Sri Lanka specialist Nikki Diamond

We speak to Nikki Diamond, a travel advisor at FBI Travel, for insider tips on visiting Sri Lanka.

Luxury Travel: What advantages will Luxury Travel readers enjoy when booking their Sri Lanka holiday with you?

Nikki Diamond: We have extremely strong partnerships with the best in the business, so can offer clients diverse and creative itineraries and can often provide benefits such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts and more. We ensure that your itinerary includes tours that have in-depth knowledge of Sri Lanka. We don’t just book your travel arrangements – we create your itinerary in a way that is right for you, that offers you flexibility and that will ensure you have a special and memorable experience.

LT: Is Sri Lanka a good family destination?

ND: It’s a great destination for families. It has amazing wildlife, and breathtaking mountains and landscapes to explore. For those families looking to completely unwind, Sri Lanka has a stunning coastline with family-focused hotels offering excellent facilities to keep the kids entertained. At Udawalawe National Park, you can watch elephants in their natural habitat and even get to feed the baby elephants. You can learn the traditional Kandyan dance or head to the beaches to swim with turtles.

LT: What does Sri Lanka offer luxury travellers?

ND: One of the best things about Sri Lanka is that, due to its small size, you are never far from anything. You can spend the morning in the hills, the afternoon at an ancient Buddhist temple, and by the time the evening rolls around you can be eating seafood on the beach.

LT: Do you have any favourite Sri Lankan hotels?

ND: Ceylon Tea Trails: They have a collection of luxuriously restored colonial guesthouses with period furnishings and butler service. Rooms have views of the mountains and tea fields, there’s gourmet cuisine and a range of activities.
Chena Huts: Located in Yala National Park, they combine luxury accommodation with unspoilt nature – with rooms overlooking the beach you may even get to watch sea turtles emerge from the ocean as they make their way up the beach to lay their eggs. Or, you might get to spot elephants wandering down onto the beach from the jungle to play in the surf. And if you’re extremely lucky you may even glimpse a leopard.
The Kandy House: Built in 1804, this is a boutique hotel with colonial architecture and lots of character – it used to be the home of a governor. Uniquely designed rooms overlook the pool with views of the rice fields.

LT: Can you give us an insider tip on travelling in Sri Lanka?

ND: Pace yourself. It is not necessary to do everything in one trip; instead, do a few things well. You can always come back and do something completely different from your first trip. fbitravel.com.au