TikaWeeks #22/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 30th May 2023

Responsible Travel, the best holidays for you, local people and places

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.

Here is the review in full:

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Every single part of this holiday was absolutely amazing. John kindly arranged everything for us, and created the most incredible itinerary with awesome accommodation. I was originally a little hesitant about visiting Sri Lanka given their really unfortunate economic crisis in 2022 and potential safety aspects, but as soon as we left the airport I realised that there was absolutely no reason to be concerned. Sri Lankans are the most friendly, welcoming and kind people that my husband and I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and we in the West could learn so much about kindness from them and their culture. We could not have felt safer and more at home the entire trip. Our guide and driver, Nihal, was absolutely incredible and we have come away with a wonderful friendship which we will cherish. Our favourite parts were the safari, staying & hiking in the stunning Knuckles mountain range, cycling through rice paddys, walking up beautiful Sigiriya rock to watch sunrise, snorkelling with reef sharks near Pigeon Island, visiting the various tea plantations, learning to cook with a local family and taking the stunning train journey to Ella via the mountain passes. Every single day was varied and amazing to be honest!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Visit Sri Lanka immediately! It's just such a wonderful place and you will have the most amazing time. We've travelled all over the world and nothing beats Sri Lanka for us. The food is also absolutely delicious (we loved eating Sri Lankan curries 3 times a day, but there are also typically Western food options available if that's your preference. The local communities really need tourists back after the Covid pandemic and 2022 economic issues (not that Sri Lankans would complain because they are so humble and lovely) and the best thing you can do is visit and contribute. You will not regret it!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Absolutely. Everything John arranged for us was locally-run (accommodation, excursions, Nihal our wonderful driver & guide) and everyone was so grateful to receive the tourism input. What feels like a small amount to us in the West goes such a long way to the Sri Lankans we met, so we wanted to tip and buy as much as we could to do our bit to help.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

10 out of 10. If I could rate it higher I would. If you are on the fence, hop off it and just book - I guarantee it will be the best decision you made! Thank you John, Nihal and all the other guides and staff who made our trip sensational.

Since 2001, Responsible Travel has been pioneering responsible and sustainable tourism through the promotion of companies with a similar ethos. Today, Responsible Travel is the leader in the sector and Tikalanka is privileged to be an early adopter of their values in travel having joined in 2005 (we launched in 2004). Our holidays are rated highly on the Responsible Travel website, with our Sri Lanka holidays, tailor made itinerary being the most popular Sri Lanka holiday on the site for over 10 years. Our other featured itineraries are:

The Pekoe Trail – Stage 9: Bogawantalawa to Dayagama

This isolated and challenging stage, considered ‘difficult’ by some, is just shy of 16.5 km in length, with over 1470 metres of elevation (ascent and descent), and should take up to 4 hours to hike, ending in one of the most remote and inaccessible valleys in the Tea Country. 

The starting point is Bogawantalawa town, at an elevation of 1279 metres, which is surrounded by emerald landscapes and mist-shrouded mountains. Many of Sri Lanka’s legendary tea estates may be found in the Bogawantalawa Valley, such as Norwood, Kotiyagala, Tientsin, Kew and Loinorn, the latter sandwiched between Peak Wilderness and Horton Plains National Parks. It is also home to the renowned Ceylon Tea Trails, the luxury tea plantation bungalows owned by the Dilmah tea dynasty.

Heading northwest, the trail passes the Bogawana tea factory after 900 metres, bearing left for another 100 metres, before taking the middle of three possible tracks, which curves around the side of the hill towards the Lynstead division – look up and you will see a rocky V-shaped mountain pass ahead of you called “Jacob’s Ladder”. At the 3-km point, leave the Lynstead Superintendent’s bungalow behind and continue to the base of Jacob’s Ladder, where a well-marked narrow path zig-zags up towards the pass – it is a relatively easy ascent in dry weather but after rain the rock may be a bit slippery so watch your step. Bogawantalawa town and the upper divisions of the Kotiyagala Estate are clearly visible below. Walking over and through the gap is exhilarating as it feels like a gateway to another world! And indeed it is: the hustle and bustle of the tea plantations surrounding Bogawantalawa town give way to undisturbed grasslands and hills of the hidden Bopaththalawa Valley as you stride along the solitary path ahead at 1584 metres elevation.

Follow the path for a kilometre or so to Manik Palama Farm, one of two dairy farms in the valley, where the trail turns into a country road that weaves between farm buildings. All the surrounding grass pasture feeds the hundreds of cows milked on-site. After 7.3 km, the trail passes a few houses and keeps heading northeast along a forested road before leaving the road to the left at the NLDB Circuit Bungalow (at 9 km) and continuing for a further 1.4 km where it dog-legs east towards Bopaththalawa Farm, the other dairy farm in the valley. After another kilometre, the trail passes cowsheds then a couple of homes surrounded by vegetable gardens before entering a forest.

The next two kilometres are a gradual ascent through the forest – mostly eucalyptus trees planted to supply firewood for the surrounding tea factories. After 14 km, the forest track enters a small village, which is the first community you come across in the Agarapatna Valley, one of the most remote and inaccessible valleys in the Tea Country – very few foreign visitors would have ventured this far. Turn left, heading north, and follow the road down to Dayagama, where this stage ends at an elevation of 1417 metres.

Categories: Accommodation, Sightseeing, Sri Lanka, Sustainability, Travel tips

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