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When you think of an exotic escape to Southeast Asia, you probably think of relaxing on the beach in Thailand or Bali.
Both destinations attract large crowds and both can be seen as victims of their own success.
So where to next? Good, there’s a new hotspot in town.
Sri Lanka is on the way to records the highest number of tourist arrivals ever.
Data up to mid-July shows that 1.1 million foreign visitors have already arrived in the country this year.
Sri Lanka is a breathtakingly beautiful destination. Here’s why you should consider visiting Southeast Asia’s next tourist hotspot.
Breathtakingly beautiful beaches
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka, so if you’re looking for a traditional beach holiday, you won’t be disappointed.
The best beaches are found on the west and south coasts of the island.
One of Sri Lanka’s best-known coastal cities is Galle on the southwest coast.
The first thing you notice here is the imposing colonial fort, but the fishermen on narrow poles are the iconic image of this hotspot.
The nearby beaches of Unawatuna, Thalpe and Wijiya are the best places if you are looking for beach bars and restaurants and the chance to relax on sun loungers under umbrellas.
Unawatuna also tops the list as one of the best surfing beaches in Sri Lanka.
Unawatuna is a 15-minute drive from Galle, but the best way to travel between the 2 locations is by train.
This is only a 9 minute journey and costs about 20 LKR ($0.66 cents).
Awesome encounters with wild animals
Sri Lanka has so much more than just epic beaches.
It is also home to all kinds of fascinating animals and if you want to see wild cats in their natural habitat then this is one of the best places to be outside of Africa.
Two of the notable animals you can see here are leopards and Asian elephants.
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most famous game park and you can see both (plus a whole host of other animals) here.
The park covers almost 130,000 hectares of protected land and includes a diverse landscape of light forests, scrub, grasslands, waterholes and lagoons.
This spectacular national park is home to 44 species of mammals and 215 bird species.
Many tourists choose to take a small group safari tour with a private driver.
However, you do not need to be part of a tour group to visit Yala National Park. It is possible to bring your own high car, provided it is a van with high ground clearance, or you can rent a safari jeep at the entrance.
If you want the convenience of a guided tour, then you can book this with Sri Lanka Ride.
The rate you pay depends on the number of people per vehicle. One person would pay $90, two would pay $135. If you are traveling in a group of 4, this price drops again. You pay $230 ($57.50 each).
What I love about Sri Lankan safari tours like this is that you can enjoy it in just one day.
So you don’t have to choose between a beach holiday and a safari holiday (if you don’t want to). You can enjoy both!
Scenic natural beauty
One of the things that makes Sri Lanka so unique is the diversity of its landscapes. One day you can relax on the beach and the next day you can walk through the rainforest.
An area of Sri Lanka that is especially popular with tourists (and for good reason) is known as the Cultural Triangle.
It’s time to get a little nerdy!
Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were the three major Sinhala capitals during the time of the ancient Sri Lankan civilization, and together they form the area known as the Cultural Triangle.
This is a historic region full of temples and monuments, as well as scenic natural beauty and epic hiking trails.
Now these are the sites of destroyed cities, monuments, temples and even monasteries.
If you only have time to visit one of these locations, make it the epic palace and fortress complex of Sigiriya. It’s definitely worth the climb!
It’s worth noting that many of these ancient structures cannot be reached by car, so you’ll have to walk or cycle to see them.
But there is so much history concentrated in a relatively small area in this part of Sri Lanka, and it is well worth making part of your trip.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
