While most holiday destinations around the Indian Ocean look to blend cultural heritage with modern-day attractions, Sri Lanka does it better than most. Old certainly meets new at every turn, with the country’s rich heritage embraced and entwined with some of the most deliciously golden beaches in the world on offer.

Sun lovers will be in paradise, while watersports enthusiasts will love the surfing, kayaking, yachting and scuba diving opportunities. The breath-taking and unspoilt landscapes filled with lush forestry, mountains and waterfalls must be seen to be believed. This gentle mix of views and beaches are watched over by giant statues of Buddha which rise above the forest line making for the ultimate Instagram snap – no filter needed, of course.

An ideal way to see the real Sri Lanka is by train, with both the Colombo to Jaffna and Kandy to Ella routes ones to remember. Seaplanes are becoming more and more popular and are a great way to get to the country’s jungles on the south of the island.

If you are feeling energetic, the Sigiriya is a must-see, though can only be reached via an extremely steep and narrow staircase. The result certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile when you reach the abandoned palace at the top of a huge boulder.

The Sinharaja rainforest is another feature, one of the country’s last viable areas of natural rainforest and a beauty spot for treks, waterfalls and all manner of varied plant life.

There are few places in the world that can offer a holiday maker such an intoxicating blend of pristine beaches, culture and stunning landscapes in a relatively compact location. It’s a destination where there is a heady mix of World Heritage Sites, tea estates, botanical gardens and waterfalls. Billed as ‘the wonder of Asia’, this description is spot on, with so much to do and enjoy for simply everyone.

If you want to get up close and personal with the wild, Sri Lanka is the right place. Home to around 5,800 wild elephants, it also has the largest concentration of leopards in the world. You can also dive with blue whales in season or watch spinner dolphins in Kalpitiya.