Arrive here
Katunayake
The international airport. We meet you at arrivals.
20 min to Negombo
North-west coast
Lagoons, fishing towns and coconut country near the airport.
Lagoon and fish market
Negombo
Dawn fish market, then a boat through the lagoon’s mangroves.
20 min from the airport
Our home
Dankotuwa
Walk a coconut estate and have lunch with us.
40 min from Negombo
Temples and wetlands
Chilaw
An ancient Shiva temple and a wetland full of pelicans and storks.
45 min from Dankotuwa
Lagoon and salt pans
Puttalam
A quiet lagoon town, and the way into Wilpattu National Park.
1 h from Chilaw
Dolphins and kitesurfing
Kalpitiya
Spinner dolphins November to April, kitesurfing May to October.
1 h from Puttalam
Far north
Tamil temples, Dutch forts and the island’s northern tip.
The Tamil north
Jaffna
Temples, an old Dutch fort, crab curry and the ferry to Delft Island.
7 h by train from Colombo
The northern tip
Point Pedro
The island’s northernmost point: fishing boats, a lighthouse and sand dunes.
45 min from Jaffna
Cultural Triangle
Ancient capitals, giant stupas and a rock fortress.
Ancient capital
Anuradhapura
Giant white stupas and a sacred Bo tree planted over 2,000 years ago.
3.5 h from Jaffna
Rock fortress
Sigiriya
The 5th-century citadel. Climb it at first light.
2 h from Anuradhapura
Medieval capital
Polonnaruwa
Royal ruins by a vast lake, and the rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara.
1 h from Sigiriya
East coast
Reefs, lagoons and surf, best April to September.
Reef and whales
Trincomalee
Clifftop Koneswaram, snorkelling at Pigeon Island and whales in season.
2 h from Polonnaruwa
Lagoons and the old fort
Batticaloa
A lagoon town with a Dutch fort, a lighthouse and its famous “singing fish”.
3 h from Trincomalee
Surf town
Arugam Bay
A laid-back surf beach. The point break is best May to September.
3 h from Batticaloa
Deep south
Leopards, pilgrims, quiet coves and the old fort at Galle.
Leopards
Yala
Dawn safaris in leopard country. Closed September to mid October.
2.5 h from Arugam Bay
Pilgrim town
Kataragama
Sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. Join the evening puja.
30 min from Yala
Quiet beaches
Tangalle
Long, empty bays, with turtles nesting at nearby Rekawa.
1.5 h from Kataragama
Coves and surf
Dikwella
Hiriketiya’s horseshoe surf cove and a giant seated Buddha.
30 min from Tangalle
The southern tip
Dondra Head
The island’s southernmost point and its tallest lighthouse.
20 min from Dikwella
Whales and beaches
Mirissa
Blue whales November to April, then the beach.
15 min from Dondra Head
The fort town
Galle
Sunset on the 17th-century ramparts.
45 min from Mirissa
Hill country
A sacred peak, tea estates, gems and spice gardens.
Gems and rainforest
Ratnapura
The city of gems, with waterfalls and Sinharaja rainforest within reach.
2.5 h from Galle
Adam’s Peak
Sri Pada
Climb through the night for sunrise at the summit, December to May.
Trails from Ratnapura or Hatton
Tea country
Nuwara Eliya
Stay on a tea estate and pluck with the morning shift.
2 h from Hatton
Cool hill town
Bandarawela
A quiet tea town with cool air and views down to the plains.
1.5 h from Nuwara Eliya
Trains and hill walks
Ella
The hill-country train and the Nine Arch Bridge.
30 min from Bandarawela
The hill capital
Kandy
Evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth, then the lake.
4 h from Ella
Spice gardens
Matale
Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and pepper, grown side by side.
40 min from Kandy