Thinking about Sri Lanka
Now that the government have cornered the rebels to the north, I'm thinking about Sri Lanka for a holiday this June.
Lonely Planet suggests these as a 'must do'. Anything else I need to know about? Any recommendations for where to stay? Where to eat, drink etc?
1 Ancient Cities
Visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya – the magnificent relics of Sri Lanka's golden age
2 Arugam Bay
A wonderfully easy-going beach village offering Sri Lanka's best surfing, great lagoon trips and ample wildlife-spotting opportunities
3 Ella
This sleepy village-with-a-view is the perfect base for walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls
4 Yala National Park
Take a wildlife safari – it's your best chance to spot the elusive leopard
5 Horton's Plains & World's End
Beautiful, silent and strange, these sweeping plains come to a breathtaking vertical drop – a classic sunrise walk
6 Kandy
History and culture, delightful old shops, lush green hills and a touch of urban buzz – all this and the country's most spectacular annual festival
7 Adam's Peak
Take the night-time pilgrimage up this sacred mountain for an eerily magnificent sunrise view
8 Sinharaja Forest Reserve
This untouched rainforest is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts
9 Galle
Join the locals in their sunset stroll around the old ramparts of this charming historic town
10 Southern Beaches
From popular Unawatuna to sleepy Mirissa, you're sure to find a long stretch of white sand to suit you
Nuwara Eliya in the hill country is beautiful...you can walk to Adams Peak if I remember rightly.
Sigiriya Rock is a must see. It's a bit of a climb to the top and you should start early in the morning before it gets to hot.
http://www.hillclubsrilanka.net/index.html
-------------------------------------
I have a house in Mirissa, if you want to avoid the pressure of the tourist traps and have the whole beach to yourself and just chill , its a good spot for it .
Take plenty of pics and have an exhibition for us whe you come back safely ..
I can do rain - I was in Malaysia in a monsoon at xmas :o)
The Sri Lankan people are very warm and inviting. They are justifibly very proud of their country and most of the time will act as a tour guide for very little. It is a gorgeous place to visit.
Jack ir right regarding the weather. Don't let it put you off though, it is still a great place to visit in any season.
I will hoist that up the flag pole and see who salutes it!!
baldrick2dogs...I guess June will be Rainy Season there....
I think around cooler December would be better.....just a wild guess.....
There are more than a lakh people displaced due to LTTE and Military arm twist and they are moving down south.. the possibility for u to not get robbed or Mugged. Its a Paradise for sure.. but make you plans wisely.
Regards
BitWits
1. Take plenty of Mozzie repellent & sun screen.
2. try to go to kalpitiya if you like whale/dolphin's .
3. If you are going between August & September then you should go see "the gathering" one of the largest elephant [wild] gatherings in asia ... this would be in Minneriya... most hotels there have safari tours to the park.
4. If you go to Arugum bay you should go hear the " singing fish"
i heard there's some great surfing surfing near the southern beaches. hopefully one day i'll try.
Great , you can also visit the tea estates , they are so beautiful, and also can enjoy the best tea, one of my friend owns a tea estate there ,they also have a tourist guide.