There’s so much to see and do in Sri Lanka, you’ll need to visit here on holiday several times to enjoy everything. Here’s our list to start you off.

1.         Watch the sunset from Galle Face Green

Galle Face Green is the lung of Colombo, an open stretch of grass beside the sea that links the old Colombo Fort area with the metropolis developed to its south. The Galle Face Green faces west and is the perfect place to watch the sun, as a huge golden orb, setting into the Indian Ocean.

It’s fun (and free) to stroll along the waterfront, as the citizens of Colombo do, enjoying the breeze, the camaraderie, the evening hawker snacks, and even buying a kite and having a go at flying it, as the sun sets.

2. Swim in the Indian Ocean

Head 60km south to the gorgeous beaches in the coves and bays along the west coast at Beruwala & Bentota and Hikkaduwa (98km)from October to April when the sea is invitingly calm.

From April to October, plunge into the Indian Ocean from the beaches along the East Coast, especially at Uppuveli just north of Trincomalee (257km from Colombo) or go south east to sport in the shallow waters at Passikudah (273km from Colombo).

3. Sample Sri Lanka’s rice & curry

Rice and curry is Sri Lankans’ staple and you’ll be offered it for lunch, dinner and even breakfast. It’s amazing what canbe served as a curry; not just meat or fish but vegetables,roots and even flowers too.

A good place to experiment is a hotel’s buffet which will usually have a rice and curry corner where you can sample the items you fancy. Once you have the taste for it, angle for an invitation to lunch at a village homestead where the curries will be rich in flavour and smoky from being cooked over a wood fire.

4. Stroll around the Galle Fort ramparts

Galle Fort (116km by road from Colombo) in the island’s southwest corner is the best preserved colonial sea fortress in the whole of Asia. It’s also a thriving residential community with 470 houses, ranging in style from Dutch colonial mansions with columns and deep stoeps to nifty, art deco town houses.

It’s Number 200 on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and there’s no fee to enter and stroll its cobbled streets, popping into the trendy gift shops and cafés, and mounting the ramparts to walk right around the top of the fort’s walls.

5. Tour a tea factory and drink fresh tea

Sri Lanka is the home of Pure Ceylon Tea and there are tea factories near Kandy and higher in the hill country that welcome visitors to see how tea is processed and to taste a cup near the garden where it was grown. In Colombo, sip serendipity in the tea house run by the Sri Lanka Tea Board in the restored Grand Stand of the old Colombo Race Course.

6. Visit the Temple of the Tooth

Not only is the journey to Kandy, 116km from Colombo by road, train or air taxi, spectacular and the former medieval kingdom city endlessly interesting, the visit to Kandy’s revered Tooth Temple (Sri Dalada Maligawa) becomes a unique spiritual experience.

The tooth, taken from the ashes after the cremation of Gauthama Buddha, is an object of veneration to Buddhists and of curiosity to visitors. You don’t actually see it, but can join locals in paying respects at the shrine.

7. Ride a hill country train from Nanu Oya to Bandarawela

One of the world’s great train trips. From Nanu Oya by train on the single broad gauge track that climbs to the rail summit at Pattipola 1,911m above sea level, and then wends its way through clouds with hill top views of rushing waterfalls and plunging valleys on a unique two hour journey to the hill sanatorium town of Bandarawela., 197km from Colombo.

8. Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Like a mushroom of golden-hued granite protruding 183m into the searing blue sky from a hot, flat wilderness of scrub land (transformed in the rainy season to a water garden) the Lion Rock at Sigiriya (168km from Colombo), is a formidable sight. Seeing the ruins of a palace built in the 5^th century (and awesome views) as well as ancient, voluptuous frescoes are a fitting reward for the climb.

9.  Experience Elephants

Elephants can be seen in National Parks, in the Dehiwela Zoo (10km south of Colombo) and thrillingly in the elephant orphanage at Pinnawela (on the way to Kandy) where visitors can watch elephants bathe and even help feed orphaned baby ones. Elephant riding in a howdah can be arranged at Habarana, 197km from Colombo near Sigiriya.

10.   Look for Leopards at Yala National Park

Leopards come out to play at Yala National Park (283km from Colombo) and, as well as elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles, can be seen during dawn or dusk jeep safaris of a few hours. Lots of chances to photograph wild life in the raw before enjoying a hearty breakfast or sundowner cocktails at your hotel. (The park is closed from 1 September to 16 October every year.)

Sri Lanka’s main attractions are accessible by train. If you consider the journey as an adventure, you’ll have fun enjoying the awesome scenery, and the people you meet.

There have been trains in Sri Lanka for 150 years, and some of the rolling stock is pretty old so don’t expect the efficient luxury of train travel in Europe, North America or Australia.

While steam engines were phased out several decades ago, some of the diesel locomotives and their rickety passenger carriages have been in service for more than 30 years. These run on the same lines as sleek, modern Chinese, Indian or Korean power sets, so you’ll need to do some research to catch the best.

