Journeys you’ll never forget

by Alice Tate & Emily Dobbs

the Hill Country, as Sri Lanka’s inland is called, is breathtaking, and one of the best ways to see it is by train. Whether travelling from Colombo or the hill town of Kandy, you journey through dramatic scenery of forested mountains, tea plantations and rice fields. Seats in the reserved carriages must be booked in advance and can be done online (try visitsrilankatours.co.uk) and expect to pay around £10 for the two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hour journey – it varies depending on the time – in first class.

if you’re staying around Galle or Koggala, borrow some bikes early morning or late afternoon and go riding in the nearby village of Talpe. Cycle through the rice paddies, stopping to soak up their beauty. Hire at your hotel, or try a local operator like Idle Bikes ( idlebikes.com).