Jaffna and the North
After years of civil unrest, this is an emerging area offering Portuguese-era churches, grand old forts and the unique Tamil culture. It also has the country’s highest concentration of Leopards, quiet towns and wonderful beaches.
Highlights
Highlights of the north of Sri Lanka include a rich culture and cuisine. This culture is both indigenous Hindu/Tamil, and also that left behind in churches and forts by the Europeans. It is also found in the regions’ special cuisine. There are also world class beaches and national parks for wildlife.
Northern Islands
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Jaffna may have an far-away feel but some of the nearby remote islands feel otherworldly. The Dutch and Portuguese left wild horses and forts on Delft island which is also worth visiting for its beautiful landscapes and peaceful atmosphere.
Wilpattu
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Wilpattu offers a fantastic wildlife experience, with fewer tourists compared to other national parks like Yala, allowing for unobstructed views of Sri Lanka’s incredible biodiversity, including leopards, sloth bears, elephants, (the ‘Big Three’) and many bird species. The park is also beautiful with dense forest, open grasslands and many lakes.
Jaffna
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Jaffna provides an off-the-beaten-path experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in local traditions and daily life. Discover Jaffna’s complex history, vibrant culture, and stunning Hindu temples. Also experience Jaffna’s distinct cuisine, emphasizing seafood and vegetarian dishes, and try local specialties like Jaffna crab curry and palmyra-based handicrafts.
Passikudah Beach
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Passikudah is an idyllic coastal village situated on the east coast of Sri Lanka, famous for its undisturbed pristine coastline, clear blue waters and golden sands, The crescent shaped bay has protected waters making it ideal for swimming. The reef has exquisite coral formations and schools of colourful tropical reef fish, which are easily accessible while snorkelling. From Passikudah you can visit various attractions in the area, including the historic Dutch Fort and the gorgeous Batticaloa Lagoon.
Trincomalee
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Trinco is famous for its picturesque golden beaches protected by a sheltered bay. You can walk out over a hundred meters into the shallow sea. The beaches provide a wide range of recreational activities such as swimming, bathing surfing, scuba diving, fishing and even whale watching. Trincomalee is also the gateway to other amazing beaches on the east coast such as Uppuveli and Nilaveli, and stunning corals at Pigeon Island, which is a marine national park situated on an island.“Trinco” is also one of the world’s finest natural harbours. Fort Fredrick was originally constructed by the Portuguese in 1623 and was later rebuilt by the Dutch. The British took over in 1782, developing a naval base, which was heavily attacked by the Japanese in 1942.
Anurahapura
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The city of Anuradhapura, the 4th century BC capital of Sri Lanka, was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, and a prominent political and trade centre for almost 15 centuries. It is the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and is known today as the Sacred City. Explore the ruins of ancient palaces, administrative buildings, a hospital and ancient bathing tanks with ingenious filtering systems and some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world.Hotels
From stunning beachfront resorts to culture filled boutique hotels, Sri Lanka offers a large range of hotels to suit everyone’s needs. Whether thats a search for relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion.
Tours
Below are a selection of our favourite sample itineraries that we have created based on our experiences of travelling extensively throughout Sri Lanka. As with all our tours, every aspect can be tailor-made to your individual requirements.
