Fans of the outdoors and of walking will be enchanted by Sri Lanka which has one of the biggest diversities in the world in terms of preserved natural spaces. From the top of a mountain peak reaching over 2000 metres high to the wild plains covered in jungle, go off to explore in the heart of the country's national parks.

Sri Lanka’s Natural Paradise

Ella is one of the most charming mountain stopovers in Sri Lanka. Not so much the village itself as its surroundings. Ella has one main road where you find most of the village's activities. In less than 10 minutes you are in the heart of Sri Lanka's mountains, surrounded by nature and in the middle of the tea plantations.

Ella’s Tea Plantations

Whether you are passionate about history or nature you can't help but be charmed by Sigiriya and its surroundings. You'll climb back into time and history as you climb the steps of the Lion Rock. At the end of the day, enjoy the sunset over the magnificent countryside of the plains.

Sigiriya’s Lion Rock

A lots less busy than the beaches in the south, the east coast of Sri Lanka guarantees you a stay off the beaten path. Long beaches that are almost empty most of the year, and an island where you can swim with sharks.

Golden Sand Paradise: Uppuveli and Nilaveli

Negombo

Sigiriya

Dambulla

Kandy

Polonnaruwa is a historic city forming a part of the 'Cultural Triangle' of Sri Lanka, acknowledged as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982.

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The Cultural Triangle is a rite of passage on every <a href="/sri-lanka/">trip to Sri Lanka</a>. Acknowledged as a UNESCO world heritage site, Polonnaruwa spreads out over several kilometres. You can hire a tuk-tuk if you want, but a bicycle might be a better idea as it offers you more freedom. It's a real pleasure to go from temple to temple with the wind in your hair. There are around 8 hours of visits you can do either in one whole day or two half-days, at your own speed. There are many things that can quench the thirst of the curious tourist, from the statue of the king Parakrama Bahu to the terrace of the Tooth relic, via the Poth Gul Vihara, the temple of Shiva and many more besides. Another thirst to be quenched will be that created by the stifling heat. Don't hesitate to take a break in the little huts built at the side of the road.

213km from Colombo, Polonnaruwa is a marvellous site which you can easily explore by bike.

The remains of Polonnaruwa are spread out over numerous sites. Among the most well-known are the Quadrangle and the Gal Vihara. When you arrive on the bus, a group of tuk-tuks will be there ready to welcome you. I find this is practical to visit the site whilst you are at it, and much more if you travel as a family. &nbsp;The majority of buildings have a religious function, but not all of them, for example, the first of the day's visit which was a royal advisory chamber with the palace not far from there. The Quadrangle site, a bit further away, is a collection of temples on a raised plateau. I found it interesting to see the completely different types of architecture in the same place: sometimes a temple would remind me of the Khmer style, whereas another would be, so to speak, unique. The other peculiarity that the place has is that it still supports its heavy stone roof even after 1,000 years!Among the other sites, I saw the large stupa of Rankoth Vehera and the impressive Lankatilaka temple with its thick walls 17m high. I was, however, quite disappointed upon arriving at the Gal Vihara, as the figures of Buddha were carved out of a rock partition. To protect it from bad weather, the site is completely covered by a sheet of metal which does diminish the charm somewhat! This leaves the monkeys to entertain you...Take note however - the heat can get too much in Polonnaruwa and make your visit uncomfortable.

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