RTW, DONE3, which Asian city to include.
 

I am buying a DONE3 ticket. For my four Asia segment I was going to fly:

HKG-KTM
KTM-HKG
HKG-CMB
CMB-KTM

I am now thinking that CMB may not be a feasible destination. I had originally included CMB so I could visit the Maldives. I have never been to Sri Lanka or the Maldives. After reading/researching about the destination, I realize that I need about 14 days to sightsee in both places. I hadn't planned on staying so long in these two places, especially since I have a month of on the go travel before I arrive in HKG. After a few days in HKG, I will travel to KTM. I only plan on being in KTM for 5 days.

I have been to most OW destinations in Asia. I am looking at the list of OW destinations I haven't been to in Asia that I can visit [instead of CMB]. The flight needs to be from HKG, and I must return to HKG and spend some time there before I travel on my transpacific flight (I am travelling eastbound) from HKG.

Of the destinations I haven't been to, my destination choices are:-

Karachi, Pakistan
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Dakkar, Bangadesh
Banaglore, India
Jakarta, Indonesia
Dili, East Timor

I have never been to Pakistan and given the event in the news recently, I will avoid this destination. In Malaysia I have been to Penisular Malaysia and travelled around the region. I have never been to Bangladesh and this of little appeal. I don't care to visit India, I have travelled around the country and Bangalore is of little appeal. Also, I would like to avoid obtaining a visa in advance and a visit to India would require this. In Indonesia I have been to Bali. I have never been to East Timor

What should I do if I change CMB? Which destination, Columbo, Kota Kinabalu, Dakkar, Jakarta, Dili is an expensive destination to travel to?

I know I will get more miles by travelling to Columbo, so that was part of the appeal and the reason why I choose the destination.

What to Flyer Talk member do in this situation, a MR? Visit an off the beaten track destination?

Any advice from flyer talk members who have been to any of these places will be appreciated.

Thanks.

presume you meant CMB-HKG as the last of the above segments

I have been to all of these except Dacca - and frankly I wouldn't bother going back to any of them! (And a friend of mine has been to Dacca and says it was the pits)

Except maybe Kota Kinabalu - if you're in to scuba diving I've been told there are some excellent diving spots off the East coast of Sabah

So presuming you don't want to just not fly two segments - my advice would be to do one of:

• go to CMB anyway - even a few days is worth it (get the train up to Kandy in the highlands, it's a great ride:)); things are peaceful now that the war is over
• go to BOM - my favourite Indian city and the weather is lovely at this time of year

I assume you mean CMB-HKG as your 4th segment since there is no OW flight CMB-KTM (and no way out of KTM except a 5th segment to HKG).

There aren't any OW flights to Dili so that just seems like a random destination to me - go if you want to go (although I have to wonder why), but it won't be on a OW ticket beyond CGK or SUB.

I wouldn't write CMB off - I enjoyed about 8 or 9 days there a few years back, mainly in the hill country. Great people, nice scenary, good food, and I very much enjoyed the train ride back down from the hills to Colombo. Just because you can't see the whole country in the time available that doesn't mean you shouldn't go at all!

Yes, there was a typo in my op. I did mean CMB-HKG for the 4th flight in Asia.

I have no intension of travelling around the whole island of Sri Lanka. The cultural triangle and tea plantations is all I was planning on seeing. Add 4/5 days in the Maldives, and thats about 14 days. Of course I can omit the Maldives, but realistically I won't return to this part of the world anytime soon, so if I do go to CMB the Maldives is a must.

pandaperth and christep, how did you travel around Sri Lanka, independently or did you hire a car and driver?

Back in the time when CMB was the cheapest place to start RTWs i was there a few times. The airport is far outside of the city. We hired a car with a driver/guide from the hotel we where staying, went inland and along the coast. Don't remember exactly how much it was, but it was very resonable and a nice and friendly experience. Two or three days there are enough for some casual sightseeing.

We hired a car & driver, in fact as part of a custom-built package from a local tour company, Dream Vacations, whom I would highly recommend (although based on experience about 6 years ago).

We hired a car and driver from CMB airport up to Kandy in the highlands, which was our destination (Mrs Pandaperth's father was born there). Then we took the (very spectacular scenery) train back down to Colombo - well worth it, believe me!

Thank you all for your help. Christep, thank you for the link. I will be in touch with the company you used as well as one or two other companies to work out a package for Sri Lanka.