Sri Lanka - travel tips...any help appreciated!

As always it depends on what you are looking for, but these are my highlights (admittedly from a good few years ago).
  • Sigiriya - it's a ruined temple complex on top of a massive rock in the middle of the jungle.
  • Kandy - an amazingly preserved old city
  • An elephant safari - loads of companies now offer these. You get a jeep and a driver and head out into the bush/jungle. We got close up to loads of wild elephants (plus held up at gun point by the Sri Lankan army but that's a different story - it was just after the civil war had finished and we stopped right in the middle of a hidden check point 😀)
Edited to add - how could I forget about the food. Loads of different curries - especially the Madras strength breakfast one.
 
My last foreign holiday was to Sri Lanka just before lockdown. Would agree with everything stbe said, would only add a visit to Nuwara Eliya, known as ‘little England’, a beautiful place in the mountains, much cooler (but still hot!), it was called Little England as that was where the plantation owners retreated to in the hight of summer.
If you can the rail journey from Kandy to Colombo, jungle mountains to coast is really good. Lots of interesting historic and beautiful places to visit on your tour. Food is excellent, if your into that sort of thing! And enjoy the beach at Negombo👍
 
stbe said:
As always it depends on what you are looking for, but these are my highlights (admittedly from a good few years ago).
  • Sigiriya - it's a ruined temple complex on top of a massive rock in the middle of the jungle.
  • Kandy - an amazingly preserved old city
  • An elephant safari - loads of companies now offer these. You get a jeep and a driver and head out into the bush/jungle. We got close up to loads of wild elephants (plus held up at gun point by the Sri Lankan army but that's a different story - it was just after the civil war had finished and we stopped right in the middle of a hidden check point 😀)
Edited to add - how could I forget about the food. Loads of different curries - especially the Madras strength breakfast one.
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Lots of local tourist mini bus tours covering these places and the tea plantation hills. They are really good with accommodation in the mountains and cheap too.
Also went on the train to Galle in South Sri Lanka
Northern parts were still out of bounds when I was there.
 
seasideone said:
Thanks guys - appreciated 👍

Anyone else got any?
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Negombo to Colombo is no distance, and Colombo has some amazing temples, and tailors if you want to get a few shirts.

Arugam Bay is the best beach in the country, and if you're feeling adventurous...(can't remember the names for these) there's an island to the north which has wild horses and a hot springs in the formerly Tamil Tiger controlled area.

Lovely country. Drink as much tea as you can!
 
Plan to avoid going during the rainy/ monsoon season.
If on a road bike and your route takes you via Ella gap (nice views) do not get legless the night before the descent.
 
I've been twice in the last two years living in Dubai. Including landing on the first day it opened for tourists, where everyone in the tourism industry had to wear a full Hazmat suit (even while hiking!).

A lot of the stuff I've done has been mentioned above.

Yalla national park is good for safari if you're down that way. We saw a couple of leopards but were very lucky. There's plenty of chance to see Blue Whales off the south coast at the right time of year. Do your research on the elephant stuff. A lot of places don't have the best record regarding cruelty.

Hikkaduwa is a nice little beach spot.

Galle is really good for cool little bars and restaurants and watching the world go by...
 
The locals are some of the nicest people you can meet. The elephant sanctuary is a highlight too remember, still recall being given the chance to get in the river and bath them. I also stayed in Negombo (Dolphin Hotel👍)if you are planning any trips into say Columbo, or seeing local wildlife give the business to the locals rather than the main companies, they won’t let you down and will be cheaper. If you want shopping it’s worth making the trip into Columbo, last time we went (5 years ago) not much shopping in the Negombo area, even with a local guide to offer suggestions.
 
seasideone said:
Off on my first jolly in over two years today and cannot wait.

We are doing a tour of Sri Lanka for three weeks, starting in Negombo for 5 nights.

Anyone got any tips, especially for Negombo?
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There is a cracking restaurant on the Main Street which is reasonably priced. Maybe called Salt? The boat tours into the lagoons are really good. We used a local lad who picked us in his scooter thing. Top guys. The sea of Negombo is not particularly clean and smells. South of Colombo is best for clean water.
 
Travelled around Sri Lanka years and years ago and loved it. The one place in Asia that I would consider retiring to.

Top tip: We found ourselves facing a buffet dinner on our first night there, created for foreign tourists. The dining room was bleak, the diners miserable looking, and the staff properly unenthusiastic. I wasn't up for warmed-over sausage and mash, so grabbed a waiter and asked him what he was having for dinner. "Rice and curry, sir." "Can we have some?" Bit of toing and froing followed, and then a fabulous meal turned up, served by the happiest waiter you've ever seen. The looks on the faces of the other diners were priceless.

Next morning, Rice Krispies or scrambled egg? Grabbed another waiter, same questions, same result: rice and curry, breakfast stylee. This time the head chef came out, beaming ear to ear. We also got a takeway lunch – of rice and curry, natch – wrapped in a banana leaf.

We did this for the full three weeks, and made friends all along the way. Worth considering if you don't mind a bit of spice.
 
Sri Lankan beer is also great. Lots of strong stouts along with local lagers.

There's also Arrack - distilled from fermented coconut flowers. It's a bit potent though.
 
seasideone said:
Off on my first jolly in over two years today and cannot wait.

We are doing a tour of Sri Lanka for three weeks, starting in Negombo for 5 nights.

Anyone got any tips, especially for Negombo?
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Went there on Honeymoon , 40 years ago!
Browns beach hotel Negombo, great.
Kandy and other places, well worth the trek too. Mount Lavinia Hotel on coast just south of Columbo is also a place not to miss.
 
Do the elephant tour in the middle of the island - it was truly awesome. Curry brekky, yes. Trains are fun. The mountains are much cooler - round the tea plantations - need a jumper. The churches in Negombo were bombed when we were there a few years ago, but I never sensed any risk anywhere - people are brilliant.
 
Hey mate.
What a place! The first thing i recommend doing is finding a private driver. I highly recommend this guy on facebook (Search) /deesa.dassanayaka

if he is busy - ask him for a recommendation. every hotel has a driver's accommodation so they just stick with you for the whole trip! You 100% need an air conditioned car otherwise its a challenging trip. They'll also stop off sporadically at little places and show you things you'd never consider! Keep money aside for a nice tip at the end.

Hikkaduwah ---> Galle (fort) ---> Unawatuna (Amazing beach) --->Yala National Park (Stayed in the jetwing which was nice)

Hoppers and curry for breakfast

When you're driver is having a break and you want to explore the immediate area try and use the local tuktuks

Ella and Kandy too (The train).
 
TonyWaitersCap said:
Went there on Honeymoon , 40 years ago!
Browns beach hotel Negombo, great.
Kandy and other places, well worth the trek too. Mount Lavinia Hotel on coast just south of Columbo is also a place not to miss.
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Another one for Brown's beach. Although it's nearly 20 years since we went, really welcoming country. We travelled around taking in all previously mentioned places in the first week then had a week at browns. Its on the lower level of accommodation grading but we loved it. We got a local fixer on day one at the beach. Great guy, worked well for local knowledge and arranging trips and to also keep hawkers at bay allowing us to have unhindered movement. His family made some leather goods for beach sellers, we put them in contact with a family friend who importedthat sort of stuff back then, sadly they lost contact after the tsunami.There is great beauty alongside simple living, many choose to hide behind the walls of the all inclusive hotels further south which is a choice thing of course. Definitely a place we will return to. Maybe miss out on the fish curry for breakfast next time though.
 
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