{"id":21714,"date":"2017-08-27T03:46:10","date_gmt":"2017-08-26T17:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=21714"},"modified":"2025-04-22T15:07:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T05:07:45","slug":"sri-lanka-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the up-and-coming destination you should visit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>For years, Sri Lanka stayed (somewhat) hidden in the shadow of neighboring giant India, with countless travelers passing this island gem without much thought.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Had it not been for a cheap online flight deal, my two best friends and I might have overlooked Sri Lanka too. Having read very little about the country, our expectations were limited to seeing elephants and chilling on a beach \u2013 how wrong we were! We quickly discovered how much this little, diverse island has to offer.<\/p>\n<p>Located close to the well-trodden paths of <a href=\"\/southeast-asia\">South East Asia<\/a>, Sri Lanka\u2019s unique fusion of culture, landscapes and history is luring adventure seekers to stop and explore. As an alternative to the overwhelming size of India, there\u2019s good reason why this compact, tropical country is appearing on more and more travel itineraries. Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and highland hiking through tea plantations.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21724\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"\/sri-lanka\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21724\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_street_tuk-tuk.jpg\" alt=\"Sri Lanka Colombo\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_street_tuk-tuk.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_street_tuk-tuk-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_street_tuk-tuk-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_street_tuk-tuk-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-21724\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Street in capital city, Colombo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Add this to the short travel distances and amazingly affordable prices and it\u2019s no wonder that Sri Lanka is becoming one of the most up-and-coming places to visit. Here&#8217;s a little more detail on why the country should be on your travel radar:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The food<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You may not have heard much about Sri Lankan cuisine but let us be the first to tell you: Sri Lankan food is some of the best. As a blend of Indian and Asian culinary techniques, the cuisine revolves around intricately spiced curries, rice, rotis and samosas that are served in terracotta clay \u2018chatties\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>In Kandy or Colombo, head to the bustling street markets to watch the expertise of Sri Lankan cooks preparing local vegetables and shred roti on hot iron sheets.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21727\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"\/sri-lanka\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21727\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21727\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya_market_local-food_2.jpg\" alt=\"Nuwara Eliya food Sri Lanka\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya_market_local-food_2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya_market_local-food_2-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya_market_local-food_2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya_market_local-food_2-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-21727\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Local cooking in Nuwara Eliya<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you find yourself in Galle on the south coast, head to Lucky Fort restaurant, a quaint, family-run establishment decorated with fairy lights and brightly-colored tuk tuks. I recommend ordering the ten curries and you\u2019ll be treated to an array of curries that include beetroot, lotus flower, pumpkin, cucumber and dhal \u2013 each one with its own rich and fiery flavor.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/sri-lanka\/sri-lanka-real-food-adventure-160372\"><strong>EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH THE COUNTRY ON THIS 12-DAY FOOD TOUR!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ensure you also sample Sri Lanka\u2019s most popular dessert, chocolate roti (a cross between pancake and flatbread filled with hot, melted chocolate) and wash it down with a mug of world famous Ceylon tea. What\u2019s more is the astounding cost \u2013 with meals costing around $1, you can be satisfyingly full on a budget!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21723\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21723\" class=\"wp-image-21723 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_cooking-class_food_2.jpg\" alt=\"Sri Lanka Colombo cooking class\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_cooking-class_food_2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_cooking-class_food_2-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_cooking-class_food_2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_colombo_cooking-class_food_2-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21723\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A cooking class in Colombo<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><strong>The train rides <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you don\u2019t travel by train in Sri Lanka, you\u2019ve seriously missed out. Sri Lanka\u2019s train network is cheap, easy to navigate and offers breathtakingly spectacular views.<\/p>\n<p>Heading south of Colombo to Hikkaduwa and Galle, the tracks hug the coast so be sure to watch the rolling waves of the Indian Ocean along palm tree-lined shores as you ride on the open-windowed carriages.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21729\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_view_4.jpg\" alt=\"Sri Lanka train\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_view_4.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_view_4-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_view_4-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_view_4-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>Grab a bag of corn and chilli snacks wrapped in last month\u2019s newspaper from the vendors and sit back and take in the vistas of rolling tea plantations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"text-decoration-line: underline; text-align: center;\" href=\"\/adventures\/sri-lanka-through-the-lens\/\"><strong>SEE WHAT SRI LANKAN TRAIN JOURNEYS ARE LIKE VIA THIS GORGEOUS PHOTO ESSAY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Undoubtedly the most popular train ride is from Ella to Kandy \u2013 I\u2019d recommend booking a ticket for the 1<sup>st<\/sup> class observation carriage to get the best seat in the house!