Hiriketiya
A small horseshoe-shaped bay on the southern coast with a sheltered beginner wave, reef snorkelling from the beach and a warm, unhurried coastal atmosphere. Intimate, low-key and beloved by travellers seeking something quieter than the main resort towns. Best time to visit: November to April.
Madu River
A protected 915-hectare mangrove lagoon and waterway network on the south-western coast, best explored by small boat through cinnamon island channels and mangrove corridors alive with kingfishers and waterbirds. Best time to visit: November to April.
Ritigala Forest Monastery
An ancient monastery deep in dry-zone wilderness north of Dambulla, accessible only on foot through dense forest. Unusual paired meditation platforms connected by raised stone pathways create a sense of extraordinary, undisturbed antiquity found nowhere else in Sri Lanka. Best time to visit: November to April.