North & North East Sri Lanka - August

[Rosscow]

Hi all,

We've booked flights for next summer to Sri Lanka, and are just trying to finalise our itinerary.

Has anyone had any experience with the following areas:

Colombo (1 night only after arriving)
Habarana (for Sigiriya and Elephants) approx 4 nights
Trincomalee area (for beach) approx 6 nights
Wilpattu reserve (obviously for safari). Also for visiting Anuradhapura. Approx 4 nights.
Negombo (1 night only prior to departure)

Especially interested in any views/experiences on the Wilpattu safari options, and Habarana elephant area.

Thanks in advance!

[Rosscow]

Thread bump!

[Rumdoodle]

Rosscow said:

Hi all,

We've booked flights for next summer to Sri Lanka, and are just trying to finalise our itinerary.

Has anyone had any experience with the following areas:

Colombo (1 night only after arriving)
Habarana (for Sigiriya and Elephants) approx 4 nights
Trincomalee area (for beach) approx 6 nights
Wilpattu reserve (obviously for safari). Also for visiting Anuradhapura. Approx 4 nights.
Negombo (1 night only prior to departure)

Especially interested in any views/experiences on the Wilpattu safari options, and Habarana elephant area.

Thanks in advance!

I spent a couple of years there and left a decade ago, so things may have moved on a bit. But, it's probably still true to say that a night in each of Colombo and Negombo is sufficient. Some beautiful hotels in Colombo, such as the Galle Face, and nice restaurants and heritage sites. Not much to do in Negombo, but it's convenient for the airport.

Trincomalee - I used to transit through there on flights from Colombo to Jaffna and back. Never actually got off the plane, but the beaches are apparently rather nice. They looked it, and so is most of the coastline north of there too.

Anuradhapura - plenty to fill a busy day. Ornate and quite different to other sites on the usual tourist routes. Not spectacular, but certainly interesting.

[Rosscow]

Thanks! Agreed re: Colombo and Negombo, only a night at each.

[aberdeeneuan]

Negombo - for a one night pre-transit it's a decent option. Plenty of places to eat out, but in reality we were there less than 12 hours on the way in and out.

East coast beaches - we stayed up there for the best part of a week as a chill out having gone all over the first week. We were concerned that we'd get bored, but lots to do if you want it, if you want to chill you can. We did a few day trips out (picked up a local driver for the day). It's very different to the west/central areas.

Habarana - amazing area with lots of do. We had three nights here, should have done 4. Elephants are all in this area in August ("the gathering" happens nearby), just be flexible on which park you go to to maximise what you can see. Sigiriya - get up and do it at sunrise, it's quieter and cooler. The walk up is fine, just be aware that stairs to the top are pretty exposed and if you aren't good with heights, it's not an easy walk! Many do the hill opposite (Pidurangala). The walk is harder but the view of Sigiriya is amazing. It can be very busy at sunrise though. Dambulla is good.

We didn't do the northern parks, but went to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, one night in Kandy was enough for to see the temple and a wander round the lake and head to see tea plantations. Nuwara Eliya was lovely but wet as it's high in the tea plantations. We'd like to go back to do Yala and Galle next time.

Be aware - August has some holidays and watch for full moons - there is zero alcohol for sale anywhere on full moon days and in certain areas for holidays.

It's an amazing country, we loved it.