Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a land like no other; a country of culture, traditions, ancient rituals and mind blowing adventures. The place is a bio-diverse haven, waiting to be explored; check out these encounters.
Cycling is a very popular pastime in Sri Lanka; many tourists, as well as locals, enjoy the laid back sojourns that cycling tours offer. You can easily rent a bicycle from top resorts in Sri Lanka, in order to explore the surroundings. The hill country, for instance, is a lovely precinct to explore on a cycle tour while one of the country's most popular bicycle treks is the route that crosses the Bentota River. Meandering its way across sleepy coastal villages, the Viharaya Temple and possibly near such key accommodation options as AVANI Bentota Resort & Spa, this cycle tour which offers an insight into the coastal locale's heritage and beauty can be booked via your Bentota resort.
As diving is quite a lure in South East Asia, Sri Lanka too is catching up with the trend. There are some very good dive sites on the west and eastern coasts of the island, with a couple of wrecks located off the coasts of Galle, Hikkaduwa, Trincomalee and Negombo. Other destinations are home to lovely coral reefs such as Bentota, Hikkaduwa and Pigeon Island in the East, that harbour a wide variety of marine life, waiting to be discovered. There are dive schools too, located at popular resort towns such as Bentota and Negombo, catering to the novice diver, making the wonders of the Indian Ocean accessible to all enthusiastic adventurers.
There are some specialised rock climbing destinations around the central hills in Kandy, as well as, the Avissawella area in the western province, that offer rock climbing facilities. It is possible to book a tour via an agency; they last around 3 to 4 hours and cater to climbers of various skill levels. All equipment is provided while the participant is allowed to choose their desired route. Some of the most popular treks into the hills of Sri Lanka are around the Knuckles Range, Polonnaruwa, Horton Plains, Ella Range and Buttala. If you are really out for some adrenaline pumping action, then consider one of the extreme climbs that take you to the summit of the Bambarakanda Waterfall; the highest cascades on the island.
Sri Lanka is an island nation; fishing is a way of life and main economy earner for many a rural fisherman. The island is home to over 1,000 miles of shore and a continental shelf that extends to 10,000 square miles, hence, Sri Lanka is perfect for deep sea fishing. The expert fishermen of Sri Lanka take eager tourists on 4 to 5 hour fishing expeditions, that turn out to be very rewarding. If you are staying at a Bentota hotel chances are the tour desk there will readily organise the tours for you.
Enjoy a bird's eye view of the island by taking on a hot air balloon ride over the scenic environs of Sri Lanka. There are several companies that offer these exciting tours that last around an hour. Most tours set off from the Cultural Triangle region, where ancient relics and historical monuments add a touch of the exotic to your romantic hot air balloon ride.
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