Plan Your Amazing 9 Day Tour of Sri Lanka & Add on The Maldives!
When I was about 10, I was introduced to Sri Lanka via a children’s television show. It took me another 45 years to finally complete my tour of Sri Lanka!
But it was a country worth waiting for – filled with diverse landscapes, ruins of prehistoric kingdoms, rock caves, sacred UNSECO temples, tea plantations and stunning beaches.
An island full of contrasts people often ask me about it as a long haul destination. So here is our guide to help you Plan a Cultural Tour and Beach Holiday in Sri Lanka and an optional week in The Maldives!
Where to Start Your Tour of Sri Lanka
We recommend a clockwise tour around the island, starting with the Cultural Triangle before continuing south to the tea plantations and then ending on the beach. But first, let’s share some useful information on this beautiful island.
Where is Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean about 40 miles off the southeastern coast of India. Population wise it has about 20 million people. Shaped like a teardrop, often referred to as a ‘pearl in the ocean’, it is slightly smaller than Ireland and state wise is comparable to West Virginia.
As a location, it can be combined with a holiday to India. But with so much to see in India, it merits time exploring it as a destination on its own. Our favored option is to link Sri Lanka with The Maldives.
How to get to Sri Lanka?
Direct flights from London with Sri Lankan airlines take around 11 hours. Cheaper options are available with one stopover. From the USA, there are no direct flights. A popular route is through London or to fly direct to Dubai and connect on from there.
Flights from Miami to Dubai are around 14 hours. A further 4 and half hours will take you from there to Sri Lanka. You could spend a couple of days stopover in Dubai, if you choose this option. Alternatively fly with Qatar Airlines from New York with a stopover in Doha. Use Skyscanner to check out your options. There are lots of routes open to you wherever you are in the world.
When’s the Best Time to go on a Tour of Sri Lanka?
Although you do need to consider seasons when travelling to Sri Lanka, there are regional variations. As a result, Sri Lanka is often said to be a year round destination with plenty of sunshine.
There are two distinct monsoon seasons to be aware of. Rain is more typical in the southwest lowlands and central hills from late May to September. Later on, a weaker monsoon affects the northeast from November to February. For the ancient cities and east coast, April to December is best.
Whilst December to March is considered the best weather, we chose to go in August and we had sunshine almost every day. With it being off season, flight and hotel prices were lower and places less crowded. The overview below from Selective Asia is pretty useful with suggestions to avoid October.
Is Sri Lanka Safe to Visit?
Sri Lanka has had some difficult years recently with much unrest from 2019 -2022. As travellers, we always do our research to be aware of any issues and make our own decisions on what we feel comfortable doing. Our advice is always to check with your own country’s Foreign Office for the latest information.
Tour operators are once again selling holidays to Sri Lanka and it is very much open for business. We have a friend who recently returned from Sri Lanka and had a wonderful time.
Sri Lanka is a destination open to everyone. Couples or families will find plenty to suit them. Our dad went on an organised tour for over 60s. So if you’re a solo traveller, this is a good option to consider if you don’t feel like doing your own itinerary planning.
Do I Need Vaccinations to Visit Sri Lanka?
The short answer is yes. You will need some, in particular tetanus, hepatitis A and often malaria tablets. The Fit For Travel website is a useful guide for checking recommended vaccinations. Another site we use is Passport Health. Check with your doctor too as depending on what you have had previously, you may just need a booster for some vaccinations.
Do I Need a Visa to tour Sri Lanka?
Most passport holders will need a tourist visa to enter Sri Lanka for a holiday. Citizens of a few countries in Asia have previously been exempt, but there is talk that this is changing.
Use the Sri Lankan Government official Visa Site to check current status and apply online. It is recommended to apply before you travel as leaving it till you arrive could cause delays and there is no guarantee it will be issued at the airport.
The kind of visa you need will depend upon how long you plan to stay and whether or not you are intending to visit another country and then come back into Sri Lanka.
The 30-day version is what most tourist choose. This gives you double entry into the country so you can combine your holiday in Sri Lanka with a visit to another destination. Fees for these start from USD $50.
There is also now the option of completing your Embarkation Form online three days before you travel. In terms of passport validity, you’ll need at least 6 months left on your passport on the day you arrive in Sri Lanka.
What should I pack for a trip to Sri Lanka?
