Hi there,
Generally, travelers end their trip in the south during this season to relax on the beaches.
Around Christmas and New Year, the south of the island will be just as busy—if not busier—than the Cultural Triangle. If you want to avoid tourists, head to Jaffna.
Here are my recommendations:
- 1 night in Uda Walawe is enough, especially since you can also do the safari from Tangalle.
- I also prefer Haputale to Ella—it’s more authentic.
- 1 night in Nuwara Eliya is enough unless you want to see waterfalls, hike the Pekoe Trail, or visit Horton Plains National Park.
- There’s no need to stay in Dambulla; you can visit it on the way to Sigiriya or Kandy if you reverse your itinerary.
- Mihintale can be visited from Anuradhapura, which will save you from changing accommodations too often.
- Kalpitiya is nice but not essential.
By reorganizing your itinerary, you’ll save nights, allowing you to explore the Jaffna peninsula and don’t miss Delft Island, which are spots largely untouched by mass tourism.
Happy planning, and looking forward to hearing from you!
Fabien
Don’t miss it! While my memories of many places I visited are a bit fuzzy, there are three that remain crystal clear in my mind and full of emotion.
- Adam’s Peak with its pilgrims unrolling their spools of thread along the path... the wealthy, pot-bellied merchants on their sedan chairs, etc. The temple (and the footprint of Buddha! ) and the view from the top (if the weather’s nice).
Don’t make the same mistake I did—climb in the afternoon because of the heat, but early in the morning instead. 😉
- Kataragama during the festival: quite impressive, but you won’t be there during the festivities. The surrounding area—Tissamaharama and its lakes—is worth exploring!
- Nuwara Eliya: Very relaxing, and you’ll need a light sweater! There are great walks to do—it’s a bit like the "mountains."
PS: I passed through Galle—no memory of it. 3 nights seems like a lot!
Thanks everyone for these invaluable tips!
It's great to find real experts on the place here ¾
@fabien: your site is a real goldmine! 😉
@jean-michel: the site immediately caught my eye, just like the Golden Rock in Myanmar.
@ben: I’ve taken all the notes!
I’ll compile all of this. I think I’ll stop trying to be clever and switch to "clockwise" mode, including Jaffna.
Either way, there’ll be plenty to see, no matter what ¾
For beach time, any preferences? A little preserved stretch of sand? Talalla for Fabien? 😛
Things must have changed a lot since 1975—it’d be great to hear from people who’ve been there recently—but Hikkaduwa and Bentota were two charming fishing villages nestled in beautiful coconut groves.
Surfers were starting to discover the spots.
Just a heads-up: the sea was a bit dangerous for swimming. It still is along the entire west coast and even further south. The beach itself, though, is huge.
The east coast around Trincomalee is better for safe swimming.
At this time of year, you’ll definitely want to head south, but even in the south, some beaches are best avoided. Tangalle is still the best option for peace and quiet overall.
And you won’t regret Jaffna—I’m sure of it.
Like Fabien, I prefer Tangalle, but specifically Goyambokka Beach in Tangalle.
@Djalma Hikkaduwa has turned into apartment blocks occupied by the large Russian community, and Bentota into huge hotels surrounded by walls. You and I were in Sri Lanka back in the 70s, and like you, I traveled by road back then. But since I’ve been back often, I’ve seen the changes over the last 40 years.
I can just imagine how attractive the place was even back then, especially for surfers...
I still remember a fishing village with canoes on the beach—not a city at all. 🤪
I also learned that after the tsunami, the road and houses that were by the sea were rebuilt further inland.
It's tricky to settle on an itinerary, especially since I feel this one could be improved along the way...
After much thought, here’s what it might look like—these stops are just bases for exploring the surrounding areas:
Day 1: NEGOMBO 1N to recover from the flight landing at 10 PM
D2/D3: KALPITIYA 2N for dolphins and some rest (I’m overwhelmed by the accommodation options)
D4/D5: ANURADHAPURA 2N to start exploring
D6/7/8: JAFFNA 3N for its tranquility and immersion
D9: ANURADHAPURA 1N to break up the journey
D10–13: HABARANA 4N because there’s so much to see nearby
D14–16: KANDY 3N (any hotel recommendations?)
D17/18: HATTON 2N for Adam’s Peak
D19/20: HAPUTALE 2N for Horton Plains
D21: UDAWALAWE 1N for the safari
D22–25: TANGALLE 4N (how is it possible to have so many accommodation choices?)
D26: GALLE 1N
D27: COLOMBO 1N, since the flight leaves at 2 AM...
