Tika Traveller

Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Papare - a lively genre of Sri Lankan music - goes hand in hand with cricket (courtesy of Hafsa Adil/Al Jazeera)

TikaWeeks #40/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 3rd October 2023

Despite Sri Lanka’s crushing defeat at the hands of arch rivals India in front of a capacity home crowd in last month’s Asia Cup final, there were still plenty of smiling faces, dancing in the aisles and party music resounding around Colombo’s R. Premadasa cricket stadium. Even at the height of the island’s civil war and during the recent political and economic chaos, cricket has been a unifying force, a soothing balm at the time of crisis.

Lighthouse and mosque within the Dutch colonial era fort, Galle, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #39/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th September 2023

Sri Lanka is definitely making a comeback. With confidence building, 2024 should be a very positive year. Where better to start than the revitalised Galle Literary Festival, which runs from 25 to 28 January 2024. This now fabled event last ran in 2020 and has been attracting authors and visitors from across the world since the inaugural festival in 2015, which takes place in the vicinity of Galle's historic 17th century Dutch colonial era fort.

TikaWeeks #38/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st September 2023

Children are welcome in most hotels in Sri Lanka, even the most upmarket. However, what if you prefer a more grown up experience without kids clubs and child-friendly menus? The island has always been popular with honeymooners, and there are many places to stay that cater for adults craving a more tranquil and relaxed ambience. Here are some of our favourite accommodation options which should whet your appetite for your holiday with us.

A rare super blue moon lighting up last night's sky (courtesy of Steve Brown/DC Thomson)

TikaWeeks #35/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 31st August 2023

“Blue moon, you saw me standing alone…” is the classic refrain sung by Old Blues Eyes himself but overnight we had the confluence of a blue moon and a super moon for our second full moon of the month. In Sri Lanka, full moon or Poya day is particularly significant to the Sinhalese Buddhist majority as the Buddha was born, found enlightenment and reached nirvana on the same full moon day. Every Poya day is celebrated throughout the year and each one has a different significance to Buddhists on the island.

A visiting family made welcome at a Buddhist monastery, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #34/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 24th August 2023

Friendly and welcoming, Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for a fun-filled family holiday! Exotic wildlife, palm-fringed sandy beaches, thrilling as well as easy-going adventures and child-friendly accommodation are a formidable combination for an out-of-the-ordinary family experience. Our revised Family Sri Lanka itinerary is a good starting point to create your own perfect family holiday to "undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world" (Marco Polo).

Leopard prowling in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Laurence Pordes)

TikaWeeks #33/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 14th August 2023

With the sighting of a melanistic (black) leopard cub in Yala National Park in March this year, interest in Sri Lanka’s apex predator has surged once more. Also in March, the inaugural Global Leopard Conference was hosted in South Africa. Leopards may be the most adaptable of the big cats, however the leopard’s global population and distribution are in decline. Many of the threats to leopard survival occur commonly across the world where leopards are found, and those protecting them are seeking better conservation solutions.

Tamil tea picker in the Hill Country, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #31/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 2nd August 2023

Sri Lanka is synonymous with tea and has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the world's finest, with a plantation history dating back to 1862 and an export value of US$2.6bn. The humble beverage has become the island’s pride worldwide, accounting for nearly 14% of total export earnings and ranking among its most prized products. This year is the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Tamils of Indian origin in Sri Lanka and their history is inextricably entwined with the story of tea on the island.

John and Pathi in the early days, World's End, Horton Plains, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #29/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th July 2023

We turned 19 last weekend! Tikalanka has had a tumultuous time over the years, in line with Sri Lanka. Our first season coincided with the Asian Tsunami disaster, then the civil war restarted, followed by the 2008 global economic crash. In 2009 the civil war ended and Sri Lanka quickly became the place to visit. Everything was rosy until Brexit briefly upset the apple cart before Tikalanka had the best years ever until the terrorist bombs in 2019. Then came 2020 and Covid… Only this year did we restart in earnest.

TikaWeeks #28/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 14th July 2023

Sustainability has rightly taken centre stage as we strive to combat climate change, but what does it really mean? By today’s common definition, to be sustainable we must balance how we meet human needs with our ability to continue to do so for the foreseeable future without degrading the natural environment. This update outlines the core principles of sustainability with regard to travel and Tikalanka.

Tikalanka - an experience of a lifetime and value for money

TikaWeeks #26/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th June 2023

Nothing is set in stone so if your itinerary or quote isn’t exactly what you are looking for then please get back to us to discuss options before choosing an alternative – we are the tailor-made travel specialist to Sri Lanka and Maldives and strive to get it right for you. Finessing itineraries and value for money are our priorities so please always contact us before making a decision and we will do our utmost best to ensure your holiday suits your plans and budget. Join the Tikalanka family by booking a holiday of a lifetime with us NOW!

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives