Sri Lan-kissed: Sun, spice and sacred vibes!

Your bags are packed, your playlist is on point and you're bursting with excitement. As you stand at the gate, your heart pounds and you can hardly wait – 'Sri Lanka, here I come!' The plane takes off, you lean back, close your eyes and your imagination instantly starts running wild. Rustling palm trees, temple vibes and fragrant street food... it's still a dream, but it's all about to get real!

Wakey, wakey and welcome to Sri Lanka! You're greeted by the country's bright green landscape, and after landing, you head straight to your accommodation in Kandy. The last of Sri Lanka's royal cities casts its shadow before you, and you can hardly wait to find out more about its legends and traditions. But more on that tomorrow. For now, explore the streets of Kandy on your own as you stroll past the charming colonial buildings. And if you're up for a bit of time travel, at the Queen's Pub Royal, you'll feel like you've travelled 200 years into the past. What more exciting way to enjoy a drink than that?!

Love adrenaline and lofty heights? Then jump in a tuk-tuk, get set, go (optional, payable on site)! The Ambuluwawa Tower is about 19 miles from the city centre and isn't called the craziest tower in Sri Lanka for nothing. As soon as you leave the centre, the honking of cars will be replaced by the chirping of birds and instead of crowds of people, you'll see nature stretching to the horizon. Take a deep breath and feel the pure freedom, then suddenly, you'll see it in the distance: the truly eye-catching, winding, white tower nestled amongst the green hills. The best thing about it? You're allowed to walk up the tower (optional, payable on site)! Please note that the higher you get, the narrower the path becomes, so it's best not to walk all the way to the top. But no worries; even on the first platform, you have a fantastic view of the lush surroundings! And if you're afraid of heights, just snap the perfect pic from below!

All aboard! You set off from Kandy early in the morning, but you're not mad about it, because the real star is the train itself! Windows open, playlist on and off you go – you chug past tea plantations, cloud forests and villages with waving children. Every view out of the window is totally Insta-worthy! And sitting in your seat is the boring way to travel; it's better to take a perch by the open door, let your legs dangle out and feel the wind on your face. The colours just go from green to greener. That's Sri Lanka for you! After about seven hours, you roll into Ella, where life moves a touch slower, nature's all around and the mood is 100% chill. Now, it's time for an iced coffee with mountain views and a proper 'wow' moment. Alternatively, take a private shuttle from Kandy to Ella (train tickets are hard to come by, especially in the high season) and stop off at the breathtaking Ambuluwawa Tower and Ramboda Falls en route.