Reset search
Sri Lanka 2024/2025
  • Hen Tours

Sri Lanka 2024/2025

A 28-day adventure by Hen Tours Read more
FollowInsightsCalendarShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Trip start
    December 18, 2024
    Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    SYD to SIN

    December 18, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    After a long delay getting off the plane in Sydney, we managed to get through security and get some breakfast and coffee ☕️. We waited for our flight to Singapore. After a walk around, we boarded the flight and were on our way.Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    SIN to CMB

    December 18, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Once we arrived in Singapore we transferred terminals and found something to eat. We had a dosa. We then popped in the 7-11 for snacks and waited for the plane. We had a walk around the butterfly garden. After a mad scramble and fight, by everyone else, for space for hand luggage, the plane left and arrived in Sri Lanka 3.5 hours later.

    We got through immigration easily and got our bags before changing some money and getting some water.

    We found our driver and got our hotel transfer. At the hotel we had a few minor issues, like he wanted to keep our passports overnight but we quickly resolved those and made it to bed, around 26 hours after we left home.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler
    1

    Negombo to Anuradhapura

    December 19, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Not a great night’s sleep as we went to bed at getting up time but some sleep is better than nothing.

    We got up and had breakfast and then walked to the supermarket for some snacks. We packed everything up and checked out, leaving a bag behind. Our booked car drove us 4 hours north to Anuradhapura and our next hotel. We checked in and made it to our room.

    After some lunch and a cuppa we walked out and found a tuk tuk to take us to the train station where we collected our booked tickets.

    We then got a taxi to the Bodhi tree and looked around before going to the supermarket.

    We got some supplies and returned to the hotel. In the evening we had dinner in the hotel and an early night.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Anuradhapura ancient city

    December 20, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We had breakfast at the hotel and then our tuk tuk tour arrived. We headed to the ticket office and then around the sites of the ancient city.

    It was hot and the guide was dull. The moonstone with the animal carving was good and the stupas were big but having to remove your shoes when the floor was burning hot limited how much walking could be done. Get up and go early!

    Before our tour finished we got the driver to take us to the supermarket and we bought lunch. Back at the hotel we spent the afternoon relaxing. In the evening we had dinner at the hotel.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Anuradhapura to Sigariya

    December 21, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    After breakfast a car came and we drove to Sigariya. We were dropped off at our hotel, which wasn’t as expected.

    We were put in a room but the electricity wouldn’t stay on so we moved rooms. We then went to organise tours but the hotel wasn’t up to the challenge. Nor the challenge of lunch.

    Instead we walked a kilometre to the village and found a cafe for lunch. We then walked around to find a tour organiser and failed. Just as we gave up, a tuk tuk driver came and asked if we wanted to go somewhere. We got him to take us back to the hotel. On the way we managed to wrangle him into collecting us at 5am tomorrow to go up Sigariya.

    Back at the hotel, I got online and organised a few trips for the upcoming days. By this time we realised that the AC wasn’t working but we managed to find the times for breakfast and dinner.

    Instead the evening we went for the dinner, which I’d pre booked due to the remote location, to find a lack of veggie options, even though I let them know. After dinner we returned to the room sauna for an early night before our trip tomorrow.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Sigariya

    December 22, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Woken by a 4.15am alarm we got up a dressed, ready for our tuk tuk 🛺 driver who showed on time. It was a misty morning but he got us to the ticket office by about 5.15am.

    We queued up and paid for our tickets before starting the walk up the rock in the dark. After a long straight, gradual incline we started up the steps. There were quite a few people but I just went at a steady pace.

    After a while we reached the Lion’s paw terrace and had a rest before climbing the last steep section. As we crested the top I realised that everyone was getting up there for the sunrise and it was busy. I’d gone early to avoid the heat. Good job I hadn’t gone for the sunrise because it was misty and there was no sunrise in sight. A lot of disappointed people though!

    We spent a lot of time walking around on top, looking at the ruins of the ancient palace and the views that appeared through the mist.

    Eventually we started our descent and had views now that it was daylight. We spent a while at the Lion’s paw terrace having a good look at the scale of things before continuing down. Our descent took us past the mirror wall which had ancient inscriptions and then we climbed up a spiral staircase to see some cave paintings.

    The paintings were spectacular but we couldn’t take photos (not even sneakily). After spending some time looking at these we continued down and found our tuk tuk 🛺 driver who took us back to the hotel.

