We love Rajindra and Chamintha, the charming husband-and-wife team behind Ayu in the Wild: a bespoke tour company that connects visitors with locals and helps travellers get under the skin of the island. Here, the couple shares their top 10 tips for experiencing Sri Lanka in style…
1. The people have stories to tell
This country loves the slow life! Don’t fill your days with a regimented itinerary. Have some time to make unplanned stops, smile with strangers, sit down and ask them their stories. Immersive travel will take you through a Sri Lanka you will never forget.
2. Read some unique books on Sri Lanka by Sri Lankans
Don’t book your tour based only on an Instagram version of Sri Lanka. Read up on what Sri Lanka’s best have written. You will get the most unique insights into this multi-layered island, laugh with her people and cry at their stories. We love: ‘The Road from Elephant Pass’ by Nihal de Silva; ‘Running in the Family’ by Michael Ondaatje; ‘The Man-Eater of Punanai – A Journey of Discovery to the Jungles of Old Ceylon’ by Christopher Ondaatje; ‘This & That’ by Elmo Jayawardena; and many more.
3. Please say ‘no’ to elephant-back safari rides
Plan your tour around conscious travel options. Avoid any display of captive animals – monkeys, reptiles, birds or elephants – at cultural sites. Wild animals are tamed in the cruellest ways.
4. Curries in Jaffna can be so different to curries in Galle
Our Gourmet in the Wild foodie experience is a great way to understand the island and its cultural nuances.
5. Colombo is definitely worth a night or two – get under its skin
This city is so vibrant. So cosmopolitan. Read up on what’s happening in Colombo before you visit. Enjoy Jazz Sundays and Good Market Saturdays, watch some theatre or concerts by Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed performers at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, find out if any schools’ rugby and cricket encounters are on – you will love the rivalry and revelry. The annual A&K Lit Fest (named after street food: annasi and kadala gotu) is the perfect foil for the glamorous Galle Lit Fest. Take the Other-Side-of-Colombo Street Food tour, sip a sundowner on a rooftop bar, or book fine dining with epicurean menus.
6. Stretch your budget for exclusive private-tented camping
We love Kumana National Park for its remoteness and privacy. Camp by the Kumbukkan Oya to laze in the shallow clear waters, keeping an eye out for the wildlife that often visits. Having the camp to yourself (and a team to spoil you) makes it so worthwhile.
7. Elephants, Ceylon tea and rice paddies in one region
Our favourite mountains and valleys are in the Uva Region: Haputale, Beragala, Buttala, Wellawaya, Galge and more. So incredibly beautiful for photographing varied landscapes, from Ceylon tea to rice paddies and elephants in rural areas. It’s a fabulous place to visit combined with the beaches of the east coast.
8. For birdwatching and wildlife…
You don’t need to limit your visits to national parks. A village off Ulapane is great for endemics; the salterns, lakes and lagoons of Mannar are fabulous for migrants. With 103 rivers flowing through the island, you just need the right local contacts to explore by foot.
9. Soft cycling adventures
Even if you’re not a hardcore cyclist, the backroads of Sri Lanka are great for short cycle routes; hire bikes and gear in Colombo. Be aware of short, scenic routes with flat roads, gentle hills and where to avoid elephants!
10. Best time to visit
Travel between April and September to explore the best beaches on the east coast. Nothing beats the calm, clear waters of the seas in Kalkudah, Vakarai, Pasikudah and Trincomalee. We love the seafood in the east too. (Hint: contrary to what most travel guides say, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is NOT limited to between December and April.) Travel in June and September to take advantage of great rates, clear weather in the north and east, plus uncrowded exploring.
Plan an unforgettable Sri Lankan adventure with Ayu in the Wild…
EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA
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