TRAIN FROM NUWARA ELIYA TO ELLA

Going from Nuwara Eliya to Ella by train is one of the best experiences you can have in Sri Lanka. 

Of course you can go by bus as well and probably spend less and take less time but why miss such an opportunity? 

The 9.02 train is a goods train but has a couple of wagons for passengers. The train though stops everywhere and makes your journey much longer. 

The 12.30 train not always has the famous observation coach. 

A ticket on first class costs 1250Rs while one on second (not that different from the first) costs 600Rs. 

VISITING A TEA FACTORY IN NUWARA ELIYA

Visiting a tea factory in Nuwara Eliya is the best thing you can do.

There are plenty of choices.

Drivers will try to steer you to the one where they get a commission. 

If you are into organic, of all the factory Bluefield should be your choice. You get a tour of the factory for free and of course a cup to try. 

A driver can ask you from 2000Rs to 4000Rs to drive down to the factory. 

It is indeed one of the furthest factories from town (16km away).

The driver will include in the fee a visit to 5 or 6 of the many waterfalls that embellish this beautiful area of the country.

HORTON'S PLAIN AND WORLD'S END

It is not possible to walk from Nuwara Eliya to World's End.

Unfortunately the visit to the park implies renting a driver and a jeep and paying an entrance ticket. 

A driver will cost you 4000Rs and the entrance for 2 people and a vehicle costs 5730Rs. 

If you can share the van it'll all be cheaper. 

The walk to World's End and back lasts approximately 3 hours. It is best to leave the hotel at 5.30am to make sure you start the walk around 7. You will then be at World's End by 8.30, before the clouds start rolling in blocking the view. 

FROM DAMBULLA TO NUWARA ELIYA

To travel down from Dambulla to Nuwara Eliya you need to switch buses at Kandy. 

The trip is quite quick thanks to the awesome connections. 

The ride from Dambulla to Kandy will cost 200Rs in a minivan and will take two hours. 

The ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya will cost 620Rs for two people and two suitcases in a minivan (there is no space for luggage in those vans, they will always make you pay for one extra seat) and will take two and a half hours. 

DAMBULLA: TICKETS AND TIMING

Dambulla's Cave Temples are a must and can be easily seen in a couple of hours tops. 

Entrance is 1500Rs and gives you access to the Golden Temple at the bottom of the rock and at the Cave Temples.

SIGIRIYA: COST AND TIMING

Sigirya's rock is best visited in the morning to avoid crowds and a sun stroke. 

The ticket costs 30$ and give you access to the rock and to the museum. 

The climb up is easy but if you have vertigo you will find a few bits not as easy as the rest. 

Luckily some Sri Lankan men who know about your weakness will be there to help you up and down for just a tip.

The return trip (climbing up and coming back down) will take from two to three hours).

Visiting the rock in the morning will also give you time to visit Dambulla's Cave Temples in the afternoon. 

STAYING AT DAMBULLA TO VISIT SIGIRIYA

Dambulla is a good option if you plan to visit both the cave temple in town and the rock at Sigiriya. 

You can reach Sigiriya from Dambulla by public bus and it'll only cost you 20Rs. 

Otherwise you can hire a tuk-tuk which will take you there, wait, and take you back for 1500Rs. 

A one-way trip with the tuk-tuk will cost you 800Rs. 

SAFARI IN MINNERIYA FROM POLONNARUWA

It is possible to do a safari in MInneriya from Polonnaruwa. 

Your guesthouse will be able to arrange it. A jeep for the afternoon will cost 5500Rs and the entrance fee to the park will be 5870Rs for two people. 

If you can get more than two people on the jeep you personal cost will lower considerably. 

The safari is best done in the afternoon when you can witness the gathering of the elephants. 

The jeep will leave from your guesthouse at about 1.30pm and will finish the tour around 6.00pm. 

If your jeep can get to the gathering at about 4.00pm you will see the ritual in first row and before another 20 jeeps will join you. 

Apart from the elephants there are a lot of birds that can be seen. 

If you have done a safari in Africa this one will seem poor though the gathering alone is worth the expense. 

POLONNARUWA'S TEMPLES

Polonnaruwa's temple complex is best visited by bike. Entrance is 3125Rs and there is no way to avoid that. 

Tuk-tuk driver will offer to take you avoiding the fee but that means you simply won't access some of the main sites. 

Your guesthouse will be able to provide you with a bike for the day for 200/300Rs. 

NILAVELI, UPPUVELI O TRINCOMALEE

Trincomalee beach might not have the charme of a deserted beach like Nilaveli but it is almost as beautiful but with perks.