    After some coffee and a shower we went for breakfast and then spent the day relaxing in the hotel.

    At lunch time we walked to the village and went to a cafe before walking back.

    We spent the rest of the day relaxing and then ate dinner in the hotel.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Polannaruwa

    December 23, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    A slightly more leisurely start, going for breakfast at 7am, which wasn’t ready. Eventually they put it out and we were able to get ready for our day trip.

    We went to wait for our driver a little early but no one identified themselves. Shortly after 8am, the designated time, a guy got out of a car that had been there the whole time and asked if we were going to Polannaruwa. We hopped in to the first AC in days.

    The journey took about an hour and our first stop was the museum to buy the entrance ticket. The driver then took us around the various ancient ruins and we hopped in and out of the car, and our shoes, visiting them.

    After about 5 hours we started to head back. On the way we saw a wild elephant 🐘 at the side of the road. The driver dropped us in the village so we could get some lunch.

    After lunch we went to the shop and got some food for dinner then walked back to the hotel.

    When we got back in the room we found that the minor ant problem this morning was now a full scale termite issue, including an inch high tower.

    Just after the termite issue was temporarily dealt with the guy turned up asking to clean the room. Whilst he was doing this, we let him know the AC wasn’t working either and he had a go at fixing that.

    We spent the rest of the day relaxing in a cold 🥶 room and had our dinner in as well.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Minneriya, or not

    December 24, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We woke up around 4am to our daily power cut so not such a cool room now. We got ready for our safari in the dark and went to wait for the driver at 5.25am.

    We then waited and waited. And waited. I sent various messages to the travel agent and at 6am they replied to say they told us the trip was 6.30am. And then, after some prompting, realised they hadn’t.

    The driver eventually showed at 6.20 and we were on our way. Around 7 we stopped at the ticket office and headed in to the park. The wrong park. The travel agent had even checked which park and we confirmed. But we were in so we couldn’t change it.

    We spent about 3 hours driving through the eco park and saw quite a few elephants 🐘. Our driver then dropped us at the village so we could get breakfast.

    After breakfast we returned to the hotel and relaxed all day, having cheese sandwiches for lunch. In the evening we braved the restaurant. It was worse than we imagined. They had hardcore techno music blasting full volume, until the Spanish couple came and turned it off. Simon and I ordered 2 completely different meals, one chop suey and one vegetable plate with chips. We both got the same, with rice, not a chip in sight!

    When we got back to the room we found the termites breaking through again but just went to sleep.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Sigariya to Kandy

    December 25, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We woke early to find the termites had expanded their kingdom overnight and after a shower went for breakfast.

    Disappointing breakfast this morning because there was a tour group. The yummy potato curry and string hoppers had been replaced with pancakes.

    After breakfast we packed everything up and paid for the room. Our driver picked us up at 9am and we went to Dambulla caves temples. After climbing the steep stairs we walked around and visited each of the caves. We met our driver at the bottom and then he drove us to Kandy.

    He took us to a restaurant where we had lunch and then dropped us at our new hotel. This hotel definitely wasn’t going to have termite mounds coming through the floor. We got checked in, welcome drinks and wifi before going to our room which had great views over Kandy.

    After a cuppa we walked to the lake and found an ATM and supermarket to stock up on water. We then got a tuk tuk back up the hill and did laundry to try to get ourselves clean after the last few days.

    In the evening we had the hotel buffet for dinner before bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Kandy

    December 26, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    A lie in until 5.30am! Then up and dressed and we walked down to the Temple of the Tooth. We spent some time watching the people giving their offerings and then walked along the lake front before getting a tuk tuk back to the hotel.

    After a shower we went for breakfast and then relaxed for a while. In the early afternoon we walked back to town and went to the supermarket and shops. We got a tuk tuk 🛺 back and had some lunch at the hotel.

    In the afternoon we read and watched life from the balcony. In the evening we had dinner in the hotel.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

    December 27, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Up early and breakfast before trying to get transport to the train station. The hotel wanted $30 for a 5 minute journey, a car was a 20 minute wait so a tuk tuk it was . We made it to the station with time to spare and the train was late.

    Eventually we got underway on our 4 hour journey through the hills to Nanu Oya and then a Tuk tuk to Nuwara Eliya.

    We checked into the hotel and had a cuppa before setting out walking around the town. With the temperature at 20degrees, walking around was much more pleasant.

    We found a restaurant for lunch. After a long wait and not a delicious meal we continued walking around town. We found the supermarket and got some supplies before heading back to the hotel.

