(Click on links for more photos)
Arrrive at airport from Trivandrum, Kerala around 10:45am
Pick up from Sri Lanka Wide Tours after airport formalities.
Then head to Kandy (3 1/2 hours) for 2 nights (stopping along the way for our first Sri Lankan Curry and Rice)
Stay at Queens Hotel (2 nights)
Good options are:
Walk around the Kandy Lake (near Villa 49)
Visit the big Central Market (near Villa 49) and shopping…Lonely Planet says…”Central Kandy has shops selling antique jewellery and silver belts, and you can buy crafts in the colourful main market”
Visit the Botanical Gardens (drivers will take us $8 pp entrance)
It has great orchids and a lovely spot for tea. A must for botanists!!!
Visit the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage.
Lonely Planet says: There are around 80 elephants here of all ages. The elephants are controlled by their mahouts, who ensure they feed at the right times and don’t endanger anyone. Otherwise the elephants roam freely around the sanctuary area. The elephants are led to a nearby river for bathing daily from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 4pm. Meal times are 9.15am, 1.15pm and 5pm. (Around $25).
Visit the Temple of the Tooth (Kandy’s famous ‘site’) near by to Queens Hotel.
Lunch and swim at a nearby hotel.
Kandyan Dancers and Drummers near by to Queens Hotel… of which Lonely planet says….”With elaborate costumes, gyrating dance moves and show-stopping fire-breathing stunts, a Kandyan dance performance is one of the defining experiences of a stay in Kandy. Calling it a traditional Kandyan dance performance is something of a misnomer as the shows are very much aimed at audience entertainment, and feature dance routines and costumes from across the country, including the famous ‘devil’ dances of the west coast (which are sadly very hard to see in their home region).” Show starts at 5pm. (Need to go earlier to get good seats).
Happy hour at Royal Bar and Hotel afterwards (6-7pm)
Dinner at Queens Hotel or Olde Empire Cafe (Lonely Planet’s top pick).
The Muslim Hotel is also good for Kottu Roti .
Lonely Planet says…No, it’s not a hotel, but it is an always bustling eatery that offers Kandy’s best samosas, authentically spiced curries and heaving plates of frisbee-sized, but gossamer-light, naan. However, what people really come for are the kotthu (rotti chopped and fried with meat and vegetables), which come in a variety of styles and flavours, and are legendary throughout town.
Foreigners are often hustled up the stairs, but for more local character eat downstairs with the locals.
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/the-hill-country/kandy/restaurants/asian/kandy-muslim-hotel#ixzz3y9MWcMhr
Can also (Day 2 in Kandy or on the way to Nuwara Eliya) …Visit the Ceylon Tea Museum with our driver…Lonely Planet says “An essential stop on any Sri Lankan tea tour, this museum occupies the 1925-vintage Hantane Tea Factory, 4km south of Kandy on the Hantane road.”
Travelling from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya stop for a homemade curry lunch and enjoy the trip through the tea plantations
Nuwara Eliya 1 night
Stay at The Hill Club
Have a traditional heritage dinner in the formal dining room (need to reserve some of their ties and jackets (a dress requirement).
Double and twin rooms $135 AUS including breakfast
Visit Mackwoods Tea Rooms and Tea Plantation
Travel to Ella by train through the scenic hills of tea
Ella 3 nights
Lonely Planet says…”Welcome to everyone’s favourite hill-country village and the place to ease off the travel accelerator with a few leisurely days resting in your choice of some of the country’s best guesthouses. The views through Ella Gap are stunning, and on a clear night you can even spy the subtle glow of the Great Basses lighthouse on Sri Lanka’s south coast.”
Staying at Zion View
website (watch video especially)
3 double rooms and 1 twin room $100US each
1 Family room triple (2 double beds and one single) $135 US (Number 10)
including breakfast
Dinner about $11 for the buffet! (Which is great)
Dinner also very good at Rawana Guesthouse.
Tea Plantation and Uva Halpewaththa Tea factory visit
Great walks to Zion Gap (2 hours), little Adam’s Peak (1 1/2 hours)
Must have lunch at 98 Acres with amazing views on the little Adam’s Peak walk which goes past their entrance.
Swimming at Rawana Falls
Ayverudic Massage
Duhinda Waterfall is Phil (from the Spice House in Mirrisa’s) favourite waterfall (just the otherside of Badulla) and recommendation (30 min walk, but well worth it!)
Train to Nuwara Eliya or Haptule (if we haven’t had a chance to ride the train yet). Lonely Planet says “The stretch from Haputale (through Bandarawela) has particularly lovely scenery. Roughly 10km north of Ella, at Demod- ara, the line performs a complete loop around a hillside and tunnels under itself at a level 30m lower. Ella’s train station is so quaint it won the ‘Best Kept Station’ award in 2013. The station manager, mr Ashendria Disanayake, deserves mention for winning the ‘most Helpful Station manager’ award. it’s like Thomas the Tank Engine come to life.”
Down to Mirissa
Staying at The Spice House
(our nicest spot where everyone stays a week, or wishes they could!)
4 nights in the best rooms (Cinnamon, Vanilla, Lemongrass, Peacock, Pepper Cottage, the Cabin ) with pool and just across from the beach.
“Food at the hotel was excellent and there’s great fresh seafood at restaurants on the beach and also plenty of beach bars.”
“The pool area is sublime, with an outdoor shower, comfy sun loungers and complimentary towels. The garden is full of wild life like monkeys, Kingfishers, squirrels etc. “
about $80-$90 US per room including breakfast
Great things to do include:
Whale watching trip $55 AUS pp
“Body boarding is offered at each beach bar for around 50 rupees for an hours hire. Fun!! “
“At night all the bars set up a table of fresh fish for you to choose from for your dinner which they cook up on the BBQ Sri Lankan style, delicious! Zephyr is recommended forfor a slightly more hip meal out. The decor is awesome, the food is fantastic and they have an excellent of cocktails. “
“A cookery school is available.”
“The Spice House can arrange spa/massage bookings locally. Have lunch one day at nearby Dewmini Roti House (#1 on Trip Advisor).”
We can also take our transport to Beach hop, surf and see the stick fishermen and fish markets at Weligama, see the turtle hatchery, have a great lunch at the Kahanda Kanda which is 35 mins away on top of a working tea estate.
Galle
Kikili House 3 nights
about $100 -125 US per room
Transport and guide
Sri Lanka Wide tours US$1580 all included (2 x 6 seater vans)
$130/160 US per person
Total cost of Sri Lanka extension includes visa, flight to Colombo from Trivandrum, accommodation, transport, food, activities and tips… approx $2000 AUS (as the $AUS is not so good at the moment )
‘Don’t miss’ Sri Lankan foods
Kottu Roti
Egg hoppers
Curry and rice
Wattalapam dessert
String hoppers (have with curry, made from rice)
Buffalo yogurt and honey Vada
Pittu have with curry
Kerala with Friends 2016 
Looks fantastic Michele- would love to add to Kerala xx
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