With glorious beaches, mountainous wilds and countless cultural treasures packed neatly into an area half the size of England, Sri Lanka has long been a favourite long-haul destination for British travellers. But visitor numbers there are still well down on pre-pandemic levels – so if you go now, you’ll “see the sights without the crowds”, says Emma Thomson in The Times, while also giving the country’s economy a “much-needed” boost.
First-time visitors might like to start with the classic tour – a loop starting off in the island’s biggest city, Colombo, and taking in the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the north, the holy city of Kandy in the central highlands, and the seaside fort city of Galle in the south.
Between Polonnaruwa and Kandy lies Sri Lanka’s most famous site, Sigiriya, a 180-metre-high column of magma “rising abruptly from the forest” and crowned with the remains of the fifth century palace of King Kashyapa. Frescoes of his “bejewelled harem and their gravity-defying breasts” adorn its sides, and steep iron stairs lead to the top, from which there are wonderful views across the treetops to the rice paddies, “shimmering” lakes and hills beyond.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A short drive further on is the Dambulla Cave Temple, a site of Buddhist worship dating back two millennia, and consisting of five caves “emblazoned” with thousands of “vibrant” images of Buddha and bodhisattvas.
In the central highlands, the road snakes around steep terraces planted with tea. To the south lies Yala National Park, one of the best places in the world to see leopards, and home to plenty of other animals, too – Sri Lankan black bears, crocodiles, elephants, water buffalo, sambar deer – all of which have lately become more “relaxed”, and consequently easier to spot, owing to the absence of tourist crowds.
Cox & Kings has a 12-night tour from £1,895pp, including flights, transfers and guiding (coxandkings.co.uk).
-
Political cartoons for October 18Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on ChicagoTalking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Crossword: October 18, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Diane Keaton: the Oscar-winning star of Annie HallIn the Spotlight Something’s Gotta Give actor dies from pneumonia at the age of 79
-
Heirs and Graces: an ‘enthralling’ deep dive into the decline of nobilityThe Week Recommends Eleanor Doughty explores the ‘bizarre fascination’ with the British aristocracy
-
6 sporty homes with tennis courtsFeature Featuring a clay tennis court in New York and a viewing deck in California
-
Critics’ choice: Seafood in the spotlightFeature An experimental chef, a newspaper-worthy newcomer, and a dining titan’s fresh spin-off
-
Taylor Swift’s Showgirl: Much glitter, little goldFeature Swift’s new album has broken records, but critics say she may have gotten herself creatively stuck
-
Theater review: Masquerade218 W. 57th St., New York City 218 W. 57th St., New York City
-
Film reviews: Roofman and Kiss of the Spider WomanFeature An escaped felon’s heart threatens to give him away and a prisoner escapes into daydreams of J.Lo.
-
Cyrano de Bergerac: a ‘huge-hearted’ productionThe Week Recommends This ‘playful’ and ‘poignant’ rendition brings new life to the ‘gilet-sporting, verse-spouting’ titular soldier
