Destinations – Ayu Drift Ceylon

Every horizon holds a different Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a country that defies easy description, an island where ancient civilisations, misty highlands, pristine coastlines and extraordinary wildlife coexist within a short drive of one another. Travelling here means constantly being surprised, constantly arriving somewhere that feels utterly unlike the last place you left.

Bentota

Where a wide lagoon meets the open Indian Ocean, Bentota pairs a long swimmable beach with river safaris through mangrove...

Arugam Bay

Sri Lanka's surf capital, a laid-back crescent bay on the east coast, has a worldwide reputation among wave riders. Beyond...

Negombo

Far more than an airport transit point, Negombo is a historic fishing town shaped by Dutch and Portuguese heritage, with...

Pasikuda

A shallow, reef-protected bay on the east coast with some of the island's calmest and clearest water, Pasikuda is exceptional...

Mirissa

A compact, palm-fringed bay on the southern coast and one of the finest launching points for blue whale and spinner...

Kalpitiya

A remote northwest peninsula flanked by vast Puttalam Lagoon and open ocean, Kalpitiya offers some of the world's finest dolphin...

Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka's second great capital, flourishing between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, spreads across a vast UNESCO-listed parkland of royal...

Sigiriya

Sri Lanka's most iconic landmark: a colossal granite monolith rising nearly 200 metres from surrounding jungle, crowned by a fifth-century...

Dambulla Cave Temple

Sri Lanka's largest and best-preserved cave temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sheltering five caves adorned with over 150 Buddha...

Yapahuwa

A lesser-visited ancient capital and architecturally remarkable fortified citadel, Yapahuwa served as the kingdom's royal seat between 1272 and 1284....

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka's first great capital, sacred and inhabited for over a thousand years, is home to the Sri Maha Bodhi,...

Ella

The island's most beloved hill town sits on a dramatic escarpment with views stretching toward the southern coast on clear...

Haputale

A quiet ridge-top town straddling a dramatic escarpment, Haputale offers views north across misty tea estates and south toward the...

Horton Plains

Sri Lanka's highest and most ecologically distinct national park is a vast plateau above 2,000 metres with a remarkable concentration...

Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka's hill country capital, transformed by the British into a near-replica of the English home counties, complete with a...

Knuckles Mountain Range

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka's finest trekking destinations, the Knuckles encompasses cloud forest, montane grassland,...

Wilpattu

Sri Lanka's largest national park, a hauntingly quiet wilderness of dry forest and ancient natural lakes, offering genuine remoteness that...

Udawalawe

The finest place in Sri Lanka to observe wild Asian elephants, Udawalawe's open grasslands and reservoir support one of Asia's...

Minneriya

Home to one of Asia's greatest wildlife spectacles, The Gathering brings hundreds of wild elephants to Minneriya Tank's receding shoreline...

Yala National Park

The world's highest density of leopards, combined with a variety in wildlife encounters, makes Yala, Sri Lanka's most celebrated nature...

Sinharaja Rainforest

Sri Lanka's last remaining primary lowland rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects a staggering concentration of endemics,...

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy

The most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka and one of the most revered in the world, the Temple of...

Adam’s Peak

Sri Lanka's most spiritually significant mountain, sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, draws thousands on the pre-dawn pilgrimage...

Koneswaram Temple

One of the five ancient Pancha Ishwaram Shiva temples, Koneswaram occupies a position of breathtaking drama on Swami Rock promontory,...

Kataragama

Sri Lanka's most powerful multi-faith pilgrimage destination draws Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Vedda people in enormous numbers, particularly during the...

Jaffna

The cultural and spiritual capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil community, Jaffna, is a city with a proud heritage, a unique...