busygirl

Last minute decision to go to Sri Lanka.
I have put together this itinerary and would like any comments. Does this seem logically sequence ?.
I will use a driver for th trip until Tagalla. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I am interested in Cultural,wildlife,countryside,beach and walking.

Negombo 1 Night
Cultural Triangle 3 Nights -
Trinco Beach 2 Nights
Kandy 2 Nights
Knuckles 2 Nights Rangala House
Ella/Haptule 2 Nights
Yala 1 Night
Tangelle 4 Nights
Columbo 1 Night

I would appreciate any advise on hotels or other recommendations.
I need to organise this quickly so I am not sure whether to book the hotels myself or use someone in Sri Lanka.

Thanks

Mohammed

I would suggest you make trinco 3 nights, drop Knuckles instead do a full day walk in Horton plains which can be accessed from Haputale (probably trek up to Kirigalpottha peak if your fit, else the easier Bakers falls walk)and then make Yala atleast 2 nights.

There are several good travel agents who will do Hotel booking for you in Sri Lanka, also arrange cars etc.

crellston

All good info from Mohammed. We were in Sri Lanka in Feb , my trip report covers some of those locations : http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-and-curry.cfm

I would add the following comments.

1 night Negombo is more than emough! The best hotel in town is probably the Jetwing Blue.

Cultural triangle - Polunnurawa, Sigiriya, Dambulla caves and Ritigila Nature Reserveare the must sees.

Loved Kandy town and there is a lot to see around the area, the Elepahnt orphanage being but one.

Knuckles- we took a drive out there from Kandy but couldn't really see what the hype was all about (neither could our guide) it is apparently a good location for hiking and camping though. Personally, I would give it a miss.

Ella/Haputale - Ella is a pleasnt little town with some nice walks around Ella Gap and up "Little Adams Peak" . Haputale is very much a working town and not particularly pretty but is a good base for Worlds End etc, We stayed at the Menheim Resort in the hills outside of town. Great location, views and rooms - ok food.

Tangalle is a good location for the beach - there are numerous locations around the town. We chose Goyambokka and stayed at the Goyambokka a few yard from the beach. The beach was fantastic and the guesthouse basic but comfortable (no aircon). We had a look at quite a few of the hotels in the area but all were booked but there are some very nice palces around town.

Tangalle is a very long way from Columbo - probably 7-8 hours so dont underestimate the travelling time. We spent a few days in Tangalle and few in Weligama , a couple of hours along the coast. We then stayed two nights in Galle (worth considering) and got a car to negombo. The Trip from Galle to Negombo took 6 hours!

Columbo, is perhaps worth a day but only because it is on teh way back to the airport.

I don't know what time of year you are going but we found it difficult to find palces to stay at any grade of hotel in Feb.

It is easy enough to arrange a driver at any of the palces you are visiting but getting a good one may be more problematic. We usually travel independently but Sri Lanka we booked a tour for half the trip and DIY for the remainder and, notwithsatnding the fact that our operator was not particularly great, we were glad we did it this way. It would be easy enough to do this but proably no cheaper. In addition, if things go wrong (which in our case they certainly did, then at least you have someone to assist).

Finally, we preferred the Hill Country to the cultural triangel (although both are great). Strongly recommend a hike up Adams Peak, a highlight for us and do try to incorporate a train journey in the hill country.

Have fun..

Kathie

I'd suggest you use a company to book your hotels and your driver. We used Boutique Sri Lanka several years ago and they were excellent.

Don't underestimate just how much time you'll spend on the road. Roads are narrow and winding even when distances aren't large. Your itinerary insures that you'll spend much of your time on the road. Each time you spend 2 nights somewhere, that is a mere one day, with a day of driving on each side of it. So any place you can cut will give you more vacation time and less driving time.

