Sri Lanka Travel Information
Sri Lanka still has the charm conjured up by its earlier name of Serendib or as its colonial name of Ceylon suggests. It’s an island set in the Indian Ocean, just 30km off the southeast coastal tip of India. Being close to the Equator, Sri Lanka’s seasons are not well defined and there is no cold winter but the temperature can drop to an average low of 12 degrees in the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya or soar to a high of 33 degrees in the east coast town of Trincomalee.
While the island has plenty of beaches, the most popular being along the west and south coasts, with the east coast attracting visitors from May to September, it is also a destination for the nature lover with lush vegetation, broad rivers and plunging waterfalls and wild life ranging from elephants, leopards and crocodiles to peacocks and beautiful butterflies. There are ruins over 2,000 years old, modern hotels, and a people delighted to welcome visitors.
Sri Lankan Trips
Within Sri Lanka’s area of 65,525 sq km (25,299 square miles – about half the size of England) there are so many places to explore, guests often return on holiday year after year so they can discover more of Sri Lanka. The island’s length is 435km and it is 240km at its widest point. Most of the island is low-lying and flat but the south central part is mountainous with nine peaks over 2,133m (7,000ft) high.
It’s not only the island’s scenic beauty that is so enchanting, there are ancient ruins and religious shrines (the Cultural Triangle), national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, charming traditional buildings, a pastoral way of life contrasting with the hubbub of the towns and cities, brilliant beaches and a salubrious climate.
The best way to explore the island is with a chauffeur-guide either on a standard tour or following an itinerary which Walkers Tours can arrange to include places of special interest and convenient accommodation