How much time should I spend in Sri Lanka
 

Hi,
I plan on travelling to Sri Lanka for 5 and a half weeks (aug-sept).
From the last time I've been in SE Asia I realized i don't like rushing through places nor taking too much time in one place, and considering I'm not surfing, I wanted to ask:
should I spend all of my time in Sri Lanka? or should I do only 3-4 weeks there and spend the rest of the time in another country ? (possibly Burma).

Thanks alot,
B.J.

We spent a month there and that was a little too much, perhaps by one week. I haven't been to Burma but from what I read here and elsewhere it is a magical place and I am sure I would love it apart from the fact have only way to get around seems to be on organised tours. With that amount of time to spend, i think I would spend more time in Burma and less in SL. 3 weeks is probably enough IMO to see most of the highlights of SL without rushing.

crellston, No need for organized tours in Burma, though it does help to use an agent to book accommodations and transport.

I loved both Sri Lanka and Burma. I was in Burma in both 2009 and 2011. We traveled to Sri Lanka in 2007, and would like to return. I think you could do both in 5 1/2 weeks. You will need a minimum of two weeks in Burma.

we spent 2 weeks in SL which was definitely not enough [strangely the title - almost - of my trip report!] but I can see an argument for 3 being OK.

it depends what you want to do - we would have liked to have spent longer in the Hill Country and we didn't see the eastern coast at all. if you want to do the standard 3-4 days in the cultural triangle, the Hill country, the east, the south and Galle, AND some time on a beach, that might well take you nearer to 4 weeks unless you are going to rush about, which rather defeats the object!

Five and a half weeks would be too long for Sri Lanka.

The Maldives are a short and inexpensive one hour flight away from Sri Lanka, you may want to consider a few days in the Maldives - I wouldn't spend the entire five and a half weeks in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, I only mention the Maldives as you have a long trip and can accommodate the destination in your travel plans if it appeals.

I would definitely look at flight options and combine Sri Lanka with another country given the length of your trip.