Arriving in Colombo, my spirits were lifted by the sight of palm trees and beaches. This was my second visit with Steppes to Sri Lanka but first post the Tsunami disaster. More a trip to see how the country has recovered and to have a look at some of the new and exciting properties that seem to have sprung up.

Even though the damage caused by the Tsunami is obvious on the South and West coasts everywhere is clean and organised and daily life continues. I was delighted to say that the people of Sri Lanka have retained their love of life.


After a quick revisit to the fascinating cultural triangle (home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa) I visited the beautifully unspoilt Wasgomuwa National Park, where wild elephants dominate. Here I was thrilled to meet the team from the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) who are working tirelessly with the local farmers on how to best protect their land while sustaining the elephant population. Clients are now able to visit the project and work (for a night or two) alongside SLWCS with this project - a great option for families.





After a quick stop in Kandy to see the charming boutique hotel, the Kandy House, it was a four-hour train ride, in the observation car, up through glorious tea plantations to Nuwara Eliya and onto the newly opened Tea Trails. Four plantation manager's houses have been elegantly restored to provide the very best accommodation in this area. Some with pools, others with tennis courts, they are wonderfully peaceful and serene and with the best views to be had in Sri Lanka.








On to the beach to see the newly opened, amazing Amans and Galle where I found wonderful boutique hotels, stylish shops and smart restaurants. The beaches in Sri Lanka in my opinion rival the best in the world yet still delight with the feeling of local life - children playing and fishermen bringing ashore the day's catch.






Sri Lanka offers something for everyone, with wildlife, vistas, beaches and luxury it has turned a corner in tourism and offers something special and genuine. It is this diversity that makes Sri Lanka fascinating; it is its people that makes it special.

For more information on Sri Lanka, please click through here.