If you’re going to combine a beach holiday with a visit to some of the cultural delights of Sri Lanka you’ll need to pack to cover both locations. Link into our luggage tips post for general ideas. Here’s some additional tips specifically for Sri Lanka:
- Walking sandals/trainers for short hikes and for climbing up Sigiri Rock
- Sarong for the temples/use as a cover up later for the beach
- Light rain jacket that can be folded up
- Evening attire can be quite casual – it’s not an overly dressy place but perhaps pack a few accessories to dress up an outfit
- Mosquito spray (bug repellant) and sunscreen are both a must.
- Small rucksack to carry essentials when walking.
- Jumper for the Highlands area as evenings are cooler.
What is the Etiquette for Visiting Temples in Sri Lanka?
Sri Landa is a Buddist country and it is full of some beautiful temples that you’ll want to visit. It is important therefore to respect the local culture when entering them. Here’s a couple of tips to note and follow:
- You’ll generally have to take off your shoes before entering a temple so check for signs asking you to do this.
- Wear modest clothes especially when you visit sites such as Pollonaruwa and the temple in Kandy.
- Cover shoulders and legs to knee length so carry a sarong with you. ( you can hire these at temples but it’s better to just have your own).
- Although we live in a ‘selfie’ world, avoid doing ‘selfie’ photos with a Buddha statue as locals will see this as disrespectful. Check if any photography is allowed. Signs are often there to advise.
What is the Best Way to Tour around Sri Lanka?
When we visited, we booked a driver who met us on arrival in Columbo. He stayed with us throughout our cultural tour, took us on to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Bentota and even suggested side trips such as white water rafting. He then returned to us at the end of the beach part of our holiday to transport us back to the airport.
Without doubt, I would recommend this option if you haven’t booked an organised tour.
I booked the driver and our tour directly through a company in India called Travel Triangle They put me in touch with a local agent in Sri Lanka. Firstly, I gave the local agent a list of places I wanted to go. Then they quickly put an itinerary together for me. An 10 night tour including all hotels of which 3 days were all inclusive cost a total of £630 per person.
Unfortunately, this local agent is no longer operating independently but Travel Triangle are. Booking direct saved me a huge amount and we really did experience the real Sri Lanka.
If I were going again, I would look into this option. Hiring your own car is not recommended so other options are taxis between locations or you could try a company like Daytrip who can offer stops on route for longer destinations.
Where can I see elephants in Sri Lanka?
Elephants hold symbolic, economic and cultural importance in Sri Lanka. It’s likely you’ll see local tour companies offering visits to elephant sanctuaries with experiences of washing and feeding elephants.
Images can be misleading and often the elephants are in chains and are there for tourists only. Read more about Sri Lanka Elephant Orphanages before booking.
An alternative is to view them in a wildlife park. There are several in the country where the elephants roam freely. You’ll have the added bonus of seeing other animals as well so take a look at Minneriya National Park or Uda Walawe National Park or Yala National Park.
Sr Lanka Travel – Quick Facts
- Currency – Sri Lankan rupee
- Time Difference – GMT +5.5 hours
- Language – Sinhala and Tamil. English is also widely spoken.
- Main Religion – Buddhism
- Tipping – 10% is appreciated
- Credit cards accepted but have some cash for smaller villages and markets. USD or GBP are welcomed most.
- Voltage – Standard voltage is 230v. To check compatibility between your own country and Sri Lanka use guide from Power plugs and Sockets
- Foods to try in Sri Lanka
How to plan a 9-10 day tour of Sri Lanka
Most people who come to Sri Lanka combine cultural highlights with some beach relaxation at the end. This worked well for us and so we’ve based this 10 day itinerary on that format.
We’ve noted the hotels we stayed at in each location and of course any part of this can be extended to suit your interests. Our hotels were generally 3 or 4 star with pool access except in the tea plantation area where we stayed in a bungalow type guest house.
Day 1 – Negombo
Although the capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo, we stayed at the nearby town of Negombo which is around 10km from the international airport. It’s perfect for that first stop after a long flight and especially well located if you’re heading off to the Cultural Triangle as your next destination.
Right on the coast, you can relax by the beach and go for a swim. Once the spice capital of the island, Negombo is now home to huge fish markets which are particularly lively in the mornings when the fishermen bring in their catch to auction.