There are quite a few excellent trip reports here, three from this year. Choose Sri Lanka from the drop-down menu at the top of the page, and it will bring up all of the recent posts on Sri Lanka. Choose the trip reports, and read to your heart's content.

busygirl

Thanks for all the good feedback.
So many places , not enough time. I have now revised my itinerary and have decided on the hotels. All I need now is a
driver and to book hotels.
I am waiting on a reply from a couple of drivers I have choosen.
My itinerary is now as follows:
Any comments would be aprreciated or recommendations.

Friday, 13 May 2011 Negombo Ayubowen Guesthouse
Saturday, 14 May 2011 Negombo Ayubowen Guesthouse
Sunday, 15 May 2011 Habarano Jay Holiday Resort
Monday, 16 May 2011 Habarano Jay Holiday Resort
Tuesday, 17 May 2011 Habarano Jay Holiday Resort
Wednesday, 18 May 2011 Trinco Palm Beach
Thursday, 19 May 2011 Trinco Palm Beach
Friday, 20 May 2011 Trinco Palm Beach
Saturday, 21 May 2011 Kandy Villa Sandalwood
Sunday, 22 May 2011 Kandy Villa Sandalwood
Monday, 23 May 2011 Kandy Villa Sandalwood
Tuesday, 24 May 2011 Ella Melheim Resort Beragla
or
Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Ella Waterfall Homestay
Thursday, 26 May 2011 Ella Waterfall Homestay
Friday, 27 May 2011 Tissa Hibiscus
Saturday, 28 May 2011 Tissa Hibiscus
Sunday, 29 May 2011 Tangella Ganesh Gardens
Monday, 30 May 2011 Tangella Ganesh Gardens
Tuesday, 31 May 2011 Tangella Ganesh Gardens
Wednesday, 1 June 2011 Mirissa ? or stay longer Tangella
Thursday, 2 June 2011 Mirissa ?
Friday, 3 June 2011 Colombo ?
Saturday, 4 June 2011 Colombo Fly home

So much looking for to it. It is cold here.

Thanks

Mohammed

Please change Trinco to Nilaveli Beach Hotel, cntact Tangerine Tours, its fantastic loaction right opposite Pigeon Island, trust me on this.

crellston

The Melheim has large well appointed rooms with fantastic views but the food was not great and a bit expensive.

Mirrissa was very nice with a great beach and would make a good change from Tangalle although it is just a small village. Weligama a few miles along teh road provides more local colour and some good restaurants.

Imuch preferred Galle to Columbo but it is a LONG way from the airport for your trip home.

dreamdes

Why you have not included a night in Nuwara Eliya ? You could
also ask your driver to drop you at Nanu Oya Station for a train
ride on 24/May and pick you up either in Haputale or Ella station. This will be welcome change after too much travel by car.

crellston

Execellent point made by dremdes. We did two train journeys in SL and enjoyed both immensely. You get to see impressive scenery you would not otherwise see and get a totally diferrent perspective on travel within the country. It is very inexpensive and is, if anything slightly quicker than travel by car.

busygirl

Thanks for all the good advise.
I will plan to take a train trip as dreamdes recommends.
I am thinking about changing accommodation to Nilaveli Hotel.
I have confirmed a driver called Jally that had been recommended to me, so I am nearly there!
I have decided not to book anything beyond Tangella until we get there as we might like to stay longer.
I think I have all the must see places included but is there anywhere out of the way or interesting to visit other than more temples! My partner can only cope with a few before he begins to complain!
I have decided not to walk Adam's Peak but will do other walks around Ella and whereever else we can. I don't want to spend too much time in the car. We are usually fairly active when we are on holidays. Does anyone have any walk recommendations?

Thanks

dreamdes

Walk recommendations -
1.Morning (7am )visit to Mihintale ( Since you are staying
in Habarana please check with your driver if he could take
you there by 7am )
2.Evening walk around the Kandy Lake followed by the Cultural
Show.
3.A walk in Horton Plains to see world's end.
4.Walk down Dambetenne Road in Haputale to see Lipton Seat.
5. Evening walk in Marine Drive, Colombo to see sun set
Enjoy - Dreamdes