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Holidays to Sri Lanka
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Visit the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ with Co-op Travel
Sri Lanka offers a diverse tropical landscape with fascinating historical landmarks and wildlife. Tourists can relax on tropical beaches, embark on a wildlife safari, or try white water rafting or trekking through the country’s beautiful national parks. Tour the island’s historic temples, visit a tea estate or take a scenic train journey to enjoy the diverse views Sri Lanka has to offer.
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Sri Lanka holiday highlights
Rich with wildlife, diverse landscapes, exquisite beaches and spiritual monuments, Sri Lanka offers a multitude of exciting adventures and experiences. Here are top ten things to do when holidaying in Sri Lanka.
1. Ancient ruins & breath-taking views
Witness the breath-taking views and wonder at the ancient ruins and frescoes as you ascend and explore the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Sri Lanka overview
Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka dates back over 3,000 years with the ancient civilisations of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya making their mark on the island, leaving behind fascinating archaeological sites to visit. Today it’s possible to see Portuguese, Dutch and British influences in the buildings, culture and religion.
Sri Lanka is a mainly Buddhist country with festivals including the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu) in April, and Vesak in May. Cultural highlights include the traditional Kandyan dance and low-country dance, each with distinct costumes and accompanied by drums and other traditional instruments.
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate and two monsoon periods every year. Outside of these monsoon seasons, Sri Lanka can experience intermittent showers and thunderstorms, but temperatures are still hot and humid throughout the year.
To avoid the monsoons, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is December to March, as this is the dry season on the west and south coasts. It’s the perfect time to visit popular destinations such as Colombo, Galle and Bentota, as well as highland locations such as Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.
There are some areas that are more likely to have good weather during the shoulder seasons (September to November, and some of April) such as the east coast, including Trincomalee and Arugam Bay. If you love to see wildlife in its natural habitat, it’s also a great season to visit Yala National Park.
What to eat
Sri Lankan cuisine is characterised by tropical ingredients like coconut and aromatic spices, used in traditional curries served with rice. The curries range from mild to fiery hot. Other Sri Lankan staples are hoppers, like a pancake made from fermented rice flour; kottu roti, which is chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, eggs and meat; and string hoppers, steamed rice noodles.
There’s also plenty of delicious seafood. Try ambul thiyal, a tangy, spicy dish made from cooking tuna with a blend of spices and dried goraka fruit. Isso thel dala is another local dish made by cooking prawns in coconut milk with aromatic spices. If you’re visiting coastal areas with lagoons, try the lagoon crabs, which local restaurants will prepare in a variety of ways.
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