Tikalanka

Early Arab traders named Sri Lanka “Serendib” – which is where the word serendipity comes from, meaning discovery by happy accident. It’s a verdant, tropical island, that’s both rich in culture but also in natural beauty and wildlife. Our tailor made Sri Lanka vacations can pick and mix from the best of this diverse country, which boasts nine World Heritage Sites, 14 national parks, 86 species of mammals, including elephants and leopards, lush hill country where tea is grown and an Indian Ocean coastline with sandy beaches and swaying palms. No wonder Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as “undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world”. For our tailor made Sri Lanka vacations we have ...Read more >

The two-week specialist birding tour of Sri Lanka is a comprehensive guided introduction to the diverse bird life of the island, visiting the most important nesting sites, migratory routes and overwintering grounds in the country. The itinerary is flexible and may be adapted to your own particular birding interests. To date, there are 528 recorded bird species in Sri Lanka with 33 classified as endemic (some say 34!), with November to April the best time to spot endemics, particularly in the Kitulgala, Sinharaja and Horton Plains areas. You will also visit Bundala, the first Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance) in the country, which is the most significant wetland for birds ...Read more >

Marco Polo decided Sri Lanka as ‘undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world’ and that description remains accurate today! This lush, tropical paradise was known to Arab traders as Serendib – hence the word ‘serendipity’, meaning discovery by happy accident – and for a small island, it has much to offer visitors interested in nature and wildlife. Sri Lanka’s very own Big Four are here – leopard, sloth bear, elephant and blue whale – and this 15-day trip includes all the highlights of this environmentally diverse country. Sri Lanka’s 86 species of mammals, more than 400 bird species and colourful array of flowering plants and trees are all found within its 21 National Parks and ...Read more >

Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for a fun-filled family summer vacation, with its sunny and warm (some would say hot!) weather, exotic and plentiful wildlife, sandy palm-fringed beaches, action-packed as well as easy-going adventures, and child-friendly accommodation. The family is the beating heart of Sri Lanka and the ever-smiling locals will welcome you with open arms for an out-of-the-ordinary family experience. Beginning in Kitulgala, the adventure capital of Sri Lanka, there is white-water rafting, kayaking, canyoning, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and exploring to thrill the family while staying in a riverside glamping campsite with stunning views. Following the winding ...Read more >

Geoffrey Bawa is the father of contemporary architecture in Sri Lanka, the creative innovator behind some of the most iconic buildings on the island. This 14-day guided tour will bring you the best of Bawa while introducing you to the design influences of the past with visits to a few of the country’s significant cultural sites. Trained as a barrister at the London bar before becoming an architect at the age of 38 years, Geoffrey Bawa developed imaginative and ingenious designs using concepts derived from vernacular Sri Lankan architecture. Beginning with projects for close friends and his own country estate at Lunuganga, Bawa went on to master plan the Parliament Building at Sri ...Read more >

Arranging a wedding in Sri Lanka will give you a truly memorable start to married life. On this 15-day tailor made tour you’ll exchange your vows at Kahanda Kanda, a gorgeous boutique hotel set on a 12-acre tea estate just outside the heritage city of Galle. You’ll have a couple of days at leisure before the ceremony itself, so there’s plenty of time to explore the local rice fields and beaches, returning each evening to sleep in your plush suite, which comes complete with a private pool and garden. Your wedding day can be tailored to suit your preferences, but it will include the ceremony and a private reception, including a photographer, wedding cake, champagne and dinner. All ...Read more >

This 14-day guided birding tour of Sri Lanka, with the added dimension of visits to a few of the country’s significant cultural sites, has a little of everything for the avid bird watcher also interested in the culture and history of the island. Sri Lanka is home to well over 500 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 a dedicated ‘twitcher’ to enjoy the bird life ...Read more >

Travel north to experience a very different Sri Lanka with its vast lagoons full of migrant waders, donkeys and baobabs, Tamil script and Hindi songstresses, bicycles and Brahman cows. Since the declaration of peace on the island in 2009, the north and east of the country have opened up and developed, but not too much – yet. So now is the time to visit on your very own tailor-made vacation. Our suggested itinerary takes in Mannar Island, Jaffna, the east coast around Trincomalee and the Cultural Triangle. The flat lands of the north-western coastal plain are similar to the dry zone regions of the southeast until you reach the causeway. Here everything changes with the typical scrub jungle ...Read more >

The Fairtrade organisation is a social movement whose objective is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading and working conditions – and we can all contribute to this goal. A fair and equitable way of life should be the rule and in Sri Lanka we encourage cultural exchange, social awareness, local employment and self-development through our tailor-made vacations. With fairly traded goods and services you have the power to change the world every day since simple shopping or vacation choices can get local producers and providers a better deal. This means that they can make their own decisions, control their future and lead the dignified life everyone deserves. There is ...Read more >

First stop is The Wallawwa, an ideal venue for post- and pre-flight pampering. Set in a former manor house surrounded by tropical gardens it offers elegant guestrooms, gourmet cuisine, discreet service and a decadent spa. Next you’ll travel up into the hills for a stay at Mountbatten Bungalow in Kandy. This is a is a tastefully renovated and refurbished century-old tea planter’s bungalow once the war office and sometimes private residence of Lord Mountbatten of Burma, hence its name. Experience a special moment in time, a bygone era of grace and elegance that is still tangible today. A real gem at the southern end of the Hill Country, Living Heritage Koslanda is next on the agenda. ...Read more >

Lush, tropical Sri Lanka is packed full of culture, history, wildlife and natural beauty, especially given its diminutive size. In fact, explorer Marco Polo once described it as "undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world". This Sri Lanka tour and beach vacation will take you on an unforgettable journey to the country’s beaches, heritage sites and National Parks. This vacation is based at different beachside locations depending on the prevailing monsoon season: Ahungalla and Negombo on the west coast from November to April, and Uppuveli and Passikudah on the east coast from May to October. Heritance Ahungalla is a luxury beachside hotel designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s ...Read more >

Sri Lanka may be petite but it’s overflowing with tropical goodness. The coastline is lined with gorgeous beaches; the hills of the interior are lush and green; the 14 National Parks are rich in wildlife; and there are nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, one of which dates back to the 3rd century BC. This Sri Lanka boutique hotels vacation whisks you round the country’s hot spots, while staying in characterful properties in beautiful locations, all of which have a high standard of food, service and décor. Close to the airport, the Wallawwa is a former manor house set in expansive tropical gardens filled with birdsong. It’s an ideal venue for post- and pre-flight pampering - the peaceful ...Read more >

The first few days of this relaxing vacation are based on the island's southwest coast at The Villa Bentota, which is a sensitively converted 19th century colonial manor house and Sri Lanka’s first boutique hotel. Created by world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, the updated and expanded villa has individually designed rooms, with unique features such as private courtyards and plunge pools, spread around an estate that also includes two pools, a minimalist open air dining pavilion and various places to relax with spectacular sea views. Away from the beach are the house and gardens of Lunuganga, which were lovingly created over several decades by Geoffrey Bawa as his vision of a tropical ...Read more >

As Sri Lanka and Maldives vacations go, this tailor made two week trip promises a magical mix between culture, heritage and natural wonders in both of these stunning countries. As local experts, we have been creating vacations here for people for many years, finding you hotels or villas with some of the best locations. Such as in Sri Lanka, where your trip begins at the iconic and eco chic Heritance Kandalama hotel, located around a mountain with Sigiriya rock fortress on the horizon. This is just one of three points on Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, the artery of ancient Sinhalese civilisation, the other two being the vast palaces of Anuradhapura and the ruins of Polonnaruwa. From cultural ...Read more >