Top 5 adventures to try out in Sri Lanka – For adventure seekers only!

Sri Lanka has become one of the most popular surfing destinations over the recent years and with good reason! Arugam Bay, in the east of the island, is ideal for professionals looking for the biggest, meanest waves. There are annual surfing competitions here too. If you're a beginner and are interested in trying your hand at surfing, head over the Weligama Bay- a paradise for surfing beginners, as the shallow waves are soft and gentle. There are numerous surfing schools located on the beach where you can rent a board and hire a surfing instructor to show you the ropes. The ideal season for surfing in the east is between the months of April to October while the best season for surfing in Weligama is between January to April.

Head away from the surf and explore your way through the island's thick forests and amazing mountains. Don your best hiking shoes and pack a few snacks before your hike. Some of the most popular mountains to hike are Horton Plains, Knuckles Mountain Range, Adam's Peak, World's End, Ella Rock and Little Adam's Peak. The last two are less strenuous mountains and are suitable for almost anyone, so long as you have a good level of fitness. It's best to hike away from the monsoon season as rain and winds can make it quite dangerous!

Kithulgala, famous for white-water rapids is one of the most popular places to try this thrilling water sport out. If you're a die-hard adventurist, plan a package tour to Sri Lanka with a reputed travel agency such as Connaissance de Ceylan and try out the whole list of adventurous things to do on the island. Once you're done rafting, you'll get a chance to jump into a waterfall pool that's perfect to test how confident you are!

Did you know that Sri Lanka has over 21 National Parks that are teeming with wildlife?! Yala National Park is quite popular, with over 300 jeeps visiting the park at one point. Although this park is one of the best places to spot leopards; due to having the highest population of leopards in the wild, it's still incredibly rare to spot one due to the noise from several jeeps. Other national parks that are less crowded are Kumana National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Minneriya National Park and Bundala National Park. Though less crowded than Yala, these parks allow visitors to experience the wild without the noise from others. You'll be able to spot elephants, sloth bears, leopards, crocodiles, deer and plenty of birds and other wildlife.

Did you know the island the only place in the world where you can spot the largest land and sea mammal? Once you're done watching the elephants at Minneriya National Park, head over to the coastal town of Mirissa for a chance to spot the blue whale. The ideal season is from October to January, where you'll see pods of playful dolphins and a school of whales swimming by your boat. Some of the frequently sighted whales are sperm whales, humpback whales and Bryde whales.