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Travel Guides Season 2 Ep 7 Sri Lanka

Travel guides season 2.

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Ep 7 Sri Lanka

• Entertainment
• Aired 19th March 2018
• Discover Something New

Ep 3 New Zealand

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Sri Lanka Tours & Holidays

Pristine rainforest. Ancient rock fortresses. Wildlife aplenty. And some of the most perfect beaches on the planet. There are so many reasons to visit Sri Lanka.

One day you could be hiking the Knuckles Mountain Range, high in Sri Lanka’s hill country; the next, travelling by train through tea plantations and into the mountains. And when you start each morning with curry, hoppers and a cup of the local tea , you   know   it’s going to be a good day. Climb Lion Rock, a dramatic carved-rock fortress in Sigiriya, and explore Jaffna in the island’s north, previously off-limits to travellers. The only struggle you’ll have in   Sri Lanka   is knowing where to start.

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Simply Sri Lanka

Best of Sri Lanka

Premium Sri Lanka in Depth

Articles of Sri Lanka

5 reasons to visit Sri Lanka in the off-season

6 reasons to bump Sri Lanka to the top of your travel wishlist

The top 8 destinations to travel to (and give back to) in December 2024

The top 7 destinations for travel in February 2024

Why it’s time to return to Sri Lanka

8 awesome places in Sri Lanka you probably haven’t heard of

Everything you need to know about Tamil food in Sri Lanka

Lonely Planet have spoken: here’s what’s hot in travel for 2019 (and how you can get there)

Sri Lanka at a glance

Capital city.

Colombo (685,000)

21.8 million

Sinhalese, Tamil

(GMT+05:30) Sri Jayawardenepura

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type G (Irish/British 3-pin)

Learn more about Sri Lanka

Best time to visit sri lanka.

Sri Lanka is blessed with a tropical climate, with temperatures remaining in the high 20s throughout most of the year. To soak up some sunshine, be sure to come during the dry seasons (June - August and December – March). The rest of the time it's the monsoon season, so expect rain during this time.

Read more about the best time to visit Sri Lanka

Culture and customs

As an important stop on ancient trade routes, there’s a great mix of cultural influences present in modern-day Sri Lanka. The majority of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese Buddhists, followed by Tamils (who are mostly Hindu) and a small amount of Christians and Muslims. Various religious festivals and holy times are celebrated regularly in Sri Lanka, from large nationwide holidays to local village celebrations. As a fairly conservative nation, most locals dress modestly and displays of affection are not considered appropriate in public.

The British influence is still evident in Sri Lanka’s culture, cuisine and buildings. Drinking tea and playing cricket are the most obvious remnants of British colonial rule, although you’ll also find country cottages dotted throughout some rural regions with some serving traditional English fare like roast chicken and beef. Travellers will find that most Sri Lankans, despite having little, are quick to share their food and friendship. Known for being hospitable, generous and kind, when being offered tea or food in someone’s home, it is considered impolite to decline.

Eating and drinking

Intrepid believes that one of the best ways to experience a country is by eating! Whether you're sampling street food, savouring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless options to choose from wherever you are in the world.

Things to try in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan curries are among the hottest in the world, but don’t let that put you off. Fragrant, coconut-based curries packed with chilli, garlic, turmeric and coriander will give your tastebuds a treat.

Being an island, Sri Lanka has access to an amazing array of seafood. Feast on fresh crab, swordfish, lobster and squid - or choose a fiery seafood-based curry.

These egg-filled crepe-like wonders can usually be found at breakfast buffets. Usually made from rice flour and coconut milk batter, they are a Sri Lankan twist on the traditional pancake.

With miles of tea plantations, Sri Lankans have grown accustomed to drinking their popular home-grown cash crop. Tea is served with milk and sugar almost everywhere in Sri Lanka, mainly at breakfast and during the day.

Geography and environment

Situated in the Indian Ocean, the island of Sri Lanka lies just under the Indian subcontinent, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal. Much of Sri Lanka receives a high level of rainfall during the monsoon season, with the dry northern areas being the exception. Due to the high level of rainfall, tropical evergreen forest proliferates around the country. Despite extensive land clearing for agriculture, there are still pockets of national parks and biosphere reserves around the country that hold much flora and fauna, including herds of wild elephants, deer and a wide range of birds. Sri Lanka’s remaining forests and protected areas are rich in biological diversity and remain popular with tourists looking for wildlife and adventure. 