I’m really struggling with Booking in Sri Lanka—so many highly rated places seem suspicious. Gotta narrow it down... And the price range is all over the place! Feel free to share your recent favorites 😉
If I’m lucky, I’d love to take the famous train from KANDY to Ella, but I can’t figure out how to fit it with Hatton and HAPUTALE. Any thoughts?
Thanks for your input—it’s been super helpful so far.
Here are a few places along your route—check if they fit your budget!
**Days 14–16 (KANDY, 3 nights)** – Same as before (any hotel ideas?): St. Bridget Country Bungalow or Nature Walk Resort (rooms 14, 4, or 2).
**Days 17–18 (HATTON, 2 nights)** – For Adam’s Peak: Punsisi Resort in Dalhousie and Princess of Dickoya in Dickoya.
**Days 19–20 (HAPUTALE, 2 nights)** – For Horton Plains and Lipton’s Seat: Amarasinghe or Leisure Mount View.
**Day 21 (UDAWALAWE, 1 night)** – For the safari: Nature House (they offer both hotel stays and jeep safaris with a driver for the park).
For the end of your trip, from Galle, I’ll head to Colombo to explore Pettah Market, then up to Negombo for the evening, a shower, and a final meal before the airport.
If I’m lucky, I’d love to take the famous train from KANDY to ELLA. But I can’t seem to fit it in with Hatton and HAPUTALE—any thoughts?
Kandy to Hatton, then two nights later, Hatton to Haputale.
My take? It’s tricky to get a reserved seat on this train for a bunch of reasons—everyone wants to take it, but tickets are sold way in advance to guides and travel agencies.
If I don’t manage to get a reservation at the Kandy counter, I’ll take the bus to Hatton instead.
Then, for Hatton to Haputale, the ticket counter opens an hour before departure, and it’ll be packed like you. The trick is to board the right carriage—if you don’t have a reserved seat, don’t bother trying to sneak in. Just get on a unreserved carriage, toss your bags on the bunks, and prepare for 4 hours standing—but you’ll make friends!
Haputale is one hour before Ella on the line.
Regarding the cultural triangle, do the timing and cities you’ve chosen seem logical to you?
With 4 nights, you’ve got plenty of time—the cultural triangle (Sigiriya and Dambulla), Minneriya National Park.
After that, if you’re not already feeling overwhelmed by tourist sites and your entry-ticket budget is limitless, check out the Aukana Buddhas or the ruins of ancient Polonnaruwa.
Why try to see everything? I think you’ll enjoy leaving some free time, a little breathing room, to wander and soak it all in.
Thanks for your reply.
No worries, the goal isn’t to see everything—quite the opposite!
My question was mainly about whether the 3 stops—Kandy/Hatton/Haputale—make sense and if they’re a logical route. Or even if it’d be better to cut it down to 2 longer stops and explore the surrounding areas.
Days 14 to 16: KANDY (3 nights) – same plan (any hotel ideas?)
Days 17/18: HATTON (2 nights) for Adam’s Peak
Days 19/20: HAPUTALE (2 nights) for Horton Plains
Three nights in Kandy seems good to me. You can visit the botanical garden, the Temple of the Tooth, Ambuluwawa, or Hunas Falls if you have time. You could even take a day trip to the Knuckles Range, but you’ll need a guide.
Then, head to Hatton by train or bus, and from there, it’s a two-hour bus ride to Dalhousie for the nighttime pilgrimage.
Set off at 2:30 AM—bring something warm to wait for sunrise. That moment among the pilgrims is pretty magical... After descending, have breakfast before taking the bus to Dickoya for a walk around Castlereagh Reservoir and a restful night. The place is stunning.
The next day, you’ll head to Haputale, but two nights fly by, and Haputale deserves more time.
Watch the sunrise over Horton Plains and explore the park, then the next day, catch the sunrise at Lipton’s Seat and hike back down to Haputale (14 km). Afterward, head to Udawalawe for a safari after lunch.
It’s up to you whether these three stops make sense, but for me, they’re a great fit. This part of your trip is the Sri Lanka I love—much more than the sites in the Cultural Triangle.
Happy planning!
Hi Bruno,
I’m not sure if “sexy” really fits Haputale, or if it can be compared to Kandy.
Haputale is a large village in the middle of tea fields, much like Ella, but it’s almost untouched by the mass tourism that affects the area. It has the same attractions, but it stays peaceful.
So, from there, if you want to see Horton Plains, ask your host to find you a driver who’ll pick you up at 4:30 AM and take you to the park when it opens. Of course, you’ll need an entry ticket, and then the hike to World’s End can begin. At dawn, it can freeze up there... The vegetation is alpine, but there aren’t many animals—just exceptional views. It takes up most of the morning.
