Victoria Reservoir Seaplane Base (IATA: KDW, ICAO: KDW) serves Kandy, LK.
Travelers generally express high satisfaction with the seaplane experience to and from Victoria Reservoir Seaplane Base (KDW) in Kandy, primarily via Cinnamon Air. The overall sentiment is that it offers a luxurious, efficient, and exceptionally scenic way to travel within Sri Lanka, despite being a smaller, more specialized operation.
What Travelers Love
- Scenic Flights & Water Landings: Travelers consistently rave about the breathtaking views during the flight and the unique experience of water landings at the reservoir.
- Convenience and Time-Saving: Seaplane travel is highlighted as a fast and convenient alternative to lengthy and potentially uncomfortable road journeys, significantly cutting down travel time between destinations like Colombo and Kandy.
- Smooth and Efficient Operations (Flight): The flights themselves, primarily operated by Cinnamon Air, are described as smooth and efficiently run.
- Luxury Experience: The service is often perceived as a luxurious travel option, offering an intimate flying experience with comfortable cabins.
- Accessibility: The base is noted as being easily accessible by car or public transportation, with options for arranging private transport.
Common Complaints
- Minimal On-Site Facilities: There's an indication of very basic, if any, traditional terminal facilities at the seaplane landing site at Victoria Reservoir. One traveler observed that ground handling was often performed by the flight's first officer, suggesting a lack of dedicated ground crew.
- Cost: Seaplane travel is considerably more expensive than alternative modes of transport, such as commercial flights or road travel.
- Noise (Cessna Caravan): The Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, while comfortable, can be a little loud, though earplugs or noise-canceling headphones can mitigate this.
- Limited Information on Customs/Security/Parking: Specific details regarding security wait times, customs/immigration processes (likely non-existent for domestic flights), and detailed parking facilities are not readily available in recent reviews, reinforcing the idea of a very streamlined and minimal operational footprint at the base itself.
Overall, traveling to Victoria Reservoir Seaplane Base offers a unique and highly recommended premium experience for those prioritizing speed, scenic beauty, and a distinctive travel adventure, especially with Cinnamon Air. However, travelers should expect minimal ground infrastructure at the base itself, with the primary value being the flight experience.
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Common questions about KDW
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Where is Victoria Reservoir Seaplane Base located?
Victoria Reservoir Seaplane Base is located in Kandy, LK, at an elevation of 1402 ft. Its IATA code is KDW and ICAO code is KDW.