    In the early evening I went for a walk again and then sat in the fresh air for a while. We didn’t have dinner tonight, just an early night ready for an early start.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Horton Plains

    December 28, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We got up at 4am and got ready for our trek. The driver came at 5am and we drove up hill for an hour to reach Horton Plains NP. It was misty and raining but we paid the steep entrance fee and continued on our way.

    We reached the trail head car park and set off. We followed the path around the plains, which weren’t very flat, for 9km. The clouds lifted as we walked. We got back to the jeep and then had an hour’s drive back to the hotel.

    At the hotel the manager was disgruntled because we left before he gave us breakfast (he wasn’t around when he said he would be) so we sat and ate our breakfast then.

    We the did some laundry and had a shower before going for a walk around town.

    In the evening we walked down to the food court for dinner, finally a Sri Lankan meal! Then, back up the hill for bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Nuwara Eliya to Ella

    December 29, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    A slow start today with breakfast and then a tuk tuk to the train station at 11am. After a short wait the train arrived and we battled our way on board.

    I stood in the open door for the journey watching the scenery go by.

    We arrived in Ella around 3 and a tuk tuk arrived to take us to our hotel. This hotel was a bit down the back lanes but had great views.

    On arrival, we were shown to a room, which wasn’t what I booked so we had the fiasco of arguing to get the correct room type. Eventually he gave in and we were able to unpack.

    We walked to the town for water and pop before relaxing on our balcony. We then walked back to town and had dinner in a very busy very loud restaurant before heading back for bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Ella

    December 30, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Aa lazy day! After coffee on the balcony we went for breakfast. Our first egg hoppers. We then hung out in the room and on the balcony watching the scenery and reading.

    At lunchtime we walked to town and had some local food for lunch and then spent the afternoon hanging out in the room again.

    Just as we set out for dinner the rain came down so we sat and watched the scenery for a while longer.

    We decided to have a beer and pizza in the hotel to save the walk to town in the rain. We then sat on the balcony listening to the insects and frogs and watching a glow beetle 🪲.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Ella to Udawalawe

    December 31, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We got up and dressed and walked to the supermarket for some supplies. We then came back and had showers before breakfast.

    After breakfast we packed up and checked out and got our transfer. The driver was a bit dangerous, first bad driver we’ve had though. We arrived at our hotel and checked in and settled into our room.

    We had homemade lunch of plain noodles and peanuts 😬 and then spent the afternoon reading. At dusk, thousands of bee eaters flew past as they came in to roost.

    In the evening we went to the New Year Gala Dinner. We started with a drink in the bar and then went to the dining room for a buffet dinner. Just as they were offering the raffle, beauty queen contest and couples dancing, we left. Our excuse was we had a 6am safari, not that we’d travelled back in time 50 years!

    We did have an earlyish night and definitely missed the fireworks 🧨    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Udawalawe

    January 1 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    We got up early and headed out at 5.45am. We picked our breakfast up from reception and got in our safari vehicle.

    We spent about 4.5 hours driving around the park and saw lots of birds and animals. Elephants 🐘, spotted deer 🦌, buffalo 🦬, crocodiles 🐊, turtles 🐢, wild boar 🐗.

    Back at the hotel we had second breakfast and showers. At 2.30pm we headed out on Safari again. It rained a bit and we didn’t see as much but it was still good.

    After a quick freshen up we went for dinner and then bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Udawalawe to Yala

    January 2 in Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌧 23 °C

    A leisurely start for a change but still up early. After breakfast a car met us and drove us to the Yala Safari Camping Meeting Point aka, a spot at the side of the road. It was raining fairly heavily and there was no one to meet us. We sat a while in the car with the driver, feeling a little awkward and the next thing we knew our bag was being loaded into a jeep and we were climbing on board.

    The jeep set off down a wet, muddy path into the jungle. The journey took about 20 minutes and we arrived at our destination.
    We climbed out and into a restaurant pavilion. We were given welcome drinks and then sat for 2 hours. After 2 hours I asked if we could go to our room and we were escorted through the rain and mud, down a steep staircase, to our tent.

    We quickly sorted ourselves out and then headed back up the steps to find lunch was finally ready. It was tasty. After lunch we got back in the jeep and went on our first safari to Yala Block 5.

