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: Sri Lanka

A portrait of Thomas Cook, circa 1850, and early tickets (courtesy of The Guardian/Getty Images/Alamy)

TikaWeeks #39/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th September 2019

The failure of another behemoth of the travel industry in as many years this week suggests that small is indeed beautiful. When the world’s oldest tour operator and top travel brand goes to the wall it signals a change in the way people source and book holidays. This week’s update discusses global travel trends, Sri Lanka’s current monsoon rains and upcoming presidential election, and next year’s cricket tour of the island by England.

Prince Harry launching Travalyst (courtesy of The Guardian/Gareth Fuller/PA)

TikaWeeks #37/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 14th September 2019

With Prince Harry launching the sustainable travel initiative, Travalyst, earlier this month, some of the big players in the travel industry are finally taking the climate emergency seriously, which is definitely a ‘good thing’. However, more needs to be done – and fast. Reducing our reliance on carbon-emitting flights and plastic is a necessity along with everyday lifestyle changes for the sake of the health of the entire planet.

Stunning panoramic Hill Country view from Dickoya Bedroom, Camellia Hills, Dickoya, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #36/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 6th September 2019

It is definitely the time to visit Sri Lanka with deals galore on offer at many of our favourite hotels. Manor House Concepts – The Kandy House, The Last House, Coco Tangalla etc. – has 25% off to December 2019 and Teardrop Hotels – The Wallawwa, Fort Bazaar, Kumu Beach etc. – has 15-20% off to March 2020. There are more discounts and special offers from now until next year at many other hotels so please take a look at our list.

Wind turbine at Keldhead, Askham, Penrith, UK

TikaWeeks #35-3/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 28th August 2019

All of our Sri Lanka and Maldives holidays promoted by ResponsibleTravel.com now have a “My promise to reduce carbon emissions in my destination” section outlining our low carbon objectives. We work hard to reduce Tikalanka’s carbon footprint in Sri Lanka whilst acknowledging the impact of long-haul flights. We also have implemented low carbon practices at home.

TikaWeeks #35-2/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th August 2019

More good news from Sri Lanka: the government has officially lifted the state of emergency imposed after a series of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday. The end of emergency rule hopefully signals that the situation in the country is back to normal. The US$4.4bn tourism industry has suffered significantly since April, with tourist arrivals slumping by 70% in May and 57% in June, compared with the previous year.

Family group of elephants, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Phil & Dee Hughes)

TikaWeeks #35-1/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th August 2019

The Wildlife Conservation Department has announced that all National Parks in Sri Lanka will be closed from 13 to 15 September 2019 for a scheduled island-wide elephant survey. All of the visitors’ bungalows operated by the Department within the National Parks will also be closed from 12 to 15 September 2019. The wild elephant census has been planned for 13 and 14 September 2019 at 250 jungle locations across the island close to water holes.

Caparisoned elephants at the Navam Maha Perahera 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka (courtesy of dailymirror.lk)

TikaWeeks #34-2/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd August 2019

Since 1979, the Navam Maha Perahera in Colombo, held around the Navam full moon poya day in February, has enchanted large crowds of locals and visitors alike. The procession, steeped in age-old traditions, involves much pageantry and includes masked dancers and acrobats, regional drummers, up to 50 caparisoned elephants, fire-eaters and jugglers, and marching bands. In 2020, it takes place on 07 and 08 February. Please contact us for more details.

Leopard in a tree, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Phil & Dee Hughes)

TikaWeeks #34-1/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th August 2019

The annual closure of Blocks 1 & 2 of Yala National Park has just been announced from 01 September to 31 October 2019. This allows the normalisation of the wild animals’ natural behavioural patterns and habitats, and to improve the park’s infrastructure. Blocks 3, 4 & 5 are still open to the public during this period, via the Galge entrance, which is north of Kataragama bordering Lunugamvehera National Park.

TikaWeeks #31/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 31st July 2019

Today was the official launch of the Visa Fee Exemption programme to Sri Lanka for 48 countries, including the UK, most of Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA. As from tomorrow, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee will be waived for six months as another incentive to visit Sri Lanka. Please apply for an ETA in the usual way through the official ETA portal and you will not be charged for a visa if your return date is on or before 31 January 2020.

Fortaleza No. 50 Lighthouse Street, Galle, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #30/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th July 2019

We sadly say farewell to the Fortaleza hotels and restaurant in Galle Fort this week, which succumbed to the downturn in Sri Lankan tourism since the events on Easter Sunday and have now closed. The villas were some of our favourites in the Fort and we wish the Fortaleza team all of the best for the future. We hope that these properties will reopen at some stage in the future and delight our customers once more. Adieu.

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives