Here is my guide to spending a picturesque week in Sri Lanka. I travelled with my 3 year old and husband. We had a very clear intention of visiting Sri Lanka, we wanted to have a relaxing slow paced beach holiday on a medium budget. So, if that’s what you are looking for as well, read along!
Let me begin by saying Sri Lanka is so under rated, and I had no great expectations either but oh boy!, its beyond anything I have ever seen.
So, we had shortlisted Unawatuna and Colombo. We travelled in May which is like peak monsoon there. Our idea of ideal beach holiday. :p
We stayed at Araliya Beach Resort at Unawatuna Beach which was 2.5-hour drive from Colombo airport. The drive of my dreams not even exaggerating. The resort is huge, overlooks the ocean, has amazing open area, the winds will blow not just your mind but you as well :p Right on the beach and has the best kids area you can ever find. Alternatively, you can also stay at Apa Villa Thalpe (we found it expensive, was suggested by a local though).
Tip: If you are planning the trip yourself, you might think you know everything about taxis there since you’ll read so much of Pick Me app everywhere. My advice, however, take taxi from airport for longer distances, especially in monsoon and more so because Pick Me would send you a Tata Nano and I have my doubts as to how would it survive Sri Lankan monsoon. I mean it was pouring and how. (Not using the term ‘torrential’ as some Bombay Scottish alumni would, iykyk 😉)
We were there for 3 nights, mostly ate at the hotel due to hygiene concerns. I can say food was a bit of concern in Sri Lanka overall but decent. Highlights for me were egg hoppers, cinnamon iced teas and their spicy red chutney. Drooling as I recall.
A few things you can explore while staying in Unawatuna is Galle. The area around the lighthouse and the fort is great for a nice walk in the evening. An experience in its own. The fort area is very Dutch, colourful, very colonial if I may say. Great for buying souvenirs, jewels, eating gelato. Stores that drew my attention – Spa Ceylon, Barefoot, and few I cannot recall names for. The Galle Fort Hotel had great food and an amazing bar.
From Unawatuna, you can also book Elephant safari through your hotel at Udawalve National Park (pick and drop from hotel, no need to stay). At one point, you also get to step down from your open jeep, click pictures and roam around. It’s a beautiful spot. It’s a full day experience and very joyful as you would enjoy wildlife in their natural. More so if you don’t want to promote cruelty on animals, visiting hatcheries, that just choregraph taking care of these creatures for money.
Also, don’t forget to eat the raw mangoes on your way back.
For the last day, we had Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Dalawella etc. to cover as well, but since we were enjoying our property so much, we preferred staying back and enjoy ourselves in their pool, on the beach, sitting in the sand and just being.
We had kept two days for Colombo, looking for a city experience but did not find much to enjoy or appreciate. We stayed at Shangri La and just stuffed ourselves with their amazing food. Simply gastronomic. There is a mall next to the hotel, decentish again nothing fancy. All in all, Colombo not worth as per us, instead do Negombo.
| Extra Notes: |
| If looking for luxury, consider staying at Antara Peace Haven Tangalle in place of Unawatuna |
| Sri Lankan airlines is good – almost same price as Air India, just more authentic |
| Yala National Park can be done if looking to spot leopards etc. |
| If more days, look for Hiriketya, Ella to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya (can be risky in monsoon) |