We tend to find most travellers want to visit Sri Lanka during its peak season, between December and March. And that’s fab — it is a great time to go.

But whether it was luck, climate change or a bit of both, during my trip from 29th August to 14th September, I woke up to glorious sunshine every single day. And there were absolutely no crowds around. It was bliss.

As Sri Lanka starts to roll into the rainy season from October onwards, September can go either way with cloud and rainfall. That might well have been the case if I’d travelled a week later — but while I was there with my partner, we were basking in 30-degree warmth, and saw only the smallest sprinkle of evening rain in the Hill Country.

I was fully prepared to say hello to more than a few leeches on the Pekoe Trail, and had oversized leech socks ready for the encounter. But thanks to the last few months of dry weather, I ended up encountering some wonderful birds, a few lizards, and some amazing fellow ETG travellers — but not a single bloodsucking friend.

(One of the socks did sneak into my suitcase by accident, though — so now it’s doubling up as an ETG-inspired Christmas stocking).

Now, obviously, I’m not promising you won’t get any rain in September. But I can promise it’s a fantastic month for a holiday with fewer crowds and a lovely warm climate.

My second realisation: ETG experiences really are cracking.

I’ve always known how much thought and care goes into curating them — but actually being on the receiving end? Magic.

Here at ETG, we talk a lot about nudging people out of their comfort zones. But what does that actually mean?

Well, for my partner Patrick, it was swimming in a lake where you couldn’t see the bottom, with monkeys jumping overhead in the trees. For me? Forgetting my fear of spiders while taking an amazing outdoor shower built into a tree. (Thank you to The Mudhouse for both of those memorable moments).

Then there was the safari at Wilpattu National Park, where we stayed at the absolutely gorgeous Thamaravila. We saw the big three — a leopard, a few elephants, and the elusive sloth bear. That safari thrill, without the crowds and convoys you get in places like the Masai Mara? Exhilarating.

And one of our favourites? A classic ETG signature experience: a private boat trip with a lakeside view of both Sigiriya and Pidurangala Rock. We glided through giant waterlilies, sipped fresh coconut water, and took in two iconic sights from a perspective most people never get to see. It felt special.

My third realisation: Not having to think is bliss.

You’d think that after 10 years working in travel I’d be pretty good at planning a trip. But you’d be wrong. I’m very much a behind-the-scenes gal. I can write a decent blog, and project-manage a new website (have you seen it, by the way?). But a long-haul holiday with multiple stops? No chance.

I don’t have the time (did I mention the website project?) or the in-depth, expert knowledge of my wonderful Travel Team colleagues. So, I needed their guidance…

The conversation went something like this:

Me: “Help. I want to go to Sri Lanka but I’ve no idea where to start. Also, I want it to be a surprise for my partner.”

Lynsey: “Right. Sit down.”

From there, Lynsey took the reins, managing to tease out exactly what we like (and don’t like), and designed our bespoke trip — sorting all the logistics too, which was a godsend.

Fast-forward to touching down in Sri Lanka: we’re met at the airport by our brilliant chauffeur-guide, Nalaka. From that moment on, we didn’t have to think about a single thing except what time to go down to breakfast each morning before meeting him for our next adventure.

Normally when I travel, evenings are spent wrestling with Google Maps, trying to work out activities for the next day or how on earth to get from A to B.

On an ETG trip? The biggest decisions were: what time do we fancy eating dinner, and did I want papaya, melon, banana — or all three — at breakfast?

Bliss.

My final realisation? I completely get why so many ETG travellers return to Sri Lanka again and again.

I’m already planning my next trip for 2026…

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