unforgettable

JUST one hour into our safari, we’ve hit the jackpot!

“Look, you can just make out its outline,” our guide Dinuka shouts, as he passes his binoculars to me and my boyfriend Andy.

Standing on a grass bank surrounded by water, a majestic elephant comes into focus.

As we approach to get a better look, I feel like I’ve just stepped into a David Attenborough documentary.

This reservoir in Sri Lanka’s Gal Oya Valley National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife – we also spot crocodiles basking in the water, a herd of buffalo, eagles and a host of other birds.

With only four tourist boats allowed out on the water at a time, it feels very much like the nature in this national park is being protected.

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And from colonial cities to mountainous tea plantations, vast jungles and sandy beaches, everywhere we turn on this stunning island, there’s wonder to behold.

Valley High

We begin our trip in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second-largest city and home to nearly 1.5 million people, plus a riot of cars, buses, tuk-tuks and scooters.

Mountbatten Bungalow, a 15-minute drive away from the bustle, was the hillside hideaway of Lord Louis Mountbatten during WW2 and is steeped in history.

It’s also an oasis of calm, with vistas of rolling hills, space for just 26 guests, Victorian trinkets and a swanky infinity pool overlooking the valley.

High tea, £12, is served on the deck and it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever eaten a cucumber sandwich.

Double rooms here cost from £143 B&B.

Our driver, Nuwan, recommends the nearby Temple Of The Sacred Tooth Relic, as a must-see, and we’re so glad we take his advice.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s well worth the £5 entry fee as we look on in awe at the intricate Kandyan architecture and one of the holiest shrines in Buddhism, which houses the canine tooth of Gautama Buddha (Sridaladamaligawa.lk).

Tranquili-tea

Meanwhile, sitting amid marvellous mountains a two-hour drive away, the Tea & Experience Factory is a hotel unlike any I’ve stayed in before.

With the clouds rolling in, the surroundings are hauntingly atmospheric and, as the name suggests, this is a former tea factory built in the 1800s.

This stylish sleepover still has a small working factory showing how tea is produced, and from picking the leaves to seeing them being ground down in the various machines still in operation, it’s fascinating to find out how our daily cuppa is created.

The hotel also offers free guided waterfall treks with plenty of gorgeous photo stops in the lush landscape.

Double rooms cost from £114 B&B.

Jungle is Massive

Our favourite stop is still to come.

Three days spent at Wild Glamping Gal Oya is nothing short of a dream, and is where we spot the Sri Lankan elephant on our boat safari, which costs £85 per person.

Tents here have air-con, electrical sockets, huge comfy beds and alfresco bathrooms with waterfall showers.

A swimming pool sits in the middle of the camp with a breathtaking mountain backdrop – and with no phone reception, we fully embrace off-grid living.

The Veddas, one of Sri Lanka’s last remaining indigenous groups, work closely with the camp.

The first-known aboriginal people of the country, they were once forest dwellers, foraging, hunting and living in the jungle and caves.

These days, they make up less than 1% of Sri Lanka’s population and are a dying community who wish to teach others about how they live.

Gunabandilaaththo has a very simple life and shows us the ways in which his ancestors used to live, from mud huts to rustling up a traditional meal.

It’s an eye-opening two hours, £30 per couple, and a real honour to learn about his culture.

That night, we indulge in a Sri Lankan lamb curry and rice, £8, with creamy green beans, dal and coconut sambal, and chat about all we’ve learned.

Glamping tents at Gal Oya cost from £191 B&B.

Girl Power

Our last stop takes us to Amba Yaalu, set on the tranquil banks of the Kandalama Lake and the country’s first hotel fully managed and staffed by women.

Sitting next to a mango farm, rooms here look out over a glorious reservoir and the ancient Pidurangala Rock, which from some angles, resembles a person lying down.

Each room comes with an outdoor Jacuzzi bath to take in the views while soaking in bubbles.

Stays here cost from £121 B&B.

Sigiriya (also known as Lion Rock), is half an hour’s drive away and famous for its 200m-high granite column topped with the ruins of a 5th-century royal palace.

It’s a two-hour steep climb, but the views at the top are worth it.

Entry costs £26 (Sigiriyafortress.com).

Once back down on more solid ground, it’s the perfect time to reward ourselves with a Lion Beer, £2.50, from a street vendor and watch as the sun sets on an adventure just as golden.

The stunning Swiss Cottage looks like it’s been plucked from a fairy tale and opens to the public from 12 March 2026 in a charming Irish village near historic Cahir Castle

Nestled just beyond a quaint historic Irish village sits a stunning cottage that appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a storybook – and visitors are welcome to step inside.

The Swiss Cottage is what’s known as a cottage orné, meaning it’s an exquisitely crafted small retreat that served the neighbouring estate.

Constructed in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glengall, it functioned as a charming rural picnic destination, a meeting point for the local hunt, or simply a tranquil escape from everyday life.

According to Heritage Ireland, it’s thought to have been the work of renowned Regency architect John Nash.

The Swiss Cottage most likely earned its name due to its striking resemblance to an Alpine dwelling, reports the Irish Mirror.

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But the magic doesn’t stop at the façade. Inside, a winding spiral staircase leads visitors through elegantly appointed rooms.

The walls feature wallpaper that offers a glimpse into the past. This design was painstakingly recreated during the cottage’s 1980 restoration.

The stunning interior was the vision of celebrated fashion designer Sybil Connolly, who oversaw the entire décor.

One delighted Trip Advisor user said they “still can’t stop thinking about this place.”

They added: “When we reached Swiss Cottage after a walk through the green park, I felt like I was caught in a fairy tale.

“Everything around us froze, and a house from another era opened up to us — romantic, mysterious, magical. I’ve never seen that before.

“This wave-shaped straw ceiling, carved wooden parts, windows of all shapes, as if specially made for dreams… and inside is a real masterpiece!”.

“Rare Parisian wallpaper, spiral staircase, fine details. Everything says beauty for beauty’s sake. It’s not just architecture — it’s mood.

“A place where you want to sit with a cup of tea on the veranda and just watch the leaves rustle. I think I left a piece of my soul there. A true miracle that cannot be forgotten.”

The cottage opens its doors to visitors from 12 March 2026. For those wanting to extend their visit, nearby Cahir Castle makes an excellent addition to the itinerary.

This 13th-century fortress stands as one of Ireland’s finest preserved medieval castles. Perched dramatically on rocky outcrops beside the River Suir, it has featured as a filming location for numerous historical productions.

The castle provided the setting for acclaimed period dramas including Excalibur and The Tudors, which starred Henry Cavill.

Previously the home of the powerful Butler dynasty, Heritage Ireland notes that this prominent Anglo-Norman family occupied the castle for almost 600 years following James Butler, the 3rd Earl of Ormond, receiving it in 1375.

The fortress was considered impregnable, offering the Butlers protection against all dangers.

Yet this belief was shattered in 1599 when the Earl of Essex mounted a devastating military assault on the stronghold.