Undiscovered East Coast of Sri Lanka

This itinerary is perfect for a second-time trip to Sri Lanka, as many guests don’t tend to see the East Coast on a first-time holiday to Sri Lanka. This part of Sri Lanka is perfect in the summer months, a perfect blend of wildlife, local culture and time on the beach to end.

Gal Oya is a park that few guests travel to, but it is one of Sri Lanka’s best. The lodge here is superb, and it is known for its swimming elephants who cool off in the Senanayake Samudraya, Sri Lanka’s largest inland body of water. You can head off on jeeps, finding amazing locations for a picnic lunch. You can also meet the aboriginal people of Sri Lanka, the Veddas.

Work your way up the coast to Passekudah, a beach destination that is close to the interesting town of Batticaloa, home to traditional Hindu temples, a colonial Dutch Fort and interesting markets. The area is seeing a lot of hotel development (partly as it is a summer rather than winter destination), but its still worth stopping off for a few days as you travel north. The beach is lovely and the sea is pretty shallow making it excellent for swimming. It’s worth heading to Kalkudah Beach a little to the south which is more deserted. If you are a diver, then there some interesting wreck dives, including a British Second World War aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes.

Move up the coast to Trincomalee, for a long period off limits to tourists. It is a historic deep-water port, and as such has a colourful colonial history. The beaches to the north are lovely, and perfect to end your tour of the east coast of Sri Lanka.