There are way too many must-sees for a week. You'll have to choose a focus for your trip. If animals are what you are looking for, I expect you'll want a stop in Yala. Take a look at a good map, then choose other places in the vicinity.

While distances are not large, roads are narrow and winding in most areas. So going from one area to another means hours of driving.

In working with a company, you need to tell them what you want. We used Boutique Sri Lanka and were very happy with them. Take a look at their website - they have lots of info on nice hotels.

If you want a mix of the culture and animals, why not spend a few days at the Kandalama in Dambulla? There are parks nearby with herds of elephants, and there are some of the prime cultural sites - Dambulla Cave temples, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya.

I'd think twice about spending a day in Colombo - choose another place close to the airport to stay, like Negombo, a beach area.

Here is a link to our photos: http://www.marlandc.com/SriLanka/index.htm

Hi and thanks so much Kathie,
Please tell me what is wrong with Colombo, surely there is something to do/see for a day, no?
Can you please critique this itinerary.

I have been emailing Boutique Sri Lanka and so far this is what they are offering:
1 night-negombo The Beach hotel
1 night Kandy Earl's Regency
2 nightsTea Factory Hotel-Hills Country
2 nights Heritance Ahungalla, Ahungalla (I have a problem with this as this is a 6 hrs drive, what can I substitute it with)
1 night Casa Colombo, Colombo

Also they quoted 75$ more than the rate on the website for one of the hotels, is it advisable to book hotels through them or independently?

Thanks again

Look, everything is going to be a long drive. How many hours do they say Negombo to Kandy?

I didn't go to Colombo, but Thursdays did, and she would recommend against it as would others here who have been there. Still, it's up to you. What is it you want to see/do/experience there?

Do you have a guidebook? Spend some time with it to figure out what you want to do. It's hard for someone else to know what you'd like.

Tell BSL what you want. Give them a time limit for drives, for instance, and ask what they would recommend. And if one hotel is more than on their website, ask about it. In general, I think you are better off with an agent booking the hotels.