Bentota

Designed with parents and kids in mind: short driving days, hotels with pools, and experiences children love – elephants, bullock carts, trains, tuk-tuks, turtles and beaches. Family rooms or connecting rooms are arranged in every hotel.

Rest, restore and reset. After two gentle days in Kandy, spend seven nights at a certified Ayurveda resort on the south-west coast with daily treatments prescribed by an Ayurvedic doctor, yoga, meditation and herbal cuisine.

Escape Colombo for a day on the south coast: Madu River boat safari, turtle hatchery, the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort and a swim in Unawatuna.

Golden sand, palm trees and turquoise water – this is Sri Lanka's classic beach holiday, with just enough sightseeing to keep it interesting. Hop along the south coast from the river estuary of Bentota to historic Galle, whale-watching Mirissa and the quiet coves of Tangalle.

The perfect balance: eight days of culture, tea country and wildlife followed by four nights on the beach to unwind. It's our best-selling route for couples and families who want to see the island but also come home rested.