    We saw some birds and got back to camp at 7.15pm to be told dinner was in 30 minutes. After a quick change we sat down to dinner to be served fish. We reminded them, again, we were vegetarian and a few minutes later we were presented with over cooked French fries, a pile of rice and potatoes. We ate what we could and went to bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Yala Block 1

    January 3 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We got up at 4.15am and went up the stairs at 5am. After waiting half an hour, we got a cup of coffee and then we were under way with the full day safari.

    Due to the rain, some of the mud roads were very slippery and cars were getting bogged down. At one point our vehicle fell off the road but the driver had some skills and perseverance and got us out of the pickle.

    Our driver took us around the park and we saw all kinds of creatures. New creatures included python 🐍 and 5 leopards 🐆.

    We had lunch by the beach and in the evening we had the same meal problems.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Yala Block 1 and around

    January 4 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Up early again and pre safari tea at 5.15am. We headed out at 5.30am and went for a drive around Block 1. On the road in we saw another python. We didn’t really see a lot but there was a Leopard 🐆 in a tree. After about 3 hours we left the park and returned to camp to relax.

    At lunchtime we went back up the steep stairs and then waited and waited. Eventually lunch was served around 2.30pm. It was the same lunch as day 1 and we scoffed it all because we were so hungry.

    In the afternoon we hung out in the tent reading and doing a bit of laundry.

    In the evening we went for dinner, excepting the worst and were pleasantly surprised by a Sri Lankan meal. Finally going to bed full!    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Yala to Bundala

    January 5 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    A small lie in before climbing the stairs for tea. After the cuppa we got in a jeep and drove around 45 minutes to a temple. We spent some time looking around the temple and the view of Yala NP. The driver then took us around looking for wildlife before returning to the campground for breakfast.

    Breakfast was Sri Lankan and tasty. We then has showers and packed up before transferring to our roadside meeting point. After a short wait, the driver turned up and we headed the short distance to Bundala Flamingo Cottages.

    On arrival we were greeted by the driver’s wife and realised the driver was the owner. This was a cross between a B&B and a home stay. They showed us to our room and made sure we had everything we needed (a bed sheet and a plug adapter) and we spent a couple of hours in the room looking out over the marshes.

    At 3pm we met our jeep for our afternoon safari and, to our surprise, the owner came out, dressed in full camouflage gear, with binoculars, camera and bird guide, saying he was coming with us. He guided us around the marshes and we returned to the accommodation around 6.15pm.

    After a quick freshen up, we were called to dinner, which was egg Kothu prepared by the wife. We sat at the family table and ate dinner while looking at photos from our safari. After dinner we headed to our room and bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Bundala to Mirissa

    January 6 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We got up ready for coffee t 5.45am and then a morning safari. We saw lots of birds before heading back to the cottage for breakfast. We got egg hoppers and pancakes and then packed up ready for our transfer to Mirissa.

    The owner drove us the 2 hours across the south to our next hotel, at the beach. After we checked in we walked out to find some lunch. We found pizza and then went to the supermarket for water and supplies.

    Back at the hotel we relaxed in the heat of the day and in the evening we stayed in and had salad sandwiches for dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Mirissa

    January 7 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We got up before dawn and went for an early morning walk on the . We returned to hotel and had showers and breakfast. Around lunchtime we went to a restaurant on the beach and had vegetable rice before going back to the supermarket.

    In the afternoon we sheltered from the heat and in the evening went back to the same restaurant. I decided to risk a veggie burger with salad and it was good.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Mirissa Day 2

    January 8 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Another beach day… kind of. We went for our early morning walk on the beach and the coffee and breakfast.

    We had lunch in the room, finishing the sandwiches from the other day. In the afternoon we went for a swim in the pool and then dinner back in the same restaurant as yesterday.

    2 days at the beach is plenty for me.    Read more

  • Hen ToursSri Lanka 2024/2025Traveler

    Mirissa to Galle

    January 8 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Up before dawn again but no beach walk today. Simon went for an early swim instead. After breakfast, we spent the rest of the morning relaxing and packing before checking out at 11am.

    We tried to get an uber but there was no one available so we ended up paying for a hotel car. We had an hour’s drive along the scenic south coast to Galle fort.

    The driver found our hotel and after a short wait we checked in. After a quick turn around, I went out and got some lunch and then spent the afternoon exploring the fort town. It was very hot and humid so we came back to cool off around 4 but headed back out after 30 minutes.

    As the sun went down we stopped for a beer and then came back for showers. In the evening we went for some middle eastern food and then sat on the balcony before bed.    Read more

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice