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.

Category: Honeymoon

The pink tuk-tuks of Sri Lanka empowering and protecting women (courtesy of Al Jazeera)

TikaWeeks #12/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd March 2019

It has been a very busy and eventful period for us since the Destinations holiday and travel show last month, with this being our peak holiday and booking season, so apologies for the radio silence. Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who visited us at Destinations, both potential customers and old friends! Things are moving fast in Sri Lanka, with many new hotels being developed and infrastructure improved, so this Sri Lanka update will try to cover what has been happening on the island over the past few months and with us as a company.

TikaWeeks #51/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st December 2018

Apologies for the long absence of TikaWeeks and, in the interim, much has happened. I spent another productive couple of weeks in Sri Lanka in October on my annual research trip, including very successful office and guide meetings. Visited WTM in London briefly to catch up with colleagues from Sri Lanka. Watched incredulously as the political situation on the island developed into a surreal farce…

TikaWeeks #35/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 2nd September 2018

Last week’s launch of the new version of our Trip Planner is hotly followed by our new online Wedding Gift List this week, which uses the same platform. Our online Wedding Gift List enables you to create your ideal honeymoon to Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the itinerary acts as a list of voucher ideas for family and friends to purchase as wedding gifts. This week’s update launches the new online Wedding Gift List, advises of the annual closure of Yala National Park, concludes the Peoples of Sri Lanka series, and suggests first- or last-stop stays in Sri Lanka.

Sample page of the new Tikalanka Trip Planner

TikaWeeks #34/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th August 2018

The launch of the long anticipated new version of our Trip Planner has refreshed and updated the original for the mobile age. Based on Google Maps, the new Trip Planner may be accessed via mobile phones, tablets or laptops and enables you to create your own dream holiday to Sri Lanka and Maldives, wherever you are! This week’s update launches the beta release of our new Trip Planner, continues the Peoples of Sri Lanka series and offers accommodation options around Mirissa.

Sacred Ibises and Painted Storks around a water hole, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #29/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd July 2018

As if you need encouragement, this week’s update highlights 10 good reasons to visit Sri Lanka. Surrounded by the clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean and skirted by palm-fringed tropical beaches, Sri Lanka has much to offer the discerning traveller, known to Arab traders as Serendib, hence "serendipity" meaning discovery by happy accident. I also continue our Peoples of Sri Lanka series and suggest accommodation alternatives around Yala National Park.

Traditional wedding blessing in Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #20/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 20th May 2018

With the Royal wedding done and dusted, I turn to the wedding ceremony fit for kings and queens in Sri Lanka. The nuptial event is a grand and lavish occasion for most couples on the island, from the faux regalia of the last Sinhalese sovereigns to the lengthy guest list to dwarf even Harry and Meghan’s invitees! This week’s update details the traditional Buddhist Sinhalese marriage arrangements and wedding ceremony, showcases weddings in Sri Lanka by Tikalanka, continues our day in a life series, and offers accommodation options around Tangalle.

Wesak celebrations, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Ashin Sobhana)

TikaWeeks #17/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 29th April 2018

The full moon of Wesak is the most important Buddhist festival of the year, which commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of the Buddha. In Sri Lanka, colourful lanterns are hung along streets and in front of homes, electrically-lit platforms decorated with scenes of Buddha’s lives are erected around the country, food stalls provide free food and drinks to passers-by, and locals chant Buddhist devotional songs. This week’s update includes Wesak, the start of our everyday life series and recommended accommodation around Kandy.

Tracey and thambili, Nilaveli Beach Hotel, Nilaveli, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #16/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd April 2018

Sri Lanka and its people are welcoming to all types of travellers – children, seniors, LGBTs, solo women and the mobility challenged. However, it is best to prepare for your trip to ensure that your holiday in Sri Lanka is enjoyable and trouble free. This week’s update includes a brief guide to visiting the island for different types of travellers, the last of our food series and a few recommended places to stay around Ella.

TikaWeeks #15/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 15th April 2018

Suba Aluth Awuruddak Wewa! Best wishes to all for the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year (14 April). An exciting and frantic time on the island for the locals, and an interesting period to travel as a foreign visitor, if you don’t mind going with the ‘flow’ – busy roads and public transport, closed shops, and a more laid back approach in the hotels! This week’s update continues with vegetarian options, a central tenet of Sri Lankan cooking, and some of our favourite places to stay in Galle.

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

TikaWeeks #45/2017: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 12th November 2017

Our northern tour takes us to Mannar Island, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla and rural Matale then the Negombo area before my flight home. Many thanks to Dulashinee of Jetwing Hotels once more, and words cannot express my gratitude enough to Pathi, Suba, Dihini, Kusuma, Latha and Sateesh for their loving kindness and boundless generosity during my stay.

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives