The Hill Country

Sri Lanka

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

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Elephants in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Getty Images/AWL Images RM

Overview

Sri Lanka's Hill Country is the island at its most scenic, a mist-wrapped land of emerald peaks and stupendous views, of hillsides carpeted with tea plantations and graced by astonishing waterfalls. This is a place where you can wear a fleece in the daytime and cuddle up beside a log fire in the evening. Where you can enjoy a memorable meal in the eternal city of Kandy or at a roadside shack in lovely Ella. A region where you can walk to the end of the world, stand in the footsteps of the Buddha and be surrounded by a hundred wild elephants. Ride a train utterly bewitched by the vistas. Paddle a raft down a raging river. Enjoy the drumbeat of traditional dance and then savour the silence on a lonely mountaintop.

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Snapshots of Sri Lanka: a Cultural Cross-Country Odyssey

highlights

  1. 1Visiting Sigirya’s hidden gems and iconic landmarks, including its famous, frescoed rock fortress
  2. 2Embarking on a scenic train adventure that will lead you through Sri Lanka’s diverse landscapes
  3. 3Snorkeling Trincomalee's crystal clear waters to uncover diverse species of fish and sea turtles
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