The teardrop shaped ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’

Lying off the southern tip of India, the verdant island of Sri Lanka has a remarkably varied colonial past, having been fought over by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial powers. Sri Lanka boasts a great many impressive natural features with mile upon sandy mile of beaches and lush tropical forests, rivers and waterfalls. The Sri Lankan capital Colombo is a vibrant coastal city that exhibits a wide variety of architectural styles, reflecting its varied colonial history. As a holiday destination Sri Lanka offers visitors not only beautiful beaches, spectacular landscapes and exciting cities but also no less than 7 UNESCO world Heritage sites, including several ancient Buddhist shrines such as the Sigiriya rock fortress. Despite some recent troubles in Sri Lanka, with Tamil separatists fighting for an independent state in the north of the country, holidays to this beautiful island are still considered perfectly safe.

Why Go?
Sri Lanka holidays give you the opportunity to relax on lovely sandy beaches, explore fascinating ancient temples, enjoy the remarkably diverse architecture and vibrancy of Colombo; visit Sri Lanka to experience the wonderful culture of this teardrop-shaped island nation in the Indian Ocean.

When to Go?
The best time to visit Sri Lanka is when it stops raining! To avoid the rainy season book flights to Sri Lanka between November and April - the dry season in the southwest of the country. Of course this is also the busiest tourist period so prices for flights and hotels will go up. The best time to visit the east of Sri Lanka is between May and September during the eastern dry season.

How to get there?
Flights to Sri Lanka are available with the UK tour operator Thomson, and Sri Lankan Airlines, the national flag carrier of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Air Lanka. Thomson flies to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) from London Gatwick, while Sri Lankan Airlines flies from Heathrow. An indirect flight to Sri Lanka from London Gatwick is available with Qatar Airways via Doha International (DOH).

Must see
In Colombo you can admire the impressive colonial buildings from the Portuguese, Dutch and British eras. Visit some of the major landmarks such as the Murugan Hindu temple and the colourful Jami Ul-Alfar mosque, and then stroll along the ocean front Galle Face promenade for some fantastic scenic views. Enjoy a safari in Yala National Park to see animals such as leopards and elephants, as well as countless species of exotic birds and reptiles. Sri Lanka has several breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Golden Temple of Dambulla, an intricate cave network containing Buddhist statues and cave paintings.