DESTINATIONS SRI LANKA & MALDIVES INDIAN OCEAN


consultant at Trailfinders, says: “Colombo can make a relaxing last night before an early flight. I book clients an evening tuk-tuk ride to see the array of sights and night market.” Where to stay: The Ozo Colombo Sri Lanka is comfortable, contemporary and convenient. The 158 rooms are bright and spacious, with those at the front boasting oversized windows that frame the ocean promenade below. From the rooftop burger restaurant, bar and swimming pool, there’s also a panorama of the city skyline. Bed- and-breakfast rates from £75 a night including taxes and service charge.


w SWEET AS KANDY Kandy is a prime stop on many touring itineraries, and a logical stopover spot for those heading on to the serene tea plantations, Sigiriya Rock or the wildlife-packed national parks. The first stop on our tuk-tuk tour


ASK THE EXPERT


Uli Williams, Travel Counsellors “Sri Lanka is a good introduction to the Indian subcontinent. Friendliness and good service greet you wherever you go. I’d recommend Kandy, Galle and Colombo as a combination, with the addition of a national park to add wildlife to the history, culture and beach mix.”


Martin Spencer, reservations consultant, Gold Medal “The Maldives’ south atoll has fewer flight paths and speedboat traffic than the north, which is closer to Malé.”


56 travelweekly.co.uk 9 August 2018


was Rajapihilla Mawatha, a viewpoint that shows Kandy to be a city edged by misty green hills with an ornamental lake at its centre. Back in the daily hubbub, our nostrils were bombarded with the scents of fresh fruit, fish, incense and spices at Market Hall. Next, we headed to the botanical


gardens, where novelties of nature abound, including more than 360 species of orchid (the scary ‘scorpion’ among them), fruit bats flying overhead in search of nectar, and towering giant java almond trees whose roots rise from the ground like elephants’ feet. For retail therapy, Kandy offers silk emporiums stacked with scarves, saris and sarongs, plus jewellers that specialise in locally mined gems such


Inside the ramparts of Galle Fort, a 17th-century stronghold built by the Dutch, are galleries, boutiques and eateries


as sapphires and moonstones. By night, bag a ticket to a cultural


show featuring acrobats, drummers and firewalkers, or join the procession of pilgrims heading to the moated, golden-roofed Temple of the Tooth, placing floral tributes at the shrine said to hold a tooth of Buddha himself. “Kandy has so much going on,”


says Helen Cross, travel consultant at Thomas Cook. “It’s really different for someone who likes exploring.”


Where to stay: Sitting above the lake, the Ozo Kandy Sri Lanka’s 122 rooms are modern, smart and feature sleek bathrooms. “It’s way above a standard three-star,” says Amy Holliday, sales consultant at Gold Medal. “The service is amazing and the rooms exceeded my expectations.” As with most places in Sri Lanka,


the food was another highlight. Derek Ramsaroup, senior product executive at Best for Travel, says: “The breakfast has lots of local delicacies as well as international items.” B&B rates from £73 per night.


w GO FOR GALLE Galle, in the south, can’t help but charm, with its fusion of coast and architecture. The old city centre, enclosed in the walls of Galle Fort, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. A 17th-century stronghold built by the Dutch, it remains largely intact, and inside the ramparts you’ll find galleries, boutiques and intimate eateries in period buildings. While in Galle, you can also sign clients up for a cookery lesson, or a visit to a tea plantation or turtle hatchery. Back at the beach, fishermen


balance on offshore poles to snare the day’s catch, and surfers take on the burly breakers. Swim time, though, is governed by the currents. These can be strong, especially from May to July, so clients need to check with their hotel before taking a dip. For beach bums seeking calm,


ABOVE: Ozo Kandy Sri Lanka


LEFT: Galle


crystal-clear waters and white sand, the proximity of Sri Lanka to the Maldives is reason – or excuse – enough to make this a twin-centre adventure.


PICTURES: ROOZ AHMADIAN; SHUTTERSTOCK


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