Hotel – Jetwing Beach Hotel for 1 night
Day 2 – Cultural Triangle and Dambulla Caves
We spent part of this day driving north, stopping for lunch before arriving at our hotel mid afternoon. The cultural triangle was once known as the ‘Land of Kings’ and is quite an extraordinary region with 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This area is in the centre of Sri Lanka so aim to spend at least 3 – 4 days here exploring the different ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla.
We visited 3 of the 4 sites. We didn’t get to Anuradhapura as it’s a bit further north and our schedule couldn’t fit it in. The order you visit these places will depend upon your guide/driver but our first stop was the Dambulla Cave Temples.
If you arrive in the area early afternoon, we suggest you start here.
Caves of Dambulla
Dambulla is renowned for its cave temples. They really are incredible and were awarded UNESCO status in 1991. Legend has it that the temples were built by King Valagambahuin in the 1st century BC in gratitude for the shelter he sought in the caves when fleeing from Indian invaders.
Major attractions are spread over five caves hosting 153 statues of the Buddha. (One has a colossal 52 metre long reclining Buddha). In addition, there are 4 statues of Hindu gods and goddesses, 3 statues of Sri Lankan Kings and over 2100 square metres of murals depicting the life of the Buddha.
These caves aren’t massive but you can easily spend a couple of hours just wandering around them, taking photos and also admiring the views outside which stretch over to Sigiriya Rock. To get to the caves from the base, there is a bit of a walk then a climb, not long but steep with 364 steps so wear sturdy walking shoes.
We suggest you’ll need around 2 hours for this visit. Entrance fee currently is LKR1500 (USD$5). To read more on opening times and getting there, check the official website for Dambulla. Watch out for the monkeys – don’t feed them or they won’t leave you alone!
Hotel – Amaya Lake Resort, Dambulla for 3 nights. Beautiful hotel in a lakeside setting.
Day 3- Cultural Triangle – Sigiriya Lion Rock
Less than 20km from Dambulla is the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress built into a rocky outcrop that soars to a height of 600ft above the surrounding country. The views from the top are spectacular!
The site dates back to the reign of King Kasyapa (477-495 AD), who chose this as his new capital. He decorated the walls with frescoes, and built an impressive palace right on top of the rock column, accessible only through the mouth of an enormous carved lion.
We paid for a local Sigiriya guide and this we would recommend. Guides will show you the series of archaeological highlights along the way. You’ll pass through terraced gardens, cave temples, shrines perched on boulder tops, and a series of frescoes painted into the rock wall.
Get Ready to Climb!
Although the climb is noted as being moderately difficult, generally, it is a series of well-maintained staircases. Some do cling to the side of the rock with steep drops below so if you’re scared of heights, don’t look down!
In total, there are 8 main areas to pass through and the climb will take around 1.5 to 2 hours. If you don’t want to climb to the top, you can stop at one of the levels – views are still amazing.
However, if you can, get to the top and marvel at the ruins of what once was the palace of a King! Going down is much easier and will take about 30 minutes.
Check the opening times and ticket prices before you go. Current entrance price including the museum is US$36 / £28. Bring your own water as the last place to buy it is at the entrance. Allow around 4 hours for this trip.
🎒TPOP Tip! To avoid the midday sun, choose either early morning or if you go late afternoon after 3pm (like we did), you’ll catch the sunset. Bring your own water as the last place to buy it is at the entrance.
Depending upon what time you climb Sigiriya, you might choose to link a trip to Minneriya National Park on the same day as it’s only 15km from the Rock. Jeep safaris offer an early start at 6am or there are later times in the day too.
Return to your hotel for a relaxing swim – your legs will need it!
Day 4 – Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka
Morning – Rural Village Experience
We started our visit about 20 miles away from our hotel in a rural area known as Hiriwadunna. This visit to a typical Sri Lankan village was booked by our guide but the link gives you details of the trip. Lasting about 3 hours and including lunch, it started off with a traditional cart ride through paddy fields.
We then arrived by a beautiful lake and took a trip around it on a catamaran. As we went along our guide pointed out wildlife – both plants and animals. The incredible Sigiriya Rock stood majestically behind in the background – more photograph opportunities!
My favourite part of the trip was making lunch under the guidance of a local girl who first demonstrated traditional cooking methods. What I loved about this trip was that it wasn’t touristy at all – perhaps this was because our visit was off season. Current price for this trip is £20/ USD25.
