Sri Lankan Highlights

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

Hi Squifflet

Thanks for your posting. I recently did a Sri Lanka trip (based on Sri Lanka Discovery) so I can give you my thoughts on the fitness side of things.

This tour is really quite active and this is a great tour for someone looking to see the countryside of Sri Lanka from ground level instead of just from a bus. The hiking on the tour is excellent although you must be prepared with some good shoes, as this is not always on established paths so you need some support on your feet. The scenery is really spectacular so take pleny of film for photos.

Elements of the tour where you will need to be reasonably fit are: climbing Yapahuwa on day 2, Mihintale on day 3, Sigirya on day 5 (but this one is not as hard as it looks it might be on the photos, and is really good fun!), climbing up to the caves at Dambulla, hiking on days 9 and 10, cycling on day 12. The cycling in Anuradhapura on day 3 is very easy and you don't need to be very fit for that.

I also think that the time of year I went (May) meant that the immense humidity made everything that bit harder. Going in October you will find the humidity much more bearable and all the activity easier. I am not super fit and nor were the others on my tour, and we all did it with no problems.

There are also more relaxing elements of the tour, such as getting a massage at the spice garden - the best sales technique I've seen - and the pools at the hotels. Any free time you have you can get Ayurvedic treatments or just relax and go shopping.

I'm afraid I can't advise you on what vaccinations to have or not have - sorry!

I hope you have a great time as this is a brilliant tour, and if you have any other questions about the tour please don't hesitate to contact me.

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for all the info. I'd better (literally) get on my bike then! squifflet

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

Hi; back again...I was reading the pre-departure info for our Sri Lanka Discovery trip on 7th Oct and it says that "for ease of use, the best type of bag to bring is a backpack or sports bag...this type of bag tends to be less bulky and easier to handle than rigid suitcases".

As a Traveller style trip, and therefore mostly tourist-class hotel based, I wondered if it would still be okay to bring a suitcase and day pack? I am aware that we will be handling our own luggage at certain points and I would probably prefer to bring my own suitcase but I don't want to be the only numpty in the group with a suitcase if everyone else tends to bring large rucksacks! Any advice would appreciated!

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

Thanks for the email and the forum post.

Looking at the transport used during the tour I do not think a suitcase type bag will present any problems though I would recommend that you take a soft suitcase as apposed to a hard suitcase as this will pack easier on the bus and train. You will also need a small day bag for carrying personal items such as water and your camera.

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

We went on the tour back in April (seems ages ago now). The activity parts (cycling, walking, canoeing) are all good fun and a good way to see some more of the Sri Lanka - scenery around World's end is excellent.

Leech socks are recommended however (for the hill walking) if you don't want to get "sucked" - either that, or walk in shorts/sandals so you can see them when they first attach themselves. There appears to be no real danger with the leeches, but they are a "surprise" when you find a bloated leech attached to you after 1/2 hour. Extra pairs of socks/trousers do not stop them getting in!

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

LEECHES?!? Thank-you MBrown for alerting me to the possibility of leeches so I have promptly ordered a pair of leech socks as I don't want to be missing scenery by checking my legs for bloated leeches every 5 mins! Thanks again for the tip!

Re: Sri Lankan Highlights

We did this tour in September, and I'm now starting to feel jealous.

Level of fitness- the Anuradhapura (also known as the place I can spell and pronounce) cycle is short and easy. The second cycle is much longer, but the bus and a pick up met us at numerous stops, one or two people dropped out at the later stages...
The hike to the waterfall was great, and worth it. so was the hike to worlds end, neither were overly strenuous.

The canoeing was tough- but then I had never done it before, so it was all effort and no effect! Again there is a half way point where you can drop out. If you aren't good at it, you get soaked canoeing (but we saw kingfishers and big water monitor lizards and a heap of other stuff!
Suitcase- You should only bring what you can easily carry- but then I didn't carry my rucksack once on the tour. But for street cred (tour cred?) a battered looking rucksack with the remnants of a dozen airline tags is the business Bring a towel for the camping, and a small torch.
Also for most of the first week you will need "temple Dress" at some point each day- Long sleeves and below the knee for girls, long or short sleeves and below the knee for guys, 3/4 length or zip off trousers, Sarongs and light shirts are the handiest- something that goes on over what you are wearing.
LEECHES - no one mentioned leeches, and we swam in the pool at the waterfall and at one hotel the pool wasn't a pool, it was the river!
Bring lots of film, and bring some more for the elephants.