Undiscovered Sri Lanka

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.

Explore Tamil culture in Jaffna

Day 3–5 in Jaffna

Jaffna, in Sri Lanka’s far north, offers an insight into the country’s Tamil culture.

For several decades, Jaffna and its surrounding regions were at the centre of Sri Lanka’s civil war between the Tamil north and Sinhalese south. Today, Jaffna is a strikingly cosmopolitan city emerging from its troubled past.

There aren’t lots of specific tourist sites here, but it is still an interesting place to visit, baring the scars of the civil war. The public library, clock tower and the Jaffna fort are all worth visiting, with a number of religious sites such as St Mary’s Cathedral.

There are trains and buses from Colombo, with buses or cars to travel locally as well as hiring bicycles from guest houses.

Hindu temples and whale watching in Trincomalee

Day 6–9 in Trincomalee

The port city of Trincomalee is best-known as a gateway to the beaches and resorts on Sri Lanka’s east coast. However, it’s worth lingering to see the town’s Hindu temples and for whale watching between March and August.

Explore Wilpattu National Park’s lakes

Day 10–11 in Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu translates as ‘natural lakes’ in Sinhala and ‘10 lakes’ in Tamil, so it’s no surprise what the main attraction is in this national park. The many watering holes provide shelter for elephants, deer, sloth bears and elusive leopards.

Relax in the jungle

Day 12–13 in Paramakanda Rock temple

Head north to The Mudhouse, an enchanting jungle lodge surrounded by lakes and forest, and at the foot of the mysterious Paramakanda Rock Temple.