20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Sri Lanka • The Blonde Abroad

Wonder why they call Sri Lanka “The Pearl of the Indian Ocean?” Well I found out.

Going into my first trip to the island destination, I didn’t know what to expect. I was blown away by the stunning landscapes of the Sri Lankan countrysides. There’s definitely no shortage of natural beauty between the tropical, green mountains, overgrown forests, sparkling coastlines and lush rivers!

One of my most memorable moments was climbing Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress, and discovering an incredible 360-degree view. And then while I thought climbing Sigiriya had the most incredible view I could get, I shortly discovered that the view of it from atop Pidurangala Rock at sunset looking back at Sigiriya might take the cake.

During my 10 days there, I got to embark on my first ever safari- 2 in fact- in both Minneriya National Park and Udawalawe National Park.

We saw so many elephants and wildlife in a short amount if time… it was an amazing experience!

Other highlights were visiting the local community of Hiriwadunna for a traditional Sri Lankan cooking class, touring a Virgin White Tea plantation in southern Sri Lanka, exploring the historical town of Galle, and a ride up the magical Madu River.