Honeymoon in Sri Lanka

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jk1714
jk1714

Hi All

Apologies for the length of the post!

I am travelling to Sri Lanka for my honeymoon, having never traveled there before I could do with your help in planning the holiday. I've done some research and planned what I would like to do vaguely. We have a limited time due to my Fiancee being a teacher so have the below itinerary so far.

If there are any must see things or to do that I have missed please do let me know. Have arranged for a private driver guide whilst in Sri Lanka.

Arriving in Colombo Tuesday 08:45, and departing on following Tuesday (morning flight).

Suggested itinerary:

Tuesday
Staying in Sigiriya. Arriving in Colombo at 08:35 and travelling to Sigiriya. Thinking of visiting the Dambulla cave temples on the first day, is there anything else that I can do?

Wednesday
In the morning climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (how long would we need here) and then travel to Kandy (where we are staying overnight). Hoping to be in Kandy for around 14:00/15:00.

Is there anything we can do in Kandy in the evening, was currently thinking a combination of the temple of tooth, Peradeniya gardens or Udawattakele Sanctuary. Would it be feasible to do temple of tooth and sanctuary both on this day?

Thursday
Train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. In the afternoon visit a working tea factory, tea plantation and Nuwara Eliya city. Stay at Nuwara Eliya. Any recommendations on specifics, which tea plantation/factory? what is there do do in the actual city

Friday
Staying in Tangalle for 3 nights. On one of the days will go to Yalla National Park (is it best to do in morning or evening). Anything else we can do whilst in Tangalle?

Monday
Leave Tangalle for Colombo. Stop at Galle and spend the day there. What is there to do in Galle? or should we miss out Galle?

Tuesday - Fly home.

Any local foods that we should try whilst there or hints/tips that would be useful?

Thanks for all your help.

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rajamax
rajamax

tuesday :
you you have enough time to go minneriya safari ( 3 pm session) as you only planning to go dambulla in your first day..if not try a village tour n the lunch time ..this will be an amazing experience but careful to go with the right person because these kind of places are tourists traps.but highly recommended

wednesday:
start climb not later that 9.30 am as the rock can get hot with the sun. will take 1.5-2 hours to summit. have your lunch an go to Kandy... go to peradeniya garden first then tooth relic....

thursday :
sorry not sure about a specific tea plantation...almost every tea plantation are nice...but find a plantation with a factory it self... google for that.

friday :
not only morning but also evening session is good if it is not too hot...normally 6-9am and 3-6pm is the best time. I think best way is after nuwara eliya stay one night in Yala.. so friday morning to evening while you go to yala you can see lipton seat in Haputhale.... or may be something more in nuwara elya...after stay friday night in yala go to early morning to safari...I highly advising you to book a jeep in advance...because in the morning sesion session is really crowd from last two weeks as this is the high season. if you prebooked your safari jeep and if you go early as possible to park( I'm saying to leave 5.30 latest from ur hotel) then will no any dissapoiment. then you can reach tangalle by afternoon...so two full days in tangalle that u can enjoy beach.

about galle..... beach wise galle is a no..not a good beach...but Gall fort is a nce palce for walk and some photographhs.. its a colonial place with dutch's architecture and other things.... if you want to galle for beach miss ut and go unawatuna jungle beach or mirissa..for the beach they are some of best in the country...

hope it helps..if you have more questions dont hesitate to ask

Raja

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jk1714
jk1714
In response to #2

tuesday :
you you have enough time to go minneriya safari ( 3 pm session) as you only planning to go dambulla in your first day..if not try a village tour n the lunch time ..this will be an amazing experience but careful to go with the right person because these kind of places are tourists traps.but highly recommended
.

How long is the drive from Colombo to Sigiriya. I was under the impression that if light lands at 8:45 in Colombo by the time we arrive to Sigiriya it would probably be around 13:30. So was thinking may not have much time to do Safari. The village tour and the Dambulla cave temples sound good. Can you recommend anyone to book the village tour with? Are the start times for the tour flexible.

What is the difference between the Yala and Minneriya National Parks? If similar I would rather just go to the Yala one due to the timings.

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sandramarkkalage
sandramarkkalage

best way rent car with driver for full time to complete your itinerary ;)
45-55/-us$ per day

Sandra

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rajamax
rajamax

Yeah u right will not have enough time for safari on first day.

Personally I don't know anyone. But I just google it and found this http://www.sigiriyavillagesafari.com/contact.html try with them. Before book with them check weather they have good ...

There is another NP call Udawalawa if u have times

reviews. In trip adviser I saw a forum post a while ago there are tours from $15 . If u book your self no commissions involve .

Minneriya Is mainly for herds of elephants . U will see some birds foxes deers and peacocks. But yala you can see leapords(60-70% chance to spot them and yala is the best in the country for that ) sloth bear, lots of birds, elephants and etc. For elephants minneriya is good. But yala is better than tha yala have big diversity compared to minneriya .

Udawalala is another good NP if u have issue with time .and it is on the way to Tangalle. Udawalawa is similar to Minneriya lots of elephants ..

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sriguy88
sriguy88
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In response to #0

Hi,

  • I'm not sure but I think I took around 2 and 1/2 hours to us to go up and down (Sigiriya).

  • No, it is not feasible to visit both Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic and Udawatta Kale santuary. Because both places take time.

  • In Nuwara Eliya highly recommended to visit Gregory Lake Park which is inside the city. And if you have time there are number places to visit in Nuwara Eliya.

  • While staying in Tangalle you can visit Ussangoda beach and the Blowhole. And also you might consider visiting Safari Park - Ridiyagama and hot water springs (at the same place).

  • If you are stoping in Galle olny for the day, you might even drop it.

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jk1714
jk1714

Sigiriya - Think I will stick to the Dambulla Cave Temples and the village tour sounds really good if we have the time.

Kandy - Seems like temple of tooth and Udattwala Sanctuary together is too much, considering in the morning we will be climbing the Sigiriya rock fortress. Will plan to visit peradeniya garden first and temple of tooth after based on above advice.

Nuwara Eliya - Gregory Lake park looks good. Will have a look at what else there is but time will be limited here, with the tea factory/plantation visit.

Tangalle - I think as well as doing the the Yala safari we will go to the Ussangoda beach - this looks amazing. Is it in the same place as the national park? Thank you for the suggestion.

On the way back from Tangalle to Colombo is there anything worthwhile stopping at that you would recommend?

Can you hire a car for $50 a day? I had contacted a private tour company and they have quoted $600 for the full trip (unlimited mileage).

Thanks for all the input all!

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sriguy88
sriguy88
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  • No, it is between Tangalle and Yala Park. You will just have to take a 2.5km detour from your route Tangalle - Yala. Check this map.

  • From Tangalle to Colombo you can visit 'Hummanaya' (blowhole), Dondra Light House and consider visiting a Sea Turtle Farm. There are several on Galle - Colombo road. That's all that comes to mind where you can stop by while travelling. But there are many more attractions on this route, but those take time.

  • Sorry I don't know much about hire charges.:(

Feel free to ask anything if you have doubts..

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rajamax
rajamax
In response to #7

from Tangalle to Colombo Unawatuna, Mirissa, thallela ,Hikkaduwa and benthota are good palces for beach..Galle is good for landscape (galle fort) and photography..

as your itenaray you coming on a tuesday and you going back next tuesday right??? which is 7 nights 8days??...$600 for 8 days is way too much expensive.. don't go with them... you can get a driver cheaper than that.. $45-60 per day depend on your journey...they are robbing u..

hope it helps if you want to know anything more happy to help you

Raja

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