Off the southern tip of India, the island nation of Sri Lanka is an all-encompassing destination with picturesque beaches, Serengeti-level wildlife, historic ancient ruins, and plenty of luxurious resorts. After a three-decade-long civil war, the resilient population is looking onward and the country is ripe for travel with rebuilt coastlines and infrastructure.
Beaches, Wildlife, Adventure
Temperatures hover around 27°C all year round thanks to Sri Lanka's close proximity to the Equator and experiences two alternating monsoon seasons. The best time to visit the west and south coasts and is from December to March, while the best weather on the east coast is from April to September.
Street-food stalls, mom-and-pop shops, plant-based menus and community activists. We can’t eat in fancy restaurants every night—and this new list proves why we don’t want to, either.
We love our hotels, but #villalife is really something special. Get inspired for your next group trip with this round-up of killer villas across the region.
Sri Lanka has reopened to foreign tourists with new COVID-19 testing requirements and travel bubbles.
Governments around the region got you locked in? With Michelin meals, multimedia escapes and even leopard-spotting excursions, these hotels will (almost) leave you wishing that quarantine would never end.
If knowledge is power, then self-reliance is the new luxury. As the routines of our lives are upended, more of us are seeking to travel in ways that prepare us for whatever the world throws at us next. Here’s how to prep for the survivalist-tourism trend.
There’s a reason so many independent-minded travelers want to keep the Teardrop of India on the DL. Inland from Sri Lanka’s gorgeous southern beaches, the simple, sustainable, spiritual life beckons.
With lockdowns easing, the tantalizing call of distant shores is made even more alluring by these exclusive T+L reader deals.
Here’s when and where you might be able to travel again in Asia.
Bohemian isles, castaway retreats, adults-only hideouts—make it a magical couple’s getaway in one of these lush luxury escapes.
Sail into Komodo territory, visit retired elephants in Phuket, or try horse whispering in Gurgaon—this assortment of new experiences across Asia provides animal-friendly answers to the call of the wild.
First class isn’t the only way to fly. How about flatbeds, chefs and your own crew on one-of-a-kind trips that let you skip the customs line? Private-jet tours are taking well-heeled travelers for the most luxurious cultural exchanges.
Sleepy Tangalle, on the south coast of Sri Lanka, is getting investments on its perfect sands. Head there soon, before you have to share the waves.
Southern Sri Lanka’s newest wave of hotels carries on the simple, sustainable and hybrid spirit of Ceylon’s most famous native son, architect Geoffrey Bawa.
