Smeagol

Well BSL have gotten back to me and i have already requested a change to the itin as it didn't cover the Cultural triangle (I may not have been specific in my request) that said they have suggested Cinnamon Wilds in Yala which is a 6 HOUR trip from Tea trails (no thank you...) So i am in a bit of a quandry where could we go after Tea Trail? what about Tangalle? or can anyone recommend somewhere to do the "Safari" (to be honest i am not entirely sure if i want to do this as i did read one report about hoards of toursits chasing after the poor animals and i am not sure if i can bear that).I am alos hoping to fit in one of the scenic train journeys. Does anyone have any input on this or the Safaris?
My draft itinerary is below, comments and hotels suggestions gratfully received. Am i missing somewhere off this itin? things I can't change are the leaving day to DXB that's all set so we only have this amount of time in Sri Lanka.

Day 1 15:00 arrival transfer Negombo Wallawalla
Day 2 Cultural triangle which hotel?
Day 3 Cultural triangle which hotel?
Day 4 Kandy Kandy House
Day 5 TT Tea Trails
Day 6 TT Tea Trails
Day 7 Yala?
Day 8 Yala?
Day 9 Galle Fortress or Anamgalla
Day 10 Galle Fortress or Anamgalla
Day 11 Colombo-Casa Colombo
Day 12 Fly to Dubai
Day 13 DXB
Day 14 DXB
Day 15 DXB
Day 16 Fly Home

thursdaysd

What time does your flight leave? Do you have to spend a night in Colombo? I really wanted to like Colombo and totally failed - although the renovated side of Galle Face was very nice.

Kathie

I recommend the Kandalama in the cultural triangle.

I'd cut Yala - the place was packed even during the war, much worse now.

Spend 4 nights at Tea Trails (or 2 at the Kandy House and three at Tea Trails)

If you choose to go to Galle, stay at Fort Printers. Amangalla isn't, IMO ready for "prime time" according to an early review here and I thought chichci's report was damning.

Skip Colombo unless you have an early flight.

That said, If you can skip Colombo, add a day to the cultural triangle.

Craig

Kandalama in the Cultural Triangle was fine for us and I would recommend it - just remember it is nice but not super lux. 3 nights there would be better than 2.

You also need more than 2 nights at Tea Trails.

Note that there is no air conditioning at Kandy House. I would spend no more than 1 night there.

From Tea Trails it will be a long drive to just about anywhere, whether it be Yala, Tangalle or Galle.

Based on what I've read here about the hoards of tourists, I would consider skipping Yala. We did not do the safari, however as Yala was closed when we went (due to the war).

I agree that you should skip Colombo unless you have an early flight. We drove from Tangalle, stopped at Galle for 2 hours and made it all the way to our hotel north of Colombo near the airport in one day so the timing shouldn't be an issue.

Are you not considering time on the beach (Tangalle)?

Smeagol

Flights is 9:50 am so I think I will stop in Colombo as I don't want to get up super early ( I am on holiday)
Mmm I think Yala may be the issue and to be honest I am not sure if I can get my head round the whole thing....so maybe we will skip that.
I have 1 night planned at Kandy. Maybe I can take out Yala and put in either Tangalla or Bentota??

What is therre to do at Tea Trails for more than 2 days? It does look fab but I just wonder what warrants a significant part of my budget ( and time) to spend 3 or 4 days there?
Ok will look into the Kandamala .
the reason I didn't specifically put in beach was I am concerned the weather may not be the best (end Nov) and we have Dubai as our chill out and do nothing ( as we were already transiting thru Dubai we have decided to stop ther - I have been before and whilst I get it's not everyone's cup of tea - including mine to an extent. We plan to chill get some sun and eat great food without having to take extra flights to do so) should I revisit putting a beach but in for SL?

wally34949

Kandy and the Hill Country get my vote.

Kathie

We loved the Kandy House, but were not impressed with Kandy itself. No A/C was not an issue for us in November. as the house was well designed to keep the interior cool.

Tea Trails is a wonderful place to relax, and we loved the walks.

