Sponsored by Beyond Dream Travels.
Whenever I’m asked to recommend an island destination, Sri Lanka is always one of the first places I suggest. I visited the teardrop-shaped island for the first time back in 2017 and I’ve been dreaming of going back ever since. What I love about Sri Lanka is the amazing mix of adventures on offer – while the island is small in size, it definitely packs a punch in terms of world class sites and experiences.
There are eight incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered across the island. I managed to tick off six during my trip, with my absolute favourite being the mighty Sigiriya– an ancient rock fortress with a flat-topped summit that was once home to an ancient civilisation. Sigiriya is just one of the sites that make up Sri Lanka’s famous ‘Cultural Triangle’ – a region in the centre of the island that also includes Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, and Kandy.
After getting our cultural fix in the ‘Cultural Triangle’ wandering through temples, ruins and ancient cities, we then jumped on a train to take us from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. The train trip is one of the most scenic in the world with the landscape changing from lush green tea plantations, to a misty mountain backdrop. Ella is a cute little mountain town with a hippy vibe and the spectacular Ravana Waterfalls – it was the perfect place to relax for a few days after our busy sightseeing itinerary.
From Ella, we travelled to Yala National Park to experience safari life where for the first time ever, I saw elephants in the wild – I even got to see a baby elephant. Our trip ended in the town of Galle (another incredible UNESCO site), where we spent our last few days exploring its historical sites and the idyllic palm-fringed beaches on the south coast of the island.
Sir Lanka is also the ultimate destination for delicious food. We feasted on incredible local dishes likehoppers, pittu, rice and curries, all washed down with fresh king coconuts. I’m a huge seafood fan, which is why island life suits my palette perfectly. From crab curries and spicy jumbo prawns, to grilled fish and fresh oysters, Sri Lanka is a foodie heaven.
So when Beyond Dream Travels asked me to share a special offer on a 14-day holiday package to Sri Lanka, it was the perfect opportunity to share my love for the island destination. Beyond Dream Travels is a Melbourne-based tour company that specialises in crafting unique luxury holidays to Sri Lanka and Maldives, for solo travellers and couples. Right now, they are offering a special price on their ‘Splendid Ramayana Discovery’ tour at just AUD$3,299 per person.
Beyond Dream Travels also offer finance packages through HSBC that are interest free up to 12 months for eligible travellers – call to find out more.
The ‘Splendid Ramayana Discovery’ tour includes:
- Return flights from Melbourne
- 12 nights’ accommodation
- Return airport transfers
- Fully guided tours
- All breakfasts and one lunch
- Luxury air-conditioned transportation
- Entrance fees
This incredible tour also includes accommodation at Jetwing Hotels – a family owned hotel group that offers some of the most luxurious accommodation on the island. You’ll be staying at hotels that include, Jetwing Lake in Dambulla set on fertile plains in the cultural triangle, Jetwing Blue on the sunny north western coastline of Negombo, and Jetwing Kaduruketha which has been designed to resemble a traditional village surrounded by rural Sri Lankan landscapes.
I’m already trying to work out how I can squeeze this 14-day tour into my already jam-packed island hopping itinerary this year. It’s got the perfect mix of beaches, wildlife, history, culture, and a village experience. While I had some amazing experiences on my trip to Sri Lanka, I can’t wait to go back and explore new places like the Hiriwaduna Village where I can ride a bullock cart. Plus, this tour includes visits to some of the most important Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka with an expert tour director to offer in-depth knowledge of Ramayana heritage in Sri Lanka.
Ramayana is an epic story of how Lord Rama’s wife Sita was captured by King Ravana and held captive. Rama then enlists the help of monkeys and bears to find his wife. A battle ensues between King Ravana and the animals where the King gets killed and Sita is set free. This tour will take you to places that are connected to the Ramayana story such as Sri Bhakta, Hanuman Temple, Divurumpola Temple and Sita Amman Temple.
Find out more about this incredible ‘Splendid Ramayana Discover’ tour here.
