Discover Sri Lanka: Luisa’s TravelLocal trip

A teardrop-shaped gem in the Indian Ocean, the South Asian island country of Sri Lanka may be small, but it packs plenty of cultural, natural and historical draws across its diverse landscape. You’ll not soon tire of all the riches this destination has to offer – whether you’re a wildlife-watcher in search of the elusive leopard, a foodie on the cinnamon and tea trail, or a romantic seeking sunrises from atop Sigiriya and across soft sands. Having recently ventured there, our Chief of Staff Luisa Dodds has plenty of tips and recommendations to share; read on for guidance on how to plan a Sri Lanka trip of your own!

First off, tell us about your trip: when did you go and what was your itinerary?

I was in Sri Lanka late April of this year. We decided to see as much of the country as we could within two weeks so we did a big loop, starting in Habarana and ending at the beach near Galle. We stopped off in some popular spots along the way, including Kandy, Ella and Sigiriya.

What were the top highlights of your trip?

We did so much and saw so much, but three things really stick out to me. The first was the sunrise picnic we had on our first morning overlooking Sigiriya Rock. We hiked up at dawn to the top of Pidurangala Rock, and while we were watching the most beautiful sunrise, our guides were setting up a delicious picnic breakfast complete with coffee and traditional Sri Lankan food. Eating breakfast overlooking “Lion’s Rock” was truly magical.

The second highlight was when we stayed in Gal Oya in a beautiful eco-lodge, tucked away in the jungle. It was so nice to disconnect from everything for a few days and fully immerse ourselves in nature. The lodge set up some excursions for us including a boat safari, a night walk through the jungle and my favourite, a nature walk with the Chief Veddha, the chief of the local indigenous tribe. He showed us how the tribe survives using just what they find in nature, including which plants they use for medicinal purposes and how they set traps to capture animals to eat. The whole stay was rejuvenating, not to mention the delicious local food that was served for all meals.

The final highlight, and something that I was really looking forward to before the trip, was going on a safari. I had never been on a safari before so I was excited not only about seeing some incredible wildlife but also to see what the whole experience would be like. We went on two separate jeep safaris, one in Wilpattu and one in Yala. We had fantastic guides and both experiences offered us something different. We were fortunate enough to see leopards in both parks, which is very rare. When we were in Yala, we got really lucky and were able to watch a leopard up close, as it explored right in front of us for 45 minutes with no one else around. That was definitely something I will remember for a long time.

What is something unique or unexpected you learned about Sri Lanka from your visit?

Visiting the Buddhist temples and learning about the different offerings that Buddhists bring to the temples was fascinating. I didn’t expect to be as moved by these visits as I was. Every temple had a different feel and it was a really special experience to be able to witness the locals worshipping at each site.

What was your experience of planning a trip with a local expert through TravelLocal?

I found the process really easy and our local expert was quick to respond to our different requests. He was incredibly friendly and after a few back-and-forth messages through the platform, he gave me a call to chat through things to make sure he understood our requests correctly.

Would you plan a tailor-made trip again, and what would you do differently next time?

Definitely! I loved how our local expert fully customised the trip to what we wanted to experience. They were flexible but also provided guidance on what to skip and what not to miss, making sure that we were getting the most out of our trip.

My friend who I travelled with had an idea of the things she wanted to see in Sri Lanka before planning the trip, so we provided quite a lot of input to our local expert, of which he was very accommodating. If I plan another trip, I will leave more of it up to the local expert as they have a better idea of what parts of the itinerary work well together, and how best to make the trip flow smoothly.

What is one unforgettable memory from your trip that will always pull you back to Sri Lanka?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one memory from the trip. For me, it was about the people we met. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. Even the people we would drive by on the street would smile and wave it us. They were all so keen to show off their beautiful country and tell us the stories and the history that made Sri Lanka the incredible place that it is today.

Do you have top tips for anyone hoping to plan a first trip to Sri Lanka?

Try and get as much exposure to the locals and their communities as possible. Whether that is a homestay with a Sri Lankan family or a cooking class with a local, seeing the country from their perspective is a really beautiful thing.

And be prepared for the heat! It is very hot there all year round, but most accommodations have air conditioning. That doesn’t mean you should skip the ones that don’t! The remote lodges are some of the most beautiful and in my opinion, it’s worth being a bit hot if it means being surrounded by nature and wildlife.

Make it happen

If Luisa’s stories have inspired you to take the next step, speak to our local experts now: they’ll help you with the finer details of how to plan a Sri Lanka trip, and will get the ball rolling for an unforgettable adventure.