Located just 6kms from the International airport and just about 37kms from the city of Colombo, the town of Negombo is ideal for a great tropical holiday. The white sandy beaches, safe waters and the traditional fishing community in the area are sure to keep any tourist awed with its beauty. The town is also a great place to enjoy a variety of seafood cuisines freshly made.

Towards the south of Colombo lies an amazing belt of wonderful beaches, starting off with Beruwala located just 58km form the city. Beruwala has excellent water sport facilities allowing the guests to enjoy a number of recreational activities while at the destination. The first Muslim population in Sri Lanka also settled here during the 8th century AD established by Arab traders.

Further down the southern coastal line one would come across Bentota, a vast area of golden sand with resorts offering an excellent getaway. There are many water sporting activities that one could indulge, such as water-skiing, windsurfing and catamaran rides. The best time to visit Bentota is during the months of October and April, where the sea is subdued and safest for swimming. Ambalangodda located just off Bentota is also a popular destination which is also famous for its handicrafts, handloom products and batiks.

Hikkaduwa located a bit further is also a much popular tourist destination among both local and foreign tourists. This wonderful destination is a great place for those who are interested in marine life. Visitors can observe beautiful coral reefs, different species of marine life or just indulge in activities such as snorkeling and surfing. Hikkaduwa is also popular for its yearly raves and beach parties.

The North Eastern part of Sri Lanka holds several excellent beaches such as Arugam Bay which is excellent for surfing, Kalkudah, Passekudah, Nilaveli and Trincomalee. These amazing resorts are rarely frequented by tourists compared to other destinations leaving a sense of serene and exotic flare about being there.

There are hotels that are situated around the Nilaveli beach that offers comfortable and great accommodations together with delicious food cuisines and other delicacies. There are also hotels located at the near the beach itself where its pools connects with the ocean waters down the beach coast.

One can also find here the ancient Father Philip’s church. This is an old church that is situated near the beach and is one of the attraction sites in the place. This place is also an ideal place to relax and even do yoga sessions because of the tranquility and quietness of the place.

Nilaveli is a very beautiful place that is truly picture perfect and elegantly natural. The place is just like any other typical towns in Sri Lanka but once you gat to the beach proper; there is something in it that really fascinates you. The uniqueness of the place gives everyone a one of a kind feel that is only felt in Nilaveli.

The beach is ideal to visit during the months of April and October where the weather is perfect and the heat of the sun is just perfect. Visitors can enjoy picnics and other activities along the beach that will give everyone a very great time. There is no time to bore yourself here, for there are lots of things you can do along this very beautiful beach. Visit in Nilaveli beach, and have the best vacation ever!

You will find in Sri Lanka a number of locations around the world and the most beautiful beaches including a diverse range of other tourist attractions. It would be wise on your part to make a list of all tourist sites before you arrive in the country. Not included in the list of the cities of Colombo and Kandy, showing great mix of cultural, historic and modern. The historic cities such as Mihintale, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Dambula, and Aluvihara will allow you to have a peep into the history of the country. Golfers can opt for Nuwara Eliya whilst for beautiful beaches, Bentota, Weligama, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, and Beruwela are the best visits. Lovers of wild life will find delight in the wildlife sanctuaries like Bundala National Park, Horton Plains National Park, Yala National Park, and Maduru Oya National Park. Do not miss the events and festivals; the rituals, color, and celebrations will only make you wonder about the great diversity found across nations. The 10-day long Kandy Esala Perahera fair, Duruthu Perahara, Kataragama festival are a must see for any tourist visiting Sri Lanka.

You can experience cheap flying to Sri Lanka by SriLankan Airlines. A travel portal or the official website of SriLankan Airlines will best serve your purpose for online booking. This is the best place to learn about the Buddhist religion. It’s the centre of the religion that used to and still does retain its ancient cultural practices.

Once you are done with your trip to Sri Lanka, you can next plan your visit to Thailand, Singapore, and more destinations which are equally mesmerizing locations. Flying by Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways to the respective destinations will help you plan a cost effective trip. To know about package deals and low airfares for these two destinations, visit the official websites of Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

The mountain is held in sacrosanct by followers of four religions: Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. However, long before any of these religions appeared on the island, the mountain was worshipped by the aboriginal inhabitants of the island, the Veddas. They named the peak Samanala Kanda after one of the island’s four deities. Hindus also have a different name for the peak and call it Sivan Adi Padham

The large footprint is five foot seven inches by two foot six inches wide, but Buddhists believe that the original footprint is even larger and was left by the Buddha on his third and final visit to Sri Lanka. If you are a follower of the Christian religion, then on your Sri Lanka holidays, you’ll most probably hear the story of St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to the island. However, the mountain gets that name “Adam” from the Islamic belief that he stood for a thousand years on one foot as penance. The Islamic tradition tells how, when Adam was expelled from heaven, God put him on the peak to make the shock less terrible. This is because Ceylon was believed to the place on earth that most resembled heaven, with Adam’s Peak being the closest spot on earth to heaven.

