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Sri Lanka and Maldives with Kuoni
by claire
Sri Lanka and Maldives with Kuoni, by Claire
Wednesday 18th September
I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 4 at 7.00 pm and met the rest of the group travelling and checked in; there were 50 agents and Kuoni staff on our trip divided into 5 groups of 10. Our flight with Sri Lankan Airlines took off just after 11.00 pm, it seemed strange having our evening meal served after midnight, but the food was good and then it was time to get some sleep as we had a 10 hour flight down to Colombia
Thursday 19th September
We arrived on time in Colombo and the immigration was really quick, after collecting our cases we had cleared the airport in less than 45 minutes.
We were met by the Kuoni guides who greeted us with a cold towel and fresh cold bottles of water. The transfer time to our hotel, Jetwing Sea in Negombo, was about 30 minutes. We arrived mid afternoon and after being given our room keys we were taken on a short site inspection, although this did not include bedrooms as the hotel was full. Between our group we were able to see both the standard and deluxe rooms, I would always advise clients to upgrade to Deluxe rooms if staying more than 1 night, the standard rooms were basic and the bathrooms were tiny. There are also 2 suites in the 83 room Jetwing Sea.
That evening the 3 groups staying at the Jetwing Sea had dinner together, it was Poya – a new moon day, which is a Buddhist religious day so most shops were closed and even in the hotel alcohol can not be served.
Friday 20th September
After an early night we had a 6.30 am wake-up call and an 8.00 am departure from the Jetwing Sea for a day that would take us to Habarana. The roads in Sri Lanka are not the best standard and with the amount of traffic and their road skills it makes journey times very long.
After a 2 hour drive we stopped for a refreshment break at Kurunegala, then back in the bus for a further 90 minutes on to Dambulla. There we visited the Dambulla Rock Caves, 5 caves with Buddha’s carved from rock and wood inside and the oldest dated back to around 90 BC. There is a fairly steep climb up to the caves and once you are there, being a religious symbol, you must remove your shoes and make sure your knees and shoulders are covered. After the rock caves we stopped for a lovely local lunch then drove on to Habarana which took approximately 90 minutes.
We arrived at the Chaaya Village where we were staying, had a quick tour of the hotel and then we walked a few minutes down the road where we met up with the Mahouts for a 30 minute elephant ride around the lake. After the elephant ride we walked 5 minutes to the 5* Cinnamon Lodge, which is a beautiful hotel with superior and deluxe rooms and also 2 suites which both overlook the lake.
Back at Chaaya Village we had chance for a beer before freshening up for dinner. Chaaya Village has 89 deluxe rooms, 12 superior rooms and 2 suites, it has a central area for the reception, bar and dining room with tables and chairs outside by the pool for dining. Everyone stayed and had there meals at Chaaya Village this evening. The buffet dinner and breakfast was fantastic with plenty of choices.
Saturday 21st September
Another 6.00 am alarm call this morning for a 7.30 am departure from the hotel to drive 30 minutes to Sigiriya. The ancient Rock Fortress in Sigiriya is now partially excavated exposing half of the original gardens and lily ponds, the climb to the top of the rock is fairly strenuous and can be taken in 3 stages – at each stage you have the option of stopping and returning back down. The climb takes approximately 1 hour and involves over 800 stone and iron steps, the climb down takes about half the time. The views from the top of the rock are worth the effort and exhaustion. I would recommend the early start to do the climb before the weather gets too hot, we had completed the climb by up and down by 10.30 am.
After leaving Sigiriya we had a 90 minute journey to the Spice Gardens in Matale, we were met and given a guided tour explaining the cooking and medical uses of many of the plants, then we all received a 10 minute neck and shoulder massage – all visitors receive this and the tour and massage is completely free. At the rear of the spice gardens we were taken to their beautiful restaurant firstly for a cookery demonstration making Dahl Curry and then we had a lovely buffet curry lunch; after lunch we had a 4 hour coach journey back to Negombo. We stayed and the Jetwing Blue for the night but all the groups met up again for a gala dinner on the beach at the Jetwing Sea.
Sunday 22nd September
This morning we didn’t have an early alarm call this morning so we managed to have a later breakfast and then walked on the beach to the Jetwing Beach which is next door for a quick hotel inspection. The Jetwing Beach has superior rooms and junior suites which have outside Jacuzzi baths.
