Sri Lanka

Ratna-dwipa, the Island of Gems; Pearl of The Ocean; The Resplendent Isle, Teardrop of India. The ancient land now known as Sri Lanka has gone by many names. Medieval adventurer Marco Polo described it as the World’s Most Colorful Island and Arab traders called it Srenedib – as in serendipitous, a pleasant surprise. In recent years Sri Lanka’s pleasant surprises are being revealed to a growing audience, as this island nation is a rising star in Asian tourism.

It is a land of dazzling beaches, sapphire oceans, lush rainforests, mist-shrouded mountains, and tea plantations set on terraced hillsides. It is a place rich in history, where an eclectic culture three millennia in the making blends the traditions of India and the Far East with Colonial influences and ethnic enrichments from traders and seafarers from around the globe. Adventure travelers come for rafting, hiking, and wildlife safaris. Culture and history buffs have much to discover, foodies can expand palates with spice-laden discoveries and beach lovers can choose from an excellent collection of world-class resorts.