TikaWeeks #44/2026: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 31st October 2026
BirdWatch
BirdWatch grew from founder Marko Ratić's personal interest in birds and the natural world. Birds, aquariums and plants have long been part of his life, alongside projects that brought people together through a shared love of nature and travel.
Marko's friendship with ornithologist Dr Marko Raković brought a new dimension to his interest in birds: discovering them in their natural habitats. Their shared enthusiasm for birds and nature became the inspiration for BirdWatch.
Today, BirdWatch helps others explore that same curiosity. It brings together birds, destinations and independent local guides, making it easier to discover a birding trip and learn what an experience offers before setting out.
Tikalanka is pleased to be a valued contributor to this specialist and passionate, non-fee paying portal and our Tailor-made birdwatching holidays in Sri Lanka provide a comprehensive guided introduction to the diverse birdlife of Sri Lanka, visiting the most important nesting sites, migratory routes and overwintering grounds in the country. With the help of an expert naturalist, you will spot a great number and variety of birds while on this specialist birding tour. For more information, please go to Birdwatching Sri Lanka
British Airways relaunches services to Sri Lanka
On 23 October 2026, British Airways (BA) resumed flights to Sri Lanka for the first time since 2015. The schedule from London Gatwick departs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and returns from Colombo on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until the end of March 2027. Hopefully, BA will expand and extend the service once it realises the interest in Sri Lanka from UK travellers. Tikalanka arranges flights with BA through our long-term partner Tropic Breeze.
BA is marking the launch of flights to Sri Lanka with a limited-time collaboration with Hoppers, the pioneering London-based Sri Lankan and South Indian restaurant chain. Customers in Club World travelling on board the new BA route to Colombo, will be able to enjoy a special menu created in partnership with Hoppers, to bring the bold flavours, rich spices and famous food culture of the island to the skies.
The menu features dishes inspired by Hoppers’ best loved classics including a starter of yoghurt vadai, a soaked lentil fritter served with yoghurt, tamarind and coriander chutney and crisps – a Hoppers’ rendition of the popular snacks sold by street hawkers on Galle Face Green. For main course, customers can enjoy a choice of Hoppers’ signature Kalupol-spiced chicken, served with tangy lemon rice and beetroot curry, or Pollichathu Cod, marinated in a tomato chilli paste, cooked wrapped in banana leaf and served with coconut rice and spicy pineapple curry. Watalappam bread pudding is the comforting end to the meal, served with spiced crumble and malt cream – the Sri Lankan spin on the classic British dessert.
Sail Lanka Charter
Sail Lanka Charter is the island’s most graceful introduction to the ocean, offering a variety of sails from a few hours out at sea to unique multi-day journeys. Guests can slow down, explore secluded bays and coastal villages, swim in pristine waters, and enjoy freshly prepared meals while sailing between destinations.
The company keeps over ten catamarans moored at Colombo, Galle and Mirissa on the west and south coasts, and Trincomalee and Passikudah on the east coast, offering five day-cruise formats including whale watching, morning, afternoon and sunset sails, or the entire boat for a party alone. Their signature outing is the seven-hour whale-watching voyage from Mirissa Harbour, departing daily from November to April, when blue whale sightings (along with sperm whales and pods of spinner dolphins) are common. Between April and September, the sailing adventures take place along the serene east coast. Whale watching trips include a hearty lunch, with activities such as swimming and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) possible between dolphin and whale encounters. If you are a larger family or multi-generational group, consider a private charter.
For those who would rather linger, Sail Lanka Charter’s multi-day voyages turn the coastline into a floating hotel. Options include overnight stays on a catamaran and even a seven-day sailing adventure around Sri Lanka’s undiscovered northern islands. In the east, a six-night cruise begins in Dutch Bay, Trincomalee, with sailing in Koddiyar Bay, a night-stop near the Koneswaran Hindu Temple, and snorkelling and SUP at Sallitivu, alongside whale and dolphin watching, swimming and sleeping in star-class comfort.
