trebex

1. Can you recommend some good hikes / waterfalls close to Kandy? I have checked the books and online, but it is hard to tell what is actually close by.

2. It looks like a bus or train from Colombo to Ella is 8-9 hours, but by car would only take 3 hours. Is that correct?

3. Which beach town in the south or west is safe for swimming, has some good food and lodging options and is not too crowded?

tripplanner001

The type of hiking you are looking for can be found south of Kandy, in Tea Country, Horton Plains National Park, and the areas around Ella. To participate you are better off to base yourself in Nuwara Eliya and in Ella rather than in Kandy. From Kandy, you can do a loop around Embekke, Lankatilaka, and Gadalaldeniya, three medieval temples outside of the city that are well worth visiting, but it's not the type of hike you're probably thinking about.

Colombo to Ella is about 3-4 hours. I don't know where you read 8-9 hours, but it does not seem right to me, by any means of transportation. It may be years ago.

I have no experience on the beach towns, but I'm sure someone else can speak to your question there.

trebex

Thank you. Even by bus or train is is only 3-4 hours from Colombo to Ella? In all the guide books it seems like any bus or train would go through Kandy and Nuwara Eliya and would take much longer.

tripplanner001

Sorry, I misread your post. Colombo to Kandy is about 3 hours by train and Kandy to Ella by train is about 5 hours, so a total of 8-9 hours seems right. By road, it's about 5 hours as you go around the southern coast rather than wind through the hills.

Sarah_Smith

Hi there!

Unawatuna beach is a good place for swimming. When are you planning to visit these places? If you are going around the holiday season, then any beach will be crowded.
For the second question, public transport takes longer. Why not hire a car?

annhig

For the second question, public transport takes longer. Why not hire a car?>>

why not hire a car is easy - the road conditions are unbelievable.

however, hiring a car and a driver is easy and cheap, and can be combined with a train journey in the hill country.

CounterClifton

<i>
however, hiring a car and a driver is easy and cheap, and can be combined with a train journey in the hill country.</i>

This.

There are places it's just easier by car. Particularly trying to get from Nuwara Eliya or Ella to the southern beaches. But the train ride from Kandy to N.E. is one I'm glad I took. A beautiful way to see the countryside. Our driver seemed to be quite accustomed to the request to drop us at a station (the one leaving from Kandy seems easier done from the station well outside the city) and then pick us up in NE. (mind, we had a couple nights stay halfway along the trip and that DID seem to confuse the in-country travel agents)

welltraveledbrit

We also had the driver drop us off and pick us up so that we could experience the train ride. I really enjoyed the train though it took a LONG time! We went from Gampola (outside Kandy )to Ella. We were in Gampolal staying at a wonderful heritage hotel we loved- Elptiya Walauwa which I really recommend if you want to step back in time, truly memorable.
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2014/...l-gampola.html

Lots more blog posts on Sri Lanka for anyone who is interested. http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/search/label/Sri%20Lanka

thursdaysd

Unawaruna was definitely crowded - and touristy - when I was there in Feb 2011. If I wanted a quiet beach I would look east and north.

annhig

thanks for the blog link, wtb. our Sri lanka trip was slightly more up market [I find it easier when going to somewhere so "foreign" to us for the first time] but many of your recommendations look great for what I hope will soon be a second trip. I would feel a lot happier using booking.com than I did last time and I agree that the reviews are pretty reliable. and I agree about the food - just wonderful.

welltraveledbrit

Annhig - glad it might be useful

crellston

We stayed at a few beach locations as we travelled along the south coast. Goyambokka was a quiet, very pretty beach with just a few guesthouses and simple fish restaurants. Mirrissa was again very pretty, lots of surf as I recall and a bit busier. We also spent some time in Weligama which has a lovely beach but I wouldnt dream of swimming anywhere neare there, as the main town sewer emptied directly into the sea. Unawatuna was definitely not for us. Way to crowded.

CounterClifton

Tallala in the south was very quiet.

goldeyk

Hello all,
Is there a particular part of the railway trip from Ella to Gampola that is most beautiful? Some suggest Ella to Haputale is the most stunning part of ride, and others swear by Haputale to Nanu Oya. The drive time difference, first to get to Ella from Uda Walawe National Park, whereas the park to Haputae is so much shorter. However, IF the train from Ella to Gampola or even Hatton is spectacular I would like to do it correctly. I simply need advice to make my decision.
Welltraveledbrit, you were just there? Thanks to anyone, in advance who can help me. Issue for me is 6 hour drive time to Ella and 7 hours on a train with an always fascinating disc/back issue is sometimes overwhelming. Yet, some things are worth the pain so to speak.

tripplanner001

We took the train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya and would say that the last hour or so was the most scenic. We enjoyed it as it was a change of pace from being in an automobile the entire trip, and we like trains in general. At the same time I would not say the ride was spectacular and you will see similar scenery on the road or better yet on foot. There are several hikes around Ella that would give you the views that you see from the train.

goldeyk

Thank you Triplanner. Most appreciated.
I am a little train obsessed. Love them as well. Oddly,we are driving from the South to the North. Opposite way from most trips apparently. A luxury tour planner I read itinerary for, trains only from Haputale to Nanu Oya ( only 3 hours ) but many travelers say Ella to Haputale is the most STUNNING. At that point one might as well stay on train to Nany Oya or Hatton from Ella as it all sounds pretty spectacular. I am reading from your note that Ella was incredibly scenic, and one should try to hike a little there. Not, our forte but we try as much as we can.
You noted the further south you went the more scenic the train view became.
The first train option would have us skip Ella, for more time near Kandy or even Polonnaruwa. If possible, can you tell me if you would skip one for the other? ( Don't you hate those questions ? )
We are staying at one of the Heritage Hotels in Gambola which sounds amazing, so am trying to enjoy that vs. my usual "drive by" regarding hotels on first trips to a country. I suffer from "overbookingitis"
Flight out early am from Colombo so we only have 6 day total. Better than nothing I figure. Thank you for your time.

tripplanner001

It depends on your interests. If you are interested in hiking and tea plantations, Ella is your perfect base. If you are interested in Buddhist archaeological sites and temples, then the Cultural Triangle (Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya) is best. With six days, I would divide my time between these two areas and skip Kandy.

susiesan

I stayed a few nights in both Mirrissa and Unawatuna in Feb. this year. Both towns were a bit touristy. The beach at Mirrissa is cleaner and the town is a bit quieter than Unawatuna. But the guesthouse we stayed at in Una, Bedspace, was the favorite place we stayed during our 14 day visit to Sri Lanka. If you stay in Mirrissa I'd pass on whale watching. It's way to expensive for what you see. Saw 1 whale only for 30 seconds out of a 6 hour trip.