Description
About the book. The Lonely Planet guide to Sri Lanka offers a comprehensive foundation for planning a journey across the island’s cities, coastal areas, highlands, and historical sites. The guide combines itineraries, photographs, maps, and practical information. This is the seventeenth edition, published in October 2026, comprising 324 pages.
Content. Coverage includes Colombo, the west coast, the south, the highlands, the ancient royal cities, the east, and the north. Featured locations include Anuradhapura, Kandy, Sigiriya, Yala, and Pigeon Island. Suggestions for longer journeys, day trips, and treks accompany discussions of food, accommodation, transport, and local traditions. The cover also highlights a trek in Jaffna and information on the Pekoe Trail. Cultural history and practical tools provide context between stages of your trip.
Who is this book suitable for? Suitable for travelers planning a varied Sri Lanka trip over several weeks or selecting specific areas for a shorter stay. The guide can be used to compare coastal and inland regions and to integrate travel stages clearly into your plan. The English text provides both background information and concrete choices, while the maps help visualize the relative locations of sites.
From inspiration to your own plan. Use the guide before departure to select experiences you truly desire and see them in the context of the rest of your trip. A plan with fewer stops can allow more time to become acquainted with each location. Browse with your travel companions, compare ideas, and find a balance between what you wish to achieve and what you want time to experience. Allow space for breaks and detours. A physical book is excellent to return to when discussing the next leg of the journey. Revisit an idea you have noted and let the plan evolve as you become familiar with the destination.
About the edition. English book, published 2026. 324 pages. 17th edition. ISBN 9781838699574.