For Lipton’s Seat, the best thing is to negotiate a tuk-tuk in the village the day before and head there very early. I like walking back to Haputale on foot, but if it’s too long, hop on a bus. The views during this walk are just as beautiful as up there, and you’ll meet people in the small villages. Haputale sits on a ridge, and it gets cold at night, so the road to Lipton’s Seat will be chilly! It’s best to start early because by midday, clouds from the east coast often roll in and settle over the village, leaving it in the mist for the rest of the day. During the day, you might also see swarms of butterflies on their way to Adam’s Peak, where, according to Sri Lankans, they go to die...
Before the Pekoe Trail was created, I’d done hikes through the plantations that took me either toward Idalgashinna and back or to Lipton’s Seat but along the higher paths. The Pekoe Trails website offers paid itineraries (stages 12, 13, and 14).
For meals, try Risara Baker Restaurant behind the bus stop and Lettuce and Cabbage on the first floor after the level crossing in the middle of the village. Otherwise, on the left sidewalk of the street going downhill, there are a few other restaurants.
For places to stay, I’d mentioned Amarasinghe, which has always been my go-to, and Leisure Mount View, a bit farther away but with insane views and right by the Pekoe Trail.
When leaving Haputale for Udawalawe, ask your host if there are direct buses. I’ve done it by bus, taxi, and even tuk-tuk, but I’ll let you decide.
More precise than that, you’re killing it—thanks a million!
I’ve booked at Leisure Mount View, it looks magical!!
Missed out on Princess of Dickoya, it’s fully booked for my dates 🙁
Missed out on Princess of Dickoya—fully booked for my dates.
I’d choose between these two options:
either look for a room on Booking around Dickoya and Hatton. The goal was to enjoy a rest day after the Adam’s Peak pilgrimage, and the Castlereagh Reservoir is a great spot for that. Anyway, don’t stay two nights in Dalhousie.
Or, push on to Nuwara Eliya for a nice chilly night under the covers. There’s an early train from Nanu Oya (NE’s station) to Haputale at 9:30 the next day.
Actually, I spent 2 nights in Nallathanniya (Huggins clouds) so I could start the climb directly without a transfer, even though I know the town doesn’t look too exciting 😅.
The price was very reasonable, so we’ll see on the way down if we have the energy to go further or if we’ll stay put.
At almost 60, you’ve gotta pace yourself ;)
To make your getaway to Adam's Peak a bit easier,
Nallathanniya is a terminus village at the bottom of a valley, a two-hour bus ride from Hatton.
The bus will take you from one lake to another on small roads winding through hills planted with tea and pine forests.
Nallathanniya and Dalhousie are the same village—more like a street lined with hotels and restaurants for pilgrims, plus a huge parking lot for big crowds. Loudspeakers play Buddhist chants at dusk and all night long.
About your choice, Huggins Clouds is right across from the address I suggested: Punsisi, which, oddly, only lists its high-end rooms on Booking, even though they have very affordable bungalows. So no need for a transfer.
Some places offer a flat rate for dinner, a short night’s stay, and breakfast on your return, since pilgrims only stay one night.
You can’t skip mentioning your climb to the temple that lights up the summit at night. The path is lit from bottom to top—a glowing garland winding around the Peak.
Three levels of difficulty will follow one after another, and in the final staircase, the handrail is a welcome help.
It’s possible that crowds at the summit, where you walk around the temple, might be managed by novices who ask you to go back down because it’s packed. Wait for sunrise a little lower down.
Otherwise, the sunrise over the distant mountains and the mist over the valleys always moves me, surrounded by pilgrims of all religions. But since, for Christians, this is the passage between earth and paradise, I have a few thoughts up there for loved ones.
The descent leaves some marks on your legs, but with daylight, it’s a beautiful walk back down to the village.
On the other hand, if the weather calls for rain, forget it—I’ve tried it...
Hi Ben, and thanks for all these details.
So, I’ve adjusted my plans to only spend one night in Nallathanniya, since that seems to be the norm.
Especially since I finally found availability at Princess of Dickoya for the next two nights! That’ll help us tackle those 5,000 steps more easily.
In Kandy, I booked at White Lodge—it’s better rated than Nature Walk Resort, and St. Bridget Bungalow was out of budget. Maybe you know it?
Fingers crossed for the weather!
PS: Any great recommendations for our last two nights in GALLE?
I’m planning a Kerala/Tamil Nadu trip and can’t decide between these two spots.
