Sri Lanka Travel Forum

Is anyone able to suggest a list of the "must see/do things" in Sri Lanka for a bunch of 19 year olds around Xmas this year. Also, roughly how much spending money would be advised to take (I'm Australian so if you could suggest a currency similar to that).

Thanks guys.

Hi

It is better to stay at negombo in fist few days to orientation (negombo is beach near by air port ) .then you can continue journey to see the rest of the places , I will mention some attraction you must visit.

1) pinnawala elephant orphanage
2) sigiriya rock fortress
3) dambulla cave temple
4) polonnaruwa
5) kandy
6) nuwaraeliya
7) yala national park

after the journey of inland it recommend to stay rest of your holiday at south cost , hkkaduwa or unawatuna would be nice places to be , having all the amenities like plenty of restaurant ,bars ,diving ect. at the day before last your holiday it easy to stay one again at negombo which is closer to get your flight back home.

It convenience to bring us$ to sri lanka it very much familiar than the any other currency .

Thanks you,

henri

Just to add about the money:

Depends on how you travel. Public transport is cheap, maybe USD 5 per day for long-distance returns and less for local bus/short rides. Car with driver is ten times that amount. And also on whether you need to include guest house/hotels at other places too, these vary in price from USD 5 per night (Room Only) to 100+.
Fixed costs would be:
* Lunch, this is with local drinks around 5-8 USD per person in tourist restaurants
* Entrance fees. For most attractions like Peradeniya Gardens and Temple of Tooth these are below USD 5 (foreigners!). Pinawela Elephant Orphanage is 10 USD and the Cultural Triangle attractions top the list with something like 15-20 US. However for the Triangle you can buy a 3-day combi ticket which gives return-on-investment if you visit at least two larger sites.

All the best,

<Erik> & [Sandya]

i think you will have good time in Sri Lanka at 19 but I would not think about Colombo night club, they are not same happy austrailian clubs, here is many men and not a lot of girls, sometimes drunk men think they are important and cause trouble, I think you better beach side west coast from Bentota or south from Unawatuna. Maybe also take train into hill country, Hapatule is good place

Hi, I used Negombo as a base and did a couple of few day trips from there. I hired a car n driver and it didn't cost much. You should defo see the cultural sights, and Pinnewala elephant orphanage was fantastic. Head into the country to see the tea plantations n factories, the scenery is amazing. I also did a safari in one of the national parks which was great, and visited a turtle sanctuary on the south coast. You won't be short of things to see and do. Sri Lanka is an amazing place and a very beautiful country with lovely people.
Bekah