Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle and Maldives beaches

Historic markets and modern malls in Colombo

Day 1–2 in Colombo

Cosmopolitan Colombo is more than just the gateway to Sri Lanka.

Here, you can learn about Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic history, with churches, mosques and temples all in a line, street food with influences from around the world, and shopping in a mix of ancient markets and huge malls in Pettah.

Visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa

Day 3–5 in Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, a thriving centre of commerce and religion.

Today, visitors can explore the site’s archaeological treasures, including the Sacred Quadrangle and a number of temples. Combine your trip with a visit to the nearby Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

See Buddha’s tooth in Kandy

Day 6–7 in Kandy

Central Kandy is one of Sri Lanka’s most significant religious sites, being home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – a tooth from Buddha himself.

The golden-roofed temple is actually part of the Royal Palace complex, which includes several museums and temples.

The highlight is the 10-day Esala Perahera (Festival of the Tooth), when the tooth is paraded around the city by 65 decorated elephants, normally held in late July into early August. The festival has its roots back to the arrival in Sri Lanka of Kandy’s sacred tooth back in the 4th century AD.

Kandy is an excellent base for exploring the Cultural Triangle as it has good road and rail connections, plus a multitude of cafes, bars and restaurants. A major attraction is Kandy’s contrasting architecture, with crowded markets rubbing shoulders with grand colonial buildings and gold-shrouded Buddhist temples.

Kandy’s fierce sense of pride was part of the reason it became the last Buddhist bolthole, resisting Portuguese and Dutch forces in turn for three centuries before finally succumbing to the British in 1815. It’s no mere stark historical site either – consider timing your visit to coincide with one of the lively cultural events that bring life to the streets throughout the year.

The Kandy area played a key role in the ferment of political and religious pressure that built in the run-up to the terrorist attacks of 2019. Steer clear of political and religious conversations here, even if you think you know the other person’s viewpoint, as unintentional offence can easily be caused.

Explore the lesser-visited tea country of Haputale

Day 8–10 in Haputale

The hillside town of Haputale is a little-visited stop on the train route into tea country from Kandy to Ella.

Surrounded by tea plantations, this is the perfect place for a hike through Sri Lanka’s countryside away from the crowds. Take a side-trip to Diyaluma Waterfall to see the country’s second-highest waterfall, complete with three sets of pools to soak in.

Return to Colombo

Day 11 in Colombo

Transfer to Colombo for a night in the capital before your flight to the Maldives tomorrow.

Relax in luxury in the Maldives

Day 12–16 in Maldives

Made up of more than 1,100 individual islands, the Maldives is home to arguably the world’s finest beaches. There are literally hundreds of fine white powder beaches jutting up against an impossibly blue Indian Ocean. But it’s what’s in the water that makes the Maldives truly special.

The archipelago’s clear waters teem with marine life, lively corals and underwater caves waiting to be explored by intrepid divers. Look for schools of brightly coloured tropical fish, manta rays, turtles and sharks — all in water so warm that wetsuits normally aren’t necessary.

The Maldives isn’t just about the ocean. Recent changes have allowed locals to open independent guesthouses, allowing travellers to explore the islands beyond the big resorts. Island-hopping is now possible, opening up the Maldives to a whole new type of travel.