Trincomalee

A marine national park twenty minutes off Nilaveli beach, with live coral, reef sharks and turtles in water shallow enough to snorkel from the sand.

The east coast's whale season runs when Mirissa's is over – March to September, peaking June to August. Sperm whales are far more common here than in the south.

Few visitors reach the north, which makes it all the more rewarding. Discover Tamil culture, colourful Hindu kovils, Dutch forts, palmyra landscapes and island shrines – and taste the famous Jaffna crab curry.

When the monsoon reaches the west and south coasts, the east coast is at its best – calm, sunny and uncrowded. Begin with Sigiriya, then travel down the coast from Trincomalee's snorkelling reefs to the shallow lagoon of Pasikudah and the surf town of Arugam Bay.

Few visitors reach the north, which makes it all the more rewarding. Discover Tamil culture, colourful Hindu kovils, Dutch forts, palmyra landscapes and island shrines – and taste the famous Jaffna crab curry.

When the monsoon reaches the west and south coasts, the east coast is at its best – calm, sunny and uncrowded. Begin with Sigiriya, then travel down the coast from Trincomalee's snorkelling reefs to the shallow lagoon of Pasikudah and the surf town of Arugam Bay.