WDYT of Sri Lanka Itinerary
Jun 30th, 2019 | 10:13 AM
#21
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,730
Likes: 7
Having gone to Sri Lanka this year and not written a trip report, I do feel a bit guilty chiming in here!
I second sartoric’s comments re: Ella and Galle. We were there in the beginning of February for 2 weeks.
We loved Ella for 3 nights - but even with 2 full days, we did everything we wanted to do and still have time to chill out. 4 nights is too many and could be added to Fort Galle, which is beautifully-sited, and has a lot more to do. My only caveat is that it is a very busy city with tourists, but it has great architecture, restaurants, and even a few decent museums. Also, it was very, very hot when we were there. Ella’s weather was actually the most pleasant we had in the entire trip - it was a bit too cool for swimming, but perfect for walking. I loved the walk up Little Adam’s Peak.
Sadly, I got very ill the one day we had in Colombo, so we never did get to explore the city, which I would’ve loved to do, and it broke my heart to have to cancel my reservation at Ministry of Crab. I was so looking forward to trying it.
I second sartoric’s comments re: Ella and Galle. We were there in the beginning of February for 2 weeks.
We loved Ella for 3 nights - but even with 2 full days, we did everything we wanted to do and still have time to chill out. 4 nights is too many and could be added to Fort Galle, which is beautifully-sited, and has a lot more to do. My only caveat is that it is a very busy city with tourists, but it has great architecture, restaurants, and even a few decent museums. Also, it was very, very hot when we were there. Ella’s weather was actually the most pleasant we had in the entire trip - it was a bit too cool for swimming, but perfect for walking. I loved the walk up Little Adam’s Peak.
Sadly, I got very ill the one day we had in Colombo, so we never did get to explore the city, which I would’ve loved to do, and it broke my heart to have to cancel my reservation at Ministry of Crab. I was so looking forward to trying it.
I think I'm going to divide the nights between Ella and Galle as suggested at 3 & 3. Appreciate the comments.
BTW Boutique Sri Lanka has been very easy to deal with. They are prompt in their responses and helpful. I probably wasn't a very challenging or difficult client though with everyone's suggestion on this board and elsewhere I pretty much knew what I wanted. I wish every trip was this easy to plan.
Thanks, everyone for your help!
Jun 30th, 2019 | 10:53 AM
#22
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,773
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Hi YT - it’s a bit old now but FWIW, here is a link to my TR Sri Lanka - Tea, floods, cricket and curry
We spent a couple of days in Colombo, it was ok, but not my favourite Asian city by a long way. If you are into markets, I would definitely include a visit to The Pettah. In terms of your overall itinerary, I would probably cut the time in Ella in favour our time elsewhere, maybe along the coast at Mirrisa, Weligama , Goyombokka before hitting Galle, although we were quite happy spending te last 4/5 nights of our trip in Galle at the end.
We spent just a night in Ella and, pleasant though it was, it was enough to do what we wanted.
If you like hiking, then a highlight for us was a night hike up Adams Peak to see the dawn.
The train rides were also highlights - don’t bother with first class, third is more fun!
We spent a couple of days in Colombo, it was ok, but not my favourite Asian city by a long way. If you are into markets, I would definitely include a visit to The Pettah. In terms of your overall itinerary, I would probably cut the time in Ella in favour our time elsewhere, maybe along the coast at Mirrisa, Weligama , Goyombokka before hitting Galle, although we were quite happy spending te last 4/5 nights of our trip in Galle at the end.
We spent just a night in Ella and, pleasant though it was, it was enough to do what we wanted.
If you like hiking, then a highlight for us was a night hike up Adams Peak to see the dawn.
The train rides were also highlights - don’t bother with first class, third is more fun!
Jun 30th, 2019 | 02:23 PM
#23
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,730
Likes: 7
Thanks, crellston! Always enjoy your TRs. That flood sounds quite exciting. You sounded so calm.
If you like hiking, then a highlight for us was a night hike up Adams Peak to see the dawn. - what time did you hike up? how long did it take, do you remember?
If you like hiking, then a highlight for us was a night hike up Adams Peak to see the dawn. - what time did you hike up? how long did it take, do you remember?
Jun 30th, 2019 | 09:00 PM
#24
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,773
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I think we started out around 02.00 and I do recall getting there well before dawn so I would guess at 4-5 hours up and half that going back down. We didn’t actually wait for the dawn, partly because it was freezing at the summit and we had to remove our shoes as it was a sacred site and partly because I had a "gastro intestinal issue" and the facilities along the way were the worst I had encountered anywhere on our travels ( apart perhaps from our time living in Sierra Leone) .
A less hardcore alternative is Little Adams Peak which I think is in Ella.
A less hardcore alternative is Little Adams Peak which I think is in Ella.
Jul 1st, 2019 | 06:02 AM
#27
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
I hiked to World's End instead: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...02/worlds-end/
Jul 1st, 2019 | 06:13 AM
#28
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
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I hiked to World's End instead: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...02/worlds-end/
Progol -- thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.
crellston -- quite the hike -- I doubt it's something we could endure. I think we'll likely stick to Little Adam's Peak.
Jul 2nd, 2019 | 12:53 PM
#30
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Likes: 5
lovely pics, progol, and yours too, Thursdaysd. I love those waterfalls.
As for its being called "World's End" a story doing the rounds while we were there was that a couple of tourists had ventured too close to the edge in the fog one day, and for them it was. Whether this was true I cannot say.
As for its being called "World's End" a story doing the rounds while we were there was that a couple of tourists had ventured too close to the edge in the fog one day, and for them it was. Whether this was true I cannot say.