There are also options for sailing adventures on the south coast. Opting for a single cabin or chartering the entire catamaran, you will cast off from Mirissa for a short cruise around Weligama Bay and dinner under the stars. Next comes Galle: you sail to Jungle Beach, take the dinghy ashore for a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Dutch Fort, and anchor nearby for the night. Later, the route turns to the open water. An early departure towards Dondra means you could be sighting whales and dolphins before breakfast, followed by lunch served on board and an afternoon of swimming, SUP or a little surfing off Mirissa Beach. The journey closes with a return to Mirissa Harbour after breakfast.
For families, couples and private groups, Sail Lanka Charter's journeys can be seamlessly incorporated into a wider Sri Lankan itinerary, turning time on the ocean into an unforgettable part of the island experience.
Accommodation updates
Tikalanka always strives to provide a variety of interesting and quality, handpicked places to stay around Sri Lanka, which have all been personally visited and checked by Tikalanka. Obviously, this is an ongoing and dynamic process, adding extra special finds across the island while reluctantly removing accommodation that has dropped below our exacting standards. All of our homestays, guesthouses, hotels, lodges, tented safari camps, villas and bungalows are recommended options depending on your mood, budget, location or preference.
Recently added highlights include:
- Aavya Cove Villas – Idyllically tucked away in a secluded sandy cove of Balapitiya Beach, this peaceful and adult-oriented luxury villa hotel is hidden amongst tropical fruit trees and swaying palms at the edge of the calm, warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
- Arachchi Heritage – Contemporary three-suite, architect-designed boutique villa on the northern reaches of sacred Tissawewa lake overlooking the historic stupas of the ancient city of Anuradhapura. The upstairs suites have oversized bedrooms and luxury bathrooms with outdoor showers, and the courtyard pool is a cool oasis.
- Arsulana Eco Lodge – Luxurious and eco-friendly retreat nestled in the rainforest near Kitulgala. This 20-hectare sanctuary combines indulgence with environmental responsibility. The cosy luxury rooms and opulent family villas have serene views of gardens, forests, rivers, and waterfalls.
- Deewara – A collection of stately homes restored to a cosy and quaint boutique villa on the shores of Mawella Bay, one of Sri Lanka’s finest protected beaches near Tangalle, with lush tropical gardens, tranquil open areas amongst the exotic foliage, and views of the unspoilt beach.
- Elements Beach & Nature Resort – Off-the-beaten-track, eco-luxury resort offering a unique beach villa experience, with airy villas immersed in natural surroundings providing breath-taking ocean views. Nestled on the serene beach near Kappalady's renowned flatwater lagoons on Kalpitiya peninsula, live like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe!
- Gal Oya Lake Club – Boutique-style hotel set in a lush country estate surrounded by a charming traditional village and overlooking tranquil and picturesque Ali Aluwa Reservoir on the edge of Gal Oya National Park. The exclusive retreat features sumptuous suites, spacious colonial bungalows and glamping tents.
- GlenMyu Estate – Luxury boutique villas and tranquil haven set in two hectares of peaceful and beautifully landscaped tropical gardens with stunning views from the precipitous edge of the Hill Country at Haptale as it drops 1000 metres to the southern plain below.
- Koddu Kalpitiya – Bijou boutique hotel set in a secluded palm grove with stunning 280-degree views of Kalpitiya lagoon and environs. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects, the hotel features six villa-type rooms, a central pavilion and a large infinity swimming pool, all facing the lagoon.
- Padmaraga – Originally built in the 1930s by a wealthy gem merchant, the unique hotel within Galle Fort has been sensitively refurbished in keeping with the Art Deco theme of its original architects. The rooms have been individually designed and decorated with art and attention to detail.
- Sielen Diva – Exceptional beachside boutique hotel near Unawatuna with extraordinarily spacious and open-to-the-elements ground floor, where communal lounging and sitting areas, dining spaces, and the bar seamlessly flow from one zone into another. Bedrooms are all ocean facing and decorated in a contemporary style.
All our specially selected places to stay are showcased on our website at Accommodation
For in-depth information on our accommodation, including more photos, details, recommendations and locations, please log in to our sophisticated and user-friendly Trip Planner
Categories: Accommodation, Flights, News, Sightseeing, Sri Lanka, Travel tips
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