Buying a ticket is simple. Turn up at the station at least 10 minutes before the train is scheduled to depart (or earlier so you can secure a seat if you’re boarding the train at its originating station), join the queue at the ticket office, buy a ticket, then wait patiently for the (often late) train to arrive.

It’s best to board the train at the nearest carriage, and then work your way along the aisle to find a vacant seat. If there is 2^nd class available, buy a ticket for that as it doesn’t cost much more than 3^rd class and the chance of getting a seat is better.

Some trains have seats bookable not more than 10 days in advance through Colombo Fort Railway Station. Privately run luxury, air-conditioned carriages with comfortable seats attached to some trains can be booked on line (www.rajadhani.lk & www.exporail.lk).

There is an efficient on-line railway timetable service run on www.gov.lk which gives train times and fares.

Here is our brief guide to Sri Lanka’s best train trips.

Colombo to Kandy

For a day trip, opt for the Intercity Express (ICE) that leaves Colombo Fort at 07.00 and rattles through lowland plains before climbing to reach the plateau crowning the former Kandyan kingdom at 09.30, a rail journey of 118km. The train leaves for the return trip at 15.00, arriving Colombo at 17.36.

There is also a morning ICE train leaving Kandy at 06.15 reaching Colombo at 08.52 and returning from Colombo at 15.35, reaching Kandy at 18.06. All the ICE trains have an observation saloon as well as a privately maintained, luxury air-conditioned carriage.

Colombo to Badulla

Real rail enthusiasts have a choice of traditional train travel or going to the hill country by the modern Chinese-built power sets that have air-conditioned 1^st class as well as 2^nd & 3^rd class compartments. These smart new trains leave Colombo at 05.55 and 09.45 daily to reach Badulla, a distance by rail of 290km (via Kandy), at 16.06 and 19.23 respectively.

A train with older carriages hauled by a diesel locomotive makes a departure daily from Colombo Fort at 08.30, by-passing Kandy to arrive at Badulla at 17.55. As well as an observation saloon, it also has 2^nd & 3^rd class carriages and air-conditioned luxury, privately maintained carriages. This train leaves Badulla daily at 08.30, reaching Colombo at 18.57.

The hill country rail journey is scenically impressive, with the most dramatic section of plunging valleys and misty mountains viewable as the train climbs to the track’s summit of 1,911m (6,266ft) above sea level at Pattipola (223 rail km from Colombo) on the journey from Nanu Oya to Haputale.

Colombo to Anuradhapura

The Northern Line is being extended to Jaffna and is popular for tourists visiting the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Scenically the journey is not as dramatic as a hill country trip as the train speeds across plains, but it delivers a fascinating insight into rural life.

Fast trains have an air-conditioned observation saloon while the 16.20 departure from Colombo Fort which arrives at Anuradhapura at 20.06 has a privately-operated luxury carriage. That train returns from Anuradhapura at 06.40 arriving Colombo Fort at 10.25.

Colombo to Trincomalee

At present only one train a day (and that’s overnight) runs between Colombo and the prominent East Coast port of Trincomalee, a journey of about 295km by rail. The journey begins as the train follows the Northern Line route to the interior town of Maho and then branches off through forests and plains to the East.

The train has a privately-operated luxury air-conditioned carriage on Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays, with a return from Trinco on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday. It leaves Colombo Fort at 21.00; arrives Trinco at 05.10; and from Trinco at 19.30, reaching Fort at 04.05.

Colombo via Galle to Matara

This is a super trip by rail since the line runs alongside the West Coast beaches from Colombo to Galle, and then along the South Coast to Matara. There are several trains a day but only one (the 06.55 departure from Colombo, arriving Galle at 09.26; returning as the 14.10 departure from Matara and departing 15.30 from Galle) has seats bookable in advance on-line in a private air-conditioned luxury rail car.

Using this train it’s possible to make a day trip of 62km by rail to Bentota (for the beach) or 116km to Galle (for the irresistible charm of the old walled Fort). It’s an easy and enjoyable trip, even though you’ll have to get up early.

Visiting the Mask Factory and Museum will give you an insight into Sri Lankan traditional arts and crafts as well as Sri Lankan handicrafts. Although mask making is a very popular tradition in Sri Lanka, it is a dying tradition, and the best place to get your fill of mask lore is the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum. Upon your visit to the factory and museum you will be mesmerized by the rich history and lengthy procedure of making a mask. At the Museum you will witness two entire collections of masks belonging to the Sanni Yakuma ritual and Kolam Dance, and the primitive tools used to carve these masks. The museum also has a small library and a mask workshop as well. The mask library here is one of a kind and contains anthropological records of mask-making and the history of traditional performances that use masks.

It is a must to visit the workshop and watch the talented local artisans work their magic on a piece of wood. The carvings and the traditional colours used will give you a taste of the rich talent of these artisans that breathe life into pieces of wood. You can also buy yourself your own mask as souvenir to remind you of your adventures in Beruwala, Sri Lanka. If you’re feeling creative, purchase an unpainted mask and unmask your creativity.

The Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum is situated merely 8kms away from Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and it is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel to the factory and museum. Leave the organizing and curating of your visit to the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum to us! We will ensure everything is done and planned out for your excursion; all you need to do is let us know your preferences. Visiting the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum is one of the most important items on the Cinnamon Bey Beruwala bucket list and we will ensure that you enjoy the experience to the maximum!

We at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts and Cinnamon Bey Beruwala are ready to welcome you for a memorable and safe stay with us! With Cinnamon Care we ensure the safest way to visit your favourite paradise island and enjoy nature, vibrant history, Sri Lankan traditional arts and crafts and the rich culture Sri Lanka has been endowed with!

 If you are planning your first visit to Sri Lanka, this is a sensible question because this is a country with so many diverse attractions.

Obviously a lot will depend on whether you are young and fit and want to try something extreme like white water rafting (that’s at Kitulgala, 100km east of Colombo) or you’re more mature and relish great cuisine as well as a chance to unwind as you enjoy a carefree holiday.

Beaches

The island’s lush beauty is a result of generous rainfall so if you want to avoid the bliss of daily cooling rain showers, try a holiday on the West Coast beaches from October to April, and on the East Coast ones from April to October. For sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and boat trips, base yourself in one of those coastal resorts on the West Coast, like Beruwala (58km south of Colombo), Bentota (62km), and Hikkaduwa (97km), or Trincomalee (257km from Colombo) on the East Coast in their seasonal months.

Take a Tour

Our tip for getting the best out of Sri Lanka is to combine a few days of relaxation at a beach resort and then move to the interior to see some of Sri Lanka’s varied attractions.

A stay in Kandy (116km from Colombo) would enable you to visit the revered Temple of the Tooth, enjoy a day at the nearby Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, and to make day tours to the surrounding tea country and colonial highlights of Nuwara Eliya.

By moving on to Habarana (100 km from Kandy) as your next base, you are within easy distance of some fascinating places to visit on day trips. There is Anuradhapura (60 km from Habarana), with its Bodhi tree, the oldest living tree in documented history being descended from the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

There are ancient ruins at Polonnaruwa (just 45km from Habarna) and The Lion Rock at Sigiriya (30km from Habarana), a 5^th century Royal Citadel, that can be climbed by the hardy. At Dambulla (25km from Habarana) a rock temple dating from the 1^st century BC with 150 life-size images of Buddha, is an inspiring cultural experience.

Wild Life

Wild life enthusiasts have treats in store by visiting the island’s many National Parks, with the one at Yala (265km southeast of Colombo) being especially rewarding (but closed September to mid-October). Near Haputale (181km from Colombo via Ratnapura) in the hills, there is an unusual reserve alive with butterflies next door to a granite colonial mansion now a Novitiate, called Adisham.

It’s trees rather than animals that you want to see, near Habarana, you can visit Sri Lanka’s only dry-zone arboretum, savaged land returned to its natural state (Kandalama Road, Dambulla) or make a trip to the Sinharaja Forest while staying in the beach resorts of Hikkaduwa, Bentota or Beruwala and to the nearby, ornate but charming, private gardens of Brief and Lunuganga.

City Excitement

Perhaps the best destination, if this is your first visit to Sri Lanka, is Colombo. With the widening of boulevards, the tearing down of walls, the opening up of parks and playing fields, and the restoration of Victorian and Edwardian edifices to become leisure centres and shopping malls, Colombo is returning to its glorious reputation as “The Garden City.”

With top notch hotels offering super wining and dining, as well as swimming pools gymnasiums and spas, the city also has everything the shopaholic or night owl wants. There are casinos with modest stakes and free food and drink, sensational cocktail bars, lively pubs, independent restaurants and cafés offering cuisine of every ethnicity and shopping malls with the latest fashions at bargain prices, and irresistible souvenirs.

For the culture vulture there are several different museums as well as art galleries, and a street where local artists hang their painting on the railings. For the active, there are parks, jogging tracks, the Royal Colombo Golf Club, and for spectators, frequent cricket and even rugby matches to watch.

Day Trips

Colombo comes into its own as the ideal destination to use as a base because day trips from the city, either by train or hired vehicle, can easily be arranged. The Dehiwela Zoo (10km from the city centre) can be visited by bus, as can the suburban beach resort of Mount Lavinia (12km from Colombo). Further south, the beaches at Bentota (62km from Colombo) and Hikkaduwa (97km) beckon for a day in the sun, while it’s also possible to explore Galle Fort (116km) on day’s outing from Colombo.

The West Coast resort of Negombo, an hour’s drive north of Colombo via the new expressway and near to the airport, is a fun town, either to visit for the day, or to make your base for a beach holiday in a town that warms up at sunset with lively evening action.

Whether you are in search of solitude in the sun, a cultural high, an eco-experience, or relentless action among the madding crowd, Sri Lanka is the destination.