We love the Maldives – nowhere else can you see such stunning turquoise lagoons and beautiful white beaches, but for those that don’t want to spend their time laying on the sand or aren’t keen on diving, Sri Lanka is a melting pot of varied culture, breathtaking scenery and unforgettable experiences. Just a 1 hour flight away from the Maldives, it makes for a great twin centre holiday with the perfect combination of beach and culture.
The most wonderful thing about this island is that it offers so much – not just in terms of the landscape, but culturally and even spiritually – for an island that is relatively small in the world wide sense – it has defined by the colours and unique feel of its regions: tea, rubber, agriculture, coastal, each with their own atmosphere. You can drive down the road and see stall after stall selling baskets in one area, and in another, nothing but bananas, or tea, rope, hemp, coconuts and even brooms! Each place has its own character and its own charm. The eclectic mix even applies to religion here, from the mixture of buddhist temples and hindu shrines to the christian church built in the mountains in 1878!
For nature lovers, an absolute must is a stay at Cinnamon Wild, set in the Yala National Park, which could be described as luxury camping (the accommodation is in chalets). Here you can arrange a Leopard Safari – a 3 hour nature discovery where Mark and Jo saw jackal and deer… but back at Cinnamon Wild they saw a crocodile in the lagoon and an elephant in the car park! It really is ideal for those that want to get among the nature of the island.
For something a little more sophisticated, Galle Fort is a beautiful hotel, colonial in style, and its rooms set around a courtyard filled with gorgeous flowers and a pool. Located in the dutch fort area it is also close to bars and restaurants and so is ideal for anyone wanting a location with a little more going on.
The beauty of visiting Sri Lanka is that you can really see it all – in 5/6 days you can see everything from the stunning scenery of the tea plantations in the ‘hill country’, to venturing on a leopard safari, seeing the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, and watching the fisherman on the beaches of the south, with a whole array of places and sights to experience in-between, including a touching monument for the tsunami victims – the memory of which can still be felt on the island – a visit to an elephant orphanage or taking in the vastness of the mammoth Sigeria Rock (and its thousand steps!).
What better than to combine this with a stay in one of the most relaxing and serene destinations – the Maldives, where you can soak up the sun on the finest white sand or lazily dip your toes in the clearest turquoise waters you will see?
Click here to read Jo’s original twin centre trip diary.
We specialise in creating holidays to resorts we know and love. We maintain a close relationship with each hotel, allowing us to offer you the very best deals. If you would like further information on any of the properties mentioned or a quote, you can call us on 01752 880 880 or email [email protected]
Tropic Breeze offer fully bonded and protected holidays, whether booked with flights via our ATOL 5615 or for accommodation only holidays with our ABTA Y5401. This means you can rest assured that your Tropic Breeze holiday is safe and secure.
Author KatieCategories Best places to go on holiday, Maldives, News, Reviews