Sri Lanka’s main cities are typically built up, busy and increasingly becoming more multicultural and cosmopolitan. In comparison to Sri Lanka’s fast-paced, city-dwelling residents, many Sri Lankans still live in villages with simple housing and work predominantly in the agriculture and fishing industries.

History and government

Early history.

Sri Lanka was occupied by hunter-gatherers for thousands of years before the arrival of Sinhalese tribal groups in the 6th century BC. Buddhism arrived on the island sometime during the 3rd century BC and as a result, the city of Anuradhapura became the capital and centre of Buddhism. This Buddhist Kingdom endured years of Tamil raids until Anuradhapura was abandoned in favour of Polonnaruwa in the south. By the 12th century, Tamil rulers had a permanent presence in the north, where Hinduism still flourishes today. 

The harbours of the south soon became important trading centres for Arab traders but by the 16th century a new wave of foreign influence began with the arrival of the Portuguese, then the Dutch. Sri Lanka’s wealth of cinnamon and geographic trading advantage appealed to the Portuguese, who slowly took over the island until the Dutch drove them out in the early 17th century. Remnants of this time can still be found in modern-day Sri Lanka, with colonial forts, cannons and other ruins dotted throughout the country, especially along the coast. By 1795, the British arrived and captured the island from the Dutch. Sugar, coffee, tea and rubber plantations were soon established by the British, along with Western schools, churches and colleges.

Recent history

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was officially granted its independence in 1948 but continued to maintain relatively good relations with the British. By 1960, Ceylon had the world’s first female prime minister and in 1972, the name Ceylon was replaced with Sri Lanka, which had just become a republic (but remained a member of the Commonwealth). These changes in government and moves towards independence were largely Sinhalese-centric, which created some tension with parts of the Tamil population. 

From 1983 to 2009 Sri Lanka endured an intermittent civil war, which resulted in some displacement of people and human rights violations. More recently, parts of Sri Lanka were devastated by the 2004 tsunami, yet Sri Lanka has rebounded with an increasingly stable economy based on agriculture, tourism and telecommunications. With one of the best-performing stock exchanges in the world, Sri Lanka has emerged from conflict, natural disasters and colonisation to become a rising tourist and economic hotspot.

Top 10 spiritual spots in Sri Lanka

1. bodhi tree.

Located at the ancient site of Anuradhapura, this sacred fig tree is said to have grown from a sapling of the Bodhi Tree that Buddha was sitting under when he became enlightened. This holy spot has long been a pilgrimage site for Sri Lankans and is now becoming a place of spiritual interest for visitors too.

2. Dewatagaha Mosque

One of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka, this prayer place for worshippers of Islam has stood in Colombo for hundreds of years. The striking domes and minarets stand out in the Colombo skyline and provide a spiritual epicentre for Sri Lanka’s Muslims.

3. Temple of the Tooth

This Buddhist temple, located in Kandy, is named for the holy relic (said to be Buddha’s tooth) that is housed inside. It's a World Heritage site that has survived bombings and the ravages of time - visit here to see worshippers deep in prayer under the elaborate golden roof.

4. Dambulla Cave Temple

This well-preserved series of cave temples is brimming with paintings and statues that date all the way back to the 1st century. With colourful depictions of Buddha, Sri Lankan kings and various Hindu gods and goddesses, this is one of the most elaborate cave complexes in Asia.

5. Adam’s Peak

Sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, Adam’s Peak is arguably Sri Lanka’s most popular pilgrimage spot. Surrounded by wildlife reserves, the walking trail leading to the mountain is a stunning walk regardless of religious persuasion. Watching a stirring sunrise from the holy summit is nothing short of magnificent.

6. Polonnaruwa Ruins

These impressive ruins of an ancient kingdom are home to massive palaces, huge statues, imposing temples and an artificial lake. Although historically and culturally important, witnessing orange-robed monks praying at Gal Vihara (a Buddhist rock temple) is a spiritual moment you won’t soon forget.

7. Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock)

This magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site was once a mountain monastery many centuries ago. The rock inscriptions, paintings and ancient ‘graffiti’ show insight into the lives of the monks who lived within the caves and grottoes before King Kasyapa took to the throne and established a capital there.

8. Anuradhapura

The ancient ruins of Anuradhapura are a significant holy place for Sri Lanka Buddhists. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, there are many monasteries surrounding this area of supreme veneration.

9. Munneswaram Temple

This elaborate Hindu temple complex is known for its vibrant festivals in celebration of Navaratri and Sivaratri. During this time, the complex is filled with the buzz of devotees who come to attend daily pujas and bathe in the nearby holy river.

10. Mihintale

If you choose to climb the thousand or so steps to the top of Mihintale’s hill, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views and a deeper understanding of Buddhism, as this is the site where Buddhism is said to have originated in Sri Lanka.

Known for its fragrant spices, vibrant fabrics, stunning silver jewellery and one-of-a-kind antiques, it’s difficult to leave Sri Lanka without a backpack full of mementos. From far-flung rural marketplaces to the boutiques and galleries of Galle and Colombo, shopping in Sri Lanka has something for everyone at a relatively low cost. 

It's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

Things to buy in Sri Lanka

1. Handicrafts

Although available all over the country, Kandy is one of the best places to buy locally-made handicrafts. Choose from handmade brass and silver jewellery, vibrant fabric bags and scarves, and batik wall hangings.

Home to a multitude of plantations and spice gardens, it’s no wonder some of the world’s best spices come from Sri Lanka. Perhaps buy some saffron, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric and cardamom to take home a taste of Sri Lanka with you.

3. Gem stones

If you’re after a low-cost gemstone, Sri Lanka is a top place to pick up a stone at a great price. Birthstones are popular, as are girls' best friends – diamonds! As always, buy from a licensed gem store to guarantee authenticity.

Festivals and events

Vesak festival.

People all over Sri Lanka commemorate Buddha’s birthday by visiting temples, giving alms and singing devotional songs. Simple, luminous paper lanterns are hung outside homes and food is freely distributed to the public via roadside stalls.

Top places to visit in Sri Lanka

Discover Sri Lanka’s colonial past in the fort and lighthouse at Galle on our 14 day Premium Sri Lanka in Depth tour or on our 15 day Best of Sri Lanka adventure.

Catch sea breezes while strolling along the beach in Negombo on our 9 day Premium Sri Lanka tour.

Join pilgrims at Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth on our 8 day Simply Sri Lanka tour.

4. Unawatuna

Bliss out on the beach at beautiful Unawatuna on our 11 day Essential Sri Lanka tour.

Experience big city life, Sri Lankan style on our 8 day Classic Sri Lanka adventure.

6. Anuradhapura

Explore the extensive ancient ruins at Anuradhapura on our 12 day Sri Lanka Explorer tour.

7. Dambulla

Be astonished by the cave temples in Dambulla on our 14 day Cycle Sri Lanka tour or on our 12 day Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure.

8. Sigiriya

Climb Lion Rock for spectacular views on our 10 day Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak adventure extravaganza.

9. Nuwara Eliya

Discover tea plantations in the hill country of Nuwara Eliya on our 18 day Premium India and Sri Lanka tour.

10. Udawalawe National Park

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and encounter elephants at Udawalawe National Park on our 12 day Sri Lanka Family Holiday.

Similar destinations

We have a variety of similar destinations, trips and routes that you could consider! Tie another trip into your holiday, or, see how we can help you get from A to B. We have tours departing from a variety of locations around Sri Lanka. The options below may be of interest:

Tours from Negombo Tours to Colombo Negombo to Colombo

Further reading

Sri lanka travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Is it safe to visit Sri Lanka?

Usually, Sri Lanka is a safe country to visit, however, recent developments have seen the capital of Colombo and surrounding regions subject to often violent protests and civil unrest. While travel to Sri Lanka hasn't been banned for international travellers at this stage, it is advised to be alert and on guard when moving through the country and steer clear of any congregating crowds or potential demonstration areas. 

Intrepid is working with our team on the ground in Sri Lanka to closely monitor the situation for travellers currently on trips and those looking to depart in the future.

Do you need a visa for Sri Lanka?

All foreign nationals need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit Sri Lanka.

Is tipping customary in Sri Lanka?

Tipping is expected from tourists while travelling through Sri Lanka.

What is the internet access like in Sri Lanka?

Wi-fi is common in hotels, hostels, restaurants and cafes across the touristed areas of Sri Lanka. Travellers can also purchase a tourist SIM card for the duration of their Sri Lanka tour if they wish to stay connected.

