Sri Lanka for 14-21 days
Jan 28th, 2012, 06:21 AM
#1
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Sri Lanka for 14-21 days
My wife and I would like to go to Sri Lanka around mid April for two weeks to twenty one days, beginning in Colombo, then tour for ten days to two weeks, then spend a week on the best beach in the Southwest. Would very much appreciate advice on itinerary and hotels. We like comfort but not to the exclusion of missing the major sights. Thanks in advance. Barry Lando.
Jan 28th, 2012, 08:01 AM
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Do you have a guidebook yet? I'd suggest you start with a guidebook. I used Lonely Planet when I went a few years ago.
Another resource for you are some of the travel agencies specializing in Sri Lanka. Even if you don't use an agency to book for you, they often have good suggested itineraries. We used Boutique Sri Lanka and they did an excellent job for us.
And a third resource - read the Sri Lanka trip reports here. Go to the top of the page and choose Sri Lanka, and a list of posts about Sri Lanka will appear. There have been quite a few very detailed reports. Read them and see what appeals to you.
I would be impossible for any of us to suggest an itinerary for you. We don't know what you are interested in or what you budget is.
BTW, Sri Lanka has the best collection of boutique hotel in the world, IMO. You can live in luxury, indeed, and not miss any of the highlights.
Another resource for you are some of the travel agencies specializing in Sri Lanka. Even if you don't use an agency to book for you, they often have good suggested itineraries. We used Boutique Sri Lanka and they did an excellent job for us.
And a third resource - read the Sri Lanka trip reports here. Go to the top of the page and choose Sri Lanka, and a list of posts about Sri Lanka will appear. There have been quite a few very detailed reports. Read them and see what appeals to you.
I would be impossible for any of us to suggest an itinerary for you. We don't know what you are interested in or what you budget is.
BTW, Sri Lanka has the best collection of boutique hotel in the world, IMO. You can live in luxury, indeed, and not miss any of the highlights.
Jan 28th, 2012, 09:47 AM
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or go here:
http://www.reddottours.com/
On the left of the page is a little box that says 'Sri Lanka tours' Click there and you'll find a kazillion itineraries for a kazillion different types of travelers.
No, you don't have to book with them, just steal their itineraries. You'll doubtless end up doing exactly what every first-time tourist does in Sri Lanka.
There are no 'best beaches' in Sri Lanka. Either you'll die in the sun or you'll die in the water - you'll be eaten alive by the 'beach boys' or become a tourist attraction for the the locals. Which is why hotels have pools.
Oh, and having seen just what some of the locals <i>do</i> on the beaches, I'd be verrry careful where you sit.
http://www.reddottours.com/
On the left of the page is a little box that says 'Sri Lanka tours' Click there and you'll find a kazillion itineraries for a kazillion different types of travelers.
No, you don't have to book with them, just steal their itineraries. You'll doubtless end up doing exactly what every first-time tourist does in Sri Lanka.
There are no 'best beaches' in Sri Lanka. Either you'll die in the sun or you'll die in the water - you'll be eaten alive by the 'beach boys' or become a tourist attraction for the the locals. Which is why hotels have pools.
Oh, and having seen just what some of the locals <i>do</i> on the beaches, I'd be verrry careful where you sit.
Feb 1st, 2012, 01:41 AM
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Agree about the beaches dogster. Heck we couldn't even lounge in the hammocks in the hotel's yard without people standing the fence.
My two cents, is decide on the places you would like to see and then find out if it's monsoon season during that time on that part of the island. Might hamper some of your sightseeing or beach time.
My two cents, is decide on the places you would like to see and then find out if it's monsoon season during that time on that part of the island. Might hamper some of your sightseeing or beach time.
Feb 27th, 2012, 03:59 PM
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Hi barrylando!
We recently spent some time in Sri Lanka travelling from Colombo area (temples, etc) to Kandy to tea country-then headed to Maldives for the beach side of things. About an hour flight from Colombo.
Just an idea. Not sure what "beach boys" are but there were none in Maldives =)
We recently spent some time in Sri Lanka travelling from Colombo area (temples, etc) to Kandy to tea country-then headed to Maldives for the beach side of things. About an hour flight from Colombo.
Just an idea. Not sure what "beach boys" are but there were none in Maldives =)
Feb 28th, 2012, 12:22 AM
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Here is a link to my trip report on a month in SL. We got lazy and used a tour operator but would not do so again. Better to find a reliable guide /driver and DIY using some of the pre-packaged tours as a basic out line. Highlights for me were climbing Adams Peak and the train trips taken in the tea country. A link to my TR:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-and-curry.cfm
We mainly took our beach time at Goyambokka, Tangalle & Merrisa - apart from a few cows on the beach at dawn v. clean and relatively quiet beaches.
Some photos http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...8869/tpod.html
We also stayed in Weligama - again a quiet beach but there was a sewage pipe discharging its contents directly onto the beach! Don't swim there! Nice town though with some great eating places.
The only place we experienced any hassle was in Columbo where taxi touts were a real PITA.
Do check the weather out in April as different parts of the country experience different monsoon seasons. We were there in April when it was supposed to be dry but we were up to our knees in flood water for the first couple of weeks.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-and-curry.cfm
We mainly took our beach time at Goyambokka, Tangalle & Merrisa - apart from a few cows on the beach at dawn v. clean and relatively quiet beaches.
Some photos http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...8869/tpod.html
We also stayed in Weligama - again a quiet beach but there was a sewage pipe discharging its contents directly onto the beach! Don't swim there! Nice town though with some great eating places.
The only place we experienced any hassle was in Columbo where taxi touts were a real PITA.
Do check the weather out in April as different parts of the country experience different monsoon seasons. We were there in April when it was supposed to be dry but we were up to our knees in flood water for the first couple of weeks.
Apr 7th, 2012, 01:03 AM
#7
You'll doubtless end up doing exactly what every first-time tourist does in Sri Lanka. >>
ok, dogster, I'll bite. as a prospective first time visitor to Sri lanka, what is it that I'll end up doing, and what would you suggest that I could miss out?
[BTW i am planning a 14 day trip in Sept/oct '12 to co-incide with the T20 cricket tournament so that's probably one thing already that most 1st timers don't do!]
ok, dogster, I'll bite. as a prospective first time visitor to Sri lanka, what is it that I'll end up doing, and what would you suggest that I could miss out?
[BTW i am planning a 14 day trip in Sept/oct '12 to co-incide with the T20 cricket tournament so that's probably one thing already that most 1st timers don't do!]
