Often dubbed the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, the verdant island of Sri Lanka could be more correctly described as the Emerald of the Indian Ocean.
It's not hard to see why travellers book cheap flights to Sri Lanka. The tiny tropical island has palm-fringed, soft sand beaches, stunning rainforest mountains and waterfalls, a rich colonial history and an inspiring cultural heritage. With elephant-led parades, tea plantations, mangrove-lined lagoons, colourful markets and graceful, friendly people, this beautiful island offers a rich holiday experience way off the well-worn tourist trail.
Galle, with its heritage-protected Dutch Fort and preserved colonial style, is great town to explore. Its history dates back well before the Portuguese, Dutch and, later, English arrived, when the port was used by Persians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Malays and Indians.
Sri Lanka's south coast is the most popular tourist destination, with plenty of resorts and guesthouses. On the south-west coast, there are fantastic beaches around Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Bentota and Mirissa. Some of the must-visit beaches on the eastern coast are Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Arugam Bay.
Now that the 30-year conflict between the Tamils and the Sinhalese has ended, Sri Lanka is looking forward to a peaceful future.