Sri Lanka adventure holiday

Reviewed 21 Aug 2005 by Yvonne Connelly

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The variety, colours, smells, religions, history, companionship of the group, the care taken by the tour guide (Bruno) and his friends, food, birds and wildlife, Kandy Perahera Festival, elephants, children, public transport, roller-coaster driving and overtaking, cycling, trekking, Buddhist temples, the variety of fruit, flowers, smiling. The 7 hour train ride from Kandy to Haputale was amazing. Jam packed and lively. People hanging out of the doors and windows with wonderful scenery. Everyone smiling and such good babies. Loads of pictures to be taken and shown to the children . Email addresses swapped to pass them on. Onion and jaggery sandwiches and sweet tea from the 'buffet'.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Travel as light as possible. Shorts, especially for women really don't work, you would feel very out of place. Skirts or 3/4 trousers and short sleeved T shirts were the most worn. A digital camera is better so that you can show the children the picture you have just taken. There is some serious walking, bring the right clothes and footwear. Try not to bring large notes, 1000 Rupees (worth about GB £6), it is embarrassing or impossible to change them. Bring 100 Rupee notes and coins. Drink more water (bottled) than you think you need. Adjust your expectations very quickly and smile. Everything is slow and chaotic and takes 4 people! Take pictures with you of your home, town, work and family - everyone is very interested and it makes conversation easier, especially when staying in people's homes.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

I think it did this more so than if I had stayed in one hotel, possibly owned by an outsider. There were not enough of us, tourists/foreigners in Sri Lanka to make enough difference. We bought from the markets and traders and tipped the staff rather than the management but we did not need enough and it was so evident that all the traders needed our business for crafts, snacks, water, fruit etc. Buying things in larger shops it was difficult to imagine where the money was going. I saw some of the accommodation that the Rest House staff lived in. It was awful, I don't know that I have helped them at all really and they would say they are the lucky ones to have a job.