Rather than tell you why you should travel to Sri Lanka, I'll show you. Check out these photos that highlight the wildlife, UNESCO sites, beaches, culture, people and food of Sri Lanka
Wildlife of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots. It has one of the highest rates of endemic species (not found anywhere else) anywhere in the world! 23% of all flowering plants are endemic and 16 mammals. My personal favourite of course is the Toque macaque.
It's a paradise for wildlife and nature lovers. Yala National Park has the highest density of leopards on the planet. I.e. if you really want to see a leopard, head to Sri Lanka. I visited Yala three times and was fortunate enough to see one on each of my visits. I'd previously been to Africa four times and while I'd seen leopard tracks, the actual leopard alluded me. Every. Single. Time.
Sri Lanka is also a great place to observe elephants in the wild. With over 5000, there are more Asian elephants found here than anywhere else in Asia. Minneraya National Park is famous for the "gathering". Approximately 300 elephants come together each year during the dry season. Even if you're not travelling to Sri Lanka at this time, on our Wildlife and Cultural Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour, you're guaranteed to spot elephants. Numerous times!
I got some great photos from observing them in Kaudulla National Park. Of special importance and something near and dear to my heart is that the best place to see elephants in Sri Lanka is in the wild. Please don't visit them at one of the elephant orphanages. The article explains how terrible this is for the elephants.
Beaches of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has 1340 km (1833 miles) of coastline. Your hardest challenge won't be finding a beach but choosing which ones to visit. If you're there between November and April hop in a boat for a chance to spot the largest animal on the planet. I'm talking about the blue whale. They can reach lengths of up to 30 m (98 ft). Check out what the Nomadic Boys thought. Needless to say, I'm beyond jealous!
UNESCO Sites of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. That's pretty incredible when you consider how small the country is. We visit three of them on our Wildlife and Cultural Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour. You'll find photos of two of them, the ancient city of Sigiriya and the Old Town and fortifications of Galle, below.
Culture and People of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a mix of modern and traditional. You'll find many regional differences. And also rich traditions of music, dance, art and indigenous holistic medicine. I was fortunate enough to experience this firsthand by staying at an Ayurvedic Retreat. It was intense. And honestly, there were times I hated it. Still, the science and philosophy behind it is fascinating. And I did feel better afterwards.
Sri Lankans are warm, friendly and seem to be always smiling. They're shy but do like to dress up for special occasions when they put their shyness aside.
Sri Lankan Cuisine
The national dish of Sri Lanka is rice and curry. Coconut, rice and spices are staples in Sri Lankan cuisine. Another popular dish and my personal favourite, Coconut Sambol. It's a paste made of ground coconut with peppers, dried fish and lime juice. I ate this every single day in Sri Lanka and sought it out. It's SO good.
Sri Lanka is also an easy place for vegetarians to travel. There are many vegetarian curries available and lentils are also frequently used in cooking.
I enjoyed my time in Sri Lanka so much. The biodiversity and cultural wealth for such a tiny island is incredible. That's why I collaborated with a local tour operator to offer you a Wildlife and Cultural Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour. You can check it out here:
