Travel Sri Lanka: Safari, peaks and golden horizons

Your bags are packed, your playlist is on point and you're bursting with excitement. As you stand at the gate, your heart pounds and you can hardly wait – 'Sri Lanka, here I come!' The plane takes off, you lean back, close your eyes and your imagination instantly starts running wild. Rustling palm trees, temple vibes and fragrant street food... it's still a dream, but it's all about to get real!

Wakey, wakey and welcome to Sri Lanka! You're greeted by the country's bright green landscape, and after landing, you head straight to your accommodation in Kandy.  The last of Sri Lanka's royal cities casts its shadow before you, and you can hardly wait to find out more about its legends and traditions. But more on that tomorrow. For now, explore the streets of Kandy on your own as you stroll past the charming colonial-era buildings. And if you're up for a bit of time travel, at the Queen's Pub Royal, you'll feel like you've travelled 200 years into the past. What more exciting way to enjoy a drink than that?! 

You can't wait to find out more about the legends and traditions of Kandy, so you hop in a tuk-tuk and off you go (optional, payable on site)! You immerse yourself in the landscape in authentic Sri Lankan style before heading to the city's must-see: the Temple of the Tooth (optional, payable on site). The scent of incense fills your nose, monks cross your path and your pulse starts to slow as the sacred site's spiritual ambience brings you a sense of inner calm. It's amazing that a simple canine tooth attracts so much attention and that believers from all over the world come to gather around it. But after all, it did come from the Buddha himself! You catch a quick glimpse of the small casket, and then the spectacle ends.

Love adrenaline and lofty heights? Then jump in a tuk-tuk, get set, go (optional, payable on site)! The Ambuluwawa Tower is about 19 miles from the city centre and isn't called the craziest tower in Sri Lanka for nothing. As soon as you leave the centre, the honking of cars will be replaced by the chirping of birds and instead of crowds of people, you'll see nature stretching to the horizon. Take a deep breath and feel the pure freedom, then suddenly, you'll see it in the distance: the truly eye-catching, winding, white tower nestled amongst the green hills. The best thing about it? You're allowed to walk up the tower (optional, payable on site)! Please note that the higher you get, the narrower the path becomes, so it's best not to walk all the way to the top. But no worries; even on the first platform, you have a fantastic view of the lush surroundings! And if you're afraid of heights, just snap the perfect pic from below!