4-days intense programme

Dear experts and seasoned Sri Lanka travellers, need a piece of your advice, please

We are planning a short but very intense Easter holiday, trying to grasp as much as possible:

*flying in early morning, hiring a driver*

1 day: Sigiriya (to climb in the morning - avoid heat) - Polonnaruwa - Dambulla(overnight stay in Dambulla or drive to Kandy?)

2 day: Pinewalla - Botanical Garden - Kandy Tooth Temple - Cultural Show

3 day: drive to Ella/N.Eliya - tea factories - waterfalls (overnight at Dalhousie)

4th day: Adam%26#39;s peak - Ratnapura - Bentota - drive to Colombo at night

i am really tempted to squeeze in Kandy-Ella train and Udawalawe park - possibly, it%26#39;s too much?

Does it look sensible overall; any worthy alterations?

Thanks

4-days intense programme

Hi,

What time is you flight arriving? Air Arabia 03:45?

From the airport it%26#39;s a 4 hours drive to Sigiriya.

Better stay overnight at Dambulla and go straight to Pinnawala from there.

The climb to Adam%26#39;s Peak start around 02:30 and takes 3-3陆 hours up and about the same down. Driving straight from Adam%26#39;s Peak to Bentota takes about 7 hours. Going via Ratnapura adds another 1陆-2 hours, so you will arrive in Bentota very late afternoon/early evening.

The morning train leaves Kandy before 09:00 and arrives at Ella around 15:00: The drive from Ella to Dalhousie takes 3陆-4 hours. Will not give you much rest before the climb.

To squeeze Uda Walawe in to you itinerary is impossible. It will demand at least an extra day.

You could squeeze Minneriya National Park (near Polonnaruwa) which also have big herds of elephants in on day 1, then you will have to drop Dambulla. Or do Dambulla in the morning on day 2 and then drop either Pinnawala or Botanical Gardens.

To do what you want to do requires 5, and even better 6 days.

Besides you will be in Sri Lanka over a very extended week-end (9: Poya Day, 10: Good Friday, 13-14: Sinhala/Tamil New Year) and during school holidays, so most (if not all) the places you want to visit will be more or less crowded. It is also recommended that you book your accomodation in advance.

Hans

4-days intense programme

A word of caution

You may visit lots but see little

You will be able to tell your grandchildren that you have been to these places but not tell them what it was like

Just something to consider others will tell you if it is possible, I do know that the Kandy Ella train takes most of a day

Enjoy whatever you decide

guys, thank you very much! I have a clearer idea now.

Yes, we are on Air Arabia flight - first time to fly with them, have heard some scary stories, but very cheap.

Train trip would indeed take too long - which is not affordable on such a short trip.