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
Thailand
Friday 2nd February 2001
Travel Counsellor: Julia Klapsing
If you enjoy being around friendly people, appreciate great food with a bit of spice and have a weakness for nice beaches, then Thailand should be on the list of your favourite destinations!
In 2001 a friend and I booked flights from Frankfurt to Bangkok and from there a one way ticket to Koh Samui, a beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35 km from Surat Thani on the mainland.
The flight from Bangkok took about an hour and we arrived at the airport of Koh Samui. Having booked our accommodation for the first 5 days in advance, we caught a taxi to our resort. The cheapest way to get around the island is by songtaew. These are red trucks with 2 long benches. They operate the same way as the tuk-tuks you might know from Bangkok. They drive around the island, and you can hail them and bargain for a price with the driver.
After spending the first 5 days of our holidays exploring the island, we decided to take a ferry to the neighbouring island, called Koh Phangan. We arrived... view full story
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