From ancient cave temples to buzzing local markets fragrant with spices, spectacular beaches to verdant hilltop tea plantations, Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and vibrant culture make it a must-visit. Small in size, it offers an impressive variety of experiences to suit every traveler, whether you’re looking to spot a leopard in the wild, enjoy fantastic cuisine, catch some world-class waves or soak up the culture at one of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Here are six reasons why you should visit Sri Lanka this year.

The Tea Plantations

Sri Lanka is world famous for its Ceylon tea, and visitors can learn about how this popular brew is made with a trip to the hill country. The British introduced tea plantations to Sri Lanka in the mid 1800s, in attempt to rival Chinese tea production. Today, tea is still very much a booming business and one of the country’s largest exports. Visit Nuwara Eliya, where you can try your hand at traditional tea leaf picking, meet local tea pluckers and, of course, sample a cup of extraordinarily fresh tea for yourself.

Rich, fragrantly spiced and elaborately prepared, Rajasthani cuisine offers an edible history of the region. A central part of hospitality and a crucial way to impress important guests, the area’s rajas favored a no expense spared attitude to cooking in their palace kitchens. As a result, today Rajasthan is as famous for its food as it is for its spectacular forts and romantic lakes. Here, chef Sujit Mukerjee, Executive Chef at the renowned Sheesh Mahal, Leela Palace in Udaipur provides an expert insight into this fascinating and complex cuisine.

Indian television host and actor Cyrus Sahukar set off on an epic road trip for the Fox Life show Great Escape with his buddy, actor Kunal Kapur. The duo took the slow route to explore the Himalayas from Dharamshala to Spiti over ten days, spending time in smaller towns and villages along the way. The Delhi-born actor, who now lives in Mumbai, recalls their adventures on the road including visiting the highest post office in the world, kayaking in Spiti and learning life lessons the hard way. We sat down with Cyrus Sahukar to chat about his show, Bollywood and his love for India.