Sri Lanka Tourism

A gem of an island with many riches to offer, Sri Lanka welcomes you to experience a journey of a lifetime.

According to recent classifications conducted in the island, Sri Lanka tourism consists of several resort regions which makes it easier for travel planning as a whole. Starting off from Colombo and the Greater Colombo area which is a hub for business, night-life, sporting events, shopping and a stop over for many International high flyers. The most sought after regions of the island are the coastal regions, especially the South, East and West. With never ending azure blue waters, white sandy beaches fringed with swaying coconut palms, the coasts of Sri Lanka lure tourists like no other. The Up-country region, ancient cities and the National Parks also are a part of the regions that have been dedicated to Sri Lanka Tourism.

Boasting of a regionally diverse culture, the country has been long influenced by Theravada Buddhism which still stands strong among the central and southern regions of Sri Lanka. While we see a South Indian influence in the Northern territory of the country, the exciting history of colonialism has also left it footprints in the form of Dutch, Portuguese and British. The vibrancy increases with the addition of music, visual arts and dance while, holistic medicinal practices, mouthwatering cuisine, spices and precious stones are included. The country is also international associated with cricket which is a favourite sport among the locals. The cultural resonance and various ethnicities add the much needed flavour to Sri Lanka tourism. With a majority of Sinhalese, there are Tamil, Muslim and Burgher minorities scattered around the country as well.

Tourism in Sri Lanka consists of many categories and here are some of the top most experiences that you should not miss.

• The Beaches: with approximately 1600 km of coastlines, our little island’s breathtakingly tropical white sandy beaches are a hit among tourists as well as locals. With a collection of sandbanks, lagoons, bays, rocky headlands, the coastal area boasts of many recreational activities such as surfing, swimming, snorkelling, boat rides, deep sea fishing, scuba diving etc. Some of the well known beaches include, Mirissa, Tangalle, Bentota, Arugam Bay, Pasikudah, Negombo and Hikkaduwa.
• Wildlife and Gardens: Our island consists of a high level of wildlife and biodiversity which has been a major component in strengthening Sri Lanka tourism. With many wildlife, botanical and zoological parks located around the island, a tour in the wild will certainly be a good addition to your holiday.
• Scenic Beauty / Heritage Sites: With magnificent waterfalls, rivers, man made reservoirs and mountainous terrains added to the scenic attractions of the country, our heritage tourism consists of mainly historical sites which speaks volumes about the developed ancient civilizations and culture. World renowned heritage sites include Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya etc.
• Culture and other: From a number of national and archaeological museums to a number of multi-cultural festivals and performing arts, the wonders are seemingly endless. Sri Lanka is well known for its hand-crafts that are available for tourists widely while they too are regionally diverse.
• Ayurvedic and Wellness