Personally, it would take no convincing at all to skip Dubai. There are some lovely beaches in Sri Lanka.

Smeagol

Kathie, I can't skip Dubai I am locked into that routing.....
That said should we have time to fit in beach, which area would people suggest?

thursdaysd

I didn't think Kandy was that bad. I enjoyed the temple, and I especially enjoyed the Botanical Gardens.

Smeagol

Thanks. Everyone seems love the Botanical gardens so will add that to the "must do" list.....

Craig

At Tea Trails the main activities are walking/hiking and eating. I think you should give yourselves two full days (3 nights) for this. Kandy is not "that bad". It's just not worth 2 nights. We found it difficult to sleep due to the heat at Kandy House but we did enjoy breakfast on our private deck. You can stop at the Botanical Gardens on the way to Tea Trails. If you already have beach time, you may not want to do it in SL. As I said earlier, our beachside villa with its private pool in Tangalle was nice. We spent a lot of time walking on the beach, which goes on forever. You can see photos here:
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...2957&k=5K264mP

Smeagol

Kathie I just reread chichis report. That's a different Aman. I am looking at Amangalla not Amanwalla.... That said I would not want to have to pre book my dinner.......
However, I think their rates just look too much for what you get, we'll see what the rest of the budget does...

Kathie

Oops - sorry!

Smeagol

Ok I think my must do list is
kandy House ,
I have requested Kandalama ( and will come back here for more specifics on places to visit) but Dambulla Caves are on the Must do
Tea trails ( at least 2 nights)
scenic train journey.

I am waiting for BSL to get back to me with a revised intinerary.
Thanks to everyone for all your help and if any one can think of a stop to break up that 6 hour journey from TT to the south It would be much appreciated

Smeagol

OK i am still wrestling with the itinerary,
couple of queries after reading a few trip reports on here:
Instead of Yala i am now thinking of 2 days beachside, can any suggest ideas/hotels (and opinions) on Tangalle or Bentota (where can i see the Slited fishermen? i quite like the idea of both of these places (but obviously can only go to 1)
I did speak with D about Tea Trails and whether we should do 3 nights but he thinks 2. I am also mindful of doing too many 1 night stays as it feels too much moving around (which is one of the reasons i have given 2 nights in Galle and Annhig and Robbietravels had both seemed to find things to do but i am still in the planning stages....
So my itinerary is currently like this (nothing booked yet)
Day 1 Negombo
Day 2 CT
Day 3 CT
Day 4 Kandy
Day 5 TT
Day 6 TT
Day 7 Galle
Day 8 Galle
Day 9 Bentota
Day 10 Bentota
Day 11 Colombo
Day 12 Fly to Dubai
Day 13 DXB
Day 14 DXB
Day 15 DXB
Day 16 Fly Home
if we went to Tangalle I would do those 2 nights before Galle... do i have enough time in the Cultural triangle?

thursdaysd

I would give another night to the CT. Note that you can visit Galle from Unawatuna if you' d rather stay on the beach.

Kathie

I'd add a night to the Cultural Triangle and one to Tea Trails.

Craig

I agree with thursdays' suggestion. You could then cut out Bentota and have 3 nights on the beach plus the extra one in the CT. Also, if you find that there really isn't that much to do in Galle, you have some place else to go.

Smeagol

Craig -are you saying cut out Galle completely and stay 3 nights near Galle at a beach (unawatuna?? and visit Galle from there) and cut out Bentota too?

Flights are BOOKED and confirmed so I am locked in to Sri Lanka now (very excited)
Having to do a bit of work with BSL as they have messed up the dates a bit (on one hotel they have me in in October) !! I am finding them a little slow to respond but that said i am sure they will be fine to work with.
Assuming it's no issue not to book ALL my hotels with them if I chose not too?.

thanks again to everyone for the continued advice.

Craig

Yes, Nicky - Unawatuna is a resort town just east of Galle. It is also where the stick fisherman hang out.

so it would be 3 days Unawatuna, 3 days CT, 0 days Bentota...