I've been 3 times, mainly stayed in Ayurveda resorts which I'd recommend but that's not everyone's idea of a holiday. So I'd also recommend going to Ella a town set up in the mountains. It's beautiful. You can also take a train there, my wife travelled quite a bit on the trains when we last visited and the scenery is fantastic.
Went last year and loved it. Stayed in Galle then Tangalle further along the coast, then a train ride through the tea country and a stay at Gal Oya National Park. Drove back through Kandy to the edge of Colombo for a last night at a lovely guest house, Notary’s House.
If you enjoy wildlife, you can take a whale watching boat trip from near Galle - we hoped to see blue whales but ended up with a close encounter with orca. And the elephants at Gal Oya were fabulous - they swim in the lake.
We visited a couple of Buddhist temples, including one in a village on Poya - the monthly celebration of the full moon.
We found it much more relaxing than we expected and the people were very welcoming. We avoided the large resorts - found out these were a bit over-run with Russians.
Got a mate who moved over from Sri Lanka, and when he visited home and family one of the big things he mentioned was getting the train from Kandy to Ella, supposed to be spectacular scenery.
And very on brand for us obviously, going for the train.
Spent 2 months there in 2022, working + some travel. Brilliant place.
As others have said, train up to tea country & Ella a highlight. We liked Galle/Unawatuna too, and also Bentota (between Colombo and Galle). Sigiriya is also worth looking at.
I am passionate about Dambulla, which has home to sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. It has cave monastery, with five sanctuaries, and is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka.
First went when I was 25. Spent my 30th and my 40th there. Should have spent my 50th there too……thank you Covid. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people. We always tour around as there are some wonderful places to stay off the beaten track.
went 10 years ago ,retirement trip. Had a guided tour and went to the major sites many listed above. I would endorse all the positives beautiful place and people.Stayed in some lovely hotels. Minor annoyance was the guide who wanted o take us to places were he would earn a commission- he banged on about the jewel/diamond centre and after about 4/5 times we said no each time he got the message. Driving (by the guide) was really hairy. Missed out on the whale watching in Galle, wife didn't fancy the trip.Damn.
Having a little bit of Sri Lanka v NZ tonight in Dambulla, following on from a very successful two weeks of our Middlesex Seniors tour.
Played at some good venues; Trinity School Kandy, PUSA Millaniya, Mercantile Sports Club Colombo and Colombo CC. Just about got away with the weather and managed to win all five games (despite nearly ballsing up chasing 60 in one game). Plus got given a tour of Galle Stadium.
Hospitality, friendliness (on and off the field) and food, all off-the-scale superb.
Comments
We visited a couple of Buddhist temples, including one in a village on Poya - the monthly celebration of the full moon.
We found it much more relaxing than we expected and the people were very welcoming. We avoided the large resorts - found out these were a bit over-run with Russians.
And very on brand for us obviously, going for the train.
As others have said, train up to tea country & Ella a highlight. We liked Galle/Unawatuna too, and also Bentota (between Colombo and Galle). Sigiriya is also worth looking at.
Plenty more to do. Plus great food
https://www.passportandpixels.com/sri-lanka/
Should have spent my 50th there too……thank you Covid.
It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people.
We always tour around as there are some wonderful places to stay off the beaten track.
A truly fantastic place.
Stayed mainly in Colombo with a few days in Kandy and one night in Galle.
Such warm people, with a fantastic climate and wonderful food
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-11999611
Personally I'm curious as to whether there are any snakes?
Had a guided tour and went to the major sites many listed above. I would endorse all the positives beautiful place and people.Stayed in some lovely hotels.
Minor annoyance was the guide who wanted o take us to places were he would earn a commission- he banged on about the jewel/diamond centre and after about 4/5 times we said no each time he got the message.
Driving (by the guide) was really hairy.
Missed out on the whale watching in Galle, wife didn't fancy the trip.Damn.
Did anyone get the Japanese encephalitis vaccine?
Staying in decent enough hotels, some of that will be jungle time.
Played at some good venues; Trinity School Kandy, PUSA Millaniya, Mercantile Sports Club Colombo and Colombo CC. Just about got away with the weather and managed to win all five games (despite nearly ballsing up chasing 60 in one game). Plus got given a tour of Galle Stadium.
Hospitality, friendliness (on and off the field) and food, all off-the-scale superb.
Had an occasional Kiwi jogging through the grounds and a few bobbing around in the pool this morning.