Afternoon – Polonnaruwa
We combined our village experience with an afternoon visit to the medieval provincial capital of Polonnaruwa, another UNESCO site. Protected by 3 miles of walls, this was the capital of Sri Lanka for about 300 years between the 10th and 13th centuries.
It’s easy to spend a couple of hours here exploring the well preserved ruins of royal palaces, bathing pools, stupas and rock sculptures of Buddha at Gal Vihara.
We really loved this spot. It felt peaceful and with the detail on the Buddhas so clear to see, it’s hard to believe that many of these carvings are around 1000 years old! Don’t forget – you’ll need to wear your sarongs. Entrance fee is US $30/ UK £24. Allow yourselves a couple of hours to explore here.
Day 5 – Leave Cultural Triangle and Head to Kandy
If you have plenty of time on your schedule, you could stay another day in the Cultural Triangle area. Perhaps head to Anuradhapura or take a full day for a safari or just have a rest day and enjoy Amaya Lake and your hotel pool.
For us it was off to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second largest city after Colombo and around a 2 hour journey from Dambulla. We stopped after an hour in the town of Matale to visit spice plantations.
As well as having a tour of the gardens and learning about the different spices grown locally like cinnamon and nutmeg, we also had relaxing mini-massages.
There are numerous spice gardens in the area. We suggest heading to Ranweli Spice Gardens. Whilst there was no obligation to buy anything, there was a shop selling a range of products and I did buy a couple of spices.
If you arrive by early afternoon, take a tour of the city or book in to watch an evening dance show.
Hotel – 2 nights at Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy. Great hotel by the river.
Day 6 – Explore The City of Kandy
Kandy was once the old capital of the country when it was known as Ceylon.
There are many things to do in Kandy. You can easily do some of these when you arrive on Day 5.
- Take an afternoon tour of the city with your guide. Stroll around its ancient artificial lake.
- Visit the most important Buddhist temple in the country which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. If you time it right in the evening, you’ll see the blessing ceremony with monks performing all the rituals. Terribly crowded but fascinating to be part of.
- Watch a cultural dance performance – a little touristy but entertaining nonetheless – get your hotel or guide to recommend one.
And More ‘Best Things to do in Kandy..
4. Visit the main market area in the heart of the town. It’s all hustle and bustle but interesting to watch vendors selling their huge range of produce.
5. Kandy is famous for gemstones.So if you’re interested in precious stones, you can visit a workshop to see the design, cutting, polishing and setting processes and perhaps treat yourself! Other options are to visit a batik workshop.
6. Definitely explore The Botanical Gardens. The total area of the garden is 147 acres, and includes more than 4.000 species of plants. It is renowned for its collection of stunning orchids.
🎒TPOP Tip! Ask your hotel for suggestions of what’s on locally e.g. markets or shows they recommend.
There’s so much more to do in Kandy than these 6 ideas so again you may choose to extend your stay here for an extra day or two.
Day 7 – Tea Country – From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
The journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya with your driver is around 2 and half hours. A popular way of travelling between the two places is to take a train which is about a 4 hour journey.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the trains on the day we were scheduled to board so we had to drive. But that was fine, as we gained by our driver stopping at various places of interest.
Either way, your journey will take you past lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and rushing waterfalls. We still think rail travel would be great to experience but as it’s popular, Book the train in advance! And if you want air conditioned seating, you’ll need to request first class and the observation seats.
Explore Nuwara Eliya
The hill station of Nuwara Eliya with an altitude of 1800m was built by the British in the 19th century as an escape from the sweltering heat. Complete with mock Tudor houses, a golf course, cricket field and botanical gardens, it’s often referred to as ‘Little England’.
It can be cooler here with a mean temperature of 16℃, so you’ll need your jumper/sweater in the evenings. Enjoy a walk around the town when you arrive and of course, have a cup of tea!
Hotel – Avian Breeze Bungalow
Day 8 Nuwara Eliya
Morning – Explore the Tea Plantations
The biggest highlight in the area is visiting plantations to see tea pickers in their colourful saris at work. Next you’ll move into the factory to see how tea is actually processed. Of course, you’ll have to taste the tea with cake! Most refreshing!
We visited the Glenloch Tea Factory which was a super tour. Your guide or hotel can recommend one for you. The Pedro Tea estate is also popular.