Can I use my mobile phone while in Sri Lanka?

Mobile/cell phone reception in Sri Lanka is generally very good in cities and towns, though coverage may be patchy in rural areas. Travellers can either purchase a local SIM or use their own, but they must have activated global roaming before leaving their home country.

What are the toilets like in Sri Lanka?

Squat toilets are the most common toilets in Sri Lanka. Always carry your own toilet paper and soap as they are usually not provided. Flushable, Western-style toilets can be found in upmarket restaurants, newer hotels and in some tourist areas.

What will it cost for a...?

Sri Lanka’s unit of currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Here's what you can expect to pay for a:

• Beer in a bar = LKR 300-600
• Lunch in a local restaurant = LKR 400-800
• Short tuk-tuk trip = LKR 200-400
• Classy seafood dinner = LKR 1,000+

Can I drink the water in Sri Lanka?

We do not recommend drinking the water in Sri Lanka. Filtered water is a better option; try to use a refillable canteen or water bottle rather than buying bottled water. Remember to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit before eating.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Sri Lanka?

Credit cards are widely accepted in Sri Lanka, particularly Visa and Mastercard.

What is ATM access like in Sri Lanka?

There are ATMs located in most Sri Lankan towns and there should be no problem finding one in any of the cities.

What is the weather like in Sri Lanka?

Like anywhere, the weather in Sri Lanka will depend on where you are and what time of year you are travelling. This is especially true of Sri Lanka, which experiences two separate monsoon seasons.

What public holidays are celebrated in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has many public holidays that change dates every year. If only the month is listed, it means that the holiday falls on a moveable date.

• Jan:   Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day
• Jan:   Tamil Thai Pongal Day
• 4 Feb:   National Day
• Feb:   Navam Full Moon Poya Day
• Feb/Mar:   Maha Shivaratri Day
• Mar:   Madin Full Moon Poya Day
• Mar/Apr:   Good Friday
• Apr:   Bak Full Moon Poya Day
• Apr:   Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s Eve
• Apr:   Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s Day
• 1 May:   May Day
• May:   Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
• May:   Day after Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
• Jun:   Poson Full Moon Poya Day
• Jul:   Esala Full Moon Poya Day
• Aug:   Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
• Sep:   Binara Full Moon Poya Day
• Oct:   Adhi Vap Full Moon Poya Day
• Nov:   Vap Full Moon Poya Day
• Dec:   Il Full Moon Poya Day
• 25 Dec:   Christmas Day
• Dec:   Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day

Please note, Sri Lanka public holidays may vary.

Is Sri Lanka safe for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

While travelling through Sri Lanka as an LGBTQIA+ is not necessarily dangerous, same-sex sexual activity is still illegal, and we advise that travellers are discreet in public.

Is Sri Lanka accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Travellers with disabilities will likely find it difficult to travel around Sri Lanka. Public transport has not been adapted for those with mobility, visual or auditory limitations, and pavements and roads are often in poor condition. Accommodation, too, is unlikely to be accessible for those in wheelchairs, except perhaps in top-end hotels.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

What kind of transport will I use in Sri Lanka?

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun.

Hire a bike and pedal around ancient cities full of fascinating ruins for a fun and interactive way to learn about Sri Lanka’s deep history.

Experience some of the world's most beautiful train journeys in the hill country of Sri Lanka.

Tuk Tuks are the best and cheapest way to make your way around Sri Lanka's towns and cities.

Jump in a jeep for a wildlife safari in Sri Lanka's national parks.

What to wear in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is warm. Sri Lanka is very warm. Sri Lanka will have you sweating unless you’re up visiting the tea plantations in the hills, so light, breathable clothing is essential. Whatever you do, don’t wear any clothing depicting the Buddha – this can get you arrested, as can having a Buddha tattoo.

Does my trip to Sri Lanka support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to Sri Lanka directly support our foundation partner, Zero Plastic. 

Zero Plastic aims to reduce plastic waste in Sri Lankan communities through education and volunteer programs. Donations from our trips help them raise awareness for the impact of plastic on the environment and local wildlife and reduce plastic pollution at the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya (and surrounding communities).

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before travelling?

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How do I stay safe and healthy while travelling?

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Search Smartraveller

Latest update

Exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to the threat of public demonstrations, shortages of some imported medicines and security risks. 

