I visited one of the top trending 2026 destinations

WHEN choosing where to head for some winter sun, popular destinations that crop up include Thailand and the Maldives.

But what if I told you there was a cheaper alternative, where they love Brits, that is booming this year?

Sri Lanka has been named a trending destination for 2026, with demand soaring.

According to TravelSupermarket, searches for holidays to Sri Lanka are up 605 per cent (only behind Gozo, which saw a surge of 1,900 per cent).

According to Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket: “Sri Lanka has rocketed up as the UK became its second-largest visitor market, with improved connectivity making the destination far more accessible.”

Having welcomed nearly two million tourists last year, the UK is the biggest market in Europe – only beaten by Indian tourists.

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Direct flights from the UK take just under 11 hours, starting from £634 return with Sri Lankan Airlines.

And the current $50 (£37.81) 30-day visa is also set to be scrapped for Brits this year.

So with all that, what can you actually expect from the island?

Being under British rule for more than 100 years (1815 to 1948), you can expect to see a lot of UK influence.

Locals drive on the left side of the road, with a huge tea and cricket culture as well.

It certainly makes conversations easy with locals too, who always want to talk about the sport.

Sri Lanka was also named the most family-friendly island last year, as well as the world’s best island by Big 7 Travel.

Off the coast of India, the tiny island is the size of Ireland, so is manageable to explore.

It is also known for its world-famous beaches, with Goyambokka Beach often named one of the best in the word, as well as Mirissa Beach.

And the island is home to the huge population of Sri Lankan elephants, one of the largest in the world.

With around 6,000 roaming across the island, there are a number of ethical safaris you can go on, although the best are found in the southeast of the island.

During my visit, one of the standout highlights was a sunrise tour of Sigiriya, a 5th century fortress “in the sky,” built on a huge ancient rock.

With a 6am wake up and 1,200 steps, it is certainly a challenge, but worth it for the breath-taking views of the forest and mountain landscape.

When it comes to bucket-list hotels, there are also amazing ones to stay at too.

Jetwing Vil Uyana, named one of the best eco-hotels in the world, starts from £266 a night (with breakfast).

Or there is Cape Weligama, named one of the world’s best, which starts from £542 with breakfast.

The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor went on a Sri Lanka-Maldives combo holiday – here’s who to do it.