Experience Sri Lanka From The Sky: A Unique Adventure with Cinnamon Air’s Seaplane

In today’s world of travel, seeking unique, exclusive, and adventurous experiences has become a passion for many. We believe we’ve discovered one of the most unforgettable experiences Sri Lanka has to offer; one that combines all three elements.

Sri Lanka is renowned for its lush landscapes, palm trees, expansive tea plantations and natural reserves; and one of the best ways to appreciate the natural wonders of Sri Lanka is by air. Few get to experience the perspective from a small plane high above the vibrant country… and to make it more adventurous, you can experience all of this from a seaplane after a lake take-off.

Cinnamon Air, Sri Lanka's exclusive domestic airline and luxury air taxi service, was far more than a journey of A to B for us. Our experience aboard their 8-seat seaplane was truly exceptional, taking off from Koggala Lake and landing at Colombo International was an adventure we will remember forever. The views were breath-taking and we’ve been told the scenery is even better during the Castlereagh Reservoir take-off and landing.

Read on to learn more about this one-of-a-kind experience in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

More Than Just Travel: Exclusivity

We were used to getting the trains, buses and even driving our tuk-tuk while exploring Sri Lanka, but our flight with Cinnamon Air was something special. If you’re looking for a way to enhance your journey, perhaps for a special occasion, or a unique adventure that’s hard to replicate anywhere else, then a chartered flight or domestic journey is the perfect addition to your Sri Lankan getaway. For us Cinnamon Air was all about the scenic views of Sri Lanka, and the exciting seaplane experience.

Water Landings and Take-Offs: The Adventure

Cinnamon Air is the only airline to use seaplanes in Sri Lanka, making this experience extra special. For us, the flight itself was an adventure! Having never been on a seaplane or a plane smaller than 80 seats we were beyond excited to fly with Cinnamon Air. Through our blog we aim to expand our experiences and comfort zones, something we hope we can extend to our readers. Taking off and landing in such a small plane definitely is something we think is worth experiencing, and a bonus if it’s on water!

From start to finish we were in awe; the exhilarating sensation of the seaplane taking off, skimming the water’s surface, to the breath taking aerial views that appeared out of every window.

Water take-off window view over Koggala Lake

Transforming Your Travel: Unique

Cinnamon Air is a service you can’t get everywhere. Being the only company with seaplanes in the country and flying an amphibious plane (that can land on sea and water) it takes a top spot in our unique adventures in Sri Lanka. A plane suspended above water before gently gliding on the surface is a magical sight and one not many get to experience.

View over Sri Lanka on a Cinnamon Air flight. Green fields and palm trees below

Perfect For A Special Occasion

Whether it’s a honeymoon, a birthday, or a celebration, Cinnamon Air elevates these moments into something truly unique. Partaking in a scenic flight over a landscape we fell in love with was a great way to mark the end of our 8-month backpacking trip.

Mike sat looking out of the private Cinnamon Air flight

Our Sea Plane Experience Flying With Cinnamon Air in Sri Lanka

We headed down to Koggala Lake, an aerodrome run by the Sri Lanka Air Force to be greeted by Cinnamon Air. Gone were the normal stresses of an airport, crowded terminals, long queues and we were shown straight to the jetty.

Kate and Mike smiling in the back of the plane with a view out the cockpit to blue skies and clouds

Effortlessly, the Cessna Grand Caravan Plane touched down on the lake and headed towards us, ready to whisk us away. Moments later we boarded the aircraft and were given a safety briefing before gliding up off the water and into the skies of Sri Lanka. We were so intrigued by the cockpit, we could have watched it all day but instead our eyes were drawn to the landscapes not too far below. The vibrant greens and turquoise blues really showed off what Sri Lanka is all about, we can only imagine how beautiful a scenic flight around Sigiriya would be like or a water landing on Castlereagh!

After a short 30 minutes we came in to land at the international airport, from lake to tarmac, an experience we will never forget and one we will recommend to anyone visiting Sri Lanka.

Cockpit view from the pilots seat in the only hybrid land & water landing plane in Sri Lanka

Why Choose Cinnamon Air?

The only domestic airline with 15 destinations around Sri Lanka and the only airline operating seaplanes, Cinnamon Air is not only a luxury airline but also a company offering scenic flights for those looking for a unique experience. The seaplane offers an experience that can’t be replicated elsewhere in Sri Lanka.

If you’re looking for a quick, luxury transfer to your hotel Cinnamon Air is perfect, but we also think they should be considered as an adventure that can be sought out by people wanting to experience water landings and take-offs or who want to experience aerial views of Sri Lanka.

How to Embark on Your Own Unique Experience with Cinnamon Air

Firstly, choose your destination, this should be done carefully so you get the best views, Castlereagh Reservoir is a highlight and Koggala Lake is beautiful. You could also plan a chartered scenic flight, for this we would recommend Sigiriya.

Head over to their website to explore destinations and book your custom itinerary. We love that they offer domestic flights as well as chartered flights, making their experience more accessible to travellers like us.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're looking to speed up the lengthy drive from Sigiriya to the south coast to try and spot some Blue Whales, or you're looking for a unique experience gliding over the raw nature Sri Lanka has to offer, Cinnamon Air has the perfect flight for you.

Having never flown in such a small plane before, we can confirm it's as fun as it looks! Especially the water take-offs and landings such as Castlereagh Reservoir which offers some of the best views in all of Sri Lanka. Similarly to a helicopter ride in America, we think a seaplane experience should be on everyone's bucket list.

Kate walking down Cinnamon Air Seaplanes steps

Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!

*Some links in this article are affiliate meaning we may earn a small commission with no extra cost to you! It helps grow the blog so thank you for supporting us. Also a huge thank you to Cinnamon Air for having us for on our incredible flight!