2 week family holiday in Sri Lanka
We are a family of 5 (children aged 6, 9, 12) and I'm trying to plan the best route for our holiday in August to cover some beach time, wildlife, blue whales and turtle visits with some cultural treks too. Can anyone recommend a good itinerary for this time of year? Is the south west coast a no go due to monsoon season?
Hi there, better focus on east coast also for whales. Route eg galle- Ella- eliya- kandy-trinco-sigiriya. Erik
Hi,
Perhaps you can try this one,
BIA >>>> Negombo > Dambulla > Passikuda/ Trincomalee > Kandy > Ella > Yala > Galle > Colombo >>>> BIA
August is a great time to explore Sri Lanka if you follow the good weather route. Start with 2–3 nights in Sigiriya to visit the ancient rock fortress, enjoy a village tour, and do a wildlife safari at Minneriya.
Then head to the east coast, Trincomalee or Pasikudah, for 4–5 nights of calm beaches, whale watching, and snorkelling.
Next, spend 2 nights in Kandy, followed by 2–3 nights in the hill country (Ella or Nuwara Eliya) to enjoy scenic train rides, tea plantations, and gentle hikes. I recommend the Nuwara Eliya to Ella stretch, which is the most scenic part of the journey.
You can include a safari in Udawalawe or Yala for more wildlife. While Minneriya already offers great elephant sightings, Udawalawe’s Elephant Transit Home might be a hit with the kids.
Finally, wrap up with 2 relaxing nights in Galle Fort, soaking in its colonial charm before departure.
Avoid the southwest beaches in August as they are affected by the monsoon.
Safe Travels!
S-Himakara.
Thanks this is so helpful! I was trying to work out where best to try for a Blue Whale siting but also really don't like the idea of being in the water with 10 other boats and getting into a bit of a tourist trap. Is there a way to see them that also respects their space without it being too crowded?? Also would Mirissa be best avoided at this time of year? i was thinking of a few days there to snorkelling and potentially see some turtles.....
thanks for your recommendations - is it quite easy to get taxi's in SL? what would the cost be on average for a 4 hr drive?
Yes you can get cabs, but if you also need transport on your days on a base roundtrip hire is considerably cheaper. After all, the car does not have to return empty in that model.
Do maths as described here....
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QQX5bAkx45Fv6dJDOAgflhsfQ_2kaTjp92CUCp5MMww/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ehulknd42vjr
-Erik> & [Sandya]
The routes suggested in the thread look great. The best hotels on the East coast will get booked up fairly soon, so I recommend arranging your accommodations ASAP.
There can be an opportunity to go whale watching and possibly sight some dolphins in Trincomalee, but heads up...there will be lots of boats chasing after the same sightings.
As for the South - I wouldn't recommend going to Mirissa - there will be rough waters there. But you can go to Galle as someone suggested and visit a turtle hatchery - that's easily doable.
