Ancient cave temples, elusive leopards, palm-fringed beaches, and my favorite cuisine in the world — Sri Lanka packs a lot into a relatively small area. Whether you’re traveling with a big group, interested in wildlife, or hoping to get a deep dive into its history, here are three different ways to explore Sri Lanka. 

Traveling With the Family

When I’m planning a Sri Lanka trip for a family, I like to offer a taste of all the highlights, including wildlife, culture, and time spent at the beach. 

The island nation’s most reliable and charismatic wildlife is its elephant population. By happy coincidence, summer vacation in the U.S. coincides with Sri Lanka’s elephant gathering, when vast herds congregate to drink at the ancient human-made water tanks in Minneriya National Park, near the center of the island. 

To learn about the island’s culture and history, consider visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Located in Kandy, the place of worship is where Gautama Buddha’s left canine tooth is enshrined. Visitors can get a look inside the ceremonies that take place here, too, providing a true introduction to Buddhist tradition. 

Finally, families can end their trips with a few days of relaxing by the water on the island’s east coast. Here, you’ll find wide, sandy beaches with shallow, calm waters protected by coral reefs where little ones can safely splash about or snorkel.

When to Go: July and August 

Looking for Wildlife

With 26 national parks home to a myriad of animals — including elephants, sloth bears, deer, monkeys, leopards, and 34 endemic bird species — Sri Lanka is a great option for a wildlife-focused trip. 

At each park, a specialized ranger guide will take you around. For example, if you’re an avid bird-watcher, you’ll be matched with a driver and guide who specializes in bird observation. 

Any Sri Lankan wildlife trip requires a visit to Yala National Park — popular because it’s home to the densest concentration of leopards in the world. Stay at Leopard Trails, a luxurious tented camp known for its exceptional guides. Leopards are notoriously elusive, but this is the single best place to try and see one, as well as sloth bears, water buffalo, mugger crocodiles, and gray langurs. 

Gal Oya, a remote national park in the southeast, is another must-visit. It’s a bit of an effort to reach, but it’s one of the only places left in the world to see elephants swimming in their natural habitat, so it’s well worth the journey. 

When to Go: February and March

Diving Into History and Culture

To properly explore Sri Lanka’s remarkably rich history and culture, start with a guided tour through the cave temples of Dambulla, which offers a glimpse into 1,900 years of Buddhist thought. You’ll see 150-plus statues and brightly painted depictions of the Buddha, showcasing different art styles dating back to the first century. 

Polonnaruwa, a town in central Sri Lanka, has temple caves and a huge reclining Buddha, as well as ruins of a 12th-century capital city that once stood on the land. Take a guided bike tour; you’ll pedal along a gentle route that lets you take in the vast complex of ruined temples, bathhouses, monasteries, and the remains of an extensive irrigation system. 

The literal high point of any visit to Sri Lanka is the chance to climb Sigiriya, a towering rock that rises abruptly over the forested plains near Dambulla, topped with the ruins of a fortress palace from the short-lived Kashyapa Kingdom. 

When to Go: January to April

Niall Causer is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in Bhutan and Sri Lanka trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Causer by contacting him at [email protected].