Sri Lanka Intense: Local living and natural bliss

Your bags are packed, your playlist is on point and you're bursting with excitement. As you stand at the gate, your heart pounds and you can hardly wait – 'Sri Lanka, here I come!' The plane takes off, you lean back, close your eyes and your imagination instantly starts running wild. Rustling palm trees, temple vibes and fragrant street food... it's still a dream, but it's all about to get real!

With a quick jolt, your plane touches down, and you grab your suitcase. You're finally here! After landing, you're welcomed by a driver who takes you from the airport to your hotel.

Loud, colourful and chaotic – you're right in the middle of the bustling capital! After checking into your hotel, you head right out and start exploring. The first must-see on your list: the Gangaramaya Temple (optional, payable on site). Hundreds of Buddha statues accompany you on your way through the huge temple, which is primarily known for its beautiful lake temple. Then you're off to the next highlight, the World Trade Center, two 500-foot-high towers that you definitely already spotted some time ago. The centre makes for quite the picture, but the ultimate eye-catcher in your gallery later on is sure to be the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque. The red and white building is simply stunning! And if all that sightseeing gets your stomach grumbling, that means it's high time to try the famous kottu or curry rice. Watch out though; it's spicy!

Time for an adventure! Over bumpy roads, you head from the bustling streets of Colombo to Sri Lanka's largest nature reserve. Along the way, you look excitedly out the window and see farmers in their fields, vendors behind roadside stalls selling fresh fruit and children playing and happily waving at you. And then you're finally there.  As soon as you arrive at your accommodation, you're amazed. Your jungle tent is right in the middle of nature! The gentle babbling of the stream, the soft rustling of the leaves in the wind and the lush, surrounding greenery – it doesn't get more authentic than this! You put down your luggage and start exploring the area. Loud calls pierce the silence of the camp. Was that a monkey? Or was it maybe one of the many birds that call the park home? You make yourself comfortable under a tree and listen to the sounds of nature in sheer delight before the sun slowly disappears behind the canopy and you fall asleep to the soundtrack of the wilderness. 

The birds are chirping, the bushes are rustling and you feel wide awake in a flash. You're right in the middle of the Sri Lankan wilderness – you could start every day like this! The park has only been open to tourists since 2010 and is still considered a real insider travel tip. Take a leisurely stroll through the camp's grounds and enjoy the peace and quiet that surrounds you. And if you'd like to take a closer look at your animal neighbours, go on a game drive through the grounds in an open-top off-roader and stay on the lookout for elephants and leopards (optional, payable on site). Who knows, you might even spot a rare sloth bear! If you prefer a more relaxed approach, then just make yourself comfortable in one of the camp's hammocks, sway gently back and forth, feel the warm sun on your skin and keep your eyes peeled for animals roaming through the dense greenery.