With a country as diverse as Sri Lanka which is home to seven World Heritage sites, over fifteen designated national parks and three climatic zones it's important to get to grips with the different areas, in order to make an info rmed decision about what you would like to see and where to base yourself.

Colombo

There is only one word to describe Colombo and that is.MANIC! It can be fun with some great shops and restaurants to explore but we wouldn't recommend it as the first point of call for newcomers to Sri Lanka. It's polluted, busy and ugly, and so with the airport a good 1.5 hours away it can easily be avoided and therefore probably should be.

The Coast

The main beach resorts in Sri Lanka run along the southwest coast from Bentota to Tangalle. These become increasingly picturesque and isolated the further south you travel.

Bentota is the nearest resort to the airport at approximately 2.5 hours and as such has a good range of facilities such as water sports and local restaurants. There are a number of larger hotels along the main beach, but jump next door to a neighboring cove you are unlikely to see anyone other than the local fishermen. The area is ideal for children with elephant rides on the beach and banana rides all year round on the river.

Hikkaduwa is traditionally a surfer town and so has a number of laid back beachfront bars and restaurants, as well as two of the only discos on the island.

Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to it Dutch colonial past and makes a great day trip from a coastal villa. It has a real cosmopolitan feel due to boutique gift shops and hotel restaurants, mixed with Moorish, Portuguese, Dutch and British history. It is possible to stay in the fort and definitely fun for a few nights. It is approx 4 hours from the airport.

Thalpe is an up-market stretch of coast where most of the islands luxury villas are located. Beautiful beaches, antique shops and great seafood. There are local restaurants along the beach but we would recommend exploring the areas boutique hotels for the experience as much as the food. Specific details can be provided on request. Transfer times are approximately 4 hours.

Weligama is much the same as Thalpe but just slightly quieter. Its main industry is still fishing and the area is famous for its stilt fishermen. The bay that sweeps round from there to Mirissa is especially beautiful.

Tangalle is much further round the coast than any of the other beach resorts and as such totally un-spoilt. Lush vegetation still boarders the main coastal road and the beaches are breathtaking. The hotels and villas in Tangalle are designed purely for relaxation and doing nothing so don't head this way if late nights and action packed afternoons are on the agenda because you will be disappointed.

Hill Country

Sri Lanka 's vast mountain region is where the countries best natural attractions are found. Famed for its tea plantations, rolling hills and dramatic waterfalls, the areas key points of interest such as Horton Plains, Adam's Peak and World's End will greatly appeal to nature lovers and anyone with a fondness for breathtaking scenery. The region is also home to Kandy the country's religious heartland and Nuwara Eliya its highest town. Temperatures are a lot cooler in this area due to the altitude, offering ideal conditions for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting and abseiling.

Kandy which is approx 3 hours from Colombo and famed for its religious background, was made a world heritage site in 1988. The city's main attraction is the Temple of the Tooth, home to Sri Lanka 's most precious relic - the tooth of Buddha. Every July the tooth becomes the focus of a fortnight long festival known as the Perahera, when the town is enlivened by parading elephants, acrobats, drummers and dancers.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was established by the Sri Lankan government in 1975 to care for elephants that have lost their mothers or herds. Regarded as the largest herd of captive elephants in the world, Pinnawela has helped bring elephant populations in Sri Lanka back from near extinction and is used as an educational facility to reduce elephant and human conflict.

The Bogawantalawa Valley in central Sri Lanka , is located 3 hours from Colombo at an altitude of 4000 feet. Partnered with the stunning Castlereagh reservoir, this vast area of rolling tea carpeted hills provides the most outstanding scenery in all of Sri Lanka . Despite having 200,000 hectares of plantation to choose from, Fleewinter would recommend those in the Bogawantalawa Valley above any other.

Nuwara Eliya or 'Little England', is Sri Lanka 's highest town and in our minds a complete waste of time! Other than a few run-down colonial hotels and the over-grown race course there is nothing of interest. While useful as a lunch stop and flanked by beautiful scenery in the valleys around, only unimaginative operators would subject their clients to the questionable cobweb covered delights of this rickety old town. Plus, it can get very very cold!

Horton Plains is a windswept plateau 2000m above sea level with a wondrous array of flora and fauna. Designated a wildlife reserve in 1988 the area is very popular with birdwatchers looking for endemic species such as the yellow-eared bulbul and the fantailed warbler, but would appeal to anyone who enjoys beautiful scenery or gentle walks. Keep yours eyes open for the Nillu shrub, which only flowers once every 5-10 years.

World's End & Bakers Falls can be reached via paths leading from Horton Plains. The view from the abrupt 880m drop is spectacular as long as you arrive before 10am, after which time the mist is too thick to see anything other than a white wall.

Adam's Peak at 7500 ft high is the most famous physical feature in Sri Lanka and a place of pilgrimage for Sri Lankans and tourists alike. Sri Lankans come mainly in the month of April to pay their respects to the mountains deity Sumana, while foreigners come to admire the sunrise. The climb takes several hours and is done at night, therefore only suitable for the physically fit.

Ella has one of the best views in Sri Lanka - through the Ella Gap to the Kirinda Lighthouse on the coast 1000m below. Ella can be reached by road or rail, 5 hours from Colombo . For the more energetic there is an adventure park with paragliding, canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling, etc.

Cultural Triangle

The Cultural Triangle is the epicenter of Sri Lanka 's national heritage, due to consecutive dynasties that built their kingdoms in this area from 377 BC through to the colonial period in the 16 th century. The triangle is made up of Dambulla and Sigiriya in the west, Anuradhapura in the north and Polonnaruwa to the east. In total the area has no less than five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including The Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is regarded as the 8 th wonder of the world.

Dambulla is located in the centre of the country, approximately 3 hours directly north of Kandy and 4 hours from the airport. The construction of the impressive Dambulla Cave Temple originally began in the first century BC under King Valagambahu of Anuradhapura , who had sought refuge in the cave during a 14 year exile. Following this period successive kings have added to the temple's chambers, rock carvings and murals, providing a physical record of Sri Lanka 's dynastic history.

Sigiriya was built from 477-485 AD and is essentially the ancient equivalent of the playboy mansion. Set on top of the 200m high 'Lions Rock' the fortress was created by King Kasyapa who is said to have buried his father alive and then built Sigiriya as protection from his half brother, Moggallana. Moggallana traveled to India where he assembled an army and 18years later returned to seek revenge. Having lived happily within his palace, complete with erotic cave paintings (which are regarded as the world's first examples of pornography) and a harem of over 500 women, Kasyapa lost the battle against his half-brother and ended up taking his own life. Often referred to as the 8 th wonder of the world, a visit to Sigiriya is an absolute must.

Polonnaruwa was the islands medieval capital from the 11 th to 13 th century and is by far the most accessible and rewarding of all Sri Lanka 's ancient sites. Its temples, judicial buildings and stupas remain in good condition, with some residential buildings still to be excavated. The ruins can be covered in half a day and hiring an authorized guide will prove invaluable and fascinating. Polonnaruwa can be reached from Dambulla in approx 2hrs, Kandy in 4hrs and the airport in 6hrs.

Dry Zone

Sri Lanka is a country of climatic contrasts and as such has two distinctive dry zones in the North and East of the country. In these areas the vegetation tends to be less dense and so they are ideal for wildlife observation.

Yala National Park on the southeast tip of the island is the most well known of Sri Lanka 's 15 wildlife reserves. Yala is prime leopard spotting territory, especially in August when the area is at its driest, but it is also home to a healthy population of crocodiles, buffalo, jackal and an abundance of bird life.

Uda Walawe National Park is about 1.5 hours drive inland from Tangalle on the South coast, making it an easy excursion from the main beach resorts of Galle , Thalpe and Weligama. The park has open boundaries which allows for the unrestricted movement of numerous elephant herds and sightings are almost 100% guaranteed. There is also an elephant transit centre, which was set up by the department of wildlife in 1995 to care for abandoned and injured calves.

The Rural Belt

The rural belt that runs roughly 3 km inland from the southwest coast is an area all to quickly overlooked by tour operators and tourists alike who are all to eager to hit the beach. This is a real shame because as the coastal hustle and bustle give way to lush paddy fields, some of Sri Lanka 's most charming and outstandingly beautiful scenery is revealed. Traditional Sri Lanka villages line the road sides, along with local temples and a welcome absence of tourism.

The Rainforest

Carry on further inland from the southwest rural belt and you will eventually reach the Sinharaja ra info rest which forms part of the island's wet zone which stretches from the gem capital of Ratnurpura up to Haputale near Horton Plains. This area has only recently opened up to tourism thanks to a new road that is under construction and so as yet is largely unexplored.

Sinharaja Ra info rest is the last significant stretch of ra info rest on the island and home to an abundance of wildlife, including 95% of Sri Lanka 's indigenous birds. As such it has been recognised by the UNESCO as an international biosphere reserve and has become yet another of Sri Lanka 's World Heritage Sites. The word Sinharaja means 'Lion King' and is believed to have been the final refuge of the animal before it became extinct on the island.

Ratnapura is the gem capital of Sri Lanka with over 200 working gem mines and a climate that has been likened to a Turkish bath. The vegetation is correspondingly luscious and the city has a beautiful setting on the banks of the Kalu River . Many of the gem mines are open to visitors for a small fee and a general absence of tourists in this region, ensures that the city's precious bounty is not over-priced.

Balangoda which can be found half way between Ratnapura and Haputale is not of much interest as a town but makes a good base from which to explore the areas largely unknown, prehistoric cave network, which was inhabited between 8000 and 2500 BC.