Afternoon – Nuwara Eliya to Bentota via Kitugala
Although we didn’t have time to do a lot more in this area, other popular activities around this region include hiking around Horton Plains National Park.
To break the four hour journey from Nuwara Eliya to our beach resort in Bentota, we stopped at Kitugala late afternoon to experience some whitewater rafting. Great fun and a delicious meal enjoyed after the rapids!
If you’re not up to rafting, it’s still a great stop with jungle walks. For film buffs, it’s where Bridge over the River Kwai was filmed.
Day 9 – 10 Bentota Beach
The beaches on the southern and western shores are the most accessible and fit in well with any cultural tour of the island. We chose to stay in Bentota.
While this is a popular beach resort, there are no beach bars or restaurants lining the sand. Hotels, villas and up market resorts are tucked behind the palms at discrete distances from each other.
For us it was a perfect place to relax after a busy tour of Sri Lanka. It’s about an hour and 20 minutes back to the airport from here so a good location for that too. We spent our days swimming, relaxing by the pool and did a little shopping in Bentota.
A bonus was being able to walk along the beach to the Induruwa Sea Turtle Conservation Center. We were able to see the turtles close up and learn more about the conservation projects to protect them.
Hotel – Pandanus Beach Resort, Bentota.
A Week In The Maldives After Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka and The Maldives! What a fantastic combination for an unforgettable 15 nights Indian Ocean trip.
After exploring the culture, coastline and tea plantations in the highlands of Sri Lanka, consider heading a little further south for a week of pure relaxation on sugar white beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters.
The Maldives is Asia’s smallest country but boasts over 1100 islands, clustered into 26 atolls. They are spread over a massive area: around 90,000 sq km of the Indian Ocean stretching south of the equator.
The largest island is Gan (below the equator) which we flew into on our second visit here (via Male). In contrast to Pidurutalagala, the highest summit in Sri Lanka at 2524m (8281f), the highest point is on Wilingili Island at just under 8 feet (2.4m)!
How to Get to The Maldives from Sri Lanka
The fastest way is to take a direct flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Velana International Airport (next to the capital city Male) which is only 1 hour 30 mins! It’s a quick hop from one country to the other!
We found flights with FlyDubai and Sri Lanka Airlines on Skyscanner for around $300. If you are transferring to a float plane or domestic connection from Male, there may be a lower baggage limit as short haul planes will likely be smaller within The Maldives.
You can choose to stay in the northern atolls area and get to your hotel resort via a short (20-30 mins) speedboat or float plane transfer. Or connect to a domestic flight and cross the Equator to Addu Atoll (also called Seenu Atoll) at the very south of the country.
We have spent time in both these destinations in The Maldives. From my experience and for first time visitors from Sri Lanka, staying closer to the Male airport is easier.
We travelled directly from London both times on an all-inclusive holiday with British Airways. This is an option to consider if you want to travel directly to the Maldives vs from Sri Lanka. Resorts typically take care of connecting flights, boat transfers and resort accommodation all within one booking for you.
How Much Does it Cost To Visit The Maldives?
Let’s be honest. The Maldives are not a cheap destination. Generally we found prices significantly higher than Sri Lanka. But, we have a few tips on how to reduce your holiday costs without giving up the dream of lying on these beaches.
If you are using a local Sri Lanka travel company, book your Maldives extension with them (flight and resort). You may avoid mark-ups that come with booking via US/European agents.
Consider going off season and avoid peak times like Christmas. In months like May, August, October for example, you will find less tourists and better hotel deals. Use Skyscanner to check different options for your preferred travel dates.
All Inclusive is Better Value
Take advantage of all inclusive resort deals. Not normally our ‘go to’ but on remote islands it’s really the best deal as there’s nowhere else to go! We found the food at all Maldives resort hotels we stayed at to be of a very high quality with no issues catering to vegetarians.
If you pay up front for your accommodation and meals, then you will just be budgeting for extras like activities, drinks, spa treatments.
It’s possible to use local ferries to get between islands vs. private tourist boats. This will require more patience as it’s going to be a slower journey. But perhaps you’ll enjoy a more authentic journey and get to meet Maldives residents.
Some islands/resorts offer very high end package holidays. So if this vibe is not for you, why not choose to head somewhere more ‘local’. Check out Ukulhas, Rasdhoo or Hangnaameedhoo for example, where activities are plentiful and costs generally are more affordable.
