Sri Lanka: need tour operator
 

Hi, I live in the US and am planning a trip to Sri Lanka (flying out from southern India) in December and I need the help of a tour operator - any suggestions?

Also I have from Dec 27-Jan 2nd.

Any must see's? i'd like to see the must see's in terms of architecture/temples - but not just temples - want some variety - and then spend nye on a beach - preferably once i can swim in aka calm ocean.

Any recos?

Thanks...

I'm debating the following:
Dambulla Caves,
Sigiriya
Tea country
Deciding between Kandy (is it worth it?) and Anuradapura...
Unawatuna beach or Bentota?

Should I do the pinnawala orphanage or...? what do you recommend?
How about the leopard park? Should I skip both kandy and Anuradapura for the leopard park?

We used Boutique Sri Lanka and felt they did a great job for us.

You have very little time in Sri Lanka - any way you can extend that time? It takes much longer than you would think to get from one place to another.

In the cultural triangle, I highly recommend Polonnaruwa as well as Sigirya and Dambulla Cave temples.

We avoided the Elephant Orphanage, choosing to see wild elephants instead. I'm not sure what you mean by the "leopard park," but in any case you don't have time for it. You'll be lucky to see the cultural triangle and tea country in the time you have, and maybe spend a night at a beach.

Here are photos from that trip: http://www.marlandc.com/sri-lanka-2007.html

I used reddot and had a few problems with them but I met others who used them and had no problems.

Like Kathie, I really enjoyed Polonnaruwa and would choose that over Anurahadpura which seemd a long way to go and I was not as impressed. Kandy is totally diferrent from both and the Temple of the Tooth ceremony was definitely worth seeing.

Pinnewela seemed much more a tourist operation than an orphanage.
Unawatuna and Benota didn't impress but we did spend some time at Goyambokka, near Tangalle which was very laid back and very pretty.

travel - in the time you have - 6 nights - you won't be able to see very much.

at most, depending on when you land, you could drive to Dambulla for the caves and Sigirya, then down to Kandy, and back to the coast.

PS - I second the recommendation of boutique Sri Lanka.

thank you all for your insight - greatly appreciated!
i know...i think it's madness to go for just 6 nights....but the group is unable to extend as we're all flying in from the US to visit family in India....and then have 6 nights to make a group trip somewhere....