Category: Destinations

Sri Lanka to open shipwreck dive spots to tourists

The Sri Lanka government has granted permission to open up shipwreck dives off its Southern coastline to tourists in a move to further promote tourism. According to the minister of tourism for the Southern Provincial Council, P.D Ariyathilaka, permission has been granted to conduct the dives in Galle harbor, an area which was earlier closed… Read More »

Time for The Gathering

It is that time of year again where one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles take place in the dry zone jungles of Sri Lanka. On the shores of Minneriya and Kaudulla National Park, elephants from all parts of the north-central jungles ‘gather’ to feed on lush grass from the tank beds to quench their… Read More »

The elusive Comb Duck turns up in Yala National Park

For those of you that have a bird watching bug in you this news will get you all excited, The Comb Duck known to be a very rare migrant to Sri Lanka was spotted by a water hole in the Yala National Park last week – outside its migrant season! The discovery was made by… Read More »

Scenic Train Journey to Cooler Climes

Ever since I joined Red Dot as a sales consultant the phrase “scenic train journey” has cropped up in emails on a daily basis. We have people in the Red Dot office who claim to know every station en route intimately, but for me it was time to upgrade my childhood memories. The first hurdle… Read More »

A welcome return to Wilpattu – Sri Lanka’s largest national park

I have not been out in the jungles for a while due to an uncommonly rainy spell, so when Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s largest national park, was reopeaned t the public I had to get my jungle dose. The lovely Anawila bungalow was going to be our base for 3 days. I had heard great things about… Read More »

De-stressing in the Back of Beyond

I spent a relaxing three days in Kahandamodara recently at Back of Beyond. As the name suggests, this is truly back of beyond with nothing but fresh air, birds and wilderness. To me, an essential stress reliever that I yearn for time and again. Laid out on 14 acres of wilderness that borders an estuary… Read More »

Diving Heaven on Earth: The Taprobane East Wreck

Imagine a canvas of pure white sand and aquamarine blue, a picture perfect tropical paradise beach with the endless bowl of the blue sky replaced by the ocean. Into this starkly beautiful landscape a two- hour boat ride from Colombo, had sunk a small boat. Initially, it had probably sullied the pristine scene with its… Read More »

Survey Puts Sri Lanka Holidays no 1 For Value

A report by Post Office Travel Money has concluded that Sri Lanka holidays offer the best value for UK travellers out of all long-haul destinations. Thailand holidays have often been praised for offering the best value, but in the latest Post office survey Thailand has nose-dived to sixth place as Sri Lanka has headed the… Read More »

RedDot dash to Trinco

Red Dot are committed to regular hotel checks and May is a month which offers us opportunities to escape the office from time to time to check out new hotels and also to catch up with those who have become a well-known part of Sri Lanka’s holiday scene. So this time it was obvious where… Read More »

Joy, despair and relief in Sri Lanka’s north east

If ever there was a tour that ran the whole gamut of emotion, joy, excitement, fear, despair, relief, humour my recent trip to the North and East would be it. It all began  when three of my friends – Thilina, Anoma and Thushari – decided to tour the North and East and invited me along.… Read More »