Tour overview

Sri Lanka is an island country situated in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea. It lies just off the southern coast of India, separated by the Palk Strait, and is largely at low elevation along the coastal regions, rising to over 2,400 m (7,874 ft) in the central highlands. Sri Lanka shares maritime borders with India to the northwest and the Maldives to the southwest. The Northern and Eastern coastal regions face the Bay of Bengal, while the western and southern coasts open to the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is positioned at approximately 7.8731° N and 80.7718° E, covering a total area of about 25,330 sq mi (65,610 km²).

Sri Lanka lies within a tropical climate zone, but its geography is diverse. The lowlands and coastal belts are characterized by palm-fringed beaches, lagoons, and fertile plains, while the central province is dominated by rugged mountains, tea plantations, and deep valleys. Much of the north and northwest consists of dry zone plains with scrub forests, whereas the southwest features dense rainforests with high biodiversity. The island’s soil varies widely—coastal areas often contain sandy compositions, while the central highlands contain rich red and brown earth well suited for agriculture. The dry zone hosts arid landscapes and ancient irrigation reservoirs, transitioning towards wet evergreen forests in the central hills.