Unlock the Best

Book a Minneriya safari for the afternoon during the gathering season. Elephants arrive at the reservoir in large numbers, and late light gives beautiful photographs.

Visit Polonnaruwa early in the morning by bicycle. The site is large, and cycling between monuments is pleasant before the heat rises.

Respect temple rules at Gal Vihara and other sacred sites. Remove shoes and hats, cover shoulders and knees, and never pose with your back to a Buddha statue for photographs.

Try curd and treacle from a roadside stall. Buffalo curd with kithul syrup is a regional specialty and a refreshing snack.

Use a local SIM for internet. Hotel wifi can be slow, while mobile data is fast and inexpensive.

Ask for a lake view room when booking. The view is the main reason to stay here and changes the experience completely.

Drive carefully at dusk and night. Wild elephants often cross the roads around Giritale and Habarana.

Combine Sigiriya and Dambulla in one day trip. Start early to climb Sigiriya before the heat, then visit Dambulla caves in the afternoon.