Preparing for a trip to Sri Lanka (page 3 of 3)

For Galle: if you want to find a room in Galle while avoiding the prices in the fort, there are plenty of great options on Booking. It’s up to you whether you need to call Cetelem again. When I go to Galle, it’s just for the day, and I arrive from a beach further down the coast by bus or tuk-tuk. There are some great restaurants and bars along the ramparts, like at the Old Dutch Hospital.

Glad you liked Princess of Dickoya! After your lazy mornings, take a walk by the Castelreagh Reservoir and negotiate a tuk-tuk to visit Aberdeen Falls and Laksapana Falls. The owner at Princess can sort that out for you.

For Kandy, I’m happy you found something you like—there’s plenty of choice. I see there’s a bus stop down the road to get to the other side of the lake. Otherwise, on foot, you can reach the back of the Temple of the Tooth by walking along the lake, and from there, the city center.

Thanks so much for all this valuable info—I think the plan is really coming together, can’t wait! 😊

For transportation, can we rely on the different lodgings to quickly find tuk-tuks or taxis without getting overcharged, or should we use apps like PickMe or 12Go to book? Is it common to do this the night before for the next day, or do we need to plan ahead?

I’ve always used buses, trains, tuk-tuks, and occasionally a taxi, Uber, or other apps—but only in big cities. Finding transport through my host feels straightforward, and the price is set in advance, so there’s no negotiating. I bring it up when I arrive just to see their reaction. They usually have trusted contacts. Nowadays, when I do negotiate, I check the distance, the price, and the exchange rate in euros to make sure everyone’s happy... Keep an eye on the price for Sri Lankans and what you’re paying for a tuk-tuk, even on buses. Train fares are fixed. Watch out for traffic when booking at Kandy station. For taxis, I compare a few drivers. You’ll get approached a lot during the day. Booking from one day to the next is fine, but talk to your host first if it’s for a long distance.

This morning, I got a WhatsApp video from Tangalle—it’s pouring down there.

, I’d recommend heading to Dickoya near Hatton and staying at Princess of Dickoya to rest after the descent! Close to Hatton for the bus or train from Kandy.

The hotel looks amazing! I’m considering it for next February. Wouldn’t it be better to stay in Nallathanniya as a starting point for the ascent?

Hi Bernard, I thought the same as you—to avoid an extra hour or more of transfer before boarding. So I booked one night in Nallathanniya and two others at Princess of Dickoya, especially given the prices 😊 I’ll let you know how it goes when I’m back 😉

I might not have explained myself clearly— for Adam’s Peak, you’ll need to spend a night in Nallathanniya (Dalhousie) to stay near the start, but I’d recommend avoiding staying there once you’ve come down since the village doesn’t have much else to offer.

The road between Hatton, where the train drops you off, and Dalhousie is a long bus ride. The red bus usually waits at the exit of Hatton station. In that parking lot, you’ll also find vans waiting to fill up before heading to the foot of the Peak. You’ll take the same bus back the next day to return to Hatton after breakfast.

Stopping in Dikoya is optional, of course, but after descending from the pilgrimage, traveling can be a bit of a hassle—finding a seat on the train to Nanu Oya, Haputale, or Ella. It’s a four-hour journey with stunning views, so you might as well do it well-rested. Dikoya is just three kilometers from Hatton, which makes it a convenient place to start again the next day. The lake surrounded by tea plantation hills nearby is gorgeous, and hardly anyone stops there.

Hi Bernard, I thought the same as you, to avoid an extra hour++ of transfer before boarding. I booked one night in Nallathanniya and two others at Princess of Dickoya. Especially given the prices... I’ll let you know when I get back 😉

Hi Bruno, I booked one night in Nallathanniya on Feb 15, between Haputale and Kandy, at Lavendra GH. The ground here is white for the first time this season—it’ll be nicer there. See the attached program.

Hello, The trip to Sri Lanka has been postponed indefinitely due to health issues, so I’ll be saving all your tips for next time. Anyway, thanks for your help!

On that note, good luck to everyone there dealing with the recent storm damage! !

Good luck to you and, most importantly, get well soon!

Good luck to you and, most importantly, get well soon.

Thanks Jean-Michel! Have a great trip to Cape Verde—I hope you’ll come back as enchanted as I was! !

Hey Bruno,

Hope those health issues will be just a bad memory soon! :)

Hi Bruno,

Hope the health issues will soon be nothing but a bad memory!🙂

Thanks Agnès, I hope so too, especially since this year has been fruitful in that regard 🏴‍☠️