travelbaba

We are a couple travelling with a 4 year old. He loves beaches - we have been to Goa, India before and he absolutely loved it.

We arrive in Colombo on 19th December and depart on Dec 30th from Mattala Airport (near udawalawe national park).

Interests - less time on road, (son gets cranky if we drive for too long) beaches, wildlife. Tea estates and Temples not a immediate priority... (although if there is a amazing buddha or other temple nearby, would love to go see).

1) Arrive in colombo on 19th night. stay near airport.
2) 20th - Drive to Unawatuna / Galle area - stay in beach 4 night.
Some snorkelling ?? Is the Unawatuna area a good place to snorkel ??
Perhaps do a day trip to Sinharaja rain forest - how long would this round trip be ?
3) 24th - Drive to Tangalle - stay 4 nights near beach
4) 28th - Drive to Udawalawe National Park - stay 2 nights
5) 29th - Safari in Park. (Is this better or is Yala better - son gets excited with elephants)..
6) 30th check out and drive to nearby Mattala airport.

PLease let me know if there are other places we should rather visit / stay at instead of the above. Open to changes. Only thing I cant change is the dates of travel and the return flight is out of Mattala not Colombo since it seemed much closer to the national parks.

Thanks a lot for your advise.
TB

Mohammed

I think Unnawatuna is not the best location choice for a 4 year old. Also the beach in Unnawatuna has changed drastically due to sand bar shifting and many hotels now don't have any beach at all, this however may change.

The quality of snorkelling alone the south coast is limited. You will find some in Hikkaduwa, Unnawatuna, Weligama, Tangalle but I don't really rate any of this as very child friendly.

You will find nice sandy child friendly beaches in many locations, Beruwela, Bentota, Ahungala, also same spots past galle such as Thalpe and Weligama etc.

i suggest you choose a nice beach location and then make a short trip to a snorkelling location for a snorkell/swim session.

Yala is a better park with a wider variety of wildlife and also the start attraction of leopard however Uda Walawe has a very large elephant population.

Mohammed

sorry pls read 2nd para as

The quality of snorkelling along....

travelbaba

Thanks. Agree with the suggestion.

We can compromise on the snorkelling, (meaning not do it) as long as it is a beach with soft sand, and safe enough for small kids to enter, even if knee deep with us holding hands...

It makes sense to base ourselves in a beach place somewhere near Galle and do short day trips to Galle, snorkelling etc.

ANy particular hotel / BandB recommendations ??

Can we squeeze in both Uda Walawe and Yala in 3 days or so ? Is Uda Walawe doable as a day trip from Tangalle / Weligama / Merissa area ?

Thanks
TB

Mohammed

There are so many hotels and at different budget levels it is difficult to suggest what may suit you. I particularly like Heritance Ahungala for its nice beach and a lovely hotel too with proximity to Hikkaduwa etc. Bentota Beach Hotel has a very nice beach on one side with river and a water sports center on the other side. Weligama Bay Resort is another nice place. There is one nice place just in Galle/Unnawatuna that is suggest called Coco Bay, very nice beach to swim for kids and close to nice snorkelling too.

crellston

we spent a couple of weeks wandering along the south coast and found some lovely beaches. Goyambokka near Tangalle was very nice a small bay with some nice places to stay close to the beach.

Mirrissa was beautiful, although my recollection was that the surf was quite strong there and probably not suitable for a 4 year old. Likewise Welligama, we sayer for 4 or 5 days days there some great food but would not have gone in the water there as the opens sewer from the town opened directly into the sea!

travelbaba

Thanks.

One question we have is, is SInharaja rainforest doable as a day trip from either Unawatuan area or Tangalle area ??

Mohammed

Deniyaya Entrance of Singharajah is about 2 hours road trip from Unawatuna. From Tangalle much longer.

travelbaba

Thanks a lot