This was a last-minute addition and I'm still not sure what to do with it, but—as strange as it may sound—I've been fortunate enough to have influenced a few folks to visit a few of my places; Istanbul, New Orleans, Georgia (the country; although Cumberland Island in the state of Georgia is also one of the world's best-kept secrets), so I thought it prudent to mark some snack spots, some nice guesthouses, some off-the-beaten-track finds and more.
If this is something you like, I'll start a backlog of maps with highlights and continue to do it for the new places as well.
But I'll leave it here for now—the interactive map below—and just throw in some random tips for what I hope is your trip here.
The big question: Is it safe? Absolutely. Beyond. What you do need to do, though, is check the political climate. Not that you'd ever be in the middle of violence or anything, but the fuel shortage (plus more) in 2022 wrecked havoc on a friend of mine's trip there last year. And even though it's getting better, at the time of writing, locals still had to present a QR code at the pump for their petrol limit. Things seem to be getting better, but for a country that's been dealing with a lot over the past 40 years, do your research.
Weather: I ended up there right at the beginning of the less-than-picturesque time in terms of beautiful beaches + sunsets in the south (arguably the prettiest beaches) so if it's the dreamy postcard views, Dec-Apr seems to be the window. That being said, I've become quite fond of traveling in the off-season, as there's no shortage of hotels, train tickets, etc.
Speaking of trains, I did a story on Instagram re: why I didn't take the famous train ride (I took my tuktuk on the same path), but when I return, it's something I'd love to do. Seems like a hassle getting a ticket and/or finding space, but also seems to be worth it.
If you're doing a longer trip in the general vicinity, I'd urge you to do India first, then Sri Lanka. Trust me... you'll need the reprieve.
Any questions? Ping me. I'll do anything I can to help you get there.