We then again all boarded the coach for a 30 minute transfer back to Colombo airport where we were flying on to Male. Check in was very swift, the flight from Colombo to Male was 75 minutes and the arrival immigration was as quick. Once through the airport we were taken to our speedboat which was moored outside the terminal building for the 10 minute transfer to Kurumba, which was to be our home for the night.
I was very impressed when we arrived, the reception area was beautiful – we were greeted with cold towels and a glass of coconut ice cream. The island was medium sized with a selection of different bars and restaurants, you could see the main island from Kurumba and all the lights at night time, you could hear the aircraft but the island had a very warm and friendly feel to it. Our rooms were deluxe beachfront, they were all within 20 steps of the sea with beautiful verandas and an open-air shower off the bathroom, after a quick freshen up we were on a site inspection before a hosted dinner that evening. Sushi starter, surf & turf main course (lobster, giant prawn, reef fish, sirloin steak, rib eye steak & lamb chop!!) and a trio of deserts – the diet will definitely be back on at home. The island is sold as Half Board, Full Board or All Inclusive. That evening the entertainment on the island was a live band that had the guests up dancing. We have another early start tomorrow.
Monday 23rd September
This morning we left from Kurumba by speedboat at 9.00 am back to Male where we then took another speedboat for the 90 minute transfer down to Kuramathi. When we arrived straight away you could see the difference in the islands, Kurumathis is one of the larger islands in the Maldives – over a mile long, and it has 3 receptions and 3 main dining rooms depending where you are staying on the island.The island is sold as half board, full board or All Inclusive. There are over 300 rooms from garden bungalows through to water villas and honeymoon villas with private pools. You can see a fantastic sunset from the sandspit in the evenings and then once the sunsets stingrays venture into the beaches and are fed, many reef sharks are also visible at this time. Kurumathi has an amazing coral reef surrounding the island and snorkelling was probably the best we experienced from the beach without having to take a boat.
Another lovely hosted meal this evening at the Italian restaurant but we didn’t sample the bars as we had a 5.00 am alarm call for our speedboat transfer back to Male the next morning.
Tuesday 24th September
After our early departure from Kuramathi we arrived back in Male and then took a 20 minute speedboat transfer over to Baros, one of the Small Luxury hotels of the World.
Baros was built 40 years ago and has luxury villas and water villas, it was the first Maldivian Island to have an over-water restaurant. Baros is an amazing island that only takes 7 minutes to walk around, all meals are A La Carte and the board basis sold is bed & breakfast, the island does not crave celebrities they treat all their clients as VIP’s.
After the inspection we headed back to Male and took another speedboat for a short trip to Velassaru. Velassaru was refurbished in 2009 and is a very contemporary island with deluxe beach bungalows, villas, pool villas and water villas. Based on Bed & Breakfast all meals are A la Carte with a selection of bars and restaurants. The beaches are white with soft sand and crystal clear lagoons – for the best snorkelling this is either by the water villas or you are better to take a boat excursion to their house reef.
Another lovely hosted meal this evening on the beach with what seems to be a ‘speciality’ of the Maldives – ‘surf & turf.
Wednesday 25th September
Another 4.30 am wake up call this morning for a speedboat departure from Velassaru back to Male where we were taking a sea plane down to Maafushivaru. At Male there is an air conditioned lounge with refreshments while you wait for you sea plane transfer. We arrived in time for breakfast in paradise!! The island is stunning, you can see neighbouring islands but you are surrounded by a reef and you have turquoise lagoons and powder soft white sand beaches, this for me was the true ‘barefoot’ experience, Maafushivaru is sold to UK clients as All Inclusive, there are supplements for other dining options and selected drinks (champagne, malt whiskies etc) but most things are included. Snorkelling equipment is included as is transport to their private island Lonubo for an amazing snorkelling experience; you are also able to book various dining packages for the evening on the private island.
All rooms face the turquoise sea and there are only 50 in total, 28 beach villas and 22 over-water villas. You can stroll around the island in 10 minutes.
Our wonderful trip to the Maldives was finished off this evening with a hosted meal in the Teppanyaki restaurant, and then the entertainment was by the islands staff with local dancing.
Of all the properties I have visited on this amazing trip I had finished up in Paradise.
Thurday 26th September
This morning we left early by sea plane from Maafushivaru to Male for a day of travelling home, we flew into Male then connected for a flight to Colombo and then finally through to Heathrow.
We arrived back in Heathrow late evening after an amazingly quick but wonderful insight into Sri Lanka & Maldives, they are both places that I will definitely travel back to for a more extensive trip.