Sri Lanka has it all – a balmy tropical climate, dramatic sandy beaches backed by lush deep green forests that sway to the sound of bird song, high-altitude hill-top hideaways, a diverse array of wildlife and traditional working tea plantations. With cities and towns bursting with colour, noise and life, Sri Lanka’s proud heritage is well-preserved and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Pretty villages and small towns sit sprawling along the coast or hidden deep into the countryside, its varied landscape dotted with important holy sites, temples and ancient ruins waiting to be explored.