I'd wanted to travel to Sri Lanka for so long, the diversity of landscapes and wildlife, all bundled into one delightful tropical island. I loved India, especially the food and culture & my friend recommended Sri Lanka, as India's 'laid-back' neighbour. She'd spent weeks there exploring & watching whales in the ocean from the south coast & she said the vegetarian food was amazing.
You can imagine my delight, when I was invited to join a tour by Travel Sphere & Just You holidays, as part of TTG Media's Sustainable Travel Ambassador programme.
Sri Lanka is only 270 miles from north to south & 140 miles at its widest point & direct flights from the UK, make it an easy country to reach and to explore. With only a week to explore in the country, our tour focussed on the main highlights of:
Sigiriya: Also known as Lion Rock, Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site. It features impressive frescoes, landscaped gardens, and stunning views from the top, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Kandy: Located in the central hills of Sri Lanka, Kandy is renowned for its cultural significance and natural beauty. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, which houses a sacred tooth relic of Buddha, and explore the serene Kandy Lake and lush Royal Botanical Gardens.
Nuwara Eliya: A colonial-era hill town famous for its cool climate and tea estates. We weren't so lucky with the weather here, as it rained the whole time. But is was stunning and I would've enjoyed having longer to explore.
Beruwala: Coastal town known for its sandy beaches, vibrant fishing harbour, and opportunities for water sports and relaxation.
Around Habarana
The highlight of the tour for me was climbing the Sigiriya rock fortress, it is breath-taking, literally, as you climb the steps to the top and walk through the enormous carved lions paws. The views are fabulous and it's nice to have a bit of activity on holiday! Later that day we travelled by jeep to the Minneriya National Park, where hundreds of elephants roam free. We spent ages watching them, it was almost hypnotic.
We visited a project which aims to reduce the conflict between elephants and humans, by building fences around people's property to protect their crops and houses. The ranger explained that before the project, the elephants, in their vast numbers would decimate their vegetable gardens, leaving the local people in fear. The human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka is reported to be one of the worst in the world. 176 people died in elephant encounters on the island in 2023, and 470 elephants were killed, more than one a day. It's an incredibly sad situation, which makes projects like these absolutely vital.
Kandy
I was really impressed by Kandy. We made a stop at an important community project along the way, supported by Planeterra and Travelsphere. Sthree Cafe works with women in the community to increase their income, strengthen their financial independence and help them become economically empowered. We had lunch in the cafe and then enjoyed the craft shop next door, most of us left with plenty of handicrafts as souvenirs, knowing that our money would reach the local artisans who created them.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is one of the most atmospheric and calming temples I've visited. One of Buddhism's most sacred places of worship, said to have been built in the early 1700's, it houses the tooth relic of Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga province in India in the 4th Century. You need a good bit of time to explore the complex and make time to sit and soak it all up.
Favourite hotels
The hotels on our tour were mostly from the Cinnamon hotel group. They were beautiful. My favourite was the Habarana Village, the rooms felt simple, but luxurious and spacious and the pool was amazing. The chefs came out to see us at most of the meals and the food was delicious. The Lakeside hotel in Colombo was also really lovely, we stayed there on our first night, it was a good base and I spotted my first enormous bat of the trip! Again, with a superb pool. There is so much to do in Sri Lanka, especially because we only had a week, I'd recommend staying longer, if only to have enough time to relax by the pool after a busy day of sightseeing.
3 must-try foods in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Curry: This quintessential Sri Lankan dish features rice served with a variety of curries, typically including fish, chicken, beef, or vegetarian options. Accompanied by dhal (lentil curry), sambol (spicy condiment), and papadum (thin, crispy flatbread), it offers a flavoursome and hearty meal. Sri Lanka is brilliant for vegetarians!
Hoppers (Appa): Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk. They come in different varieties such as egg hoppers (served with an egg in the middle), plain hoppers, and string hoppers (steamed rice noodles). They are often enjoyed for breakfast or dinner and can be accompanied by sambol or curry. These are amazing!
Kottu Roti: This popular street food consists of chopped flatbread (roti) stir-fried with vegetables, eggs, and/or meat, seasoned with spices and often served with curry sauce. It's known for its delicious blend of textures and flavours, making it a favourite among locals and visitors alike.
Travel Sphere and Just You Holidays
I travelled to Sri Lanka with Travelsphere, who have over 50 years of experience, offering guided tours worldwide, from classic sightseeing to immersive cultural experiences and river cruises. Travelsphere provides comprehensive packages with accommodations, meals, transportation, and expert-guided excursions, ensuring memorable and hassle-free travel experiences with a focus on customer satisfaction and financial protection.
Travelsphere's sister company, Just You Travel, specialise in solo travel experiences, ensuring memorable adventures with like-minded individuals. Think no single supplements, no tiny single rooms, no groups, couples or families, these are high quality tours, perfect for the solo traveller!
Highlights of Sri Lanka with Beruwala Beach Extension
This tour is offered on a half board basis, 13 nights in 4 and 5 star hotels, a local tour guide and holiday director, flights and transfers from just £3148 pp.
Please let me know if you have any questions and to book.
Looking for more independence on tour, head over to my tailormade Journey through Sri Lanka tour, which is fully customisable to suit you.
When to go
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination, where it is warm and sunny, cooler in the hill regions & hotter by the coast, there may be showers at any time. Temperatures range from 22°C to 31°C. Be aware of Sri Lanka's two monsoon seasons, which affect different parts of the island at different times.
If you're traveling between:
December & April - head for the southwest coast and the hill country. Between Nov & April you might see whales & dolphins, turtles and other marine life along the south coast too.
May & September is the ideal time to visit the north and east coast & the central hills.
The central hills are good year-round - though there is more rain between October and November. I visited in October and it was raining, but still beautiful.
Monsoons
Different parts of Sri Lanka experience monsoons at different times, allowing for favourable travel conditions somewhere on the island year-round.
The Southwest Monsoon (Yala Season) affects the Southwest coast (Colombo, Galle, Hill Country) from May to September (Peak: May and June)
The Northeast Monsoon (Maha Season) affects the Northeast coast (Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Jaffna) from October to January (Peak: November and December)
Wildlife
For the best wildlife experiences in Sri Lanka, these periods offer optimal conditions for spotting a variety of wildlife across Sri Lanka:
Yala National Park: February to June, when the water levels are lower, making wildlife sightings more common.
Wilpattu National Park: February to October, with peak wildlife activity and fewer tourists.
Elephant Gatherings at Minneriya National Park: July to September, during the dry season, when elephants gather around the Minneriya Tank.
Whale Watching in Mirissa: November to April, with the highest chances of seeing blue and sperm whales.
Bird Watching: November to April, when migratory birds join the resident species.
Good to know
Currency: The currency used in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). It's advisable to exchange currency at banks or authorized exchange centers upon arrival as it's not widely available outside the country.
Language: Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages, but English is widely spoken and understood, especially in tourist areas and among professionals.
Flights from UK: Direct flights are available from major UK airports such as London Heathrow and London Gatwick to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) near Colombo. Flight duration is approximately 10-11 hours.
Visa: Most visitors to Sri Lanka require a visa. Tourist visas can be obtained online before travel through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system or upon arrival. It's recommended to apply online to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Travel Advice
Visit the FCDO website for the most up to date travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka/entry-requirements
Visit Travel Health Pro for health and medical information: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/204/sri-lanka
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