Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, located just off the southern point of India, is affectionately called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was also previously called Ceylon, and is the source of some of the world’s best tea. The huge island is the source of the world’s most famous tea, and home to diverse wildlife, varied landscapes and cultural marvels. In the jungles of Sri Lanka you can find elephants, leopards, monkeys, crocodiles and more. The easiest way to get an up-close animal experience is at the elephant sanctuaries. Check first to see if the sanctuary you’re visiting has an ethical reputation, because sadly elephants are sometimes exploited for profit. Yala National Park in the south-east is the best place to see Sri Lankan leopards and other wildlife, and Dondra Head is where you should go to see blue whales. Cultural and historical attractions are all over the island. See the impressive rock fortress at Sigiriya, the Royal Cave Temple at Dambulla, the sacred Buddhist cities of Anuradhapura and Panduwasnuwara, and tea plantations at Nuwara Eliya.