Sri Lanka Adventure Part 2
We departed the Ceylon Tea Trails on the morning of day 6 and headed south. This was our longest travelling day as its a 6 hour journey from Hatton to Yala National Park, but it was broken up with a visit to Nuwaya Eliya and a journey on the fabulous Calypso Train. You can also transfer by sea plane from Castlerea Reservoir to the Yala which will save you hours and offer incredible views of the country as you fly south. The Calypso Train has only recently come back into service and is a beautiful old steam train with a fantastic open carriage mid-way with live music to enjoy. By far my favourite part of this trip was the fact this train travels over and stops on the famous Nine Arch Bridge. You can get off the train for 10 minutes to take photos and it was an incredible experience to see the bridge in such a unique way. We loved our hour on the Calypso Train and it will definitely be going into all my clients itineraries.
Travelling on a comfortable mini bus means long journeys go by very quickly and you can sit and watch the towns and people of Sri Lanka pass you by, as you get a little glimpse into their daily lives. Do pack a neck pillow though, as some power naps are important with all the early starts!
We were up early the following day for a morning game drive in Yala National Park to spot the elusive leopards. Again our luck held out as we spotted a leopard lounging in a tree, along with lots of other animals including a rare tusked elephant. Yala National Park is located along the Indian Ocean so you have the wonderful mix of safari and beach together. We had monkeys running through reception in our magnificent hotel for the night, the Uga Chena Huts - don’t let the term Hut fool you, they are 5* ‘huts’ with private pools. The previous day an elephant had been right up at the hotel – don’t worry they ring your room to tell you not to leave while there is an elephant on site!.
We departed Yala and headed west along the ocean road heading towards our final stop. We spent the night in The Fortress hotel in Koggala and our last excursion brough us to the beautiful fortress town of Galle. Galle Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the town within the fortress walls is home to boutique hotels, markets, cafés, antique shops and lots of beautiful and historical buildings. We only had 2 hours in Galle but were all in agreement that its somewhere you could happily spend a day or two. We had lunch in the fantastic Galle Fort Bazaar Hotel, a little oasis of green within the fortress.
Our last few hours were spent on sunbeds between the pool and the beach, as we finally got to have a dip in the Indian Ocean before our late night return flight. I can honestly say we all agreed we would be back to this magnificent island and have no doubt that a wonderful adventure awaits all visitors. Sri Lanka can be mixed with a stop over in Doha or some clients add on a few nights in Mauritius on the way home, to chill out – although there are plenty of amazing hotels along the coast in Sri Lanka perfect for the final chill time before going home.
Give me a call if you are thinking about your own Sri Lankan adventure, I will happily talk your ear off about this wonderful country and check our my Instagram Highlight for even more photos.
A few tips and packing suggestions…
Pack antibacterial wipes (handy for feet too) and gel * Bring a small hand fan – the humidity in temples can be intense * Pack a reusable water bottle – there is a strong focus on sustainability * Bring a light rain jacket, it might rain but it's not cold, you would be very hot in a heavy one * One jumper – even in the mountains it doesn’t get cold at night * Neck pillow for your flight and long journeys (helpful for a snooze after an early start) * Visit your GP for vaccination advice and bring mosquito repellent and creams