On your Sri Lanka holidays you may want to take a boat trip around the peak as the mountain is most impressive when viewed from the sea. Marco Polo was among one of the explorers who visited. Early Arab seafarers who spotted the peak, described it as the largest mountain in the world. However, the peak is not even the largest in Sri Lanka.

If you want to hike around the island, then the best time to visit is from December to May. This time is popular with pilgrims and gets busiest in the winter months of January and February. The trek takes about four hours and although it is possible to climb Adam’s Peak from June to November, mist and rain make the climb much less appealing. When climbing the mountain on your Sri Lanka holidays you will spot hundreds of beautifully coloured butterflies on your climb, which have earnt Adam’s Peak its nickname, Samanalakande or butterfly mountain. Once you’ve reached the top, you will notice a small Buddhist temple and the shrine of the strange footprint. It is customary to make offerings here and small coils of silver are offered by those wanting to recover from sickness. Rainwater that falls in the footprint is also said to have special healing properties.

Your Sri Lanka holidays just won’t be complete without taking a visit to Adam’s Peak and after spending time on the spectacular mountain, you’ll understand just why the Islamic tale describes it as the closest place on earth to heaven.

These turtles are truly an amazing breed of creatures. With a lifespan of almost 80 years, these gentle beasts inhabit all the oceans of the world except the Arctic. Anyone who has stumbled upon an animal show while going through TV channels has seen the graceful beauty of a sea turtle gliding underwater effortlessly in search of a meal or to reach the shore. Even this harmless animal has suffered under the cruelty and utter selfishness of man. For many years fishermen along the western coastal belt of Sri Lanka had been used to feeding their families with sea turtle eggs which are easy find for those who live by the sea because the female sea turtle can only cover her batch of eggs under a few feet of sand because the eggs need to be incubated at a specific temperature.

Female sea turtles come to the shore during the safety of the night to lay their eggs because they are vulnerable to predators during labor. These shallow nesting locations are easy to detect when fishermen rise early morning and find adult sea turtle tracks to and from the beach. The lucky hatchlings that avoid the hands of humans are challenged with a daunting task within minutes of birth. Once they make their way through the sand they are defenseless and have a long stretch of land to cover before they reach the safety of the sea. This long wobbling struggle to reach the water is the very moment their life depends on. Seagulls and other birds of prey make the most of this all you can eat buffet as hundreds of baby sea turtles make a run for their lives.

In recent years steps have been taken within Sri Lanka and even on a global level to ensure the survival of this amazing animal. The Sea Turtle Project plays an essential part in ensuring the continuity of this species as an irreplaceable component of the natural world. Human involvement as a predator in the life cycle of sea turtles has practically vanished as hunting for sea turtles and collecting sea turtle eggs for financial purposes has been banned by the Sri Lankan government. When you’re in Sri Lanka you can also be a part of this initiative and help save the sea turtle for generations to come.

From the rich cultural heritage of the island has emerged a diverse and eclectic ethnic community, yet the result is distinctly Sri Lanka. Holidays to the island are not just about relaxing on the beach – although the beaches are outstanding. And they aren’t just about the culture – although the history is fascinating. Holidays in Sri Lanka are truly experiential – with the sum of everything you see and do; eat and drink; hear and feel; combining to form the perfect portrait of a memory of Sri Lanka.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
You will see elephants everywhere on your Sri Lanka holidays. They are depicted in carvings, artwork and coats of arms. They are almost a national emblem and one of the most rewarding things you can do in Sri Lanka is to visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Halfway between the towns of Colombo and Kandy in the central hills, the orphanage was established as a sanctuary in 1975 with four motherless elephant calves. Many offspring from those original four now live happily in the orphanage but it has also more recently become an important breeding centre. Now housing over 70 elephants – the largest group of captive elephants in the world – the centre is a beacon for conservation as well as being a popular tourist site.

