Sri Lanka

michele-p

Ok flights booked for Nov 5th to the 20th. Serious research time now to work out our route. I think it's around a month before "ideal" weather time, but it's the only time we can get time off to go.

I'm sure I'll update this thread with itieries and questions.

sazaccount

I loved Sri Lanka I went for a week solo backpacking I was working in India at the time.

I absolutely loved it, the trains are cheap and frequent I started in Colombo there’s a bus that runs from the airport into the city with wifi! for only 130 sinr compared to thousands for a taxi. I spent a day touring round going to the museum (which I really recommend) then everything else was pretty much walk able e.g. the park, lake, temples and getting a public bus back to my hostel.

I then got the train along the south coast to hikkidoua (I know that’s spent wrong) where I had booked into do some diving as they have a lot of wrecks of the coast they even have 2 resident turtles in the bay which you can snoorkel and see!! The train view was beautiful on one side the beach and the sea and on the other the vibrant colours of the island. There was accommodation for every budget but have ac when your on the coast as it was HOT!

After a few days I got the train back to Colombo to then got the train to kandy personally I just went second class on the day but you can get a private train with an observation deck check out the man in seat 69 for some really good information for the trains. I walked round kandy and then the next day got the train to Ella where the 9 arches bridge is. Beautiful journey though the tea plantations and mountains just mind blowing!!

If I had more time/money I would of loved to of gone to the elephants/national park but maybe next time

michele-p

Thanks for this, I like the sound of snorkelling and diving. Back in the day (sound ancient!) I did my advanced padi course in Egypt, but my husband isn't keen, he loves snorkelling though.

We have definitely included the Kandy to Ella train on the wish list too.

sazaccount

My other price of advise is pack as light as you can especially if your taking the trains. I only had hand luggage which was great for getting around just watching people struggle with big suitcases and rucksacks there's nowhere to really store them on the trains other than the overhead racks which are quite high it took 3 of us to lift someone's rucksack up. Also you really don't need a lot of clothes most places offered a washing service even at the hostels I stayed in! I went in march this year.

DonnySaver

Can I ask how you get on money-wise in Sri Lanka? Not many foreign exchanges appear to stock Sri Lankan Rupees here in the UK. I've heard that there are limits on how much money you can take in and bring out? Is it easy to find ATMs in Sri Lanka?

[Deleted User]

DonnySaver wrote: »

Can I ask how you get on money-wise in Sri Lanka? Not many foreign exchanges appear to stock Sri Lankan Rupees here in the UK. I've heard that there are limits on how much money you can take in and bring out? Is it easy to find ATMs in Sri Lanka?

We took a moneycard from the post office loaded with sterling. Left our debit and credit cards at home.
ATMs everywhere, we only used those in hotels or shopping malls for security. Withdrew in rupees.

The Sri Lankan rupee is a closed currency so you shouldnt get it outside of Sri Lanka and you shouldn't leave the country with it. We still have a small amount as we forgot but nobody asked about it leaving.

michele-p

We have a post office zero fee credit card but there is a charge for cash withdrawals - I'll need to investigate and remind myself of the best cards for cash withdrawal then - I have a clarity card somewhere but never used it/would need new pin ect. We also have a nationwide flex account, so will read up on them too.

sazaccount

ATMs were easy to find, but don't use one at the airport as they are super
expensive maybe take a small amount of GBP to exchange at the airport just to get you into the city

From experience take the money quickly as the machines seem quicker to receive take the money. Silly me left it too long as I was looking at something else and he machine swallowed £200 of my money, took a bit of time to get it back from nationwide luckily I had the receipt from the next withdrawal to get the location and time. Cards are widely accepted even some of the hostels took them.

Sandtree

pradeep1991 said:

 plan to visit srilanka most popular safari destination recommend all travelers world highest leopard paradise in yala srilanka 

The no entry for non-Sri Lankans, 14 day quarantine in a governmental facility followed by 14 days "at home" however may be a bit of a put off to most potential tourists though.