I don't know the current cost, but I remember it is quite expensive. It would eliminate those long drives. Ask a local travel agent about the cost.

PS You could drive from Dambulla to the airport on your last day, so could cut the night in Colombo. Fewer stops is better. I assume you get it after midnight, therefore the night in Negombo.

Hello Kathie,
Thanks for the reply.
yes, we do get in around 5 am and the travel agency suggested Negombo. I was just thinking of cutting Dambulla and adding another night in hill country.

It depends on what you are looking for. We loved Dambulla, both the historic sites and the opportunity to see herds of elephants in the wild. In any case, I'd try to cut the number of stops with your children. A one night stop in Colombo seems like an easy one to cut unless you have a particular reason to visit.

I agree with Kathie's suggestion to cut Columbo - probably the least intersting capital city in Asia. Dambulla/Sirigiya should definitel remain on your itinerary. As an alternative to an air taxi, how about considering a train ride in the hill country? It takes about the same time as driving and the scenery and experience are fantastic. I am sur eyour kids would love the adventure. Click on my screen name foe my trip report for more details.

Hello Crellston and Kathie and thank you both
Ok, I guess you are right. How about this?
Negombo- 1 night at Jetwing Beach
I was thinking of skipping the night in Kandy. Is Kandy doable from hill country?
Hill country-3 nights in tea factory
Dambulla- 3 nights Heritance Kandalama
leave from there to airport. Is that the best order?
So is it ok to OK to skip Kandy, I can't really find a hotel that I like anyway. If I skip Kandy, can we still take that train?

Thanks

You can't really visit Kandy from the Hill Country. These places are far enough apart that it really isn't practical. But given your brief time in Sri Lanka and the fact that you are traveling with children, It is fine to make two stops: Hill Country and Dambulla. Plus, of course, your one night near the airport.

We drove from Negombo to Dambulla our first day and it wasn't a bad drive. Talk with your travel agent, as I don't know how long it would take to/from the Tea Factory. We did drive from Tea Trails to the airport our last day. It's a longer drive.

I would say that visiting Kandy is more easily done from Columbo than from the hill country but still possible from the hill country. We got the train from Kandy to Hatton and from there to the hill country by car. It would be a shame to miss Kandy as the Temple of the Tooth Ceremony is spectacular but, as Kathies says, with the time you have available, it is probably best to reduce the number of stops. Maybe you could ask your agent to rearrnge the trip so you start with a train from Columbo to the Hill country? We did a homestay in Kandy which was ok but there does seem to be a shortage of upmarket accomodation there.

The Jetwing hotel in Negombo is superb. We stayed at a smaller place along the beach but ate there several times. The breakfasts are fantastic and the location on a wide sandy beach is excellent (otherwise, Negombo did not impress).

There are some loverly, tine boutique places to stay in Kandy, though I don't know that they would work with children. We loved the Kandy House. Perhaps save Kandy for your next trip to Sri Lanka.

roughly $85 for a adult, it's a good scenic journey and much faster if you are in a rush.

esperanza, i don't know how your trip planning is going [for all i know you've been and come back] but people we met had done the air taxi from colombo airport to Kandy, and it was only £50 or so.

It's actually a flying boat so they land you on the lake!

it can cut out a lot of very tedious driving.

Flying boat? Do you mean pontoon plane? These are small planes with pontoons where the landing gear would be. The take off and land on water, usually lakes.

The price seems very reasonable.

Flying boat? Do you mean pontoon plane?>>

the website says it's a float plane:

http://www.srilankan.com/en/flying-with-us/airtaxi

Yes, pontoon plane = float plane

I expect the view on the flight would be spectacular! Maybe we'll have to give it a try next trip to Sri Lanka.

well, the people that we spoke to called it a flying boat but float plane it is.

we thought that it would be a very good way to get to Trincomalee.

Yes, I agree. I'll be interested in reports from people who take the air taxi.