Ten days of wellness and slow living

A wide stretch of sand north of the town; good for an evening walk after a long flight.

A granite rock rising 316 metres over Kurunegala, shaped like a crouching elephant, with a short climb to a viewpoint over the town.

A flat 3.4 km loop around the lake in the centre of town, best early in the morning or before the evening service.

Sri Lanka's largest botanic garden, on a bend of the Mahaweli river, known for its avenues of royal palms, orchid house and giant Javan fig tree.

A working tea factory built by Thomas Lipton in 1890, with short tours of the withering lofts, rolling and sorting floors.

A steeper half-day hike to a cliff top above the valley. Go early with a guide or good offline map, as the paths split.

An easy, well-trodden walk of about 45 minutes each way through a tea estate to a grassy summit with views across Ella Gap.

The stone railway viaduct at Demodara, in a valley of tea and forest. Check the timetable if you want to see a train cross.

A choice of beach, reef and point breaks along a few kilometres of coast, with surf schools for beginners and fast reef waves for experienced surfers.

A curved bay with calm water in season, sheltered by a reef and lined with cafes.