Sri Lanka - an island full of surprises
Published 30 October 2024
Travel Specialist Ed outlines the highlights of holidaying in Sri Lanka
Ed - one of our Travel Specialists for the Caribbean and Indian Ocean – is an expert when it comes to Expressions Holidays in Sri Lanka. Through his know-how, we have arranged numerous holidays to this island nation over the last few years.With an astonishing variety of exotic wildlife thriving in national parks, incredible architecture including many UNESCO Heritage Sites and stunning landscapes, it’s not hard to see why!
Below is a brief description from Ed of his most recent visit, going into detail about how he travelled, where he went and all the amazing sights along the way. Enjoy!
How I got there:
First settled by Arab traders in the 8th century, Colombo is the commercial capital. There are many flights from London to the city’s airport. I arrived here before then being driven by my guide (English-speaking) to Negombo, about a 20-minute drive. I recommend that if you get into Colombo in the morning not to stay in Negombo but rather head straight to the Cultural Triangle in the interest of time.
In my case, I arrived later so I stayed in Negombo at Jetwing Beach, a beautiful hotel designed by Geoffrey Bawa, the iconic Sri Lankan architect. His renowned works are dotted all over the island and maintain a profound synchrony with natural fauna and panoramas – Expressions Holidays offers a tour where you get to stay at several Bawa hotels!
Where I went exploring:
These were my stops along the way in chronological order after passing through Negombo:
Cultural Triangle:
This is a vast area in central Sri Lanka between Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy. I was driven from Negombo to Sigiriya which lasted roughly three hours.
The Sigiriya Rock Fortress was top on my to-do-list here and it completely blew me away. This is an ancient capital and now a UNSECO Heritage Site, consisting of a set of ruins on top of a 180-metre high, tree-covered rock from where King Kassapa I ruled in the 5th century. A lion sculpture half-way up marks where the entrance used to be; there are also impressive cave paintings here from previous kingships.
I also went to Minneriya Safari, where I saw over 100 elephants (I was counting) from a jeep as I was driven around - a mind-boggling experience!
Kandy
Next, I went to Kandy - the capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country. This is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and steeped in history. The capital of the last surviving Sinhalese kingdom, I went round a series of vibrant marketplaces, colonial buildings such as St Paul’s Church and a few nightly cultural shows showcasing Kandyan drumming. I even went to the legendary Temple of the Tooth in the Royal Palace Complex where a tooth from the Buddha himself is brought out for striking, holy rituals.
From Kandy, I went to Nanu Oya by train; Expressions Holidays always books First Class on these journeys to ensure reserved seats and air conditioning. I was blown away by views from the train of waterfalls, valleys and hill country on either side of the carriage.
I took the chance to visit Nuwara Eliya, known as ‘Little England’ and one of the highest points in Sri Lanka with many tea plantations. I went on a tour composed of a visit to a tea factory and Pedro Estate where I was shown the full process from manufacture through to grading and export of tea – an experience we offer as part of our touring deals.
Yala National Park
From there, I went to Yala National Park which I discovered has the highest density of leopards in the world! I was fortunate to see a myriad of animals, including elephants, wild buffalo, sloth bears and crocodiles.
The safari takes place in the morning (5:30-8:30) and in the late afternoon (15:00-18:00). This is because the temperatures drop during these periods hence making it more likely to spot animals. I was driven around in a jeep by a local driver whilst a guide explained about how the safari works.
Galle
As an activity, I visited Fort Galle. This is a colonial fort originally built but the Portuguese and expanded on by the Dutch. This is another UNESCO world heritage site (by virtue of being a living museum). I went round authentic shops, schools, hotels and restaurants; the sense of being surrounded by moving history was palpable.
Southwest Coast
I had a brief one-night stay along the coast where I spent some time at the Bentota beach. There are various luxury hotels here such as the Saman Villas which are perfect for relaxing at after an extensive touring holiday.
Colombo
On the final day of my stay, I enjoyed a ‘Food Walk’ in the afternoon. I tried a lot of street food in the Pettah Market, accompanied by a very knowledgeable local guide. If you’re interested in experiencing Sri Lankan cuisine, I cannot recommend this enough!
Touring options:
This was my own visit, naturally your holiday will be tailored to your own interests and needs. We offer various touring holidays in Sri Lanka, so I have picked some out for you to explore on our website:
2. A tour of Sri Lanka around the work of Geoffrey Bawa
I was deeply impressed by the harmony between towns and natural surroundings, the biodiversity and sites of cultural importance which I visited. I know that you will have similarly fantastic experience if you travel with us!
