Lonely Planet, the world’s largest travel guidebook publisher, has named Sri Lanka the best place in the world to visit in 2013. We take a closer look to find out why.
The exotic island nation of Sri Lanka has almost too much to offer visiting tourists.
Explorers believed they’d found the Garden of Eden when they landed on Sri Lanka’s shores, and little has changed to make modern visitors think otherwise
Surrounded by emerald-green waters, this Indian Ocean jewel boasts mystical cities, thick jungle, palm-fringed beaches and no less than eight Unesco World Heritage Sites.
In years gone by, explorers believed they’d found the Garden of Eden when they landed on Sri Lanka’s shores, and little has changed to make modern visitors think otherwise.
It’s warm, friendly people are rightly proud of their island and the rich tapestry of life it contains.
Here you will find Buddhist monasteries, ancient forts and ruined temples that represent the ancient civilisations that once called this island home.
Rolling tea plantations are evidence of a lifestyle that hasn’t changed for generations, while the primordial cries of leopards and other exotic wildlife can be heard in the mangrove forests.
To find out more about Sri Lanka’s fascinating history, visit the Colombo National Museum, an imposing Victorian building in the capital.
While in Colombo, take in the sights and sounds of Pettah, a lively district of bazaars, street markets, temples and mosques.
No stay in the capital would be complete without a visit to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple, built on a site said to have been visited by the Buddha more than 2,000 years ago.
Outside the capital, Kandy is the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings and well worth a visit for its fascinating historical sites and breathtaking surrounding countryside.
Sigiriya is a granite mountain that rises abruptly 200 metres above the jungle and contains stunning 1,500-year-old frescoes, while Nuwara Eliya is a 2,000-metre-high hill station at the heart of the tea-growing area.
After admiring the grandeurs of the past, visitors can retire to luxury beach resorts, modern city hotels, colonial countryside retreats and jungle lodges.
Children will be just as wide-eyed as their parents in Sri Lanka, where they can play castaway on the beaches and visit elephant sanctuaries and wildlife reserves.
What are you waiting for?
ROCS Travel specialises in Sri Lankan holidays, offering diverse itineraries in this wonderful country.
Sri Lanka Experience packages, inclusive of return Emirates flights, seven nights’ superior half-board accommodation, return airport transfers, personal English-speaking chauffeur guide, seven days of excursions and passenger taxes, start from €2,059 per person.
Alternatively, join ROCS Travel’s Colin Aquilina for a holiday experience of a lifetime. Departing on September 9, he will be escorting a group on a 20-day Exotic Indian Ocean, Cultural Sri Lankan and Dubai journey.
The tour starts with a 10-night, five-star, round-island tour of Sri Lanka, followed by a four-night stay in the Maldives at the five-star Sheraton Resort and Spa, plus a four-night stay at the Radisson Royal on Sheik Zayed Road in Dubai.
Full tour package rates, inclusive of all flights, transfers, excursions as per brochure, daily breakfast plus 10 dinners in Sri Lanka, and passengers taxes start from €3,499 per person.
For more information call ROCS Travel on 2015 1515, visit www.rocsholidays.com or e-mail travel@rocsgrp.com.
Sri Lanka at a glance
• See the famed Buddhist relic at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
• Visit areas of outstanding natural beauty.
• Book a safari or an off-road driving experience.
• Try diving and water sports.
• See elephants at Pinnawela and Yala National Park.
• Pamper yourself in premium spas and try Ayurvedic treatments.
• Relax on beautiful golden beaches.
• Enjoy a thrilling river-rafting experience.