please, advice needed, firs time sri lanka for honeymoon

hi everyone, my partner and i would like to go to sri lanka for our honeymoon for 2 weeks in july but are not realy sure how to go about organizing our trip.

What we would like to know is which are the best places to stay. we would like to stay at a nice hotel near somewhere that has restaurants so we have a variety of places to go out to eat. we dont really like eating the same things in hotels everyday. not big drinkers either

so all inclusive doesn%26#39;t really matter.

alternatively we would love to stay somewhere that is surrounded by wildlife. is there anywhere like this?

maybe we could stay in two different places?

We would also like to know which areas have good beaches where we can swim/snorkel.

We have seen many tour operators that do tours of sri lanka, would you recommend this or would it be better/cheaper to take day trips from our hotel?

we have seen that there is the opportunity to go rafting, has anyone else done this? if so would you recommend it and can it be done as a day tip or does it take up a few days?

Which are the best places to go to see wildlife and what sort of animals are there?

if we do go on a tour of sri lanka for a week or so is it best/cheaper to book this with a company in advance of just plan it when we get there?

we are in our mid 20%26#39;s and we are on a budget so any moneysaving tips would me most welcomed!

thanks for you help!

please, advice needed, firs time sri lanka for honeymoon

Hi there

Definitely stay at more than one place, especially if you are interested in wildlife. Obviously the coastal areas are best if you want to stay in a big hotel which also has a choice of restaurants in the area, but wildlife and scenery is far more varied inland.

We always stay at a number of places and you could have, say, a night near Negombo when you arrive (Negombo is not particularly lovely as a beach resort, but it%26#39;s an easy 20 min drive from the airport after your long flight, so good for the first/last night of your stay.) That still leaves you 12/13 nights to explore.

If you are on a budget, your money will go further at some of the inland hotels. The cultural triangle is a great choice for wildlife and there are lots of good hotels to choose from. Look at Cinnamon Lodge or Chaaya Village at Habarana ... or Sigiriya Village Hotel. Masses of wildlife all around, excellent food ... great bases for touring the sites of Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura etc etc. The Kandalama Hotel in the same area is more upmarket if you are looking to stretch to that, but really, you will not be disappointed at any of these lovely hotels.

Kandy city is definitely worth a day or two. Visit the Temple of the Tooth, Botanical Gardens and try out one or more of the many places to eat in town. You won%26#39;t find better choice or value anywhere in Sri Lanka. You could do rafting at Kitulgala as a longish day trip from Kandy .. the rafting itself only takes a couple of hours or so. Alternatively, stay overnight in one of the places at Kitulgala to savour the lush scenery and forest.

The hillcountry, south of Kandy, is glorious with its tea plantations and marvellous views. As the best beaches are in the south of Sri Lanka, consider stopping off in the hills for a night or two en route to the south. Don%26#39;t be afraid to stay at guesthouses if you are on a budget. Some of the places in areas like Ella are superb, with balconies to take in the fantastic views and wonderful home cooked food on offer. I can recommend a few places to you if you are interested. Yala is the best place to do a safari to see wildlife such as elephants, crocodiles, the occasional leopard and lots of other animals. You could also do this on your way to the south coast.

For pristine beaches, look at Tangalla, Mirissa or one of the other south coast locations. You might be lucky enough to see turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs at night ... or go to Hikkaduwa on the west coast above Galle and swim with them by day, in the shallow waters by the coral reef. Hikkaduwa is not for everyone, but we liked it. Lots of accommodation to choose from, even more restaurants and lots of atmosphere ... and the turtles helped! You can swim and snorkel safely in the reef protected beach area at Hikkaduwa too, whereas many areas are too rough for swimming, certainly in July.

Booking ahead with a tour company is definitely going to cost you more. Book your flights and arrange a tour with a recommended and ceylon tourist board approved driver. He will guide you, book your accommodation ahead for you and, if you pick the right one, he%26#39;ll feel like a friend to you at the end of your holiday. There are lots of excellent ones ... I know one of the best and I will give you his details if you send me a PM.

Hope this gives you a few ideas. It%26#39;s hard for me to recommend just one or two areas because for me, they are all equally lovely and exciting. Make your choice depending on your interests ... or do as we do and stay for 2 or 3 nights in each area and enjoy all of it!

All the best

Sue

please, advice needed, firs time sri lanka for honeymoon

Hi,

Yes if you select wildlife its inland and no much restaurants around dine out etc. But beaches are not the best option and when its comes to wildlife sri lanka has some unique to offer. Ex : Sinharaja Rain forest large number of endemic bird species, palnts could observe. Yala is a area you have higher probability of seeing a leopard. Number of options available. ex : camping in National parks. staying in a hotel near a park and do safaris.

Nishantha

Thank you for replying to my post, some good advice.

so it is better if i do not book with a company over here and instead just arrange my flights and sort out accommodation and tours when we arrive, or would the person you could put me in contact with arrange this for us before ahead of the trip?

Is Sri Lanka expensive for tourists from britain in terms of exchange rate? what is the average cost of activities, dining out and shopping?

I heard that Yala national park was not a safe for tourists at the moment, are there other parks where there still a good opportunity for wildlife viewing?

Hi again spookybunny

I have sent you a PM which might help ...

Sue

HI,

Yala is the best place to spot a leopard in Sri Lanka at the moment. The best alternative is Udawalawe National Park.

Nishantha

Hi,besst hotel for honeymoon Aditya (read the reviews on trip advisor)Excellent travel company Elephant island.