest the next.
One area of Sri Lanka that is particularly popular with tourists (and for good reason) is known as the Cultural Triangle.
It’s time to get a little nerdy!
Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were the three major Sinhalese capitals of the ancient Sri Lankan civilisation and form the region known as the Cultural Triangle.
This is a historic region filled with temples, monuments, beautiful nature and spectacular hiking trails.
Today, there are ruins of cities, monuments, temples and even monasteries here.
If you only have time to visit one of these ruins, make it Sigiriya, a magnificent palace and fortress complex that is well worth the climb.
Be aware that many of these ancient structures are not accessible by car, so you’ll have to hike or bike to see them.
However, there is so much history concentrated in a relatively small area in this part of Sri Lanka that it is well worth making a visit as part of your trip.
↓Make your trip more enjoyable↓
Sign up for Travel Off Path Premium today! No ads, VIP content, personal travel concierge, huge savings, daily deals, member forums, and more!
✈️Join the Travel Off Path community forums, where travelers can come together to ask questions, share experiences, and find like-minded travel buddies.
Subscribe for the latest posts
Enter your email address and get the latest travel news from Travel Off Path delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author alone and not of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or any other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
