Sri Lanka
LAND OF THE LEOPARD
Sri Lanka is a tropical island of abundance and it is immediately clear why it is classified as one of the world’s 25 Biodiversity Hotspots by Conservation International, especially as you travel into the interior where misty green hills, lush jungles and sparkling waterfalls immerse you in a world like no other. As with many isolated islands, Sri Lanka has a high rate of endemism. Almost all of its amphibians are unique to island; the ubiquitous elephants and elusive leopards represent endemic subspecies. The azure waters of the surrounding Indian Ocean’s Laccadive Sea offer some of the world’s best whale-watching opportunities. 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites showcase some of the earliest Buddhist kingdoms, while bountiful tea plantations cover about a half million acres of land. Infrastructure is also on the rise, nearly as quickly and the tourists’ passion for exploring this remarkable “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”.
NO UPCOMING TOURS AT THIS TIME
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
The best time to visit the popular west and south coasts and hill country is December to March.
GOOD TO KNOW
Remember to remove your shoes and anything on your head when visiting Buddhist temples.
SIGNATURE MOMENTS
Enjoying the view at Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Whale watching for Blue Whales off the south coast
Photographing Leopards at Wilpattu
LANGUAGE
Sinhala is the official language of Sri Lanka, but Tamil and English are widely spoken.
RECOMMENDED READING
In My Mother's House: Civil War in Sri Lanka by Sharika Thiranagama
Not Quite Paradise: An American Sojourn in Sri Lanka by Adele Barker
A Woman's Asia by Marybeth Bond
VISAS
Canadian and American citizens require a tourist visa to visit Sri Lanka.