annhig

susiesan - we had 14 nights and certainly wouldn't have wanted fewer.

Craig

12 nights for us but we did not do a game park as it was unsafe to do so at that time...

annhig

Craig - I'm not sure that the game parks are really worth doing, unless you have a special interest and hire a proper guide. The chasing of a limited number of wild animals by a large number of jeeps is hardly good for the animals and in the case of the elephants, may be dangerous for man and beast alike. At Yala, we had to really insist that we did not want to tear about looking for the elusive leopard [which had the good sense to keep its head down]; once they understood that we really did want to look for birds we got on a lot better.

there may of course be better [for which read less popular] game/national parks. but we would have loved to have seen some of the best coast, more of the interior, and to have spend longer in the Tea country and on the beach.

so there is plenty to fill those extra days.

Smeagol

I too would have liked to spent longer in the tea country, I didn't go to the game parks but after reading advice from here I decided it was not for me.

annhig

that should have been the "east coast", not the best coast.

I think that we could easily spend another 2 weeks in Sri Lanka and not repeat what we have already seen and done.

susiesan

As I'm going to Africa in April for safaris in South Africa and Botswana, visiting at Yala could be a letdown. If we don'tsee my elephants then I will reconsider.

I want to do a typical 14 day tour that takes in the cultural triangle, tea country, Galle, and some beach time. Some temples will be nice, but after 12 days in Myanmar this past November I am all Buddhist templed out.

So far the TA who is responding and wants my business is MoonLanka

annhig

well you are going to get Buddhist temples in the Cultural triangle, but if you based yourselves and Damwhalla, you could see both Sigirya and the Damwhalla caves with ease, and the nearby elephants if you decide that you want to.

After that, a couple of days in Kandy, 3 in the Tea Country, and 3 at Galle, followed by some time on the beach would fit your bill, I think.

and that cuts out a couple of very long and not very exciting drives, [from the Tea country to Yala, and from Yala to Galle] which is all to the good.

Have you found any reviews of MoonLanka?

annhig

oops, I meant Dambulla, Based on recommendations here we stayed at the Hesitance Hotel on the edge of the lake:

http://www.heritancehotels.com/kanda...GhUaAnz78P8HAQ

We liked it very much and strongly recommend it too.

Smeagol

Dambulla caves Ann or are Damwhalla some others ?
The drive from the tea country to Galle is still loooong but probably about 4.5 hours but worth it I think. I totally agree with Ann's suggestion above although if you want beach you could go just south of Galle ( which is what we did) and add that in. And the finish off in Galle..... ( although we actually had our last night in Colombo - which everyone seems to not like but honestly I don't know why, we thought it was fine.... )

annhig

Smeagol - I spotted my mistake just before you posted, but thanks.

We were not over-impressed with Colombo but probably didn't approach it right [allowed our driver to talk us into an evening tour which meant that it was rushed, whereas we should have done a day -time one] and the fact that our hotel caught fire on our 2nd and last night there didn't help.

Depending on the time of your flight out, you could stay in Galle for your last night and avoid Colombo altogether, but that would only work with departures from 1pm at the earliest, and would mean an early start. The problem is that the dual carriageway from Galle to Colombo only goes as far as the city; when it connects to the airport then it'll be a lot better. Until then you need to allow at least an hour to get from Colombo to the airport, and at least 2 hours to check-in. So that means leaving Galle a minimum of 5 hours before your latest check-in time, 6 for comfort.

Smeagol

We had a 09:50 departure and left Colombo at about 7 am and got to the airport at about 7:45 so agree 1 hour is needed just in case....however check took 5 minutes so we had ages at the airport, however I would always want to be early so I was fine with that. Personally I wouldn't want to be getting up super early on my last day, I'd rather stay in Colombo and go from there.... ( we did a day tour and then ate in our lovely hotel - which thankfully didn't catch fire! . )
I think the extension of the expressway is meant to be finished in about 12 months time!

annhig

i agree that you don't want too long at Colombo airport, not least because food and drink airside is ruinously expensive. However the shopping is good - we found some lovely things for last minute presents/souvenirs at reasonable prices.

Pleased to hear that they are going to finish the expressway "soon".

which hotel did you stay in in Colombo? we were in the Galle Face which seemed fine until disaster almost struck.

Smeagol

We stayed at Casa Colombo, a really cute quirky hotel. The food was fabulous.... Honestly we didn't see much of it as arrived at 5pm left at 7am.... But I would stay there

susiesan

annhig: No, I have not found any reviews or trip reports on MoonLanka. I saw some trips through Intrepid that have the kind of itinerary I am looking for but I don't want to do a group tour.

With so many SL travel agents out ther, how does one know how to choose one?

SLifestyle

Hi there,
I have not been able to reach Boutique Sri Lanka, we leave in a month. Also, they are not recommended on TA. We need a guide and or driver for a for a week. I am new here and will start my own post with many questions but would love to know how best to reach them?

Smeagol

well as I stated above, I have had very recent experience with them and they were excellent... as have many on here.
this is the address i used...
[email protected]

SLifestyle

I just reached them!

annhig

hooray!

Smeagol

Wow they are working late.....

annhig

or early!