Paradise Found in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites worthy of an Indiana Jones adventure — in fact, “The Temple of Doom” was filmed in and around the city of Kandy. Don your own fedora and explore the ancient ruins and sacred cities of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, and Anuradhapura, the Old European Town of Galle, Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, and the mist-shrouded Central Highlands.

The most intriguingly named site, however, has to be the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy (which has nothing to do with dental hygiene and sweets). Kandy is known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, and it’s where you’ll find this temple that enshrines a sacred relic said to be one of Buddha’s teeth.

Apart from the Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka has many beautiful temples to explore. Fancy a custom temple-inspired itinerary? We can design one for you — get started here.

Alternatively, check out our upcoming journey to this Sri Lanka here, which includes visits to the Temple of Tooth, Dambulla Cave Temple, and several others.

Did you know that Ceylon tea is named after Sri Lanka? The island was formerly known as Ceylon, shedding the name when it gained its independence from the British in 1948. Sri Lanka is steeped in tea history (we couldn’t resist the pun), and its plantations produce much of the world’s tea, including black, green, oolong, and white teas.

Touring and plucking leaves on these verdant green plantations is a must for tea, history, and nature lovers — it is a highlight on our 2026 Sri Lanka Curated Journey. You can even stay amongst the aromatic tea shrubs in luxury hotels and villas (we know all the best ones — chat to us about incorporating them into your itinerary).

Our top tip: To get to the tea plantations in Ella from Kandy, we highly recommend the “Blue Train”. It offers an experience of real, raw Sri Lankan culture, with vendors selling goods aboard and locals bustling in the coaches. It meanders through the jungle and emerald-green tea plantations, crossing over the tall, vaulted Nine Arch Bridge.

The city of Galle in the South of Sri Lanka was founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, coming under Dutch and British rule in later centuries — this history comes alive in its architecture. You become a time traveler when wandering through this star-shaped fort city that sits behind 17th-century walls. Explore the fort, lighthouse, and cobbled streets with tuk-tuks whizzing by, cafés spilling onto the pavements, bright shops, and luxury hotels in stately, colonnaded buildings.

The area is also famous for its stilt fishermen, who perch on bamboo poles protruding from shallow waters along the coast, catching fish with long rods while maintaining this impressive balancing act.

With so much to explore, a curated itinerary will come in very handy — contact us and we’ll design one for you, cherry-picking experiences and accommodations perfectly in line with your preferences.

Or you can join Art In Voyage’s 2026 Curated Journey to Sri Lanka, find out more here.

Sri Lanka has several protected wilderness areas with lakes, waterfalls, rolling grasslands, mountains, and tropical forests bordering the sea. These are the habitats where leopards roam, Asian elephants sway their trunks, peacocks strut their stuff, and the fuzzy but feisty sloth bear snacks on termites and honey. For a chance to spot them and other diverse wildlife, you can visit the parks — Yala, Wilpattu, Minneriya, and Udawalawe are popular — for all kinds of safaris (boat, game drives, cycling, on foot). You also have the option to stay at safari lodges overlooking the beach and wilderness — enjoy this experience as part of our 2026 Curated Journey to Sri Lanka.

Adam’s Peak, or Sri Pada, rises like a turret of whipped cream from the surrounding tropical rainforest, with Sripada Temple like the cherry on top of its summit. It is a mountain shrouded in mystique and spirituality — it bears a large footprint-shaped indentation in a rock believed to be the sacred footprint of Lord Buddha or the Prophet Adam. The Sripada Temple protects the footprint on this conical peak, which has been a revered site of pilgrimage for centuries, attracting devotees from all faiths. Climbing the 5,500+ steps to its peak is no small feat, but it is, for many, a sacred experience, especially when done at sunrise or midnight, when the path is lit by the lights of many climbers.

Honey-comb-colored sands, warm lapping waves, and palm trees swaying gently in the breeze — Sri Lanka’s beaches are a picture of tropical nirvana. Depending on your beach preferences, you might want to opt for the secluded coves and secret beaches (Jungle Beach, Talalla Beach), something more vibey with jet skis, surfers, and beach bars (Unawatuna Beach, Hikkaduwa Beach), wild pristine sands where turtles nest (Rekawa Beach, Kosgoda Beach), or head beyond the beach and dive amidst the many shipwrecks offshore. The whole coast offers opportunities for spectacular whale and dolphin watching.

Overwhelmed by the choice? We can play matchmaker and find the best beaches to incorporate into your Art In Voyage journey. Contact us for our insider scoop on this tropical paradise.