The jewel of Sri Lanka’s east coast – a city of sweeping natural harbours, dramatically placed Hindu temples, and some of the finest white-sand beaches on the island, best experienced between May and September when the waters off Nilaveli and Uppuveli are crystal-clear and the offshore whale-watching season is at its peak. The deep, naturally sheltered harbour at Trincomalee is one of the world’s most impressive, and the Koneswaram Temple perched on Swami Rock above the sea adds a powerful cultural dimension to what is already a magnificent coastal setting.