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21715 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-e1503766254302.jpg\" alt=\"Sri Lanka train\" width=\"600\" height=\"712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-e1503766254302.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-e1503766254302-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-e1503766254302-585x694.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The surf scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>With regular swells pushing up from the south, Sri Lanka\u2019s Arugam Bay (called &#8216;A Bay&#8217; for short) is known as one of the top ten surf sports in the world. Whether you\u2019re a novice or an expert, the bay has waves to suit everyone.<strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/unexpected-surf-destinations\/\"> (Love surfing? Check out these 6 unexpected surf spots around the world.)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the aptly-named \u2018Main Point\u2019 and \u2018Baby Point\u2019 running along the beach, hire a board from one of the many laid-back cafes and head to the ocean.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21718\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21718\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21718\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri7-e1503766432338.jpg\" alt=\"Arugam Bay beach Sri Lanka\" width=\"800\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri7-e1503766432338.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri7-e1503766432338-425x281.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri7-e1503766432338-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri7-e1503766432338-780x516.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri7-e1503766432338-585x386.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21718\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Main beach in Arugam Bay<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Alternatively, take a day trip to Peanut Farm, a small but epic bay perfect for beginners with hanging hammocks and a bamboo roti hut perfect for a post surf chill out. Your tuk tuk driver will most likely spot the local resident families of Asian elephants on your way there so keep watch!<\/p>\n<p>Other top spots to ride the waves in A Bay are Pottuvil and Whiskey Point or Unawatuna and Mirissa if you\u2019re on the south coast.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/physical-activities-sri-lanka\/\"><strong>RELATED:\u00a08 OF THE BEST PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The hiking<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Hiking might not be the first thing that springs to mind when planning a trip to Sri Lanka but climbing some of the island\u2019s mountainous terrain can be the best way to see the country&#8217;s wonder (as well as burning off some of those dhal curries!).<\/p>\n<p>Sigiriya is a definite must.\u00a0Located in the country&#8217;s Central Province, the massive rock is simply not worth visiting unless you get all the way to the top.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_sigiriya_walking-to-rock.jpg\" alt=\"Sigiriya Sri Lanka\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_sigiriya_walking-to-rock.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_sigiriya_walking-to-rock-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_sigiriya_walking-to-rock-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_sigiriya_walking-to-rock-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>(Yes, this is a little more hiking than climbing, but we&#8217;re going to insist it counts. The views are otherworldly.)<\/p>\n<p>Some of the best other hiking is around Ella, a luscious, green highland town built around the area\u2019s tea plantation industry. Try walking up Little Adam\u2019s Peak, a gentle 5km ascent through tea bushes, which offers impressive views of the hillside surroundings.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21732\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21732\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21732\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri13-002-e1503768531447.jpg\" alt=\"Ella Rock hiking Sri Lanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"603\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21732\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View summit of Ella Rock<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For a steeper, sweatier challenge, try tackling Ella Rock, a 10km scramble through dense forest to an outstanding panoramic lookout point. With little signage, smiling, barefoot locals will likely approach you offering guidance in return for a few rupees.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/sri-lanka\/cycle-sri-lanka-160369\"><strong>LOVE BEING ACTIVE WHEN TRAVELING? OUR &#8216;CYCLE SRI LANKA&#8217; TRIP IS PERFECT FOR YOU<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The locals <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As clich\u00e9 as it sounds, the people really do make a place. If smiles from strangers in the street isn\u2019t the norm, you\u2019re in for a lovely surprise. Sri Lankans are some of the most genuine, warm and welcoming people I\u2019ve ever met.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21728\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_locals-smiling.jpg\" alt=\"Locals train Sri Lanka\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_locals-smiling.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_locals-smiling-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_locals-smiling-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_nuwara-eliya-train_locals-smiling-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>If you\u2019re a female or solo traveler, I\u2019d definitely recommend Sri Lanka as a safe place to explore. It won\u2019t be uncommon for locals to invite you into their homes or introduce you to their extended family with open arms.<\/p>\n<p>One of my most memorable moments was hitch-hiking on a local school bus and watching the children\u2019s joyous faces as their teacher applauded me into becoming the centerpiece of a Bollywood-style dance down the aisle.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21719 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri12-002-e1503765886869.jpg\" alt=\"Sri Lanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"595\" \/><\/p>\n<p>My advice is to get chatting to your neighbor on long train rides or jump in on a game of casual cricket with the local kids and you\u2019ll soon feel at home amongst the heartwarmingly friendly Sri Lankan culture.<\/p>\n<p>And, before long, you&#8217;ll find it as hard to leave as I did. It&#8217;s truly a special country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tempted to visit this up-and-coming travel destination? <a href=\"\/sri-lanka\">Check out Intrepid&#8217;s wide rang of small group adventures in Sri Lanka.