Things to do in

Sri Lanka

A scenic tour through Sri Lanka's Central Highlands visiting iconic tea estates, panoramic viewpoints and cascading waterfalls around Nuwara Eliya. This experience combines easy walks, short hikes and several photo stops at tea plantations (including a factory visit and tea tasting), lookout points over cloud-filled valleys, and impressive waterfalls such as St. Clair's, Devon and Ramboda. Suitable for travellers who enjoy landscapes, photography and light outdoor activity.

Explore Sri Lanka's famous highland tea country with guided visits to working tea estates and factories in Nuwara Eliya and Haputale. Learn about tea cultivation, plucking, and the multi-step processing at a factory, then taste a variety of Ceylon teas paired with local snacks. The tour combines scenic train views, misty hills, and cultural insights into the island’s colonial tea history.

Sunrise at Lipton’s Seat offers one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic highland sunrises: a panoramic view over rolling tea estates, distant mountains and a sea of mist that often fills the valleys. Perched on a grassy ridge near Dambatenne in the Haputale region, the viewpoint is linked to Sir Thomas Lipton and the colonial-era tea industry. The experience combines a short early-morning trek or a short drive with an unforgettable sky and light show over neatly planted tea terraces.

An adrenaline-filled river-rafting experience through rainforest-clad gorges on the Kelani River near Kitulgala. The trip mixes scenic paddling, splashy rapids and short jungle walks, making it suitable for adventure-seeking individuals, groups and families (age limits vary by operator). Kitulgala is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular rafting destinations and combines white-water excitement with lush lowland rainforest and waterfalls.

Overview: A gentle boat safari through the Madu Ganga (Madu River) estuary — one of Sri Lanka's largest mangrove ecosystems — combining wildlife viewing, birdwatching, and a visit to local cinnamon and medicinal-island vendors. The slow boat ride winds through narrow tidal channels and lagoons, offering close-up views of mangrove trees, water birds, small reptiles, and traditional riverside life.

Visit the community-run and NGO-backed sea turtle hatcheries in Kosgoda, a coastal village in southern Sri Lanka. Learn about sea turtle conservation, see eggs and hatchlings in protected enclosures, meet local conservationists, and (when available) participate in supervised release of newly hatched turtles into the sea.

Night sea-turtle watch at Rekawa is a guided, community-run conservation experience on the south coast of Sri Lanka. Participants walk on the beach after dark with trained local guides and volunteers to observe nesting female turtles and, at certain times of year, hatchlings making their way to the sea. The activity emphasizes low-impact viewing and supports the Rekawa Turtle Conservation Project and local livelihoods. Expect quiet, slow-paced observation rather than close handling — this is wildlife conservation and not a zoo-style encounter.

Experience Colombo's vibrant street food scene on a 3–4 hour guided or self-guided crawl through the city's busiest food corridors. Taste iconic Sri Lankan snacks, savoury mains and sweet treats while learning about local ingredients, history and eating customs. This crawl focuses on freshly prepared, affordable street food served by small vendors, hawkers and market stalls.

Pettah Market is Colombo’s largest, most vibrant open-air bazaar — a bustling labyrinth of streets and alleys where traders sell everything from spices and textiles to electronics and jewelry. Expect sensory overload: bright fabrics, piles of fresh produce and spices, negotiating sellers, and lively street-food stalls. It’s as much a cultural experience as a shopping trip.

Authentic Ayurvedic spa and wellness therapies set in Kandy’s peaceful hill-country environment. Treatments draw on traditional Sri Lankan and Indian Ayurvedic practices, using locally sourced herbal oils, pastes and steam therapies. Sessions are tailored after an initial consultation to address stress, musculoskeletal issues, skin conditions, detoxification and overall wellbeing. Many centers combine therapies with yoga, meditation and a therapeutic diet in resorts or dedicated clinics.

Experience a magical sunrise float over Sri Lanka's ancient Cultural Triangle. Glide silently above rice paddies, reservoirs, jungle patches and iconic sites such as Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Dambulla cave temple area while an experienced pilot narrates key sights. This activity combines gentle adventure, spectacular photography opportunities and a unique perspective on centuries-old landscapes.

A half-day cultural sightseeing tour around Jaffna focused on the iconic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, one of the most important Hindu temples in Sri Lanka, combined with nearby cultural highlights in Jaffna city. Visit the temple complex, observe rituals, climb viewpoints, and explore nearby landmarks such as Jaffna Fort, local markets and the Jaffna Public Library for a compact introduction to the region's Tamil heritage and history.

A full-day guided or self-guided excursion from Jaffna to Delft Island (Neduntheevu), a sparsely populated coral island in the Palk Strait known for its wild ponies, giant baobab tree, ancient coral walls and a quiet rural way of life. This trip focuses on short hikes, cultural and natural sights, shoreline exploration and experiencing rural Tamil island life. Ideal for photographers, nature lovers and people who want a peaceful contrast to Jaffna town.

Bundala National Park is a Ramsar-listed coastal wetland and one of Sri Lanka’s most important birdwatching sites. This activity focuses on guided birdwatching safaris through the park’s lagoons, salt pans, mangroves and scrubland to observe resident and migratory waterbirds and shorebirds. Expect binocular-friendly, low-impact walking and short jeep drives between key viewing points.

Lagoon canoeing in Tangalle is a peaceful, nature-focused paddling experience through the sheltered waters and mangrove channels near Tangalle on Sri Lanka's south coast. This activity combines easy-to-moderate paddling with rich birdlife, scenic mangrove forests, and glimpses of local fishing and village life. It's ideal for photographers, birdwatchers, families, and anyone who wants a quiet alternative to sea-based excursions.

Dolphin Watching in Kalpitiya is a popular morning boat excursion on Sri Lanka's northwest coast that takes visitors into the shallow bays and offshore waters to observe wild dolphins in their natural habitat. Tours focus on spotting large groups of spinner and bottlenose dolphins, often with energetic surface displays. Trips emphasize responsible wildlife viewing and local guides skilled at locating pods.

A guided walk through a traditional Sri Lankan spice garden near Matale, showcasing how spices are grown, harvested and processed. Visitors learn about key spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla, see living plants, smell and taste fresh samples, and can join a short cooking or remedy demonstration. The experience combines botany, local culture and culinary traditions in a compact, family-friendly visit.

Experience the story behind Sri Lanka's famous true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) on a guided walk through coastal cinnamon estates between Galle and Matara. Learn traditional harvesting and peeling techniques, see the drying and grading process, taste freshly prepared cinnamon products, and meet local smallholder families who maintain this centuries-old craft.

A relaxed boat cruise along the historic Dutch (Hamilton) Canal in Negombo, offering a mix of colonial history, mangrove ecosystems, lagoon scenery and encounters with local fishing communities. Ideal for birdwatchers, photographers and travelers seeking a short scenic outing from Negombo or Colombo.

Scenic coastal rail ride along the southern shore of Sri Lanka between Galle and Matara. This short train journey offers dramatic sea views, passing beaches, fishing villages, seaside stations, and palm-fringed landscapes — a relaxed, low-cost way to experience the southern coastline.