From an RTC Member on the Sri Lanka 2026 trip.

The Adventure Begins

We left Ireland on 1st February and  home on 11th February, after an unforgettable adventure in Sri Lanka. I travelled with my sister and 37 other people, most of whom were complete strangers at the start. But honestly, it didn’t take long for that to change. As soon as we sat beside Joan and her husband Eamon, we knew they wouldn’t be strangers for long.

The flights were long, and the turnaround in Doha was tight, but we made it. Flying with Qatar Airways was a pleasure — one of the most relaxing and comfortable airlines I’ve ever used.

We knew going into the trip that the itinerary was packed, but we were well prepared for that. And it was worth every early start.

On the Road in Sri Lanka

Driving in Sri Lanka is… an experience 😄
Especially in towns, where lanes don’t seem to exist and traffic flows in what can only be described as organised chaos. That said, we had 100% confidence in our driver, Mohammad — he was exceptional.

Ranil, who helped out on the bus, made sure everyone was accounted for, helped with luggage, and constantly reminded us to stay hydrated. Our tour guide, Gayan, was outstanding. He shared so much history and insight about the sights we visited, gave us flexibility with timings, and it was clear how deeply he loves his country. That passion came through in everything he said. Just a brilliant tour guide!

Highlights of the Trip

One of the absolute highlights was our visit to Horton Plains. The views from World’s End were truly breathtaking. The walk is about 10km, and no matter what anyone tells you — it’s not easy. Doable? Yes. Easy? Definitely not. But so worth it.
We also had a fantastic day on safari. Our driver that day was a typical Sri Lankan driver — a bit wild at times — but I never once felt nervous. I was too caught up in the excitement. He had an incredible eye, pointing out wildlife we would have completely missed: crocodiles, native birds, and more. Sadly, we didn’t spot a leopard that day… but that’s wildlife for you.

The Little Things That Stay With You

Sometimes it’s the smaller moments that leave the biggest impression.
Seeing elephants casually walking along the main road.
Monkeys running wild — even appearing on our hotel balcony.
Spending an afternoon in a local village, where a lovely woman cooked us an incredible curry and rice lunch. And yes, a few beers were also available to help “hydrate” us 🍻.
We got to the village in a vehicle that looked like a lawnmower pulling a trailer, and we laughed the entire way.
Almost everyone we met spoke English to some degree, and every single person was friendly, welcoming, and kind.

Handy Tips if You’re Going

You can exchange money at the airport or use ATMs.
We were advised to use Bank of Ceylon or People’s Bank as they don’t incur charges.
Bring a raincoat — rain can appear out of nowhere.

The People Made the Trip

What really made this holiday so special were the 38 other travellers. Such a friendly, fun group — full of craic. Even for solo travellers (and we had quite a few), nobody was ever left feeling alone. There were plenty of laughs, great company, and more than a few singalongs — with Tom and Sharon taking centre stage as our resident singers, belting out the tunes and making sure nobody stayed quiet for long 🎶🍻
We were also lucky to have a photographer in the group who shared his stunning photos on our WhatsApp group. Huge thanks to Gary for allowing me to use some of his photos for this blog.

Final Thoughts

If anyone is thinking of doing this trip with RTC, I couldn’t recommend it more. Yes, it can be intense at times, with long days and a lot of bus travel — but we knew this in advance thanks to a Zoom call with Rory and the detailed itinerary.

I would 100% recommend RTC, and I would absolutely recommend Sri Lanka.
An incredible country, unforgettable experiences, and memories I’ll treasure forever.

Other Comments Members Have Made

"An absolutely amazing trip !! It was seamless from start to finish. All you had to do was show up 😄🤣"

"It was such a lovely trip, go go go but very enjoyable, met a great hunch of people also."

"So many memories it's hard to choose. I loved the climbing hikes to both mountains. Reaching the top of Pidurangala rock for the sunset was such an achievement 👍wow. It's worth the hike up, but not for everyone. I think we all went up there blind in thinking that it was just a hike!! But you really need to be fit. It is an arduous climb, and many turned back. So definitely highlight that!! The climb turned a lot of people off doing the Sigiriya rock climb the next morning. This turned out easier as there were steps and stairs to aid us. Such a pity as it is such an iconic world heritage site. May be if this climb was done on day 1 and the other day 2 would be better. Also an extra day here to settle in would have been nice. It felt a bit rushed. I loved the village experience afterwards. So authentic. We stopped off enroute to Galle to watch and partake in the Stilt fishing. I loved this. Clear sea waters to paddle in. Got lots of amazing photographs here. It wasn't on the programme but definitely worth including it going forward. I just loved everything and everywhere. Life time memories 🐘🐒🦬🐊🌴🌞 Monkeys. Elephants. Crocodiles. Buffalo's. Beautiful birds. Turtles. Waterfalls. Tea plantations. Spice garden with a lovely demonstration of cooking and tasting. Yummy. National Park Safari."

"We would never have experienced the amount of activities on our own. It was lovely being part of a group. And it was a lovely mixed age group who bonded very well.
A fully escorted trip is the way to go. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and very facilitating to our needs and requests.
Just seamless the whole way."