Excellent introduction to the highlights of Sri Lanka!
Sri Lanka
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Jan 19 - Jan 26, 2025
The trip was very good. The accommodations, with one exception, were excellent. The itinerary was also very good. Our guide, Aruna, was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable about all of the places visited. Furthermore, he was very good at identifying birds which was of interest to us. He was also flexible regarding the schedule. An example, we arrived early into Colombo and to our hotel at the Heritance Kandala (excellent hotel!!). By the time we checked in we we had a few hours free so we went to the Dambulla caves instead of visiting them on the way to Kandy. Visiting them on the way to Kandy would not have provided enough time as the drive to Kandy is long. The only hitch in the itinerary was the day in Kandy. We did not attend a puja at the temple of the tooth which we now realize was something that we should have done. We visited the temple of the tooth but a puja would have made the visit better. In Kandy the hotel was too far outside the city. A very nice place but it would have been better to be in the center so that we would have wandered around the city a bit. The stop at the Gem museum in Kandy was not good. We understood that it was an attempt to sell us jewelry which is o.k but, unfortunately, the mineral displays were very week. Not much to see except what was for sale. At least the spice stop was interesting. We were glad the our train tickets were 2nd class so that we could open the windows. Our walking tour of Galle by Aruna was very good. We are glad that we did not do any of the optional activities because Galle was a nice place to just wander around. All in all an excellent trip with an excellent guide.
Hotel Reviews
Good hotel but too far from the center of the city.
Fantastic hotel!!! Great rooms, excellent food and wonderful design and location. Very good staff. The only negative is the very slow and bumpy access road to the hotel.
Excellent location near Victoria Park. Very good food and interesting a history of the hotel.
Excellent location. Hotel was a former villa with a nice swimming pool. Great staff. Well decorated and very comfortable rooms with 4-poster bed and mosquito net. Very good breakfast.
Activity Reviews
Very special place but also very crowded. We went mid-morning because the poor weather meant no sunrise but it was still very crowded. The route up was crowded and for those that are afraid of heights or in poor shape something to be avoided. However, even if you don't make the climb to the top the site is a good place to visit. The paintings on the side of the site that are seen on the descent are wonderful. Photos are prohibited of the paintings but the museum does have reproductions that can be photographed.
It was pouring rain when we were there but that was o.k. because the art is in the caves that are out of the rain. Wonderful Buddhist art...paintings and statues.
We actually visited the Hurulu Eco park which is near Minneriya and is a better place to see elephants this time of year. We did have some great views of the elephants and some very good bird sightings. We did get some rain but the open jeeps could be enclosed when it was raining so we stayed dry.
The 1000 year old ruins of Polonnaruwa were amazing! The extent and qualify of the ruins were surprising. The area is big but all the important sights were accessible by vehicle.
The temple of the tooth was fascinating. However, it would have been better to visit during a puja so that we could also see the temple drumming.
The train ride from Kandy was excellent. Comfortable and scenic. Good visit to a tea plantation and a nice walk around Victoria park (some excellent birds in the park).
