What better way to plan your next trip than getting some inspiration from someone who lives, breathes and works in travel? We caught up with our CEO Ulla Hefel Böhler to find out what’s on her bucket list this year:

Ulla: I’m very lucky to have traveled extensively both personally and professionally but it seems that my bucket list never gets shorter! I’m very proud to be able to share with you my Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold 2018 Bucket List. These trips are stylish, tailored and exceptional. I hope they inspire your wanderlust!

From ancient cave temples to buzzing local markets fragrant with spices, spectacular beaches to verdant hilltop tea plantations, there are plenty of reasons to visit Sri Lanka, with its natural beauty and vibrant culture. 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.