by Kerry Lowe
My Sri Lankan adventure began in the coastal town of Negombo at the Arie Lagoon Hotel. After a long flight, it was wonderful to relax by the pool and take a sunset walk along the beach. That calm first evening set the tone for the journey ahead, blending relaxation with anticipation for all the sights and experiences Sri Lanka had to offer.
The real adventure began with a visit to a local fishing village. Authentic and lively, it was a glimpse into daily life—though I admit, the smell wasn’t exactly my favourite! Soon after, we arrived at the Dambulla Cave Temple, known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The five main caves are filled with over 150 Buddha statues, intricate murals stretching across the walls and ceilings, and a peaceful sense of reverence. From there, we continued to Habarana Village by Cinnamon, our base for exploring the Cultural Triangle.
Day three took us to the iconic Sigiriya, a mighty 600ft rock fortress. For those that didn’t want to climb, there’s the museum and you can explore the lovely grounds and walk around the base of the rock, where you encounter many cheeky monkeys. Next stop Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s most scenic cities, we checked into Cinnamon Citadelan overlooking the Mahaweli River and made the most of the warm evening with a boat trip bird spotting.
After visiting the sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, we journeyed into the hill country, driving through towering mountains, lush valleys, and rolling tea plantations to reach Nuwara Eliya. We wrapped up the day with a proper High Tea at the Golden Ridge Hotel, enjoying the views.
The following day we meandered through the stunning Ella Valley en route to Udawalawe. The scenery was absolutely jaw-dropping with one of the highlights being the Ravana Ella Falls. Wildlife adventures continued with a stop at the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe National Park. Which gives 5 star treatment to orphaned or injured baby elephants.
An early start at 4.45am, saw us set off for Yala National Park. The nature did not disappoint – within minutes we saw water buffalo, elephants, crocodiles, deer, land monitors and the star of the show, a leopard sipping from a puddle.
Our final leg of the trip explored Sri Lanka’s southern coast. We stopped at the stunning beach in Tangalle, the historic city of Galle and lastly a visit to the Victor Hasselblad Turtle Hatchery, where injured turtles receive rehabilitation and turtle hatchlings chill before being released into the sea.
We wrapped up our adventure at the luxurious 5* Anantara Kalutara Resort, giving us two nights of relaxation before the flight home.
