PARADISE LANKA TOURS

Ideal Camping Spots in Sri Lanka A camping holiday in Sri Lanka lets you get up-close and personal with Mother Nature. You can observe the beauty, splendor and complexities of wilderness at your own comfort and pace. While on a camping holiday, you can immerse yourself in a cycle of sleeping, eating, showering and loitering on the campsite only. This allows you to be a part of the natural wildlife experience. Also, when you are at the park all day, you have the exclusive advantage of being at the hotspots of the parks at the peak times. For example, game viewing and other scenery hotspots have their best viewing times during dawn and dusk. By being an on-site camper, you can indulge in such natural hotspots and grab the benefits that day-time visitors are restricted to. We at Paradise  Lanka Tours provide camping facilities to the following National Parks in Sri Lanka. Select a location or two from our range of partners and have an ‘experience of a lifetime’ w

Southeast Asia – A Backpacker’s Paradise Southeast Asia, as a tourist destination, has been more popularly known as a backpacker’s paradise since a long time now. Most places such as Sri Lanka tours, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are very affordable, have very simple travel logistics, very safe to travel around and are blessed with an amazing, holiday-friendly tropical climate throughout the year. If you have a few weeks or months to spare on your calendar, you should definitely explore Southeast Asia as a backpacker. Not all backpackers touring the region will follow the same routes, but usually, this is how a practical route could be defined. A quick run through the banana pancake trail, which comprises Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. This name was given after the typical breakfast that was served to foreigners at most guesthouses. Next, you would move on to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, South China, Phillipines and Myanmar. In your itinerary, yo

Mandaramnuwara – A Mystery Village Waiting for The Discerned Traveler Imagine a painting of picturesque scenery with waterfalls, cold mist, clear blue water, grasslands and green forests – all the beauty found in one place. This painting can come to life if you include Mandaram Nuwara in your Sri Lanka itinerary. It is a mysterious village enveloped in magnificence, and a history dating back to King Ravana’s era. The exquisite topographical formations of this misty city make it the ideal location to experience nature and its tranquility to the most. The basin of Mandaram Nuwara has never seen the first nor the last rays of sunshine as a result of its mountain locked location. Throughout the year, this village is protected with clouds that float over the eastern slopes of Mount Pidurutalagala – the tallest of its kind in Sri Lanka (8,294 feet above sea level). It’s whereabouts Located in the Nuwara Eliya district, the basin of Mandaram Nuwara can be reached via N

Discover Sri Lanka like a true Sri Lankan In recent years, Sri Lanka’s gorgeous beaches, historical monuments, cultural attractions, natural beauties, and delicious food, has been the reason the island has featured on the world’s hottest travel destinations. That being said, a unique way to discover Sri Lanka is like a local. Here are some ideas on how to experience real Sri Lanka. Use public transport Although first-class train tickets would be a tempting option, it’s not as much fun as traveling on a third-class carriage and mingling with local commuters. We, locals, prefer to sit with our legs dangling out the door while long grass lashes against our feet as we listen to the sound of carriages creaking and clanging, while the train cuts its way through absolutely luscious greenery. Observe how vendors walk up and down the train carriages trying to sell some snacks while a group of friends gather at the entranceway and create a

Royal Botanical Gardens in Kandy, Sri Lanka – A Must Visit! Established in 1843, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, close to Kandy, are the oldest formal gardens in Sri Lanka. Home to over 4000 species of plants, these gardens are world renowned for their orchid collection and the long, palm framed pathways. In addition to displaying Sri Lanka’s native flora, there are many other plant species from across the world that were shipped in during the colonial era from the famous Kew Gardens in London. Did you know? According to The Guardian, Sri Lanka’s Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya ranks amongst the “10 great botanical gardens around the world”, in an article published in August 2018. The article in The Guardian goes on to state that the 300 acre garden in Kandy showcases an unusual variety of trees such as the ‘massive java willow, an avenue of royal palms, 40-metre high bamboos, a spice garden and an orchid house’, which is also ab

Dalawella Beach: A Social Media Hotspot that Drives Tourism in Sri Lanka When researching tourist hotspots in Sri Lanka, you must have surely come across the Unawatuna Beach, close to Galle town. A short drive further ahead from Unawatuna Beach is the Dalawella Beach, which is a famous Sri Lanka tourism hotspot on social media platforms particularly for the rope swing that is made hanging from a coconut tree branch. This part of the south coast of Sri Lanka is just a two hour drive from Colombo. The Dalawella Beach swing is found on the beachfront, exactly outside the Dream Cabana guesthouse. The owners of Dream Cabana built this rope swing as something fun for themselves. Little did they imagine that it would turn out to be one of the most talked about spots in Sri Lanka! There are many such places that have become viral travel hotspots overnight. Dalawella Beach Swing has rapidly gained popularity on Instagram over the last couple of years, convincing