Sri Lanka (PDF 204.19 KB)

Asia (PDF 2.21 MB)

Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

In Colombo, you can also call (+94 11) 269 1111.

Call 118 or 119 or go to your local police station.

Tourist police

Call (+94 11) 242 1052 or (+94 11) 238 2209.

Advice levels

Exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka.

• Public demonstrations can occur throughout Sri Lanka and may become violent. Avoid areas impacted by demonstrations. Demonstrations can lead to disruptions to traffic and public transport. Follow the advice of local authorities and monitor the media for updates. 
• Public emergencies can be declared, and curfews imposed at short notice. Carry relevant travel and identification documents with you at all times. 
• There is an ongoing risk of terrorist attack in Sri Lanka.   Terrorists may target areas popular with foreigners and/or visited by tourists .
• There are shortages of some medicines in Sri Lanka. 
• Always carry travel and identification documents. Allow additional time to clear security checks, especially at airports.
• There are marked and unmarked minefields and unexploded weapons in the Northern Province and parts of the Eastern Province. Stay on the main roads. Pay close attention to landmine warning signs.
• Crime, including sexual assault, harassment and robbery, can occur. If you're travelling alone, arrange travel through a reputable company.
• Scams and fraud are common, including credit card fraud, overcharging and fake goods. Be alert to fake goods, especially jewellery and gems. Check your bank statements often.
• Flooding and landslides occur during the monsoon season, from December to March in the northeast and May to October in the southwest. Be prepared to change your travel plans.

Full travel advice:  Safety

• Dengue fever is a risk in Sri Lanka, with increased cases during the monsoon season. Use mosquito repellent. If you have a fever, seek medical help.
• Other insect-borne diseases include chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and filariasis. Use mosquito and insect repellent. Get vaccinated for Japanese encephalitis before you travel.
• Foodborne, waterborne and other infectious diseases include typhoid, hepatitis, and leptospirosis. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Rabies is present in dogs, monkeys and bats.
• Medical services in Colombo are below Australian standards. Outside Colombo, they're limited. If you're seriously ill or injured, you'll need medical evacuation. Ensure your travel insurance covers this. Import delays may impact access to some medicines.

Full travel advice:  Health

Public Emergencies can be declared, and curfews imposed at short notice.

• Carry relevant travel and photo identification documents with you at all times. If you don't, officials may detain you. It's illegal to cover your face in a way that prevents identification. Follow the advice of local authorities.
• Public demonstrations can occur throughout Sri Lanka. 
• The legal drinking age is 21. It is illegal to drink alcohol or smoke in public.
• Be careful when taking photos. You must not photograph or video inside High-Security Zones (HSZs). These include military sites, some government buildings and official residences. HSZs aren't always marked.
• Respect the local culture. It's illegal to mistreat Buddhist images. This includes posing for photos with Buddha statues or wearing tattoos, clothing or jewellery associated with Buddhism. Get local advice before photographing places of worship.
• Sri Lanka has conservative dress and behaviour standards. Take care not to offend. 

Full travel advice:  Local laws

• You'll need a visa in the form of an  Electronic Travel Authority  to enter Sri Lanka. 
• Sri Lanka has introduced  Digital Arrival & Departure Cards , which can be completed three days prior to travel. 
• Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest high commission, embassy or consulate of Sri Lanka for the latest details.
• Airlines may require proof of certain vaccinations to travel. Check requirements with individual airlines prior to travel.
• Curfews may be implemented and travel restrictions imposed at short notice.
• The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Exchange Australian dollars at the airport or commercial banks in major centres. Most major towns and cities have ATMs, but not all accept international cards. Hotels and major shops accept credit cards.

Full travel advice:  Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  details what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
• For consular help, contact the Australian High Commission in Colombo .
• To stay up to date with local information, follow the High Commission's social media accounts.

Full travel advice:  Local contacts

Full advice

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

Terrorism can occur anywhere  at any time.  There is an ongoing risk of terrorist attack in Sri Lanka. Be alert to possible threats. Take official warnings seriously .  Terrorists may target areas popular with foreigners and/or visited by tourists.

To reduce your risk of being involved in a terrorist attack:

• avoid crowded areas
• always be alert
• follow the advice of local authorities
• monitor the media and other sources

A terrorist attack on 21 April 2019 targeted prominent hotels and churches in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa. Over 250 people were killed, and more than 450 injured.

