New year, new you? How about New Year, new books? Make the most of the winter months in 2018 by stocking up on travel reads that nourish your inner explorer and establish literary bliss.

From pictorial pleasures and global culinary creations, to an enlightening look at India’s ravishing heritage, it’s time to clear out your bookshelf and make room for these five captivating finds.

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.

The big decision that faces those booking a vacation in November is often whether to embrace the chill and opt for a destination that is wintry to its very core – indeed, a big occasion to celebrate all that’s fantastic about warm fires, snow-dusted trees and indulgent comfort food – or to escape the colder climate in search of some warming winter sun. Here we’ve selected five of our favorite locations for those wondering where to visit in November.