Sri Lanka Photo Gallery

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Sri Lanka
Now that an intermittent 26-year civil war has ended and a prolonged peace has taken its place, Sri Lanka is one of the hottest destinations in Asia—the country has seen a recent 44 percent jump in international tourist visits. New resorts and hotels are popping up in the southern coastal town of Bentota, and the Kalpitiya Peninsula is next up (it’s currently Sri Lanka’s biggest tourism project). If you love beaches, culture, and wildlife, this Indian Ocean island nation has it in spades. Don’t miss Wilpattu National Park, in the northwest, which was closed during much of the conflict—it’s full of elephants, leopards, and 60 namesake “willus” (rain-filled lakes). International flights arrive in Sri Lanka’s largest city, Colombo.

Read more about traveling to Colombo.
Check out the best hotels in Colombo.

Could you use $2,500 toward your next vacation? Enter our Operation Vacation Sweepstakes for a chance to win! And while you’re there, check out more of our recommendations for the best trips in 2013. Whether you have two, four, or seven days to spare, we have the trip for you.