When you're travelling:

• carry travel and identification documents for any checkpoints
• allow additional time to clear security formalities
• be prepared to undergo increased security checks at  Bandaranaike International Airport

More information:

Civil unrest and political tension

Public demonstrations can occur throughout Sri Lanka and may become violent. Tear gas and water cannons may be used.

Demonstrations can lead to disruptions to traffic and public transport. Follow the advice of local authorities and monitor the media for updates. 

Public emergencies can be declared, and curfews imposed at short notice. Carry relevant travel and photo identification documents with you at all times.

To stay safe during periods of unrest:

• avoid all protests and large public gatherings
• monitor the news for planned or possible unrest
• obey curfews and seek local advice on safety and security
• follow the instructions of security personnel

If you're detained, ask to contact the Australian High Commission (see ' Local contacts ')

Security forces are visible, particularly in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Military and police have wide-ranging powers and may:

• establish checkpoints or road closures without warning
• impose curfews
• detain people without charge for long periods
• search people, vehicles, homes or commercial premises

Authorities may apply travel restrictions for foreigners without notice.

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Marked and unmarked minefields and unexploded weapons remain in some areas. Most are in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Most of the Eastern Province has been cleared but some isolated areas remain uncleared.

There are marked and unmarked minefields and unexploded weapons in the Northern Province and parts of the Eastern Province. Stay on main roads. Pay close attention to landmine warning signs.

Pickpocketing, bag snatching and other petty crime are risks. Be careful of theft in crowds and these locations:

• sporting events
• public transport
• hotels and guesthouses

Female travellers 

Women may experience unwanted attention. Sexual harassment and assault are risks. Take care in:

• areas popular with foreigners
• public buses
• 3-wheeled vehicles (tuk-tuks)

Avoid unlit areas and places away from crowds, including city streets, village lanes and beaches.

The following crimes have also been reported:

• verbal harassment
• physical advances
• drink-spiking

To protect yourself:

• keep your belongings close, especially in crowded areas
• don't accept food, drinks, gum or cigarettes from strangers
• don't leave your drinks unattended
• if you aren't sure if a drink is safe, leave it
• stick with people you trust at parties and in bars, nightclubs and taxis

If you're a solo traveller, arrange your trip through travel agents with a good reputation. 

More information: 

• Advice for women travellers 

Scams and fraud

Scams  and fraud are a problem, such as:

• credit card fraud, including skimming
• traders overcharging foreigners for goods or services
• traders selling travellers fake goods, especially jewellery and gems

Ask your credit card provider how to prevent credit card fraud.

Cyber security

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

• Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Tours and adventure activities

Transport and tour operators don't always follow safety and maintenance standards. This includes adventure activities, such as water sports.

If you plan to do an  adventure activity :

• check if your travel insurance policy covers it
• check operators' credentials
• ask about and insist on minimum safety requirements
• always use available safety gear, such as life jackets or seatbelts

If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.

Swimming safety

Swimming conditions at some beaches are unsafe, and there can be strong rips.

Lifesaving services are rare and not to the same standard as Australia.

Take appropriate precautions.

Climate and natural disasters

Sri Lanka experiences  severe weather , and occasional  tsunamis .

The monsoon season is from:

• December to March in the north-east
• May to October in the south-west

Flooding and landslides are frequent.

If a  natural disaster  occurs:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location or carry it on you at all times (in a waterproof bag)
• keep in touch with friends and family
• consult with your tour operator about disruptions to your travel plans
• Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre
• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

Travel insurance

Ensure you have comprehensive  travel insurance . 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Mental health services in Sri Lanka are limited. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)
• Managing your mental health

Medications

Import delays may impact your ability to access some medicines.

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Sri Lanka. Take enough legal medicine for your trip. Consider bringing an extra supply in case your trip is unexpectedly extended.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

Health risks

Insect-borne diseases.

Dengue fever is a risk in Sri Lanka. Outbreaks of  dengue  occur in all regions of Sri Lanka.

The risk of insect-borne illnesses increases during the wetter months. This is from December to March in the northeast and May to October in the southwest.

If you have a fever, seek medical attention.

Refer to the  Ministry of Health's Epidemiology Unit  for the latest information on dengue cases in Sri Lanka.

