Happy New Year!
Everyone who works in the corporate world knows that the end of the year typically means manic days and a lot of deadlines centred around December 31st. So after a whole month of what felt like a constant marathon, I decided one day in the first week of January that I needed to book a solo trip somewhere – anywhere close to Dubai would do, as long as I could rejuvenate, do yoga, meditate and plan my “vision” for the new year. I don’t know why Sri Lanka came to my mind right away but it did, and it was perfect because it is only a short four hour flight from Dubai. Importantly for a solo female traveller, it is known to be relatively safe and also a great place to meet people as it is a haven for travellers looking to explore the country’s beautiful surroundings and culture.
My last minute decision to visit Sri Lanka solo turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had a restful trip that really allowed me to gain focus on my priorities for the new year, but I also had time to explore and experience the beauty of southern Sri-lanka. I am working on a vlog of the trip and some guides, but in the meantime, here are some of the highlights!
Location Location Location!
I chose Southern Sri Lanka because I have a few friends who have travelled there solo for surfing and have talked about how beautiful the coast is. One of them recommended Koggala as it is a coastal village with a beach, river and natural lake. Since the focus of my trip was to chill out, I didn’t want any where too touristy and Koggola turned out to be just right. Close enough to the nearest town (40 minutes in a car to Galle) but peaceful enough for you to feel like the only person around for miles! Perfect vibe for getting lost in a book and relaxing.
Incredible natural beauty
Nothing feels more serene than waking up to the sound of chirping birds and the view of a glorious sunrise.
Animals and bugs are everywhere, but you get used to them. I even saw flying peacocks! I didn’t know they could do that!
A luxurious retreat
The best part was undoubtedly my hotel – Tri. It is a luxury eco-hotel right by Koggala lake and it is now one of my most cherished hotel experiences.
I mean, look at THAT VIEW. Isn’t that the most beautiful sunrise you have ever seen? Tri deserves a post of its own, so that is coming up soon!
Charm
There is something about Sri Lanka that makes you want to slow down, maybe it is the steady pace of the fishermen rowing down the lake or the fact that service tends to take a while, either way sometimes it felt like time stood still and my holiday was never ending (who doesn’t like that feeling!).
The locals were also generally friendly, and very respectful of personal space which is something I was pleased to note being a solo female traveller! I loved cycling through the paddy fields in our local village and receiving huge beaming smiles from the kids watching me struggle to to stay upright on my mountain bike haha!
Culture and Heritage
Even though my trip was primarily centred around relaxing and exploring the local village around Tri, I find it difficult to travel without doing anything particularly cultural so on my last day I took a trip into Galle to check out the old fort and learn about the colonial part of Sri Lanka’s history. Galle Fort is a UNESCO Heritage site which was initially built by the Portuguese in 1588. These days it is full of quaint shops nestled in narrow streets, and perhaps it is more commercial than cultural, but it is still a very nice way to spend an afternoon.
I didn’t stick around for sunset as I had a flight to catch, but I hear the views are spectacular.
More to come from Sri Lanka especially my review of Tri Hotel but in the meantime, follow me on Instagram to watch the highlights of my trip on my page! Do you have any questions about Solo travel? If so, comment below as I am working on a post on that topic!
