got 10 days leave? spend it in sri lanka!

Follow the blue line!

So you've chosen Sri Lanka as you next holiday destination. Now the question is . . . . how do you decide where to go?

There is so much to see and do in on this fabulous island, it's hard to know where to begin when it comes to planning your holiday. So to make it easier, I'm putting together a series of suggested itineraries, to whet your appetite.

Not your stock standard routes; I've tried to add in some the more unusual and (sadly) often missed treasures as well as covering a selection of 'must see' locations

The hotels I've suggested are tried and tested. I have stayed at them all as a full paying customer, so there is no obligation for me to say 'nice' things about them. I've also included travel times as a guide. Add another 30mins or an hour for traffic, pit stops etc.

9-10 night Itinerary - 3 days Culture, 3 days Safari, 3 days Beach

Day One:  Arrival.  Most flights arrive late at night - which leaves you with two choices:

1. Stay overnight at an Airport/Negombo hotel and essentially 'waste' a day OR

2. Have a car collect you and spend another couple of hours traveling  to your destination (it's far easier and faster traveling at night).  You'll arrive at your hotel in the early hours of the morning.  Grab some sleep, get up and have a late breakfast and start your holiday. (Note you will need to book and pay for your hotel for the whole night - despite an early am arrival - but you'd have paid for an overnight airport stay anyway!) 

This travel plan assumes you will choose the latter . . . .and thus this is a nine night itinerary

Ulagalla by Uga Escapes

- Travel to Anuradhapura (3.5 hours) - Early AM check-in (grab a few hours sleep in your amazing Villa!) - Late Breakfast at hotel 

- Ancient City Tour (UNESCO Heritage listed) Entrance Fee: USD25

- Take and early evening stroll or bike ride around hotel surrounds (say hello the the horses, turtles and peacocks) then come back and take a dip in your private pool!

- Dinner at hotel

Suggested Hotel:  Ulagalla by Uga

Day Two

- Breakfast at hotel

- Travel to Dambulla (1.5 hours) - Visit Dambulla Caves on route to hotel Entrance Fee: Rs1500 approx USD9

- Lunch at Countryside Spice Garden (visit the spice garden and gem mining exhibits) - Dinner at hotel (be prepared to be spoilt with a sumptuous meal)

- Overnight Dambulla Hotel Suggested Hotel:  Lake Lodge

Lake Lodge Kandalama

Day Three - Visit Sigiriya Rock (before breakfast as its cooler and less crowded)

Entrance Fee:  USD30 

- Return to hotel for a late brunch

- Afternoon at leisure (relax by the pool and let Michel's team look after you)

- Dinner Heritance Kandalama Hotel -a renowned Geoffrey Bawa property (a famous Sri Lankan Architect)

- Overnight Dambulla Hotel

Gal Oya Lodge

Day Four                                                                                       

- Breakfast at Dambulla Hotel - Travel to Gal Oya National Park (3.25 hours)

- Lunch at hotel - Take a guided evening Nature walk with one of the lodge's naturalists - Overnight Gal Oya Lodge Suggested hotel: Gal Oya Lodge

Day Five                                                                                 

- Breakfast at Gal Oya Hotel - Boat Safari (2-3 hours boat safari plus 1.5 hrs scenic drive) USD125 plus tax per person (min 4 persons) - Lunch and Dinner at Gal Oya Lodge - Overnight Gal Oya Lodge

Day Six

- Breakfast at Gal Oya Hotel

- Walk of Discovery with the Chief Veddah (forest dwelling indigenous Sri Lanka people) (1-2 hours) USD 45 plus tax per person

- Lunch at Gal Oya Lodge - Travel to Pottuvil Point (2 hours) - Evening walk along the beach (take the puppies with you!) - Overngiht Pottuvil Point Hotel Suggested Hotel:  Kottukal Beach House by Jetwing

Kottakal Beach House by Jetwing

Day Seven

- Breakfast Pottuvil Point - Day at leisure (relax by the pool, explore the beach, unwind and enjoy the sun and the surf) - Overnight Pottuvil Point Hotel

Day Eight                                                                                       

- Breakfast at Pottuvil Point Hotel - Visit Arugam Bay

- Lunch at Arugam Bay restaurant

- Afternoon at leisure

- Overnight Pottuvil Point Hotel

Cinnamon Air

Day Nine

- Breakfast at Pottuvil Point

- Travel to Batticaloa Airport (3 hours) - Fly to Colombo International Airport (ETD:  3.30pm

ETA 5:15pm)  USD230.00 Cinnamon Air

- Overnight Negombo Hotel OR co-ordinate

departure flightfor after 9pm**

** most flights leave on or after midnight so an the domestic flight arrival time works well!

How much????

Based on non-negotiated, and estimated prices (as at the time of writing this article) this itinerary will cost approximately USD1400 to 1500 per person  (or USD150 per person per day) the pricing includes:

- Ground Transport - Hotel accommodation in some really lovely hotels (including breakfast) - All Entrance Fees and listed activities - Domestic Flight from Batticaloa to BIA

The only thing you need to add is food and booze.

Tip 1:  You can bring in 1.5 litres of spirits and 2 bottles of wine per person - duty free.  Keep your bar bill under control and bring in your allowance - some places charge corkage - but that doesn't stop you having a pre-dinner 'tipple' in your room! Kottukal Beach House is unlicensed, so they are happy to serve you your own spirits and wine.

Tip 2:  Keep your food budget in check by enjoying a large late breakfast  (included in your room rate) and skip lunch.  Your can then enjoy an indulgent dinner.  Most of the hotels on the recommended list have great menu choices.

And of course, if your budget is a little more modest you can consider ditching the domestic flight (although it will be a long haul from Pottuvil to BIA - about 8 hours by car).  You could also select a less opulent hotel in Anuradhapura (although Ulagalla is certainly worth the indulgence) The Aryana Boutique hotel looks nice.   I've not stayed there but at USD 77 / night and good reviews it might be worth checking out.   Making those two changes would reduce your daily per person budget to around USD110.

There are a myriad of other ways to spend 10 days in Sri Lanka. If you're looking for a more personalised trip, then I'd be happy to help. A 7-14 day itinerary (including on-line support via Whatsapp for the duration of your holiday) is only USD145. I'll give you two options to choose from based on your preferences and then we will work together to refine your trip, and make it perfect! Check out my website www.srilankahiddentreasures.com/itineraries or simply email me at srilankahiddentreasures@gmail.com and we can take it from there!

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

Stay tuned for more itineraries in the coming weeks.