Nilaveli is perfect if you want an out of the world experience, meaning you won't be provided with many services. While Trincomalee's beach offers a few options of restaurants and a variety of small shops. 

The beach is gorgeous. See for yourself.

FROM TRINCOMALEE TO POLONNARUWA

There are no direct buses from Trincomalee to Polonnaruwa but you can quite easily get there by changing in Habarana. 

Buses from Trincomalee to Habarana run every 15 minutes and cost 120Rs.

Despite what you might think buses are so frequent that you never have to wait more than 10 minutes for the following connection making your trip quick and on time. 

Same for the buses from Habarana to Polonnaruwa. Just ask anyone in town for where the other bus stop is, wait 5 minutes and you'll be on your way to your destination. Ride costs 60Rs.

TICKETS TO ANURADHAPURA

Tickets to Anuradhapura are expensive. 3125Rs. And if you go around by bike, which is lovely, the guards will stop you and ask you to buy one. 

The only way to avoid buying a ticket and making your visit much cheaper is contacting a tuk tuk driver who knows his way in without paying. 

Price depend on the driver but it won't be higher than 1000Rs. 

SNORKELLING IN TRINCOMALEE

Snorkelling with sharks and all sorts of fish is an amazing experience at Pigeon Island, off the Nilaveli-Trincomalee coast.

You can take a tuk-tuk to Nilaveli beach and then cross to the island with a boat but it will cost you slightly cheaper if you book with one of the many tours offered at Trinco' beach. 

The excursion will cost 3000Rs but if you want your money worth you'll have to book with Thussi at the Sea Lotus Hotel at Trincomalee's beach.

While other tours will only provide you with equipment and expect you to figure out by yourself where to find the fish once on the island, Thussi will swim with you, look for sharks and turtles, will explain what you need to do to make sure the coral reef won't cut you open and will also provide for a snack. 

If on top of that you add he is extremely friendly and fun you will understand he is the best deal you can get. 

He is so nice he also helps out other people left alone by their guides. 

FROM ANURADHAPURA TO TRINCOMALEE

There are several buses that run daily from Anuradhapura to Tribcomalee but beware that on holidays the service will only be active in the morning. 

If you are planning to go by taxi you can do so for 8000 to 9000Rs. The journey will take from three to four hours depending if the driver will take the new or the old road.

BUS FROM KANDY TO ANURADHAPURA

It is possible to get from Kandy to Anuradhapura by bus. There are several that leave from the main bus station during the day. 

I have to say ours was very punctual. It promised to leave at 3.45pm and so it did. 

It takes approximately 4 to 5 hours depending on the traffic. You can get A/C or not and prices vary accordingly. 

Bear in mind you can't find timetables on the Internet. Buses are minivans with no room for the luggage so you will have to pay extra for it. 

Two people and two suitcases cost us 1020Rs. 

BUYING A SIM CARD IN SRI LANKA

Buying a SIM card for you phone in Sri Lanka is easy and convenient. 

There are several telephone companies at the airport with booths that offer this kin of service. 

Don't buy the Sim before passing passport control. It'll be much cheaper once you are out. 

We bought a Telecom Mobitel card for 1000Rs including 1GB of Internet traffic and 500 credits which we could spend in calls or SMS. 1 call minute is 1 credit. 1 SMS is two. 

The signal is strong in most of the island. An the 3G actually goes faster than the one I have at home. 

TRAIN FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY

There are many trains that leave every day from Colombo to Kandy. Most of them are in the morning. 

Different companies run that track but even if you take the second class national train you will get to Kandy quite on time.

Sri Lankan trains are famous for being late. Ours left at 9.05  (15 minutes late) and reached Kandy at 11.30, which seemed to us like a good time. 

The journey is very nice, especially when the train reaches the hill country and if you wanna ride like a local you can stick your head out of the window or your full body out of the does. 

The famous observation deck is only really two seats and not worth booking ahead if that means having to plan much earlier. 

One way tickets for two people in second class (1st was sold out but really not that much better) were worth 520Rs on this very day I am writing. 

Ticket check will be done at the departure station, on the train and at the arrival station. So keep your tickets with you all the time.

APPLYING FOR A SRI LANKAN VISA

Applying for a Sri Lankan Visa is quick and easy.

If you call any Sri Lankan Embassy or Consulate they will confirm all you need to do is apply online through this website, pay 30$ (or more, depending how long you want to stay) and wait less than 48 hours to have a reply email with your VISA confirmation number.

When you pay you need to do by credit card (the consulate said it is better than debit) and then print the email you receive and take it with you along with your passport.

Ready, set, go!