The best tours in Sri Lanka

Arabia Weather - For sparkling beaches, mesmerizing blue waves, swaying palm trees, emerald hills and the smell of seafood on the breeze, come to Sri Lanka.

The size of this small island means you can see it all in a short trip, from gorgeous beaches and elephant-filled national parks to ruined Buddhist shrines – especially if you hire a car and driver.

While some people tour Sri Lanka's roads by rented motorbike or scooter, renting a car with a driver is the easier option. Most drivers speak English and know the ins and outs of driving in the country, including the best stops en route for spicy rice and curry!

To see the best of the country on your own wheels, here are our favorite tours in Sri Lanka

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1. Colombo to Matara

The best road trip for beach lovers

Colombo - Matara; 133 km (83 mi)

This easy trip south from Colombo follows the Coastal Railway Path, linking historic towns to some of Sri Lanka's most popular beach resorts. You won't find much peace and quiet in high season, but you will find plenty of sunny sand and good places to stay, eat and surf.

Start in Colombo , Sri Lanka's history-filled capital, explore the temples and markets and dine on a wonderful lobster curry dinner, then move south to the sands of Aluthgama and Bentota, taking time to detour inland to the enchanting Brave Garden. If you have the budget, this coast has some of the best Ayurvedic spa resorts in Sri Lanka. Stop for a day or two to enjoy water fun in Hikkaduwa, and head to Ambalangoda to explore the island's tradition of mask dances (kolam).

Step back into history in UNESCO-listed Gaul, with colonial-era streets winding around a historic lighthouse and fort built by Dutch colonists. Eat and sleep well in the old centre, then travel past Unawatuna Beach, the gorgeous Medigama and Weligama and a stop at the Handunuguda Tea Plantation before ending in the quaint town of Matara in Sri Lanka.

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Colombo to Badulla via plateau

The best road trip for tea lovers
Colombo-Ella; 240 km (145 mi)

It's not all about the beaches in Sri Lanka. The domestic journey from Colombo to the plateau is one of Sri Lanka's most emotional train journeys, and is equally stunning on the way. Starting in the capital and stopping regularly to admire the scenery, follow the A1 towards the highlands and the holy city of Kandy, home to Sri Lanka's most revered temple.

Coming by car and driver makes it easy to visit the nearby temples, gardens and Ceylon Tea Museum before heading to the Avenue Tea District. Take the mountain road to Nuwara Eliya through emerald green tea plantations, stopping at plantations such as Glenloch to learn about the tea-making process. Settle into a colonial-era hotel (we appreciate the Hill Club) and have high tea on the Grand.

Head across the picturesque Horton Plains to Haputale, where tea king Sir Thomas Lipton founded his empire, visit the Lipton factory in Dampatene, then continue through the mountainous landscape to Ella, where you can book into a local guest house and enjoy traditional Sri Lankan cooking. We leave the decision to take an Instagram photo of the famous Nine Arches Bridge outside the city to you.

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Tour of ancient cities

Best trip ever
Anuradhapura - Kandy, 180 km (112 mi)

The green plains of central Sri Lanka couldn't be further from the picture of beaches and sand. Here you'll find the ruins of Sri Lanka's ancient Buddhist kingdoms spreading out from forests filled with flamingos and nettles.

Start in Anuradhapura, where giant brick arms larger than stacks of airplanes remain sites of daily worship. Pay your respects at the Sri Maha Bodhi, a tree that arose from the same tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment, then proceed to the interesting monastic complex at Ritigala.

Rest from the ruins in the elephant-filled Minneriya National Park, then immerse yourself again in Polonnaruwa, home to some of Sri Lanka's finest temples, statues and ruins. Drive west through Sigiriya, whose rocky peak is crowned by the ruined palace of King Kasyapa, reached by a perilous staircase.

Head south to Dambulla, where dusty bricks are replaced by temples covered in bright primary colours. End the trip with a final visit to Kandy, where the Temple of the Sacred Anvil is still considered the heart of modern Sri Lankan Buddhism.

