Trips

We are traveliing to Sri Lanka next August with 2 15 year old boys and are looking on going on quite a few trips.

Does anyone know what trips FC do as we want to ride Elephants visit sigryi rock for a start and not sure whether to book with FC or with local firms?

Thanks in advance

Trips

Hi there,

Not familiar with the FC trips. General rule is that unless these operators %26#39;pool%26#39; (group trips), they can be quite a lot more pricey per person than locally booked with only your family.

Also note that, supposing that you stay on the coast, you need a multi-day trip for Sigiriya (lovely, see the Duran Duran video shot there!). Climbing should start before 10:30 AM or after 3:30 PM and that%26#39;s exactly outside the times reachable from the coast, it%26#39;s 4 hours drive from the coast at least.

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Trips

We usually go along to the welcome meeting to get a feel for what is available and then book the same thing locally. Also check out the tour operator office in your hotel, there is often a book and posters detailing the trips The local drivers do all the interim stops (tea factory, spice garden etc ) but for a lot less than the tour operator. Plus it will be just you in the car so you can tailor the trip to suit you without having to hang around for other people in the group.

Have a great time next August

Andy

Hi there

Why not take a few nights away from your beach hotel and enjoy some of the inland scenery aswell? We did just that when we had a First Choice ';cheapie'; last August. We used the beach hotel as a base at the beginning and end of the two weeks and had much more fun exploring on our own. You can book a taxi or hire a driver if you want to, or use public transport to get there really cheaply, then do your own thing.

One of the places we stayed for a few nights was Sigiriya Village Hotel (check out my review of the place, plus photos). It is a fantastic place with wonderful gardens and there are monkeys, land monitors, etc. all roaming around the place .. things you will not see at your beach hotel. You are within walking distance of Sigiriya Rock, so you would not need to organise that separately .. and there are elephant rides available just 5 minutes walk from the hotel too. Just turn left out of the hotel. We negotiated a rate of 拢10 each for a 1 hour ride .. much cheaper than we found anywhere else.

As you have 2 lively sons, consider hiring bicycles to explore, or climb nearby Pidurangala Rock which offers the best view of Sigiriya that you%26#39;ll ever see. Lots of other trip options in the area aswell ... again, these can easily be arranged for you by the hotel, or at the same place where you can get the elephant rides. The chap ran a taxi service with air. con. vehicles and his rates were far cheaper than any you will get through First Choice or the various hotels. Once you are there, you will realise how easy it is to arrange such things.

And on your way back to the coast, consider stopping at Kitulgala for some whitewater rafting ... the boys will love that too!

All the best

Sue

Thank you so much for all your replys.

Not going till next August but already very excited.

revlon