Sri Lanka - a lush, tropical, island lying off the southern tip of India and surrounded by the clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean - boasts 1,600 km of coastline made up of sandy beaches, coral reefs and lagoons. Its interior reaches heights of over 2,500 m in the picturesque 'Hill Country', where verdant tea plantations carpet every available slope and waterfalls cascade down mountainsides.

Perfect for a 2 week tour - culturally rich and environmentally diverse, Sri Lanka offers an amazing array within a relatively small area: no less than nine World Heritage Sites - dating back to the 3rd Century BC - an enviable 14 national parks, 86 species of mammals, more than 400 bird species, a fantastic array of exotic flowering plants and trees, and unspoiled, palm-fringed, tropical beaches.

Highlights of the island include the ancient cities and religious sites of the 'Cultural Triangle', hiking in the spectacular Hill Country, a wildlife safari in one of the many national parks, tucking into superb curries washed down with Lion beer, sipping sundowners on a tropical beach, and immersing yourself in the bewildering sights and spicy fragrances that are synonymous with "undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world" (Marco Polo).