Nadine
England, January/February 2026
What did you like most about Sri Lanka?
It is a country of immense geographical variety and diversity, rich in history, culture and nature, with much to do and see. The people are incredibly friendly, and it is accessible and well set up for visitors giving a sense of access to an authentic Sri Lankan experience. The food is delicious and there are accommodation options for all budgets. During the holiday I hiked, visited tea estates, practiced yoga, experienced ayurvedic treatments, visited temples towns and villages, waterfalls, rivers and beaches, saw elephants, exotic birds and much more.
What did you like least about Sri Lanka?
The tipping culture takes some getting used to and the constant requests for positive reviews (not from any of the drivers [guides]).
But in a country so dependent on tourism and with a high youth unemployment rate it is perhaps to be expected. Also inevitable are the high concentration of tourists in certain areas and if there were a requirement for all companies to sign up to responsible tourism that would be a huge step forward. The Udawalawe elephant sanctuary is supposed to be one of the more responsible of its kind but the jeeps crowding around and right up close to the elephants effectively blocking their path made me a little uncomfortable. [Many thanks for the feedback on your jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park. Unfortunately, the inappropriate behaviour of some jeep providers in Sri Lanka's wildife reserves is becoming a serious issue and affecting the wildlife and experiences of responsible travellers to the island. This is one of the reasons we have stopped visiting Yala National Park (Block 1), which has become more like a zoo with jeeps racing around polluting the environment and scaring the animals to try to seek out leopards for their paying guests in order to receive large tips. This is NOT what Tikalanka delivers, supports or condones.]
What is your opinion of your accommodation in Sri Lanka?
I stayed in 4 hotels, each very different and very good in their own way:
- Samadhi Kandy [The Kandy Samadhi Centre] is a unique, hidden away quite spiritual place furnished with antiques.
- 98 Acres [Resort & Spa] Ella is beautifully located, luxurious and with extraordinary views.
- Coco Tangalla [Tangalle] is a small boutique hotel providing excellent bespoke service.
- Waterland Negombo is not at the level of the other three but in an amazing location and very handy for the airport. It could do with a bit of a face lift and a slightly more extensive menu.
What is your opinion of your chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka?
I had a selection of drivers, generally of a high standard. Drivers were changed depending on location and this seems a far better system than being allocated one driver for the entire time. It spreads the fees amongst them and allows time off for all parties. Some people I met who had one driver for the entire time found it a little overwhelming and when they didn’t get on, this was difficult to manage. [We are glad that you enjoyed the selection of guides and drivers on your holiday. Usually, we allocate a dedicated guide for the tour and drivers for all other transfers, which seems to suit most of our travellers. In the very rare situation where travellers and guide do not hit it off, we always change the guide, on request.]
Ravi, Ashan, Nadun, Sunny, Leel were all great and Mahesh is a rock star.
What is your opinion of your flights to and from Sri Lanka?
Etihad [Airways] were good and the connection worked well. [London Heathrow - Economy Class]
Any other comments?
Tikalanka provided an incredible service. I deliberately sought out a small independent company which is exactly what they are, with local knowledge and the flexibility to accommodate changes or requests. John in the UK listened carefully to what I wanted and helped me work out a suitable itinerary advising but never imposing. When Cyclone Ditwah hit at the end of 2025, the whole trip was in question as people struggled to get back on their feet. John and his colleagues kept a watching brief and fortunately the trip remained possible. Once I arrived in Sri Lanka, Pathi and his son Mahesh took over and were available on Whatsapp to answer questions and keep me informed of arrangements including a last minute train journey (hard to book as very oversubscribed) and visit to the Elephant nature reserve. When a particular hotel room wasn’t quite what I had hoped for, they worked behind the scenes to get that changed even in peak season. [We really appreciate the very positive feedback on your experience with Tikalanka. For us, our travellers' enjoyment, comfort and experience are paramount and motivate us to provide the best possible service at all times. Staying in regular contact with our travellers while on their holidays is key to ensuring the best results. Your guide should be the first point of contact, followed by our office in Sri Lanka (Pathi and Mahesh) then John in the UK for all information or queries regarding your holiday.]
There are a few things I would suggest to make the experience even better for future travelers:
- I went whale watching in Mirissa, which has obvious inherent unpredictability. A scheduled 3 hour trip turned into 6 hours as the crew searched for whales but in the process, we encountered choppy seas on boats which are not ergonomically designed for ease and comfort. The key bit of advice here is to take anti-sea sickness meds. I did and was fine, but many obviously hadn’t and it was not pretty. This could really make the difference between a wonderful experience or not. [Very good idea. We know that some well-prepared travellers like you take the necessary precautions for an extended time at sea, but others forget or don't appreciate the swell on the Indian Ocean. We will include a suggestion to take anti-sea sickness medication when enjoying a whale watching boat safari.]
- Also get an eSIM – makes contact with your driver or whoever so much easier. [We do include this suggestion in our 'Tikalanka Tips' sent to all customers on booking.]
Highlights included seeing the sunrise over Little Adam's Peak Ella, the train journey through the hills from Ambewela to Ella, the coast in Tangalle – you just have to go a bit further out from the centre, The [Peradeniya] Botanic Gardens in Kandy with an excellent expert botanist guide, hiking The Pekoe Trail with Mahesh who is a specialist hiking guide, seeing a one-month-old elephant, ayervedic [Ayurvedic] massage and yoga at Samadhi, the food generally!
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