Travel Info on Sri Lanka

Hi,

We are a group of five office colleagues (aged between 48 and 25!!) planning a trip to Sri Lanka in October, 2008. Can anyone advise on the places to visit and budget accommodate option at those places? We plan to spend four nights and five days in Sri Lanka.

Thanks in advance.

You don't really have that much time. Colombo is worth a look round. Get a train to Kandy which goes through very scenic landscape. See the Temple of the Tooth and elephants. A big market there too. Anuradhapura has some old ruins, a museum and an old tree and is about 70 miles north if you can do it there and back in a day on a tour. Or maybe a quick visit to the beaches down south from Colombo.

For budget accommodation, just put in the name of a town and budget accommodation into a search engine and it'll give you plenty. Can't remember where I stayed.

With four to five days, I'd suggest that you first decide on what are your interests: are they relaxing on the beaches or shopping or cultural sightseeing or active holidays with rafting etc?

Based on that the following can be options:
(1) Shopping: Colombo and the outskirts of Kadawatha, Maharagama etc as well as Kandy
(2) Beaches: Southern end of Sri Lanka - Tangalle, Matara, Weligama Bay
(3) Cultural sightseeing - Anuradhapura (the Sri Maha Bodhi tree - the ancient tree that is the most important in Sri Lanka as it is believed to be from the sapling gifted by Mahinda and Sangamitha, Emperor Asoka's children to the King Thevanampiyatissa and the numerous ruins and the stories behind them are very interesting, provided you find a good guide), Polonnaruwa (the still used ancient tank which is still the largest tank in Sri Lanka and several ruins), Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy
(4) Sportive holiday: White water rafting at Kukuleganga and Avissawela or Yala safari or mountain climbing

All the above can be managed in any range of budgets if you choose the accommodation within your budget.

For some more information, do visit the Sri Lanka travel guide at Travellerspoint... there is quite a bit of information that can be useful for your group.

Thanks a lot both of you!!

If you do go to Kandy and want budget, central, "character" accommodation, have a look at:

http://www.queenshotel.lk

Only about US$24 per night.
Doesn't get very good reviews from most travellers, but you get what you pay for.

As a first time visitor you must visit following sites in sri lanka.

Pinnawala elephant orphanage
Kandy
Sigiriya
Dambulla
Nuwaraeliya

Those are main attraction in sri lanka when you asking fro budget accommodation minimum cost fro basic double room will be abound 8-10 us$ per night . then I would like to further recommend hikkaduwa/ unwatuna beaches at south cost to stay last part of your holiday in sri lanka , ample budget guest houses there.

If you need contact detail of local driver please contact [snip] my usual driver during my stay .

Web- [snip]

Thanks you,

henri

[ Edit: Sorry, no promos please. ]