Sri Lanka

The Jewel of the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka is a lush, tropical island paradise, known to Arab traders as Serendib - hence "serendipity", meaning discovery by happy accident - and famously described by Marco Polo as "undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world".

Culturally rich and environmentally diverse, Sri Lanka boasts eight World Heritage Sites (the oldest dating back to the 3rd Century BC), 86 species of mammals (including elephants and leopards), more than 400 bird species (including 26 endemics), a colourful array of flowering plants and trees, a Hill Country famous for tea and trekking, 14 National Parks out of 100 areas protected by the government, and 1600 km of Indian Ocean coastline offering palm-fringed and sun-drenched tropical beaches.

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Explore Sri Lanka

Each region of Sri Lanka has something unique to offer. Get a better understanding of this beautiful island paradise by exploring each region, and the major sites and cities within them.

Find out which activities each region has on offer, whether it's exploring ancient temples, spotting exotic wildlife or simply relaxing on a palm-fringed tropical beach.

Explore Sri Lanka

Featured Accommodation

Nine Skies

Ella

Promising far-reaching hill country views, this stylishly refurbished tea planter’s bungalow is majestically perched on a hilltop near Ella. Dating from the British colonial era, the five-bedroom tea estate bungalow epitomises its legacy yet indulges guests with contemporary facilities and personalised service.

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Tika Tasters

There is so much to do during your visit to Sri Lanka that it may be hard to know where to start. We have put together some taster itineraries for you to see the range of accommodation and activities available on the island. You may like to use them as a starting point to plan your very own trip, or we can do it all for you if you prefer - the choice is yours!

Tika Tasters

Tika Traveller

TikaWeeks #07/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th February 2021

Earlier this week, the Government of Sri Lanka announced that the temporary restriction on travel originating from the UK to Sri Lanka has been lifted with immediate effect.This is certainly some good news amid the many downbeat remarks from our own government ministers about the possibility of reopening foreign travel in the immediate future. However, entry to Sri Lanka is still subject to an initial 14 days stay in ‘Safe & Secure’ Certified Level 1 hotels and regular PCR tests.

TikaWeeks #03-2/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st January 2021

To date, the list of ‘Safe & Secure’ Certified Level 1 hotels in Sri Lanka runs to 55, of which 25 are offered by Tikalanka, and there are currently 17 approved tourist sites and attractions, mostly national parks and cultural sites. Let’s hope that the ongoing health audit continues apace in order to approve many more of our favourite accommodation and places to visit as ‘safe and secure’ in the near future. Visit Sri Lanka Tourism for up to date information on the things you need to know for safely travelling to Sri Lanka.

TikaWeeks #03-1/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th January 2021

We have now received the official Sri Lanka Tourism Safety Protocols for arranging and running holidays on the island in the near future. We are still awaiting clarification or confirmation of the finalised list of certified ‘Safe and Secure’ Level 1 hotels (the health audit is still on-going), approved tourist sites, accredited laboratories for PCR tests, and guide or driver guidelines. The safety protocols currently in place will be reviewed regularly and there will most likely be variations to these protocols as time goes by.

“Thanks again for putting together a great itinerary for us. While Sri Lanka was on our radar it was not on our hot list but once we saw your first draft itinerary we immediately knew we had to go. ”

Tony & Juliet, travelled to Sri Lanka March 2018

“Really special trip - great balance of relaxing, exploring, history, religion, animals and beach! Just what we wanted. Thank you.”

Matthew & Heidi, travelled to Sri Lanka April/May 2015

“We had a wonderful visit and really did enjoy Sri Lanka and will certainly visit again in the future. All of the logistics were handled brilliantly.”

David & Wendy, travelled to Sri Lanka November/December 2018

“We are just incredibly pleased that we chose Sri Lanka and Tikalanka for our wedding holiday. THANK YOU TIKALANKA - keep doing what you do - it is superb.”

Gemma & Stephen, travelled to Sri Lanka January/February 2010

“Smooth organisation, good guide, good value for money.”

Sue & Janet, travelled to Sri Lanka December 2014/January 2015

“Overall this holiday was a very special fantastic experience due to the organisation and recommendation of Tikalanka. We would have no hesitation in recommending the company to our friends and family.”

Mike & Lorna, travelled to Sri Lanka in March 2018

“Your itinerary was perfect for what we asked for and provided us with lovely memories. We would definitely recommend Tikalanka to our friends.”

Lynn, Thomas, Jo & Roger,travelled to Sri Lanka in January 2019

“I would absolutely recommend Tikalanka to anyone travelling to Sri Lanka in the future.”

Jerrine & Fraser, travelled to Sri Lanka August 2017

“We really appreciated the detail in your planning that meant each accommodation was a different experience.”

Kath & Chris, travelled to Sri Lanka & Maldives November 2018

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