🎒TPOP Tip! Write to hotels you’re considering to get an idea of these costs before you commit to a specific resort. This helps manage overall budgets and avoids surprises when you arrive.
Best Time to Visit The Maldives
There are dry and wet seasons in the Maldives although the overall climate is warn and sunny. In the northern atolls, the dry season is typically from November to April which is when we have visited here.
It’s perfect for outdoor activities and expect temperatures in the 80s. Rainfall will be low but you may experience an afternoon shower now and again. If you’re looking for a Dreamy Destination for a Romantic Getaway, these islands are hard to beat!
The southern atolls is more unpredictable and we did get a bit of rain when we were in this part of the Maldives in April. This meant sunsets were a little cloudy on some days but overall it didn’t spoil our time there.
Do I need a Visa to Visit the Maldives?
This Guide Explains The Maldives Visa On Arrival Requirements. The visa which is free allows you to stay for 30 days.
What’s the Food Like in The Maldives?
These islands offer visitors a magical blend of Asia, North Africa, Arabian, Indian influences which combine to create a Maldivian culture. Food reflects this mix too with a nod to what nature provides locally eg. Coconut infused dishes, super fresh fish with regional fruits.
Our resorts had excellent choices with lots of different daily options. To learn more about the traditional dishes check National Geographic’s article on Maldivian food.
Where to Stay in The Maldives
We stayed at Angsana Ihuru on our first visit to The Maldives. It’s a beautiful small resort on the North Male Atoll with around 40 beachfront villas that are spaced nicely around the waters edge. It is only (19km), about a 20 minute speedboat ride from Velana airport so it’s an easy transfer.
This was the most stunning island we have ever been to. The vibe here is desert island on steroids: relaxed, low key, secluded accommodation, private beach space on our doorstep. Their spa is fantastic too with many pampering options to rejuvenate your soul.
On our second trip we flew south from Male to Gan, and stayed at the larger South Palm Resort. This resort is located on a private island in the Addu or often called Seenu Atoll region of the country. It was only 10 minutes by speedboat from the airport to our resort dock.
This cluster of 26 islands lie just over 500km south of Male and only 6 are inhabited.
This time we spurgled on an over the water villa which was amazing! Plunge pool, glass of wine, sunset right in front of you. Bliss! We also enjoyed being able to cycle around the resort area as it was much larger than the first location and did we mention the over the water spa!!
What To Do in The Maldives
1. Snorkel In Crystal Clear Waters
When we stayed at Ihuru it was possible to step in the water from our beach bungalow and snorkel around the island in 45 mins to an hour. Even for me, not a confident swimmer, it was an out of this world experience.
The water was so clear and brightly coloured fish, sea turtles, even baby stingrays were playing around the shallow waters doing their own thing as we swam.
2. Dive Into Another World
Diving is great any time of year but the best visibility will be in the drier season months of January to April. Our resorts had PADI 5-Star Dive Centre accreditation and excellent support teams. Dolphin pods are also common to sight here.
3. Go Sailing
Choose from traditional dhow boat trips, sail boats, wind surfing, paddle boarding and more. Each resort will offer a variety of water activities. Some will be extra but others like canoes or kayaks are typically included in your room rate.
4. Try Fishing At Night
This was a lot of fun. You leave around 9pm and head offshore on a small wooden boat. Our trip was organized by our resort. We used a traditional string and wooden fishing line and it worked amazingly well. We hauled in our catch and returned just after midnight. The next day the fish was prepared by the chef and served for lunch.
5. Take a Sunset Cruise
Sunset cruises (although you can enjoy them from the beach!) Most resorts offer daily sunrise/sunset jaunts with champagne and dinner.
If you are celebrating a special occasion, this would be something memorable to consider.
Wrap Up
Sri Lanka and The Maldives are bucket list destinations for a reason! Sri Lanka oozes culture, ancient temples, incredible highlands and relaxing beaches.
The Maldives are as close to a desert island paradise as we can imagine.
Both countries are worthy of a trip on their own. But if you’re already planning to pay for a flight to this region, it’s a perfect opportunity to tie a them together into a bucket list trip of a lifetime to the Indian Ocean.
Or perhaps mix in India’s Golden Triangle with either of these destinations for a full Indian sub-continent adventure.
