Ideas for Extended Trips
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If you wish to continue your stay for a few more days (at your own cost) you may choose one of many options. We have proposed two, which could be combined or modified depending on the length of your stay. These trips can be done on your own by simply hiring a car (or van) and driver for a few days. We can provide a referral to a trusted car service or you can go through Jetwing Travel.
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A. Udawalawe and Hill Country combo (3-4 nights)
· Leave Colombo at 2 pm on Day 5 and drive to Udawalawe (4 hours)
· Dinner and overnight stay at hotel (Centuria Wild)
· Elephant safari at 6 am next day (3 hours)
· After breakfast at hotel, leave for Ella (2.5 hours)
· Stop at Ravana Ella falls on the way
· Lunch in Ella
· Afternoon hikes to a) Nine arches bridge and b) Little Adam’s peak
· Dinner and overnight stay at hotel (98 Acres Resort and Spa)
· Leave in the morning towards Nuwara Eliya (2 hours)
· Stop at Hakgala gardens and Sita Eliya
· Check in at hotel
Suggestions -
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The Grand Hotel is a classic colonial property if you can look past the somewhat dated rooms
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Jetwing St. Andrews
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Heritance Tea Factory - lovely, quiet property in a tea estate 30 minutes out of town
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Bellwood Manor and Langdale - intimate cottage/B&B type properties, but the priciest options
· Walk to the Golf course and the Hill Club and have drinks at the bar
· Dinner at the hotel
If on a 3-night itinerary, after breakfast head towards Colombo on Hatton Road with stops at various waterfalls along the way. Lunch at Kitulgala, where the WW2 classic, Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed. (Total drive time 5 hours)
· If on a 4-night itinerary, after breakfast head towards Kandy with a stop at Labookellie tea factory for a factory tour (3-hour drive)
· Drive straight to Temple of the Tooth for a guided tour
· Check in at Jetwing Kandy Gallery
· Dinner at hotel
· After breakfast at hotel drive to Kandy for additional sightseeing (if time allows) and then onwards to Colombo airport to catch flight back (3.5 hours)​​​
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B. Cultural triangle and Kandy (3-4 nights)
· Leave Colombo at 2 pm and head to Kandy (3 hours)
· Check in at Jetwing Kandy Gallery
· Dinner at hotel
· After breakfast, check out and visit Temple of the Tooth and other sights
· Lunch in Kandy
· Head towards Heritance Kandalama resort (2.5 hours drive)
· Check in and relax by the pool/pool bar
· Dinner at Heritance
· After breakfast, head to Sigiriya rock (45 minutes drive)
· Climb mid-way up the rock. If you are adventurous, go up all the way.
· Lunch at Sigiriya
· Drive to Dambulla and visit cave temples (45 minute drive)
· Return to hotel for quiet time and dinner
· On the 3rd day, visit 2-3 of the following sites, each about an hour away
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Minneriya National Park (elephant safari)
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Aukana – impressive standing Buddha statue
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Polonnaruwa – ancient city with ruins
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Anuradhapura – ancient city
· Dinner at hotel
· After breakfast or lunch, head to Colombo airport (3.5 hours)
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Other Areas of Interest
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The North and East
​For something quite different: Jaffna, Trincomalee and the North have opened up in the past few years after suffering through a lengthy period of war and neglect. While still a bit off the beaten path, there are many kovils and other sites that may be of interest to those who have seen all the main attractions in the south. Manimaran will know more as he has recently visited that area. The fastest way to do it is to fly from Colombo (45 minutes) and spend 2 nights there. We also hear that flights have recently started between Jaffna and Chennai.​
Yala National Park and Katharagama​
Sinharaja Rainforest
