SRI LANKA
21 April - 12 May 2019
- 8 Wonderful UNESCO sites in Sri Lanka
- Relaxing beach resort in Trincomalee
- Nice Elephants Safari in Hurulu Eco Safari
- Cool weather in the highland area
- Amazing experience to swim with whales in Mirissa
- Relaxing beach resort in Trincomalee
- Nice Elephants Safari in Hurulu Eco Safari
- Cool weather in the highland area
- Amazing experience to swim with whales in Mirissa
Map of our roadtrip: Negombo-Anuradhapura-Trincomalee-Pasikudah-Polonnaruwa-Dambulla-Sigiriya-Nuwara Eliya-Kandy-Ella-Sinharaja Forest-Matara-Galle-Colombo
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Day 1
We flew SilkAir from Singapore to Colombo (SGD1,042 for two) and left Singapore at 1015am, arriving Colombo at 1135am local time (flight time 3h50m). We booked a driver with SLE Tours for US$840 for the entire 22 days trip. Touched down 1140am local time and out of the custom by 1230pm. Exchanged USD400 to Sri Lanka Rupees (172.60 ex-rate) and bought a 20GB 30-day SIM card for 2,500 rupees from Airtel, which is not very good (best is Mobitel and Dialogue). Waited for the driver till 1pm as the security at the airport was stepped up due to the disastrous bombing in the morning in some churches and high end hotels in Colombo. Arrived hotel at around 140pm and walked across the road to the beach for some quick photos and drone at the beach before going back to hotel as almost all restaurants and shops were closed. Had late lunch in the hotel and rest and relax in the room for the rest of the day. We stayed in Beach Corridor Hotel in Negombo for USD45 a night inclusive of breakfast. The beach is just across the road. |
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Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel and our driver picked us up at 930am and departed for Anuradhapura. Took about 4.5 hours to reach our accommodation with some quick stops for photos along the way. Checked into hotel around 2pm and had some rest before departing to Mihinthale at 3pm. Mihintale archeological site entrance fee 500 each and left the place around 530pm to Jethawanaramaya. Last stop was Bodi Temple and Stupa (entrance fee included in the entrance fee paid at Mihintale). Left for dinner at a local joint at 745pm (540 rupees). USD20.70 for accommodation |
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Day 3
Checked out from our hotel at 930am and had breakfast in Mihintale area before driving to Trincomalee. Arrived hotel at around noon time and relaxed in room till 1 plus pm before walking out for lunch at Trinco Lanka Restaurant. Seafood platter for 2,500 and two watermelon juice for 500. Hotel stay at Sasvi Cabana cost USD99 for three nights, inclusive of breakfast. |
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Day 4
Woke up 530am and joined a swim with blue whales trip at 6am for USD50 each. The tour lasted till 1pm and unfortunately we did not see any blue whales, only lots of dolphins, a sea snake. The tour operator, Negombo Diving Centre, offered a 50% discount for us for not seeing any whales. Headed to lunch at Ceylon Seafood Cafe, ordered a big sized sea prawns (5 large sized prawns) for 2,000, and two small size lobsters (about 400 gram each) for 6,000 rupees. Two coconut for 400 rupees. Total bill after 10% service fee 9,240 rupees. Rest and relax in hotel after that. |
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Day 5
Woke up 530am to join the swim with whales again. Reached there 550am and waited till 630am for two others who signed up for the tour. Unfortunately they did not turn up and the operator canceled the trip. Went back to hotel rest and relax till 330pm before we head out for lunch at Cafe at 18th. We had salad, sandwich and a glass of fruit juice. Total bill 1,500 rupees. At 4pm, our drive picked us up and we visited Velgam Vehera Temple (entrance fee 500 each) and the war cemetery. Back to hotel by 630pm. Rest and relax |
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Day 6
Woke up 530am to try our luck for whale swim again today. We booked the whole boat for USD200. No luck again even though we spend like 5 hours in the sea. Our boat man drove the boat to almost Indian boarded this time. End up snorkeling somewhere near Nilaveli beach. Lunch at Ubay restaurant, cooking fee 1,500 rupees for the flying fishes. Fried rice and drinks added up to another 1,500 rupees. Departed for Pasikudah at 320pm. Stayed in Amanda Beach Resort for 8,580 rupees a night inclusive of breakfast |
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Day 7
Had breakfast in hotel 745am and checked out to visit Pasikudah beach. Departed Pasikudah 910am (prices for snorkeling 1 hour 2,000 per person; fishing 4 hours 20,000 for four people in Pasikudah beach area). reached Polonnaruwa at 1034am. Entrance fee to the UNESCO listed archeological site is USD25 each. It’s a big compound of this ancient city and we visited about 8 major spots. Took a break with 3 coconuts for 300 rupees. Left Polonnaruwa at 135pm for Safari at Hurulu Eco Park arrived 235pm and spend almost 3 hours here, entrance fee with the Safari Jeep 11,000 rupees. From there headed to our accommodation in Dambulla, Sayare Inn for2 nights stay ( US$30.60 inclusive of breakfast). Dinner at the Inn for 700 rupees |
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Day 8
Woke up 6am and departed the Inn at 630am to UNESCO listed Sigiriya Lion Rock. Arrived the entrance at 7am, entrance fee USD30 each. Started from the ticketing entrance at 715am and reached the peak at about 8am. Back to the carpark at around 920am and went back to hotel for breakfast and rest and relax. Met our driver again at 330pm and headed to another UNESCO site, Dambulla Cave Temple (entrance fee 1,500 rupees each). We spend about an hour in total here and went back to hotel to rest. |
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Day 9