We’ll be coming from Madurai by taxi.
Munnar seemed perfect for some hiking and great views.
But I’ve heard about Idukki, which is less touristy...
So I’d love to hear your experiences to help me choose.
We’re heading to Sri Lanka for 23 days in January 2027—there are four of us—and we’ll wrap up the trip with 5 days in Mumbai. Our itinerary is coming together, but what do you think? (We can’t change the dates since our flights are already booked.)
We still have one night to slot in, and I’ve tentatively planned it in Tangalle, though it was a bit random. Would it make more sense to place it at a different stop? Or is there an intermediate stop I might be missing?
I’ve got accommodations sorted everywhere except Mumbai—it’s a nightmare (either way too expensive or really dodgy). By default, we’ve spotted the Residency Hotel Fort, but 70 € a night (with a discount) for a hotel that doesn’t offer anything special in India?!
Hey everyone,
Just a quick note to clear up a few things you see all over the web about SIM cards when you arrive in Bhutan. Between outdated info and people just making stuff up, it gets confusing fast.
Basically, once you’ve picked up your luggage at Paro Airport, TashiCell and Bhutan Telecom have their counters side by side. Prices are the same, but watch out for the detail that trips everyone up:
If you want an eSIM, the airport only sells it with unlimited plans (the pricier ones, around $13–20).
If you want a smaller classic plan with 3 or 5 GB, at the airport it’ll only be a physical SIM.
No need to splurge on international eSIMs before takeoff—the local SIM takes 2 minutes to buy on the spot with your passport.
If you want to check the real rates and see photos of the signs at the counter to plan ahead, I found this super clear recap: https://sogdiaroam.com/fr/blog/carte-sim-esim-touriste-bhoutan-aeroport-paro-2026
Just pick the shortest line between the two operators—no need to compare.
Hello!
We're a family of 4—3 adults and a 14-year-old. We're seasoned travelers with a passion for science, culture, and history. In short, we love discovering and learning.
We'll be in India for 3 weeks, from December 11, 2026 (in Goa) to January 3, 2027 (in Thiruvananthapuram).
We're looking for one or more drivers to handle the journey and guides who speak clear, fluent English, French, or Spanish. We'd love guides who are knowledgeable, passionate about their region, and able to answer our countless questions while giving us in-depth insights into the places, rituals, culture, and more.
Do you know of such guides or drivers, or have any tips on how to find people who can help us create unforgettable memories?
Thank you so much in advance!
Cat
Hi everyone,
The "Rometorio" app is super handy—you just enter a departure city and a destination, and it suggests train, bus, and flight routes. For trains, you get the name and number of each one along with the schedules. Plus, it gives you an idea of how long bus and train trips take.
Happy travels to all!
Hello,
We are two couples of friends aged between 65 and 70. Do you have a local agency or a local French-speaking driver-guide to recommend for a trip around Sri Lanka between February 14 and March 14, 2027? We’re open to any tips for our trip. The reviews and advice for agencies found on the forum are several years old. Thanks for your help.
Hi everyone,
I’d like to visit Mahe with the goal of seeing the 5 former French trading posts. Is it worth it? I get the feeling that northern Kerala is overlooked by tourists—am I wrong? And why?
If you’ve got any great tips for guesthouses or hotels in Mahe, I’m all ears.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Hello,
Planning a cruise on the Brahmaputra in January—should we worry about being bothered by those little critters? One of us has allergies.
Thanks for your replies
Hi there,
Our trip to India, starting at the end of October, is taking shape.
I’d like to book a hotel in Delhi for our first three nights and another in Amritsar, where we’ll be staying during Diwali.
I’ve realized it’s really hard to trust the reviews on Booking. Have any of you stayed at and can recommend mid-range hotels in these two cities?
Your feedback could help us decide!
Thanks in advance.
Hi there, we're planning to go to Haridwar and Rishikesh in February, either from Delhi or from Amritsar where we'll be beforehand. What's the best way to get there? Driver, private car, train? Your tips would be much appreciated... thanks
Hi, I'm thinking of attending the Nagaur Fair in Rajasthan, which takes place from February 12 to 15, 2027.
Has anyone been to this fair? Is it just a livestock market or a real festival with music and dancing? Since it’s quite a detour for me, I wanted to know if it’s worth it. Thanks!
I'm also considering a trip to Sri Lanka.
I'm surprised to find so few references to Jaffna in the comments.
Does that mean this destination isn't worth it?
