Luxury Holidays Asia

Sri Lanka is an ideal destination for an exciting luxury holiday as it’s one of the rarest places that offer a wide range of natural landscapes that are in astonishingly close proximity to each other. Sri Lanka can soothe the senses with the least time spent on travelling around: from the fog-filled mountainous terrains to the salty, sandy beaches, or the tranquil and ancient landmarks to the buzzing, lavish lifestyle of the city. Here’s a list of the top ten must-explore tourist destinations to experience during your luxury holiday in Sri Lanka.

Enjoy the sunset over the horizon on the rooftop of a five-star hotel at Galle Face or any other part of the city of Colombo. Shop till you drop at a wide range of malls and local stores and have some fun at local entertainment and leisure parks. Let the lush nightlife of the heart of the country give you an adrenaline rush. Make sure to explore the bustling streets of Colombo, where you can witness crowded markets full of fresh produce and busy shops, which will showcase another facet of Sri Lanka.

There is nothing more exciting than getting on a 4×4 jeep to head into the thick jungle to explore untamed wildlife in their natural habitat. Enjoy a full day and the night in the wilderness at the relaxing Sky Nests for a grandeur stay and an aerial view of the jungle, ideal for leopard spotting. You don’t necessarily have to stop fulfilling your wildlife cravings at Yala. Keep exploring other parks such as the Wilpattu National Park and Minneriya National Parks if you can’t get enough of the thrill of wildlife adventures.

Amongst the thin white mist in the island’s central, the mountainous terrains are home to one of the country’s best exports – tea. Learn the art of tea leaf picking and all you need to know on the processing stages during your tea plantation visit. At the end of the day, you could savour a good tea tasting! Grab a hot cup of tea, recline your chair and look over the green tea plantations spreading across the chilly landscape, as far as your eyes can see.

Ever seen a beach which washes towards, not sandy beaches, but a forest instead? Located at the bay of Galle in Unawatuna, Jungle Beach is one of the most underrated yet gorgeous travel destinations in Sri Lanka that needs to be explored. This location offers snorkelling, scuba diving, boat rides and a large variety of water sports and activities alongside rich cabins and resorts to reside in. If you’re looking for a recreational activity-filled morning and a session of relaxation in the beach’s evening breeze, then Jungle Beach is a place worth considering to explore during your luxury holiday in Sri Lanka.

Set foot on the cobblestone pathways of Galle and get an exemplary view of the colonial architecture present in your midst. The Galle Dutch Fort is one of Galle’s oldest constructions that still stands up-to-date. The area is known to be a rich tropical paradise, and rightfully so. The community around it has kept developing its standards. With a range of activities such as whale watching and cycling and village explorations, this is yet another relaxing holiday getaway in a much more peaceful setting.

One of the most visited UNESCO world heritage sites in the lion nation, the soaring “Lion Fortress”, surprisingly, wasn’t a natural site. It was strategically built by King Kashyapa, a ruler of a native Sinhalese dynasty, way back in the fifth century. Witness more of the finer things apart from the great rock that survived through the centuries – the vivid frescoes, ancient pools beside the immense gardens that spread for acres or the view from the King’s upper palace right at the rock’s flat top.

Once considered the epicentre of Sinhalese culture, Anuradhapura has a multitude of ancient constructions and artefacts to offer. It sets the stage for one of the most historically and culturally rich ancient cities of Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura is a perfect display of the country’s scenery, culture, religion and monarchy. A list of must-visit places in Anuradhapura includes the Mihintale, Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Kadireshan Kovil, Isurumuniya and dozens of other culturally rich and scenic sites.

Yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site on our list. Hop on and get a glimpse of the 11th-century city on a bicycle ride! Gaze at the architectural galore of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, home to a wide variety of enormous historical statues. Archaeological museums, king’s palaces, the vast area of local farming schemes massive lakes and exuberant paddy fields are more sights worth witnessing within the city.

Plan a tour to the hill country’s tourist hotspot – the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which too was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1988. The sacred tooth of Lord Buddha is sheltered within this golden roofed temple. It is considered to be one of the most sacred relics in Buddhist culture. In its vicinity lie smaller temples, shrines and museums that too are worth visiting to fulfil your spiritual needs.

Discover the centre of Sri Lankan Hindu culture, Jaffna, at the northern most province of the island. This war-ridden city has seen much improvement during its post-war regeneration. The Nallur Kandaswamy, one of the most famous kovils in Sri Lanka, is one of Jaffna’s main cultural attractions. The origins of the kovil of vibrant hues and golden arches date back to 948 A.D. and are of much significance to Hindus. Together with the other top vacation spots like the Jaffna Fort, Delft Island, Casuarina Beach and Jaffna Archeological Museum, Jaffna is one top tourist destination in Sri Lanka that you do not want to miss.