Days in Sri Lanka?
 

If we decide to include Sri Lanka in our 2012 itinerary of Southeast Asia, how many days should we set aside for this country? Will 6 days be sufficient? Dogster, please comment.

Thank you.
McBeanie (Sandra)

Six days? Mmmm. Kinda tight. In fact, very tight. There's a lot of shlep in Sri Lanka getting from A-B. Ten would be better.

It really depends on what you want to do there - and where you intend to go before. A beach and a palm tree might not ring your bell if you've seen a beach and a palm tree before. The cultural triangle ain't all it's made out to be, unless you like ruins. If you want to do all the usual stuff then ten days will get you round the basics, I guess.

Some of the basics are fairly dreary, I might add. The good hotels cost an arm and a leg. Some of the best boutique hotels have changed hands {Taru, Galle Fort Hotel - the rest are jacking up their prices like crazy now the war is over. Sri Lanka in 2012 ain't Sri Lanka in 2008]

Read the trip reports - just ignore the first one on the list. Try and travel on the cusp of the season. Try not to travel in the 'season of greed' [December/January]. Don't believe anything you hear. There are many Sri Lanka's - not just Sri La La.

Although Sri La La is probably the best way to go - they do very good boutique hotel there, very good Tea Trails. Very crap big hotel. Very crap cheap hotel. India lite.

A good combination, by the way, might be a sojourn in Kerala either side of SrI Lanka.

We loved Sri Lanka. Admittedly, we were there during the war so there weren't crowds anywhere. Unlike dogster, we loved the cultural triangle, but we love ruins, and especially Buddhist ruins.

I think 6 days wouldn't be enough to give you a taste. I'd suggest 10 days minimum.

I have a trip repoprt that is now getting old (2007) but the photos will give you an idea of the country.
http://www.marlandc.com/SriLanka/index.htm

Good Texas Morning, Dogster!

You gave us exactly the info we were looking for (Kathie did, too). Knowing you made us feel that we can truly trust your judgment since you know of our past travels and what we enjoy. Beside, we are spending a week in Bali this year, and feel that including SL, after Bali,~~ we are excited about Bali ~~ would make us feel cheated at a very high investment. Besides, we love your 'India-lite" reference ~~ India is NOT on our radar.

So, 'x-out' SL ~~ add Singapore ~~ and we are happy campers. Any chance you will be in Thailand the latter part of November? If so, R. says to tell you that the 2 of you can raise a Singha at the new Pickled Liver.

Good thoughts to all of you.

Sandra

read craig's trip report also..

personally i'm not sure you would like SL

how about rangoon (yangon) only for 3 or 4 days. it is very interesting..

or a few days in seoul??

My pleasure Sandra.

I'm in Bangkok - just. Off to Melbourne in three hours after five months on the road.

Will I be back in November? Who knows?