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’m planning a short visit to Pokhara around mid-February 2027 (it’ll be my 4th time in Nepal 😊, over 40 years!). I’d like to book a room in advance rather than looking when I arrive. I’ve checked a bit on Bxxking.com and see lots of options. I’m used to scoping out the surroundings of places listed, just to avoid ending up in areas that are either unappealing or far from everything.
So, I see quite a few offers around the lake (Lakeside?), but every time I check what it looks like, the streets seem really uninviting. It’s kind of like a construction site with buildings everywhere… Nothing like Bhaktapur (for example) or even Thamel, where the streets seem way more pleasant.
Could anyone give me some advice?
Also, I don’t really get the impression that Pokhara is worth a visit of several days. The lake, sure, but once you’ve seen it—what else is there?
I’m interested in the 10-day/8-night "Discover Nepal" tour offered by Capitales Tours, among others.
For Day 4, it lists Kathmandu-Mugling-Pokhara as 200 km and 8/9 hours of travel.
Is this duration due to the road conditions? I assume the stop in Mugling for lunch is included in the travel time.
For Pokhara-Chitwan, only the distance is mentioned: 160 km. Should I expect a long bus ride there as well?
The proposed flights would be with AIR-INDIA via DELHI. We had issues with AIR-INDIA before—they denied us boarding for Paris even though we arrived at the airport more than 3 hours early. There was no specific counter for PARIS; the counters were for all destinations, and we waited in line for over 2.5 hours only to be told "too late"...
Thanks for your advice: Mum49
Is it still like this?
Yeah, VF, which used to be so responsive, still doesn’t even have a thread about this devastating mudslide that’s ravaged a region of Nepal where hundreds have died and hundreds more are missing (provisional toll). But from the images, we know the number of victims is going to be terrifying.
Thoughts to everyone affected, including, according to early reports, many travelers..
Hello,
We’ve already traveled to India twice before, but only for two-week stretches (2013, a loop from Mumbai including Hampi, and in 2019, Tamil Nadu). This time, we’re leaving at the end of October for nearly three months of travel—something completely new for us! We’ll arrive in Delhi and depart from Bangalore. Our goal is to explore Northern India and then head down to Kerala, taking a maximum of one flight and prioritizing trains.
Traveling for this long should let us plan longer stops to slow down the pace and fully enjoy our trip...
What are the places you’ve loved with this in mind?
I’ve already thought of Gokarna... Do you have any other suggestions, especially in Northern India?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Bangladesh for tourism during All Saints' Day 25. The government website is pretty discouraging! I’d love to hear from people living there or who’ve been recently before I buy my tickets.
How’s the security level and feasibility of a circuit (boat, train, bus around the country)? We’re used to basic conditions :)
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Cécile
I’ll be landing in Srinagar on October 23rd. I’ve decided to visit this region of India that I haven’t explored yet to discover new landscapes and, especially, their crafts.
I don’t have anything planned so far. I’ll be staying for about two weeks before heading back to Pushkar.
I’d love any tips you can share—small towns or villages to visit, ideas for affordable and authentic accommodations, workshops to check out, and so on. I’m open to all your suggestions!
I might head toward Jammu, where a host has offered to put me up for a few days.
Thanks in advance, and take care!
Hi,
I’m looking for an organized tour in Northern India that goes through Agra (of course!) over about twenty days, prioritizing 2-day stops given the long distances or flights.
So far, my search has led me to these tours:
Intimate Rajasthan + Ganges Valley
Intimate Rajasthan and Goa
Confidential Rajasthan + Goa circuit
The number of kilometers is still pretty overwhelming and a bit scary.
Thanks for your feedback!
bcricri14
Practical tips from my 105 days of erratic wandering in India
Day 1 (10/10/2006): arrived in Mumbai around noon. Bus No. 338 5 Rs + 5 Rs (bag) 20' to Andheri station. Train 6 Rs to Dadar. Train 41 Rs to Lonavla 2h30 Hotel Chandralok 500 Rs **
Day 2: bike rental 7 Rs/h (too expensive, normal price 2-3 Rs/h) visit to the caves of Bhaja and Karla.