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The best national parks in Sri Lanka

Best place to observe wildlife
Mirissa - Arugam Bay; 440 km (273 mi)

This cross-country journey takes you on some of Sri Lanka's most epic wildlife encounters, visiting famous and serene national parks and sailing the sea to meet Sri Lanka's largest land animal, the blue whale. In fact, this is the first activity before you continue driving from the seaside resort of Mirissa. Sporting friends of all shapes and sizes are the main attraction indoors at Sinharaja Forest Reserve, and are best met on foot with a local guide.

Head east to meet elephants in Uda Walawi National Park (in quieter surroundings than busy Yala National Park), then head back to the coast to encounter birds among the dunes and lagoons of Bandala National Park. You'll need to turn inland to reach Kumana National Park – a much easier trip with a car and driver than a general one – where you have a good chance of encountering a cheetah. End at the beach at Arugam Bay for a break and some surfing.

Explore the east coast of Sri Lanka

Best road trip to get away from the crowds
Arugam Bay - Trincomalee; 260 km (162 mi)

Things are quiet on Sri Lanka's east coast, and the weather here is dry during the low season from May to August, making this a great trip for budget travelers. Along the way, you can stop in quiet surf centers and historic towns that give a more authentic Sri Lankan feel than the resorts to the south and west. Start with a wave at Arugam Bay, one of the most relaxing surf spots on the island. Stop for the day to explore lesser-visited temples and birding sites on the lakes around Pottuvil.

Moving north up the coast, you'll cross the Gal Oya River (follow it inland to encounter the wildlife of the unexplored Gal Oya National Park) on your way to Batticaloa, where you can explore colonial ruins, diverse religious sites and beautiful beaches. Let the coast invite you further north towards Trincomalee, where Dutch and British history meet Tamil culture. Use Trinco as a base for day trips to Uppuveli and Nilaveli beaches and diving with sharks and turtles at Pigeon Island Park.

Best road trip of Tamil culture

Colombo-Jaffna; 600 km (373 mi)

Travelers have long overlooked Sri Lanka's once turbulent north, but with peace prevailing in the island's Tamil heartland, it's a good time to explore. From Colombo, cruise north through laid-back Negombo, and get your first taste of Tamil architecture at Madambi Murugan Temple. Stop for the night on the tranquil Kalpitiya Peninsula, the kite surfing capital of Sri Lanka.

Before you enter the Tamil North proper, head to Wilpattu National Park – one of the most peaceful reserves on the island – then move on to Mannar Island to admire the baobab trees and get to the closest point to India without leaving Sri Lanka. From here on, Tamil Hindu culture dominates; So keep an eye out for their beautifully colorful Hindu temples as you follow the A32 north across the lake to Jaffna.

In Sri Lanka's northern capital, spicy Tamil food is the order of the day. Grab a meal of crab curry and explore the Dutch-era fort and courtyard crowded with pilgrims at Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Temple. This could be the end of the trip, but you can also spend a day or more exploring the quiet beaches and remote villages of the war-torn Jaffna Peninsula to see how far Sri Lanka has come since the civil war ended in 2009.

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Tips for driving in Sri Lanka

It is possible to drive a rental car in Sri Lanka yourself, but most people prefer to leave the driving to someone with experience of local conditions. Renting a car with a driver is easy, and you will get the chance to visit some local food stations that you might not have visited if you were alone. Companies like Ancient Lanka can provide you with a car and a friendly, experienced driver from as little as US$65 per day. You'll also be in a better place to deal with any fuel shortages on the island, as tour drivers get priority access to fuel.

While motorbike and scooter rentals are not as extensive as Southeast Asia, they are easy and cheap to arrange along the coast. The roads are generally well maintained, although potholes are common on the back lanes and in the hills. Beware of stray dogs, chickens and wildlife (including elephants – if you see an elephant on the road, stay away), and watch out for speeding trucks and buses, which won't slow down for something like a motorcycle. Try to avoid being on the roads after sunset, as hazards are difficult to spot.

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Source: lonelyplanet