Heaven exists - it's here!
Going to Sri Lanka, I read a lot of reviews and they helped me a lot, so I want to share my experience, I hope it will come in handy for you!
I flew to Lanka with my mother and therefore the offers of tour companies excursion + beach, when from the plane you need to immediately jump into the bus and go to see something, was not an option. And in general, I like to plan my vacation on my own and not be tied to a group, despite the fact that I still took a chance on my English. And did not regret it! I found a Russian-speaking guide, negotiated a 4-day excursion program with him, agreed on a price, booked a hotel for one night not far from the airport (to relax after the flight) and a guesthouse for a beach holiday in Hikkaduwa. We packed our bags and hit the road!
At the Colombo airport, we quickly and without any questions received a visa, changed money for the first time, bought a phone card dialogue and went in search of a taxi. In the airport building the price was 2 times higher than in 100 meters from it. I gave the address to the driver and he took us to the hotel without any problems, he immediately offered us his services for tour trips, so there is no problem with this if you are fluent in English. In the evening I phoned the guide, said that we flew safely and agreed that they would come for us at 4 in the morning. Exactly at 4, the guide called and said that he was waiting for us at the exit to the hotel and our journey around the paradise island began. We traveled in an air-conditioned bus, as it turned out later, the driver has 25 years of experience, he drives excellently! Our guide Sumudu, and for Russians, just Sasha speaks Russian quite tolerably, tried very hard, told us something all the way, stopped the car so that we could take a picture, advised where to buy, always wondered if my mother sent, whether we need to buy water, whether we are hungry. And most importantly, for 4 days we never deviated from the planned places and saw even a little more ? . 1. Pinnawell Day, Polonnavura, Sigiriya. 2. Dambul Day, Spice Garden, Matale- Hindu temple, Kandy. 3. Day Royal Botanical Gardens. Tea factory, Waterfalls, Nuwara Elya - foggy Albion (take warm clothes - we arrived in the evening and it was +10.4. Day tea plantations, mountain landscapes and transfer to the hotel on the coast. For the night we were placed in very decent hotels, for the things that remained in the car, it didn’t even occur to worry. And in general, the Sri Lankans are very kind, sincere and cheerful! We should learn from them to smile and enjoy life! We became friends with our guide and therefore, already on the coast, we went on local excursions with him, despite the fact that there are plenty of offers of this kind in Hikkaduwa. (boat safari on the river, turtle farm, monument to the victims of the 2004 tsunami, Buddhist temple) I recommend a very decent person to everyone. Here are his contacts +94770783777 skyp: abrew777 email: sumudu. ashoka@yahoo. com
In Halle, we traveled on our own, on a regular bus - a very interesting experience.
A beach holiday was planned in Hikkaduwa, because. there is a lagoon. I have heard that the ocean is treacherous, so I would like to have a safe haven. We stayed in the tandem house for 6 nights, booked through booking, based on reviews, not a big guest house, the ocean across the road, everything is very clean and tidy. Time flew by unnoticed, the next time, and he will definitely be, will I stay longer in Lanka?
I did not want to fly home at all, now I know there is a paradise - this is Sri Lanka!