A holiday in Sri Lanka rewards with a tropical world of spice, tea and a deep spirituality. This tear-drop island at the base of India is a complex mix of religion, rainbows and political unrest, and offers an unforgettable holiday for those with an adventurous spirit.
A destination in its own right, or paired with an India, Seychelles or Maldives break, Sri Lanka ticks all the boxes for a perfect holiday. Think beach lifestyle, tropical forests, cool hilltop plantations, world-class golfing, fabulous museums and colonial architecture, just to whet the appetite. Speaking of appetite, think Sri Lanka for a cuisine as complex as the national psyche. A spicy melange driven by Indian, Portuguese and Dutch influences, zipped along with chilli and pepper, the food in Sri Lanka will set your heart racing.
You’ll probably arrive in Colombo, the capital, and here you’ll find a smallish coastal city that in true Asian fashion is simultaneously chaotic in the streets and serene in the temples. It’s not hard to get around Colombo, thanks to a British colonial history most street names are English. Just south of Colombo is the UNESCO listed port town of Galle; steeped in maritime history, Galle offers some great sightseeing and access to nearby beach resorts.
Head up into the cool hills and explore the world heritage town of Kandy. Regarded as Sri Lanka’s prettiest town, Kandy has innumerable ancient monuments of cultural and religious importance, including the holy Buddhist shrine, the Temple of the Tooth. It’s in these hills you’ll encounter Sri Lanka’s iconic tea and rubber plantations, the economic mainstay for many years.
As an island, Sri Lanka is surrounded by beaches, with 1,000km of golden sand and warm tropical water to tempt the holiday maker. You’ll enjoy exploring the coral reefs by diving or snorkelling, choosing seafood fresh from the boat, and developing a tan under the ever-present coconut palms.
Sri Lanka has been politically unstable of late, and violence has not been uncommon. Contact your Travel Counsellor for the latest on travel to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka fun facts
Sri Lanka is often known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’
Tea was introduced to the Sri Lanka in 1867, while rubber was brought here in 1876
Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon before 1972
Beautiful Bali
Sunday 28th March 2010
Travel Counsellor: Claudia Silk
The end of February saw Ian (my husband and also a Travel Counsellor) and I take off to Bali on an educational trip offered to us by one of our suppliers. We were very excited as it had been at least 5 years since we'd been there and we were looking forward to seeing any changes that had been made.
We flew into Denpasar Airport with Garuda Indonesia and were very fortunate to get upgraded to business class which was wonderful. The flight isn't too long, just 6 hours 30 mins. Garuda were very good and being in business class was a special treat. We also inspected the economy class and their seats are comfortable and it's a good service.
Upon arriving we were transferred to our first hotel that we would stay in which was the Niksoma in Legian. It's in a wonderful location right opposite the beach. The staff were great and our rooms were fantastic. The Niksoma is a smallish boutique hotel in a great location. The room was fairly big with a king size bed and very clean and comfortable.... view full story
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