Birds and more at Bundala National Park The Bundala National Park is located 245km Southeast of Colombo, on Tissamaharama Road in Hambantota city. The park is world renowned as a wintering ground for aquatic birds that migrate to Sri Lanka to escape the winter season in their respective home countries. This is the only National Park in Sri Lanka where you can see estuarine, saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, all within the same safari ride. The exceptional plant life enhances the beauty of the park, thereby making it more attractive to visitors. Established in 1969 as a wildlife sanctuary, Bundala was transformed into a National Park in 1993. In addition to being proclaimed as a Ramsar wetland site, UNESCO chose Bundala National Park as a biosphere reserve in 2005, making it the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. What to see at Bundala National Park Tourists flock in large number to experience the eco-friendly environment of this park. There are seven types of t

Top  Family-Friendly Holiday Destinations in Sri Lanka 01.Weligama Bay Marriott Resort and Spa The Marriott in Weligama provides experiences that suit every traveler. ‘Tides’ at the ground floor is a happening social zone for guests to mingle with other vacationers, while the ‘Individual Zone’ caters to those who wish to lounge by themselves. The gorgeous beachfront access of the resort is much spoken about and loved by children for being able to make creative sandcastles, play beach volleyball or simply jump in for a swim. There’s also the swimming pool area to unwind after much carousing on the beach. Marriott Weligama has three swimming pools, one for laps, one for lounging, and one just for the kids – with its own water slide. The Kid’s Club is pretty much every child’s dream on a vacation. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor games, craft activities, a mini theatre, mini-library with a range of books, a wall climbing setup, a movie center which is brightly lit to r

Tentalows: Finest luxury camping sites in Sri Lanka Have you ever heard of Sri Lankan tentalows? Tentalows, are for those daring travelers who want to climb mountains, scuba dive and get up-close-and-personal with animals of the wild, but don’t want to rough it out either; instead, prefer the sophisticated versions of camping. Tentalows = luxury camping = glamping. Luxury tents fall in a category in between camping and hotels, carefully picking out the specialties from each. Wake up to a cool natural breeze and the sound of birds chirping around you but also in the comfort of a luxurious bed, stylish furniture, wooden flooring and plush interiors. You’ll be able to look out to stunning views of wilderness but yet be starting your day with a nice warm open shower in your personal en-suite bathroom. No hindrance of cooking your own meals because with tentalows, fresh gourmet meals are provided at your table. Yes, luxury camping in Sri Lanka is unmatchable! Opt for a few of t

Elephants Galore at Udawalawe National Park Are you an elephant lover? Would the thought of an elephant encounter in their natural habitat excite you? If yes, then a wildlife safari at the Udawalawe National Park is a must do during your tour in Sri Lanka. Although Sri Lanka is a small pearl in the Indian Ocean, it still possesses high levels of biodiversity and is known as one of the top biodiversity hotspots worldwide! If the south of Sri Lanka is on your itinerary, then you are probably considering whether to visit Yala National Park or Udawalawe National Park. Both are great in their own context but Udawalawe, although smaller in size, is recommended for guaranteed elephant sightings and is much less crowded. Also, while Yala National Park is closed for about 6-8 weeks every year, Udawalawe is the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants at any time of the year. There are about a few hundreds of elephants inside the park premises and there are high chances t

7 Exciting Things to do in Mirissa 1. Surfing Start off with your surf board on the Mirissa beach. This coastline has the perfect waves to attract many surfers, resulting in the lively atmosphere on this beach. The months from October through March are ideal surfing conditions in Mirissa – Sri Lanka. 2. Whale Watching While Mirissa is home to a large marine life, the tourism industry offers whale watching tours that take off from the beach itself. Ranging from large luxury boats with breakfast packages included, to smaller budgeted boats, all set out at the crack of every dawn, deep into the Indian Ocean for a few hours of spotting whales, dolphins and turtles. November to March is the most common whale watching season. If the weather conditions are bad, boats will not set out to sea. 3. Be a Foodie The Doctor House, Dewmini Roti Shop, Wood Space, Little Tuna and Shady Lane are just a few popular restaurants in Mirissa. Some of these plac

Haputale, Misty Town with History in Sri Lanka Travelling to Sri Lanka expecting something green and foggy? Then Haputale is the perfect fit you. Cold and Misty wind covered with mountain tops with genuine, simple Sri Lankan’s will warm your hearts and make you feel like home throughout your stay. There are two ways to get to Haputale. Either you can hop on to a car/van or experience the mountains and all the Sri Lankan beauty real way through an amazing train ride. We recommend the train ride to Haputale without any doubt because we know you will thank us later! It’s not just the weather that’ll make you feel so calm and relaxed, genuine hospitality of Sri Lankans. Doesn’t matter whether you’re a foreigner or local tourist they will smile and treat you all the same way. People in Haputale live minimalistic lives by plucking tea or other small economic activities. You can grab a bite of authentic Sri Lankan dishes especially Tamil cuisines which is without a doubt one of th