Sri Lanka: an unexpected delight

Sri Lanka | Jun 21 - Jul 3, 2026

The Luxor Kirindi Ella Hotel was kind of in the middle of nowhere. We tried to walk to the nearest town, but it was a busy highway and not a safe or pleasant walk. The nearby town was mostly for locals and not very accessible for tourists. I would have preferred to stay closer to Ella town itself, even if it might have been more expensive. So, while the hotel itself was fine, the location was not ideal for us.

Athena Lake was a fantastic place to stay. It was really lovely and beautiful, and I was stunned by how beautiful all the places we stayed were. Athena Lake especially looked amazing and was a highlight among the accommodations. We were not looking for five-star places, more around three-star, but Athena Lake exceeded expectations.

The Elephant Safari in Minneriya National Park was a lovely experience. The jeep suspension was quite hard, making the ride a bit tough on the body, but the excitement of the safari made up for it. We had some previous safari experience in Africa, so we appreciated the drive around the plains. It was a great experience overall.

The Yala National Park Jeep Safari was an incredible experience. We were very lucky to see a leopard just three minutes before exiting the park, which was quite amazing. The day was very hot, which made animal sightings a bit challenging, but the strict park opening and closing times are understandable and good for conservation. Overall, it was a highlight of the trip and a memorable adventure.