Day 3: train 28 Rs to Pune 1h20 Hotel National 416 Rs *
Day 4: train 141 Rs (with reservation) to Satara 2h45 Hotel Sagar 364 Rs **
Day 5: bus 110 Rs to Pandharpur 4h Hotel Aishwarya 450 Rs ***
Day 6: bike rental 2 Rs/h
Day 7: bus 125 Rs to Ahmadnagar 4h20 Hotel Parijat 250 Rs *
Day 8: train 151 Rs (!ticket for a mini 600 km trip!) to Jalgaon 5h30 Hotel Plaza 200 Rs **
Day 9: round-trip bus 38 Rs to Ajanta 1h30 + shuttle 6 Rs 5' Site entrance 250 Rs
Day 10: train 47 Rs to Khandwa 3h + bus 40 Rs to Omkareshwar 2h Ganesh G.H. 150 Rs *
Day 11 to 13: Omkareshwar
Day 14: bus 35 Rs to Maheshwar 2h45 Akashdeep Rest House 200 Rs **
Day 15: bus 8 Rs to Dhamnod 20' bus 20 Rs to crossroads 14 km from Mandu 1h40 bus 9 Rs to Mandu 20' Ram Mandir Dharamshala 100 Rs + 5 Rs for hot water *
Day 16: bike rental 3 Rs/h
Day 17: bus 50 Rs to Indore 4h Hotel Neelam 209 Rs
Day 18 to 20: Indore + round-trip bus 30 Rs to Ujjain 1h45
Day 21: train 82 Rs to Bhopal 5h30 Hotel Ranjeet 358 Rs *
Day 22: train 10 Rs to Sanchi 1h20 Jaiswal Lodge 200 Rs + 15 Rs for hot water! *
Day 23 and 24: visit to Sanchi + bike rental to visit the caves of Udayagiri
Day 25: train 69 Rs to Jhansi 5h + tempo 5 Rs to bus station + tempo 10 Rs + 5 Rs (bag) to Orccha 25' Sri Mahant G.H. 200 Rs **
Day 26 and 27: bike rental + train 20 Rs to Datia 30' + bemo 6 Rs to city center. Return bus 15 Rs 1h15
Day 28: bus 100 Rs to Khajuraho 4h Yogi Lodge 150 Rs **
Day 29: bike rental 30 Rs/day to visit the temples
Day 30: bus 70 Rs to Satna 4h + train 56 Rs to Jabalpur 3h Hotel Banjara 350 Rs **
Day 31: bike rental 2 Rs/h and visit to the Marble Rocks (50 km round trip)
Day 32: bus 50 Rs to Mandla 3h Hotel Satyam 250 Rs ** Round-trip bus 15 Rs to Ramnagar 1h15
Day 33: bus 60 Rs to Dindori 4h + bus 45 Rs to Amarkantak 3h (hellish road) Sarvodya Lodge 250 Rs °
Day 34: Amarkantak
Day 35: bus 25 Rs to Pendra Road 1h30 + train 120 Rs + 109 Rs (reservation) to Nagpur 8h Hotel Grand 257 Rs **
Day 36 and 37: bike rental + round-trip 25 Rs to Ramtek 1h40
Day 38: train 141 Rs + 125 Rs to Hyderabad 10h Hotel 3 Castles 200 Rs ° + Hotel Suhail 200 Rs °
Day 39 to 41: stay in Hyderabad
Day 42: train 48 Rs to Warangal 3h30 Hotel Surya 410 Rs **
Day 43: 60 Rs to Vijayawada 4h15 Hotel Sindhuri 275 Rs **
Day 44: round-trip bus 21 Rs to Amaravati 2h
Day 45: train 98 Rs to Visakhapatnam 7h30! (normally 6h) Hotel Sri Sampath Residency 250 Rs **
Day 46: train 111 Rs + 95 Rs to Puri 11h30 Travellers Inn 100 Rs ° + Hotel Z 300 Rs ***
Day 47 to 52: Puri + round-trip to Konarak
Day 53: train 38 Rs to Bhubaneshwar 1h15 Hotel Upasana 275 Rs *
Day 54: train 70 Rs to Balasore 4h bus 26 Rs to Baripada 1h40 Hotel Ambika 225 Rs °
Day 55: bus 25 Rs to Balasore 1h40 train 66 Rs + 68 Rs to Calcutta 6h30 Hotel Paragon 270 Rs * Hotel Crystal 350 Rs **
Day 56 to 62: Calcutta
Day 63: 60 Rs to Bishnupur 5h Hotel Monalisa 200 Rs *
Day 64: stay in Bishnupur no bike rental!
Day 65: bus 20 Rs to Bankura 1h30 bus 20 Rs to Durgapur 1h15 bus 28 Rs to Bolpur 2h15 Hotel Nisa 150 Rs *
Day 66 and 67: visit to Bolpur/Shantiniketan. Refused bike rental at ... 100 Rs/day!!! (Communist state of Bengal!!!)
Day 68: bus 20 Rs to Sainthia bus 35 Rs to Baharampur 4h30 bus 7 Rs to Murshidabad 40' Hotel Manjusha 350 Rs **
Day 69: bike lent by the friendly hotel owner and visit to Murshidabad
Day 70: bus 8 Rs to Baharampur 35' bus 60 Rs to Malda 6h (hellish road) Hotel Pratapaditya 231 Rs **
Day 71: train 66 Rs + 70 Rs to New Jalpaiguri 4h Hotel Holydon 250 Rs °
Day 72: train 52 Rs to Darjeeling 9h30! (normally 7h) Hotel Pineridge 500 Rs **
Day 73 to 75: Darjeeling
Day 76: train to New Jalpaiguri 9h30 + overnight train 271 Rs
Day 77: Patna Hotel President 482 Rs **
Day 78: stay in Patna
Day 79: train 18 Rs to Gaya 3h10 tempo 10 Rs to Bodhgaya 30' Deep G.H. 400 Rs!! °°
Day 80: return to Patna
Day 81: round-trip train 36 Rs to Rajgir 4h! (normally 3h)
Day 82: train 75 Rs to Varanasi 5h! (normally 4h) Yogi Lodge 150 Rs *
Day 83 to 87: Varanasi
Day 88: overnight train 310 Rs to Jaipur Evergreen G.H. 250 Rs **
Day 89: bike rental 30 Rs/day round-trip to Amber
Day 90: bus 59 Rs to Sikar 2h30 bus 23 Rs to Fatehpur 1h30 Rajshri Rest House 300 Rs *
Day 91: round-trip bus 12 Rs to Mandawa 30'
Day 92: round-trip bus 17 Rs to Churu 1h30
Day 93: bus 80 Rs to Jaipur 3h30 Evergreen G.H.
Day 94: bus 105 Rs to Bundi 5h30 Shivam G.H. 200 Rs **
Day 95: bike rental 3 Rs/h
Day 96: auto-rickshaw to station 45 Rs 25' train 44 Rs + 50 Rs to Chittorgarh train 21 Rs to Udaipur (total trip 8h) Badi Haveli 330 Rs **
Day 97 to 99: Udaipur + round-trip bus 45 Rs to Ranakpur 3h30
Day 100: bus 143 Rs to Ahmedabad 5h30 Hotel Manila 300 Rs **
Day 101: Ahmedabad
Day 102: bus 99 Rs to Bhavnagar 4h30 Hotel Vrindavan 200 Rs *
Day 103: round-trip bus 22 Rs to Palitana 1h10
Day 104: bus 85 Rs! to Ahmedabad 5h30 + overnight train ? Rs (feels like the end of the trip!)
Day 105 (January 22, 2007): train 6 Rs from Dadar to Andheri 20' + bus 5 Rs + 5 Rs (bag) to International Airport 20'
More figures
British Airways flight price Brussels-London-Mumbai-London-Brussels 576 €
Exchange rate from 55 Rs to 58.6 Rs per euro
Average room price 272 Rs/night
Daily budget 11 €
Chai from 1 Rs (Calcutta-Bengal) to 6/7 Rs (Rajasthan)
Bottle of water from 6 Rs (Udaipur), 8 Rs (Varanasi) to 12/13 Rs
Internet from 8 Rs (Warangal), 10 Rs (Calcutta, Indore, Hyderabad), 20 Rs (often) to 40/60 Rs!! (Rajasthan)
Beer in a restaurant from 85/100 Rs (often) to 150/165 Rs (Varanasi/Udaipur)
More details on request
Hello everyone,
we got back from our trip to Kashmir and Ladakh three weeks ago.
We spent 4 weeks there, including one in Kashmir.
We’re really happy with our stay in Srinagar and Sonamarg. The Kashmiris gave us a very warm welcome and seemed pleased to see tourists who weren’t Indian. In fact, over the 4 days we spent in Srinagar, we only saw 4 people who looked European... Srinagar is stunning with its lakes and the lively Mughal gardens. No trouble getting around, whether by shikara, rickshaw, taxi, or on foot. The houseboats are gorgeous, unfortunately controlled by consortiums. We took a taxi to Sonamarg (20 €).
Sonamarg (two nights) and its glacier are easy to explore, either on horseback or on foot, but it’s becoming a leisure spot for Indians.
To get to Ladakh afterward, we opted for a private taxi (quite expensive at 100 €, but the road is long). Since we’re a couple, it allowed us to stop whenever we wanted... and the route is beautiful all the way to Lamayuru, with our first snow-covered pass under snow when we crossed around May 21st. Then we stopped in Mulbek and Kargil before arriving in Lamayuru (three nights). We took another taxi to Alchi (26 €), spent one night there, and took the local bus at around 8 AM to Leh (3 €, a comfortable one-hour ride). We arrived in Leh around 9:30 AM, and Gyatsel from Tsarap Guesthouse came to pick us up with our backpacks. His guesthouse is located 500 meters from the market square in Leh, in a quiet little alley with no traffic. We highly recommend it because Gyatsel is invaluable for arranging taxis and organizing off-agency circuits...
His accommodation is super comfortable, and he cooks with vegetables from his garden. His wife also helps out... It’s Gyatsel’s mother who tends the garden. Through him, we arranged permits for the Nubra Valley up to Turtuk, then the Pangong and Tso Moriri lakes (we didn’t do the latter due to snow overnight!). We also crossed the Changtang (magnificent) to reach Thiksey, Stakna, Hemis, and returned to Leh. Six days in a private taxi (400 €). Since the roads were clear, we headed to Zanskar for 5 days in a shared taxi (28 € round trip for both of us). The route from Leh to Zangla follows the Zanskar gorges (impressive!).
We discovered Padum, Pibiting, Karsha, and Puktal, which you can reach via a small 7 km road and a 45-minute walk to finish, plus the sacred summit on the way to Manali.
Back in Leh, we extended our permit to visit the Aryan Valley by taxi (round trip, two days, 90 €).
We spent our last two days resting in Leh—the altitude is really tiring...
I’m sharing these taxi prices as a guide for a couple.
Accommodation ranged from 12 € in Leh to 30 € at Pangong Lake (the most expensive), but averaged around 15-17 € per night.
We’re not trekkers, but we love walks, discovery, and meeting people along the way. It was an amazing trip, and we even discovered a very old monastery a few kilometers before Lamayuru, where a monk took us—timeless...
I’m sharing these details because it’s hard to find precise information about Kashmir.
I’m heading to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks in July with my two 11-year-old kids, and I’m wondering about how to organize the trip. We’re used to traveling on the go, staying 1 to 2 or 3 nights per place depending on how we feel.
Do you recommend planning the itinerary and booking accommodations in advance to save time once we’re there?
Or is it pretty easy to organize everything as we go without any issues?
Same question for activities: Should we book safaris and tours ahead of time, or can we arrange them easily on the spot? Is there a risk of not getting a spot, for example, to visit a park since we’ll be there in July?
We’ll be using local transport (train, VTC via PickMe, tuk-tuk) to get from one place to another.
In short: Are there any must-book things we should reserve now?
So far, I only have the flight tickets!
Hi there, I think you're on the right track—you plan the itinerary and book the rooms in advance, and that’s it.
Not only do you save time, but you also know where you’ll be staying each night. Choosing well on Booking (or elsewhere) is actually a pleasure!
For safaris, given the number of jeeps with drivers available, it’s unlikely you’ll be turned away... the real issue is more about the concentration of jeeps around the animals.
I travel like you do—train, bus, tuk-tuk, and sometimes taxi. Ride-hailing apps like PickMe and other VTCs are mostly in big cities.
For the mountain train, due to severe flooding, service was interrupted on the line between Kandy and Ella. Check ahead, because reservations for this train are very complicated, if not impossible.
For the Colombo/Kandy train, you reserve your seats by buying the ticket before boarding. In the south, no need to book in advance for trains.
In Sri Lanka, there’s always a solution for getting around—just ask your hosts. They have trusted contacts at their fingertips. But still, compare prices—😏 smart move!
I stick to booking my nights and keep pre-planned activities to a minimum.
For reservations you can’t skip, it’s the beach stays you’ll want to secure.
I’m trying to find out if it’s still possible to travel from Mumbai to Goa by ferry or any other sea route. My search results aren’t very clear, and if it *is* possible, I can’t figure out where to book...
If anyone has any info, I’d really appreciate it—thanks in advance!
It seems there’s a ferry from Nagapattinam to Jaffna in India. Has anyone here taken this ferry before? My main question is how to get to Nagapattinam—by train, bus? And from which town further south, of course.
Thanks, friends!
Hi there.
We’re spending a month in Sri Lanka in March, and we’ll have one week left after leaving Polonnaruwa.
We’re torn between spending it in the Jaffna region or on the east coast between Batticaloa and Trincomalee.
We’re divers, so the east coast appeals to us for snorkeling, beaches, and lagoons—but it seems like late March might not be the best time for that coast. What do you think?
As for Jaffna, the culture of the region, its more authentic feel since it’s less touristy, and the offshore islands all appeal to us too—but it seems far from the rest of the country and harder to access.
We have to choose because we won’t be able to visit both sides, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks, Marie