Outbreaks of other insect-borne diseases often occur, including:

• chikungunya
• Japanese encephalitis

To protect yourself from disease:

• use mosquito and insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
• get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis

Other health risks

Foodborne, waterborne and other infectious diseases sometimes occur, including:

• leptospirosis
• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid uncooked and undercooked food, such as salads

Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

Rabies is found in animals in Sri Lanka. Rabies is fatal without immediate treatment. Avoid dogs, monkeys and bats. Seek medical help straight away if an animal bites or scratches you. 

• Infectious diseases

Medical care

Medical facilities.

Medical services and care in Colombo are below Australian standards. Outside of Colombo, facilities are limited, especially for emergency services.

Private hospitals will ask you to pay a deposit or prove you have insurance coverage before treating you. Public general hospitals are free for Sri Lankan nationals. Foreigners will need to pay for any treatments received at public general hospitals.

Facilities are limited for scuba-diving injuries. Sri Lanka's only operational decompression chamber is at the Sri Lanka Navy Base in Trincomalee.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Penalties for carrying or using illegal drugs are severe and include the death penalty.

• Carrying or using drugs

Authorities may apply the death penalty for murder or rape.

The legal drinking age is 21 years.

In certain cases, Sri Lankan law permits:

• arrest without warrant
• extended detention without charge or trial
• reversal of the onus of proof

Always carry official photo ID. If you don't, authorities may detain you.

In Sri Lanka it's illegal to:

• cover your face in a way that prevents your identification
• smoke in most public places
• drink alcohol in most public places
• engage in same-sex sexual acts

You must not take photos or record video in High-Security Zones (HSZ), including:

• military establishments
• some government buildings
• official residences

Some HSZs may not be signposted.

It's illegal to mistreat Buddhist images, including:

• having your back to Buddha
• posing for a photograph next to a statue of Buddha
• wearing tattoos, jewellery or clothing associated with Buddhism

You must have legal authorisation to export certain items, such as antiquities. Contact the  Sri Lankan Department of Archaeology  for details.

• Sri Lankan Customs (Sri Lankan)
• Advice for LGBTI travellers

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

• Staying within the law

Dual citizenship

Sri Lanka recognises dual nationality.

• Dual nationals

Local customs

Standards of dress and behaviour are conservative in Sri Lanka. Respect religious traditions and objects. Take care not to offend.

Respect local restrictions and observances around religious holidays.

Full moon (Poya) days are celebrated once a month. Authorities ban the sale and purchase of alcohol and fresh meat on these days.

Seek local advice before you take photos of places of worship and nearby areas. You may cause offence.

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

Entry and exit conditions can change. Sri Lanka has introduced  Digital Arrival & Departure Cards , which can be completed three days prior to travel. 

You need a visa, in the form of an  Electronic Travel Authority .

Tourists are unable to obtain visas on arrival. Select the correct visa category for your situation. Depending on your ETA category, you may be charged a processing fee. You will need to apply online and obtain a valid visa prior to arrival in Sri Lanka. If you engage in activities that breach your visa conditions, authorities could detain or deport you.

Contact the  High Commission of Sri Lanka  for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Pay close attention to the date your visa expires. You could receive a large fine if you overstay your visa.

Yellow fever and Cholera

If you're travelling from a country with yellow fever or cholera you need to present evidence that you've received the relevant immunisations.

You need a yellow fever vaccination certificate even if you've only transited through an affected country. This rule applies for the 9 days before you enter Sri Lanka. Babies under one year old are exempt.

Border authorities and airlines may request evidence of immunisations. All travellers should carry proof of vaccination status in English.

Find out about returning to Australia  after exposure to yellow fever .

• Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 152KB)

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X’ gender identifier 

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

• LGBTI travellers  

The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).

You can change Australian dollars for LKR at:

• the airport
• commercial banks in major centres

Most major towns and cities have ATMs. Some ATMs don't accept international cards.

You can withdraw cash from Visa and MasterCard cards at most major banks.

Hotels and major shops will accept credit cards.

Before you travel, ask your bank if your cards will work in Sri Lanka.

Check your statements, as credit card fraud and card-skimming occur.

Local travel

High security zones.

You must get approval from the Ministry of Defence to:

• meet military officials
• visit military establishments
• enter High Security Zones

Limit travel in High Security Zones and near military and government installations.

Be ready to present your approval documents at roadblocks and checkpoints.

