Colors of Sri Lanka (20 Days)

Spend time on the sandy beaches of Negombo, with the option of water sports such as diving among corals and a 50-year-old shipwreck just off the coast.

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC, and view ancient murals depicting the life of Lord Buddha alongside hundreds of Buddha figurines across the five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King, the Cave of the Great King, and the Great New Monastery.

Climb the 5th-century rock fortress built for King Kasyapa, entering through the lion's paws that give the site its name, and see the famous unfading murals, the steep staircase, terraced gardens, still-working cisterns and tunnels leading to the palace.

Walk through the ruins of Polonnaruwa, which flourished as Sri Lanka's second major capital between the 10th and 13th centuries, taking in monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu.

Take a safari through Minneriya National Park, known in the dry season between May and October for large gatherings of elephants, along with other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century to house and protect Lord Buddha's sacred tooth, with its painted halls, carved pillars and golden statues.

Walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens, established in the early 19th century and home to over 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices and medicinal plants, as well as the cannonball tree and a wobbly suspension bridge.

Visit Ramboda Falls, the 11th tallest waterfall in the country.

Walk through the shaded avenues and colourful gardens of Hakgala Botanical Gardens.

Take a relaxed walk along the shores of Lake Gregory.

Explore Nuwara Eliya, a hill town built by the British in the style of an English countryside settlement, with period architecture, manicured lawns, an Anglican church and a well-known golf course, set at a cool altitude in the heart of tea country.

Explore Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, with its grasslands and cloud forest, taking in the views from World's End and the cooling spray of Baker's Falls, along with glimpses of endemic wildlife and sites of archaeological interest.

Pass through bright green tea fields and rocky stretches for views of Little Adam's Peak.

Walk over the Nine Arches Bridge and hear the story of its construction.

End at Demodara Railway Station, notable for its unique loop-over track design.

Take a roughly three-hour safari in Yala National Park, the second largest in the country, with the chance to see Sri Lankan leopards, wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan sloth bears and large herds of elephants, alongside many other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

Visit Ussangoda, a largely treeless coastal plateau with toxic serpentine rock, linked in Ramayana legend to the burning tail of Lord Hanuman and to King Ravana's mythical flying chariot.

Visit Rumassala, a hill near Unuwatuna beach topped by a white Buddhist dagoba, said in legend to be a fragment of the Dronagiri mountain carried by Hanuman and an abode of Sita during her time in Lanka.

Explore Galle Fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia and once a headquarters for the Portuguese and Dutch, with its museums, lighthouse and cobblestoned streets bearing Dutch names.

Spend time on one of Sri Lanka's best beaches, with options for watching nesting turtles, relaxing at beachfront hotels or trying water sports such as jet-skiing and windsurfing.