What is underfoot decides the day on a Sri Lankan walk, and the shoes you pack should follow the terrain more than the distance. Stone and pavement Flat walking in sandals is fine on these. Galle Fort ramparts. The coral and granite walls run past Triton Bastion, Sun Bastion and Flag Rock and cost nothing. Go near sunset, and expect local divers at the Flag Rock. Kandy Lake. The 3.2 km shaded loop around the lake is level and takes under an hour at an easy pace.

Sri Lanka’s sights fall into three families, and each one wants a different kind of day: still and respectful, wandering and shaded, or early and outdoors. Sacred sites Buddhist temples and stupas are active places of worship. Wear clothing covering shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats, and walk clockwise around stupas. Dambulla. Five rock-cut caves hold 157 gilded statues and about 2,100 square metres of painted ceilings. Entry is roughly LKR 2,000 to 3,000, so confirm at the gate.

A romantic Sri Lanka trip looks different for an anniversary, a honeymoon and a couple who would rather hike, so pick the plan by occasion. Anniversary: three nights on the south coast Stay in one villa and let the evenings do the work. From November to April the south coast is dry with calm seas. Choose a villa near Tangalle or Mirissa, set back from the main beach strip. Compare south coast villas on Booking.

Most visitors repeat the same loop, so the best multi-day plan depends on whether it is your first Sri Lanka trip or your second. First visit: the classic loop Use a car and driver for this route. Day rates are typically LKR 18,000 to 30,000, and the roads are slow. Colombo or Negombo. Land and rest. Cultural Triangle, 2 to 3 nights. Sigiriya (US$35), Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa (US$30). Climb Pidurangala at dawn for the view of Sigiriya.

The right Sri Lankan family trip depends on how many days you have, because every extra stop adds a long car ride that small children feel. Three days: one coast, no transfers Stay in one place and do short outings. From November to April the south coast has calm seas and is the usual base, with Mirissa, Unawatuna and Tangalle all offering sheltered sand. In the other half of the year, May to September, Nilaveli and Passikudah on the east are calmer.

Sri Lanka is small, but each region has its own weather, so choose the day trip by region first and by calendar second. Hill country Weather here turns wet during the southwest monsoon, May to September, and again in the inter-monsoon rain of October to December. Start early whatever the month. Horton Plains. The park opens at 06:00 and its 9.5 km World’s End loop is best finished before the mist rolls in around 09:30.

Sri Lanka’s best-known attractions range from free to US$35 a head, and the price rarely tracks the payoff. Here they are from cheapest up. Free Galle Fort ramparts. Dutch-era walls with Triton Bastion, Sun Bastion and Flag Rock, where local divers leap at sunset. Nine Arches Bridge, Ella. Walk the forest path from town and watch a train cross the stone viaduct from the tea slope. Beaches and Galle Face Green.

A free beach, a 9.5 km plateau walk and an all-night pilgrim climb all sit within a day or two of each other in Sri Lanka, so effort is the quickest way to sort the choices. Easy days These need sunscreen and little else. Beaches. Unawatuna, Mirissa, Weligama, Tangalle, Nilaveli and Passikudah are all free to use. The south and west are calm from November to April, the east and north from May to September.