Sri Lanka Holidays

Well, the locals pronounce this fortified city as Gala as in Allah! Western tourists tend to pronounce the word as Gaul (as in ball). They are both correct.

Trains are a great way to cross the country at slow speed. The most scenic train journey in Sri Lanka, but possibly the world, is the Kandy to Ella train. Climb aboard the six-hour(ish) journey from Kandy and wind and climb through the tea estates Sri Lanka’s lush hill country.  The Blue Train leaves Kandy or Colombo Fort in the mornings going uphill and From Badulla and Ella towards Kandy at least four times a day.

We personally believe that this train journey is best experienced by purchasing a lower-class ticket. First Class is stuffy with tightly shut windows. Second and third class reserved (wooden benches) offer a more authentic experience, with everybody keen to have a chat. Doors and windows are open, perfect for dangling your feet over and feeling the wind in your hair. We like to get your train tickets well in advance as the popular routes and classes sell out up to two months in advance.

If you do opt to travel first class in Sri Lanka expect softer seating and air conditioning.  The windows and doors will remain locked and you will be sat with other foreigners. Do ask us for information about the observation carriage. They have wide windows, looking back down the track. It is not air-conditioned so the side windows do open enough to pop through your camera lens. The price of a ticket is peanuts, expect to pay between 70p and £5 for your journey.

It is safe to visit Jaffna in the north of the country as well as the new beach resorts around Trincomalee on the north-east coast. However it is worth mentioning that in Jaffna there remains a strong military presence. If you like pioneering travel and are OK with basic accommodation then a visit to the very north of the country could well appeal.One of our female travel experts recently travelled to the north and felt extremely safe throughout.

Willpattu on the north-west coast is opening up and there is now a comfortable camp there. Willpattu is best for Sloth bear and leopard, however, leopards are more elusive here than in Yala National Park.

Travelling with children in Sri Lanka is very easy as there is no need for internal flights, however, there may be a long car journey as a result of poor planning so allow us to ensure you have bite-sized transfers between locations. A staffed villa during the trip is the best way to relax as a family. Many boutique hotels are small enough to rent the entire property for exclusive use, with staff on hand for your every whim. Sri Lanka is also perfect during the school summer holidays, with the east coast beaches and Indian Jones-esque temples perfect for little explorers.

Known for its turbulent history and civil war, peace was declared in Sri Lanka in 2009. It has now very successfully rebuilt itself as a tourist destination and is doing everything to welcome visitors to the country.  Security has been stepped up across the country since April 2019 in response to a singular terrorist attack but the State of Emergency has since been lifted. As when travelling to any destination, we always advise taking precautions when looking after your personal belongings.

With over 126,000 hectares of parkland to explore, visiting Yala is like stepping into the pages of The Jungle Book. Elephants, monkeys, exotic birds and leopards plus an array of other wildlife call Yala home. The park has one of the densest leopard populations in the world.

The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee. Roughly the rate of exchange is 235 Sri Lankan Rupee to the pound.

ATMs are becoming more widespread in the larger cities, but are more difficult to find outside of these. Before leaving for more rural areas, we advise making sure you have plenty of local currency with you in case ATM access in unavailable. There is a small withdrawal charge of approximately £2.

Sri Lanka is a year-round destination although the weather differs between the north and the south. For the best climate visit the south of the country between January and April and the north from June to December.