From the misty peaks of the Central Highlands to the depths of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka packs an extraordinary range of adventure travel into a surprisingly compact island – often just a few hours' drive apart. Rather than offering one fixed activity, we combine the ones that suit you into a single, connected adventure route across the island.
Along the coast, surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, marine fishing, kayaking and canoeing open up vibrant coral reefs, colourful marine life and fascinating shipwrecks. Sri Lanka's south and east coasts – around Weligama, Hikkaduwa and the famous point break at Arugam Bay – are especially popular for surfing, with breaks suited to complete beginners and experienced surfers alike, and a swell somewhere on the island almost year-round.
Inland, the hill country's mountains, tea plantations, waterfalls and rural landscapes around Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains are made for hiking and trekking. The Pekoe Trail, one of the island's most spectacular long-distance hiking routes, winds through tea plantations, misty mountains, forests, remote villages and historic paths across the Central Highlands, while the Knuckles Mountain Range and the pilgrim's route up Adam's Peak reward those after a tougher climb.
