Tell me about Sri Lanka

[cardy1969]

We're looking at going to Sri Lanka on holiday next year and just doing a bit of research. Can anyone help with:

1. What is the weather like in Late July early August?
2. Best beach area to stay - we'd like to have about a week in a relaxing beachy area?
3. Best places to visit/spend a few nights for a bit of culture, local interest, tea plantations etc.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Just to answer one of your questions we went to the Maldives after Sri Lanka for our beach bit. Think there are some strong currents off the Sri Lankan coast. Whole holiday was fabulous. Favourite bit was the tea plantations though also upsetting. Lovely lovely lovely people.

Thank you. Not sure our budget stretches to the Maldives as well. Did you go in a package holiday? What time of year was it?

Lonely Planet have a good online guide to Sri Lanka that's pretty detailed that you might find useful? We've not been yet but have used that & the Sri Lanka itineraries of Intrepid Travel & Audley to plan our trip (Colombo /Kandy with day trips to Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya & Dambulla/Tangalle for the beach & day trip to Udawalawe National Park). Sure there will be stuff we will be missing (Galle & Ella & Yal a look interesting). Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the online suggestions, will take a look. When are you going SJane?

That time of year you’re better heading to the East coast for beaches - it should be dryer than the south and west. I’ve not been to the east coast so can't help there, but definitely buy the Lonely Planet for advice.

Ella is lovely for scenery and tea plantations, some nice easy hiking and local life. Get the train from Kandy, long trip but the views are amazing, just make sure you book the tickets in advance. Could break up the journey with a night in Nuwara Eliya. Kandy is a busier city but is good for a night or 2 - temple of the tooth, British garrison cemetery and the lake all worth a wander. Sigiriya is a lovely little village with the Sigiriya rock temple to see - you can get the train from Colombo to Habarana then a tuktuk to Sigiriya. You can also easily do day trips from here to Dambulla for the cave temples, Polonnaruwa for the ancient temples and the national parks for elephant safari.

How long are you going for? Are you happy in guest houses or upmarket hotels and would you be happy to get around yourselves or with a full time driver?

cardy1969, well hopefully April as long as something has been sorted out re airspace post Brexit! Did you take your kids WhatYouGonnaDoKatie? The train ride to Ella looks wonderful..just not sure if my 10 year old DD is going to be up to it without extreme whinging! Cardy, I've looked into private transfer companies in SL and gone with one with lots of 5* tripadvisor reviews so if you're going that route too and want their details, let me know.

WhatYouGonnaDoKatie? The train ride to Ella looks wonderful..just not sure if my 10 year old DD is going to be up to it without extreme whinging!

I don’t have children yet, was just with my husband, but can imagine it might be too long with a 10 year old to do the whole way Kandy to Ella. Might be better to do either Kandy to Nurawa Eliya or Nuwara Eliya to Ella so you get part of the experience on the train without it being too much!

Ta - sounds a plan!

Sounds lovely. Will look into the ideas you suggested.