Twenty-five days of wildlife and wild places

A long sea-front lawn and promenade, busy with families, kite flyers and street-food stalls from late afternoon.

An early-morning boat trip to look for spinner dolphins, which are often seen in large pods off Kalpitiya in season. Sometimes whales too.

A small 17th-century Dutch fort of coral stone and the old Dutch church nearby. The fort is inside a navy camp, so access depends on permission on the day.

Lessons and board hire on the flat, shallow lagoon at Kappalady and Kandakuliya, one of the most reliable kitesurfing spots in South Asia when the wind blows.

A great white stupa built by King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC and ringed by a wall of carved elephants. Beautiful in the late afternoon light.

The hill where the monk Mahinda is said to have met King Devanampiya Tissa and brought Buddhism to the island. A long stone stairway climbs to stupas and a rock with wide views.

A half-day or full-day jeep safari through forest and villus, looking for leopards, sloth bears, elephants, deer, crocodiles and water birds.

The palace-fortress on the rock, with water gardens, frescoes, the Mirror Wall and the lion staircase. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An 8th-century stone shrine in the style of South Indian temples, with Buddhist and Hindu features, moved stone by stone when a reservoir flooded its old site.

The great 12th-century reservoir on the edge of town. Walk or cycle along the bund at sunset, when fishermen and bathers are out.

A short walk across a high grassland to the edge of a steep drop known as Mini World's End, with views over the lowlands on a clear day.

A windy ridge with views over the forests of the Knuckles and down to Matale, reached by a short walk from the road.

A man-made lake and swimming pool in a pine and tea estate on the Elkaduwa side of the range, popular with local visitors at weekends.

A hillside garden on the road to Ella, first planted in the 1860s for cinchona trials, now known for roses and cloud-forest views.

A working tea factory a few minutes from town, with a short tour of the processing floor and tea tasting with views over the estate.

A reservoir from the British period at the edge of town, with a lakeside path and boats for hire.

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

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

A half-day jeep safari (about 06:00 to 10:00, or 14:30 to 18:00) from the Palatupana gate, looking for leopards, elephants, sloth bears and birds across scrub, lagoons and rocky outcrops.

A Ramsar wetland of lagoons and dunes west of Yala, with flamingos in winter, crocodiles and many wading birds. Quieter than Yala.

A sacred site for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda people, about 30 minutes north. The evening puja is the time to go.

An ancient reservoir with birdlife and a lakeside road, near the restored Tissamaharama dagoba.

A half-day jeep safari across grassland and scrub, with herds of elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles and birds of prey.

A dawn walk with a specialist bird guide to find the mixed feeding flocks and endemics such as the blue magpie, the red-faced malkoha and the green-billed coucal.

A guided walk of three to five hours along the main trails, through tall forest and across streams, looking for birds, giant squirrels, lizards and frogs.

A guided walk after dark along the edge of the forest to look for frogs, geckos, owls and other night life.

A small headland of leaning palms above the sea at the east end of the bay. Busy at sunset.

Snorkel in the shallow, reef-protected lagoon of Hikkaduwa National Park, where green turtles often feed close to shore.

Geoffrey Bawa's country estate and garden on a lake, shaped over fifty years. Visits are by guided tour.

A boat trip through the mangroves and small islands of the Madu Ganga estuary at Balapitiya, with a stop at a cinnamon island.

Small conservation hatcheries on the beach at Kosgoda, where turtle eggs are reburied safely and hatchlings released to the sea.