Round trip of Sri Lanka with Birgitta and the Riedy family
We had booked three weeks round trip around Sri Lanka with Jetwing Travels. We did all the main things to do like visiting almost all UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Negombo and Pinnawala
We started in Negombo with a fantastic room in Jetwing Lagoon Hotel (Lagoon suite). This hotel is perfect for relaxing when you arrive or before leaving Sri Lanka as it is very close to the airport. It has a 100 meter pool and the lagoon on one side and the sea on the other. Our first stop was Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. I have never been so close to elephants before (there must have been 40-50 of them). This was the only time it rained even though we visited during Monsoon (ok in the rain forest it did also rain).
Cultural Triangle
Our next hotel was the Vil Uyana Jetwing Hotel. If you look for something romantic and beautiful this is the place. Our room was a water dwelling house and yes there is a crocodile living in the water below! From this place we visited Dambulla Rock Temple, Mihintale Temple and Anurahapura and few more temples and stupas. We learned so much about the culture and religion. It was very hot so I can recommend anyone the wear socks as you have to take off your shoes to enter a temple. A very fun experience was the village tour in Habarana. Polonnaruwa was interesting as well. And then of course early morning to Sigiriya Lions Rock! Yes we climbed it! You are rewarded with beautiful views. This is a must.
Hill Country
We continued toward Kandy where we had booked the OZO Kandy Hotel. It has a nice roof top pool with views of the lake. We of course visited the temple and a cultural dance show. The botanical garden of Peradeniya is very beautiful and worth a visit. The next day we took the train to Nuwara Eliya. We first thought well quite beautiful but nothing very special as we have spectacular train rides in Switzerland as well. But then we learned what to do: open the door of the train (when it is driving) and sit in the open door and feel the wind in your hair. You will see tea plantations and just feel that freedom. Much fun especially as this is not allowed in Switzerland. We stayed at the Jetwing St. Andrews Hotel which gives you an English feeling. Of course we had high tea and visited a tea plantation. The trekking to Horton Plains is a nice one with stunning views.
Wellawaya and Yala
One night was spent at the Jetwing Kaduruketha Hotel near Ella. The rooms have no air condition so it can get really hot. From the pool you have views of the paddy fields. You see animals and famers. It is very relaxing. Then another highlight of our tour was Yala national park. We stayed at the recently opened Jetwing Yala Hotel! What a beauty. We just loved everything about it: big rooms with views of the sea and the pool, the beach, the restaurants and bars and then the best service! We were very lucky on our trip to the National Park: we saw a leopard, elephants and birds. We saw everything but a bear.
Down South
In our opinion the most beautiful city was Galle. We loved wandering around the small streets and visit the shops and restaurant. The fort area is so nice. The Jetwing Lighthouse is just minutes by Tuk Tuk from the fort area. We stayed there together with celebrities: the Indian cricket national team and the Sri Lankan team were also there so many security guards were around. We had chosen to stay at the Rainforest Eco Lodge to visit the Sinharaja Rainforest. After a quite stenos tour up the hotel we went on some of the trekking in the rainforest. It is certainly a very adventurous experience for nature lovers.
The last few days were spent at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo to just relax, enjoy the pool, the beach and do some shopping. We took a day trip to Colombo as well. So we can only recommend Sri Lanka! We had fun, learned a lot, saw even more and relaxed (and even got sun burned)
Birgitta – The Riedy Family
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