Beyond Galle

Blue and sperm whales and spinner dolphins from Mirissa harbour, season roughly December to April. Leave at dawn; choose an operator that keeps its distance.

Geoffrey Bawa’s country estate and garden. Guided tours daily at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00 (USD 20); book lunch by the lake in advance.

The garden of Bevis Bawa, Geoffrey’s brother: sculpture, tropical planting and a quieter, wilder feel. Pair with Lunuganga.

A tea estate near Ahangama, famous for Virgin White Tea. Daily 8:00–16:30; the tour includes tastings and cake.

Kathaluwa Purvarama’s 19th-century temple murals and the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, in the writer’s childhood home.

Open grassland with herds of wild elephants; a jeep safari is the easiest wildlife day from the coast. Leave very early.

A UNESCO rainforest of endemic birds and giant trees. Walk with a registered guide; expect leeches after rain.

A coral reef with sea turtles in the shallows, glass-bottom boats and the Peraliya tsunami memorial nearby.