Met driver at 630am to climb the Pidurangala Rock (entrance fee 500 rupees). Arrived around 7am. Started climbing 708am and arrived the peak 722am. Spend about half an hour there and started to decent around 755am arriving the car park in 11mins. Back to hotel for breakfast and left around 10am towards Kandy. Along the way, stop by at a Spice Garden and bought US$378 of products. Buffet lunch at the Spice garden, 850 rupees each. After lunch set off to the tooth temple in Kandy, entrance fee 1,500 rupees each and hired a guide for 1,500 rupees. Spend about 1.5 hours here before checking into homestay (US$15 a night). |
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Day 10
After breakfast, departed at 10am for Nuwara Eliya. Along the way, we stopped at Damro Tea Factory to learnt the process of making tea leaves. Free serving of tea here. After that we continued our drive to the accommodation, Pigeon Nests in Nuwara Eliya for our two night stay here (US$30 a night with breakfast). |
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Day 11
Woke up 630am and had breakfast at 745am before setting off to Moon Plains. Entrance fee 400 rupees each plus 2,000 rupees for the Jeep to the viewpoint. Strawberry farm 10,000 rupees. Dinner 2,250 rupees. |
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Day 12
Left hotel 710am and arrived Horton Plains ticketing booth 830am; entrance fee 3,930 rupees each. Started at the entrance 845am and back to carpark at 1235pm. Arrived Haputale town centre at around 210pm and had lunch at Lettuce and Cabbage. Total bill 1,050 rupees. Checked into our hotel at Leisure mount View Holiday Inn for one night stay, USD33 inclusive of breakfast. Rest and relaxed in the room for the day. |
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Day 13
Left hotel 1030am and headed to Ella. Reached Will Guest Homestay at around 12pm+ and rest till 230pm to go to the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella. Then had early dinner at Chill 2,430 rupees. Back to guesthouse and rest and relax at around 6pm. Accommodation USD41.40 for two nights inclusive of breakfast |
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Day 14
Woke up 8am for breakfast and departed at 830am from our guesthouse to Little Adam’s Peak. Took only 10 mins drive to reach the entrance. It’s not a very difficult hike up to the first peak as most part comes with steps. Second viewing point needs a short downhill and climb up again, but in dirt road and lots of lose stones, so need to be careful. Back to carpark around 11am and went back to guesthouse to rest and relax for the day. |
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Day 15
Breakfast 915am and departed for Sinharaja Rainforest at 10am. Along the, stopped at Rawana Waterfall for some photos. Had buffet lunch at Frozen Lemon in Empilipitiya, plus takeaway bread, total bill 2,400 rupees. From there, we continued to make our way to our accommodation, Sinharaja Forest Gate Cabanas and arrived at around 445pm. Two night stay in Deluxe double room with mountain view with breakfast US$34. Rest and relax in cabana. |
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Day 16
Had breakfast at 7am and started our tour in Sinharaja World Heritage Site 730am with a guide. 4,000 rupees for four hours plus entrance fee of 5 rupees per person. Lunch back in guesthouse, curry chicken for 950 rupees each and dinner 1150 rupees |
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Day 17
Checked out 11am and drove towards Matara beach area for our next 5 nights stay. Arrived the Lakraji Heritage Hotel around 2pm and had lunch in the hotel before rest and relax till about 7pm. Walked out for dinner at Royal Sea Wind Hotel (1,650 rupees). Accommodation US$50 a night inclusive of breakfast. |
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Day 18
After breakfast, our driver came to pick us up at 845am. Visited three Temples today. The first is Purwarama Raja Maha Viharaya, free entrance but donation of 250 rupees each to visit Sri Lanka only underground tunnel temple. Next was Bellanwira Rajamaha Viharaya entrance fee 200 rupees each and last temple Devundara Temple free entrance. After that had lunch at KFC (2,200 rupees for 8 piece chicken and a bottle of water). After lunch, back to hotel rest and relax. Dinner at the hotel, a soup and tuna sandwich. |
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Day 19
After breakfast, the whale swimming guy picked us up with tuk tuk at 845am and headed to Mirissa area to board the speed boat. Waited till 945am for them to prepare for petrol and equipment and out we go. First we spotted some dolphins, then a giant fish before spotting blue whales. Thereafter, we saw at least 4-5 up close but unfortunately water visibility not great and we don’t really had chance to jump into the water. Saw a lot more from afar and by the time our boat arrived most of them started to dive in. Back to beach area at 2pm +, Super bumpy ride because the wave is quite rough. Paid US$250 each for this excursion. After that, asked the owner to send us to Little Red House for Chinese food, two vegetables and a 1kg garupa for 5,000 rupees in total. Finished late lunch around 4pm+ and called our driver to pick us up and send us back to hotel to rest and relax. |
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Day 20
Woke up 545am to see the sunrise in hotel roof terrace. Then had breakfast at 830am and rest and relax in hotel till 330pm for our driver to send us to the last UNESCO site in Sri Lanka, Galle Fort. |
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Day 21
Woke up 915am and had breakfast in the hotel. Did nothing today, just laze around and walk along the Polhena beach for some photos of the kids doing surfing. Rest and relax in the hotel and prepare for our flight back tomorrow:) |
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Day 22
Depart 6am on highway to Colombo airport. 830am reaches the end of highway, and 20km more to airport. Toll fee 650 rupees for 150km. Reached airport 915am and took the 1235pm flight back to Singapore. Arrived Singapore 720pm local time. |
TRIP PHOTOS - SRI LANKA