Sri Lanka

Absolutely worth it — the Kandy to Ella ride through tea plantations and misty hills is rightly called one of the world’s prettiest train journeys. But the reserved first and second-class seats sell out weeks in advance, and turning up on the day usually means standing for hours or missing it entirely. We book your reserved seats ahead so you’re settled by a window, camera ready, rather than jostling in the aisle. If you love the open-door photos, second class actually gives the best breeze and views.

A little awareness goes a long way. For tuk-tuks, use the PickMe app (Sri Lanka’s Uber) or insist on the meter, and agree the fare before you sit in. Be politely firm about those free spice-garden and gem-showroom stops drivers suggest — they’re commission traps, and the bargain sapphires rarely are. Genuine shopping is fine; pressured shopping isn’t. When we arrange your transfers and day trips with vetted drivers, this whole category of hassle mostly disappears and you can just enjoy the scenery.

Sri Lanka has two monsoons pulling in opposite directions, so timing your beach leg to the right coast matters. Roughly, the west and south coasts — Bentota, Mirissa, Unawatuna — are lovely from December to March. The east coast, like Trincomalee and Pasikuda, is at its best from May to September. Get it backwards and you’re staring at grey seas and rain. Tell us your travel dates and we’ll steer the beach portion to whichever coast is dry and calm for you, while the hills and culture work most of the year.

Yes, honestly it is. The 2022 crisis is well behind now — fuel, electricity and essentials are back to normal, the long queues are gone, and tourism is not just running but genuinely welcoming, since visitors help the recovery. Many Bangalore families have travelled there comfortably over the past year, and it’s a short 1.5-hour hop from Bengaluru. As always, we keep an eye on ground conditions and plan sensible routes, but there’s no reason to hold back on Sri Lanka right now.

Yala has one of the highest leopard densities anywhere, so sightings are very possible — but never guaranteed, and anyone promising a certain leopard isn’t being straight with you. Your odds are best on an early-morning jeep, ideally February to July when the park is drier. If elephants are what your heart’s set on, Udawalawe nearby is more reliable for big herds. The real difference is the jeep and guide — a sharp tracker changes everything, so we book experienced ones rather than leaving it to chance at the gate.