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p><em>(Image credits from top to bottom: Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel,\u00a0Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel,\u00a0Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel,\u00a0Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel,\u00a0Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel, Lauren Wigham, Lauren Wigham, Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel, Lauren Wigham, Ryan Bolton for Intrepid Travel, Lauren Wigham)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and highland hiking through tea plantations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15923,"featured_media":24221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455],"tags":[180,577,1107,52,1524],"class_list":["post-21714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","tag-asia","tag-food-adventure","tag-hiking","tag-sri-lanka","tag-surfing","ipf_theme-walking-trekking","ipf_region-sri-lanka"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sri Lanka: A guide to Asia&#039;s new hottest destination | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and hiking through tea plantations.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the new hottest destination to visit\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and highland hiking through tea plantations.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Good Times by Intrepid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-08-26T17:46:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-22T05:07:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lauren Wigham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the up-and-coming destination you should visit\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_kandy_building_tuk-tuk.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lauren Wigham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/\",\"name\":\"Sri Lanka: A guide to Asia's new hottest destination | Intrepid Travel Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-26T17:46:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-22T05:07:45+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/2347524d9f91c67a6f7fc28199c2ce41\"},\"description\":\"Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and hiking through tea plantations.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":450,\"caption\":\"Beautiful beach in Sri Lanka\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the up-and-coming destination you should visit\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\",\"name\":\"The Good Times by Intrepid\",\"description\":\"adventure news\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/2347524d9f91c67a6f7fc28199c2ce41\",\"name\":\"Lauren Wigham\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00bf56c9a336396574472efb2fff56fb13c077f4c85947a77d3389c62be45036?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00bf56c9a336396574472efb2fff56fb13c077f4c85947a77d3389c62be45036?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lauren Wigham\"},\"description\":\"For recent British geography graduate Lauren, the world has always been a fascinating place and her passion for travel began with a dream year studying in Australia. Her travel ethos is to \\\"go local\\\" \u2013 there's always more adventure and authenticity in enjoying a mug of chai in a Maasai mud hut or riding motorbikes off the beaten track to find a secluded surf spot!\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/lauren-wigham\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sri Lanka: A guide to Asia's new hottest destination | Intrepid Travel Blog","description":"Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and hiking through tea plantations.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the new hottest destination to visit","og_description":"Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and highland hiking through tea plantations.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/","og_site_name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/","article_published_time":"2017-08-26T17:46:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-22T05:07:45+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":450,"url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lauren Wigham","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the up-and-coming destination you should visit","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sri-lanka_kandy_building_tuk-tuk.jpg","twitter_creator":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_site":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lauren Wigham","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/","name":"Sri Lanka: A guide to Asia's new hottest destination | Intrepid Travel Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg","datePublished":"2017-08-26T17:46:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-22T05:07:45+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/2347524d9f91c67a6f7fc28199c2ce41"},"description":"Few places can boast such a range of stunning beaches, world class surf, spectacular train rides, delicious cuisine and hiking through tea plantations.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg","width":800,"height":450,"caption":"Beautiful beach in Sri Lanka"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sri-lanka-travel-guide\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 reasons why Sri Lanka is the up-and-coming destination you should visit"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/","name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","description":"adventure news","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/2347524d9f91c67a6f7fc28199c2ce41","name":"Lauren Wigham","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00bf56c9a336396574472efb2fff56fb13c077f4c85947a77d3389c62be45036?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00bf56c9a336396574472efb2fff56fb13c077f4c85947a77d3389c62be45036?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Lauren Wigham"},"description":"For recent British geography graduate Lauren, the world has always been a fascinating place and her passion for travel began with a dream year studying in Australia. Her travel ethos is to \"go local\" \u2013 there's always more adventure and authenticity in enjoying a mug of chai in a Maasai mud hut or riding motorbikes off the beaten track to find a secluded surf spot!","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/lauren-wigham\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-sri-lanka_beach_palm-trees_2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4OQMK-5Ee","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15923"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21714"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84089,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21714\/revisions\/84089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}