Polonnaruwa
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is wonderfully well-preserved and a must see on your holidays in Sri Lanka. It was the island’s capital between the 11th and 13th Century and is filled with ancient architecture such as the intricate Dagobas, strikingly beautiful statues, and monuments. It is an easy area to explore as it is so compact, and it is lovely to wander around the ancient statues and feel the history emanating from this ancient site. Today, excavations and conservation are underway in order to further preserve these fascinating ruins.

Bentota Beaches
Reputedly the best beaches to visit on your Sri Lanka holidays are around the Bentota and Aluthgama areas. The wide sandy beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and are a popular location for diving, fishing and of course swimming. Although there are a lot of resorts in the area and it can get quite busy, it is still possible to find some quieter beaches on which to take a long, relaxing solitary stroll. You can also take a river cruise up the Bentota River to enjoy the wildlife and experience the unique geography of the river which, in some places is separated from the sea by only 100 metres of shoreline.

As far as hotels are concerned, Galle offers two hotels that are unique as well as an integral part of its history.

The Lighthouse Hotel

For budding architects, interested in past glory, the Dutch colonial style of the Lighthouse Hotel will be of particular interest. To add to the historic Dutch feel of the area, there is also a Dutch fortress about a mile away.

This beautiful hotel has some spectacular views. Positioned on a dramatic section of the peninsula, it overlooks the Indian Ocean and coastline. Ideal for Sri Lanka holidays, The Lighthouse is also situated in between two beautiful beaches

The hotel grounds are also a treat for guests. Designed for relaxation, you can spend lazy days beside one of the two large swimming pools and, as the afternoon sun starts to drop, you can simply hop over to the Anchor Bar and Grill, alongside the pools. Sumptuous sundowners await you here to wrap up a relaxing day on your Sri Lanka holiday.

The hotel is also perfect for romantic evenings. The Cinnamon Room for Fine Dining offers delicious romantic meals and the magical setting, together with stunning sunsets, completes the picture for superb dining on holiday in Sri Lanka. Another option, which might tickle the fancy of couples is the spa, which offers massage and Jacuzzi options for two.

The Amangalla

The history of this hotel is undeniably fascinating, with its buildings dating back to the 1600s. The Amangalla is actually situated within the walls of the Galle Fort, giving it prime position for discovering this part of Galle’s history whilst on a Sri Lanka holiday. Even the rooms tell a tale, with each room being individually decorated with antique furnishings.

While a guest at The Amangalla, you can also indulge in ancient Ayurvedic traditions. The Baths offer a range of ancient therapies that will relax, refresh and rejuvenate your mind and body.

The hotel is the perfect combination of luxury and history, making it an ideal choice for a holiday in Sri Lanka where you can learn the tales of a land gone by, while enjoying the comfort of your wonderful accommodation.

Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with stunning mountain scenery, tropical rainforests and amazing water falls. It is a popular holiday destination with many tourists choosing to stay in holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments.
They use this holiday accommodation as a base to explore the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.

One popular location is Adam’s peak. It is located in the Rathnapura district and is a 7,500ft high. It is the second highest peak on the island and is considered a sacred place by the islanders. It is a spiritual pilgrimage destination for the followers of many religions who visit the mountain each year. The mountain is also famous for its butterfly population and is sometimes referred to locally as the butterfly mountain.

The City of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth. The locals believe that the tooth of Lord Buddha is enshrined in the temple. Ardent followers of Buddhism visit the temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many tourists come from all over the world to visit this temple.

The Galle National Museum is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. The Museum is home to many native arts and crafts and helps show tourists the true history of the island. It is also famous for its turtle shell wares like jewellery boxes, spectacle frames, combs and bangles.

Sri Lanka is also referred to as the land of waterfalls. The Saint Claire waterfall is an important tourist destination and it is the widest waterfall in the country. Many holiday makers visit this water fall and then take a trek around the stunning local country side.

The Negombo Beach in Sri Lanka is another tourist destination. Negombo is a fishing town and has many buildings that were built in the Portuguese and Dutch era. It is possible to rent holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments in this part of Sri Lanka. Negombo is home to a large number of churches and is referred to as Little Rome.

Negombo Beach has some of the best food and restaurants in Sri Lanka. It is possible to rent holiday villas with swimming pools next to the clean white sandy beaches in this part of Sri Lanka. It is said that Negombo Beach is home to some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka also attracts many tourists to the Buddhist monasteries and temples and the stunning marine sanctuaries. Travelling in Sri Lanka, you have a lot of choices of accomdations. You can rent holiday home accommodation and get a real feel of the local culture and food. Some luxurious holiday villas with swimming pools and self catering holiday apartments served so that you can explore the wonderful island of Sri Lanka are also available.