Tika Traveller

Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Category: Accommodation

Local school children on a well-earned drinks break, AMBA Estate, Ella, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #25/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st June 2023

For a “hands-on village experience” in Sri Lanka there is no better place than AMBA Estate, which is a community-run social enterprise in the stunning Uva Highlands outside of Ella in the southern Hill Country. Based around an organic farm, you will be interacting with villagers in a practical way during every activity at AMBA Estate, whether it is a tea plantation tour, a hike around the valley or artisanal product-making. Come and enjoy the fun!

TikaWeeks #24/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 15th June 2023

Resplendent Ceylon is the sole member of Relais & Chateaux in Sri Lanka, the global fellowship of family owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants. We have enjoyed Ceylon Tea Trails, Cape Weligama and Wild Coast Tented Lodge for many years. Now their sister Reverie Collection – Kayaam House and Ahu Bay – opened in February to critical acclaim. Sharing Resplendent’s core values, Reverie encourages guests to slow down, be mindful, and embrace a simpler version of life, surrounded by nature and harmony.

TikaWeeks #22/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 30th May 2023

We are delighted to tell you that our latest holiday to return from Sri Lanka is featured as this week’s 'review of the week' in the current Responsible Travel newsletter, rated as “10 out of 10 – if I could rate it higher I would”. Our customers’ personal insights in choosing Sri Lanka as a holiday destination are enlightening, including their initial concerns, and their experiences of the island and Tikalanka are incredibly gratifying – “Visit Sri Lanka immediately!” they implore.

TikaWeeks #21/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 25th May 2023

Sri Lanka is home to well over 400 species of exotic birds with names to match, like the White-throated Flowerpecker, Blue-faced Malkoha and Sri Lanka Paradise-flycatcher. Thirty three species are endemic while the vast majority are vagrants, migrants or residents. The joy of bird watching on the island is to see them wherever you travel, although some areas are better than others. You don’t need to be an avid ‘twitcher’ to enjoy the birdlife across the country as the little peckers seem to come to you!

TikaWeeks #20/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th May 2023

Sri Lanka is definitely top of the wish list for travellers with bookings for this and next year returning to pre-COVID levels. This is fantastic news for the island and its people who rely heavily on tourism for their livelihoods and wellbeing. However, many hotels are realising that next year may be a bonanza for them and room rates are beginning to return to 2019 prices in 2024. This means that 2023 may be the end of the discounted period post-COVID so you had better hurry to take advantage of this year’s bargains!

Family group of Asian Elephants, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #12/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 23rd March 2023

Rewilding is a relatively new endeavour in Sri Lanka, although some schemes have been active for years. Jetwing Vil Uyana began an ambitious project back in 2005, converting abandoned paddy fields into a wetland mosaic fed by irrigation channels from the surrounding farmland, and planting thousands of indigenous trees. Today it is enjoying the fruits of an enlightened and welcome rewilding initiative.

A deserted east coast beach of Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #11/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th March 2023

Earlier this year The Independent’s travel desk published their dream destinations for 2023 and Sri Lanka topped the wish list. After years of pandemic-related restrictions, this is the first year that travel has the opportunity to return to “normal”, with most countries having opened back up to tourists, without the need for extra testing and paperwork. Previously on the up as a seemingly universally loved travel destination and with so much pent-up demand, Sri Lanka is the place to visit in 2023.

TikaWeeks #43/2022: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th October 2022

Various chats with Pathi over the past few weeks have given me hope of revitalising travel to Sri Lanka in the coming months. Although the country is still recovering from political and economic instability earlier on this year, there are positive signs of progress and recent travellers talk of the island’s natural beauty, amazing people, unique experiences, outstanding food and excellent value for money.

Quintessential Ceylon - a pot of tea overlooking misty mountains in the magnificent Hill Country at W15 Hanthana Estate, Kandy, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #01/2022: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 7th January 2022

Happy New Year and now back to the last. Our ‘Northern Tour’ of Sri Lanka started with visiting a few special places to stay around Kandy before heading northeast into the Cultural Triangle – Dambulla, Sigiriya and Habarana – and on to Nilaveli just north of Trincomalee on the east coast. We then drove straight up to Jaffna at the northernmost tip of the island before returning south to the Anuradhapura and Wilpattu region. Our last stop was in the Negombo area before I flew home.

Lunuganga, or Salt River, is Geoffrey Bawa's name for his private estate on Dedduwa Lake

TikaWeeks #50/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 16th December 2021

Just returned from an 18-day research trip to Sri Lanka, which was a precursor to restarting our holidays by the New Year. Pathi and I travelled around the island meeting tourism colleagues, visiting current and new accommodation, and discussing the restart with our guides. Overall, the trip was a success and we are confident that a holiday in Sri Lanka will be a great experience despite the few extra precautions required due to COVID-19.

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives