Getting there

Kandy sits in the heart of Sri Lanka in the lush inland Hill Country, north-east of capital Colombo.

Planes

Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (www.airport.lk), just north of the capital, receives direct flights from Sri Lankan Airlines (www.srilankan.aero), and is also served by one-stop operators including Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), Cathay Pacific (www.cathaypacific.com) and Emirates (www.emirates.com). It's about three-and-a-half hours' drive from there to inland Kandy and your hotel can arrange a car transfer for you. Alternatively, grab a heli-shuttle (+94 77 770 3703; www.simplifly.com) in a BelJet Ranger from Colombo airport to Kandy in just 50 minutes.

Trains

Crowded inter-city trains from Colombo to Kandy need prior booking and have very limited luggage space. The Airport Express luxury train service (www.airport.lk) from the airport to Colombo aims to cover Kandy next, so watch this space.

Automobiles

Arrive in style with your own chauffeur-guide; Hayleys (www.hayleys.com) can arrange tours and transport around the country. Self-drive is only for those seeking to be shaken and stirred: road signs and place names are sporadic and the horn rules here. Parking is cheap but takes an expert to locate. If you’re undeterred, try Mal Key rent-a-car (+91 (0)11 236 5251; www.malkey.lk).