Driving permit

To drive in Sri Lanka, you need either:

• a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) endorsed by the Automobile Association of Sri Lanka (AA)
• a temporary Sri Lankan driver’s licence from the  Department of Motor Traffic

To apply for a local licence, you must pay the fee and provide:

• your Australian driver’s licence
• a copy of your passport
• a copy of your Sri Lankan visa
• passport photos

If you drive without an IDP or Sri Lankan driver's licence, you may not be covered by your travel or vehicle insurance.

Road travel

Demonstrations in Sri Lanka can lead to disruptions to traffic and public transport.

Driving in Sri Lanka is hazardous. Road accident injuries and deaths are common. 

Driving standards are poor. Vehicles aren't well maintained.

If you plan to drive in Sri Lanka:

• learn local traffic laws and practices
• drive carefully and legally
• don't drink and drive
• Road safety

Motorcycles

Ask your travel insurer if your policy covers you when riding a motorbike.

Always wear a helmet.

If you have a local SIM card, ridesharing apps are available in major cities. However, vehicle standards vary.

Public transport

Demonstrations in Sri Lanka can lead to disruptions to public transport.

Safety standards on buses and trains may be lower than in Australia.

There are a high number of road deaths and injuries, especially on intercity buses. There have also been fatal accidents on Sri Lankan railways in recent years.

Take care of your belongings because theft occurs. See  Safety

• Transport and getting around safely

Piracy   occurs in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.

Get piracy reports from the  International Maritime Bureau .

• Travelling by yacht or small craft

Commercial passenger flights are operating with regular connections to Australia. Flight schedules may change at short notice. 

Allow additional time to clear security formalities and be ready to present travel documents at checkpoints.

Curfews and other security measures could affect domestic travel, including flights.

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check  Sri Lanka's air safety  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Call (+94 11) 242 1052 or (+94 11) 242 1451 .

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

For consular assistance, contact the Australian High Commission in Colombo.

Australian High Commission

21, Srimath R. G. Senanayake Mawatha (formerly Gregory's Road) Colombo 7, Sri Lanka Phone: (+94 11) 246 3200 Fax: (+94 11) 268 6453 Email:  [email protected] Website:  srilanka.embassy.gov.au Twitter: Australia in Sri Lanka Facebook:  Australia in Sri Lanka

Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

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Sri Lanka Holidays

Book your Sri Lanka tour with Wendy Wu Tours

Welcome to Sri Lanka

For many years Sri Lanka was not on the tourist map, until today, and it is now well and truly there. Lying between India and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka's myriad appeals are undeniably alluring.

Sri Lanka has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in such a small area, than anywhere else on earth and over 2,000 years of culture can be discovered at the ancient sites where legendary temples boast beautiful details. But Sri Lanka is not just renowned for its ancient history; it is also home to miles and miles of beautiful beaches, and tea estates in the central hill ranges.

Sri Lanka’s wonderful landscape is invitingly lined with pure white sand. Diving, snorkelling, or just soaking up the seemingly endless warmth of the sun are a reward in themselves. White dagobas curving skyward create a startling skyline, serene carved stone Buddha’s lying in permanent silence and elephants in parades glittering in gold.

Endless beaches, ancient ruins, friendly and welcoming people, lots of elephants, famous tea, and delectable food, all describe Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is spectacular, it’s affordable, and it’s still often uncrowded. Now is a great time to discover it. Explore our range of immersive Sri Lanka tours.

How can we help?

For advice on where to go, what to do and how to choose your perfect tour, talk to our Travel Experts.

Call 1300727998

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Top Holidays to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka offers a wealth of wonderful sights and experiences. What better way to explore them than on a Wendy Wu tour?

Highlights of Sri Lanka

Christmas in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Escape Private Tour

Treasures of Sri Lanka Private Tour

Sri Lankan Splendour Private Tour

Things to see in sri lanka.

Lion Rock Fortress

Elephant Orphanage

Fort District

Dambulla Rock Temple

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Amazing places to see in sri lanka.

Yala National Park

Useful and Interesting

We all enjoy a good fact or two - here are a few useful ones about Sri Lanka:

From our Blog

Read our latest articles or travel inspiration, exciting news about our destinations and all things Wendy Wu Tours

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Beginner’s Guide to Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka sits off the southeast tip of the Indian subcontinent, with a land area much the same as that of Tasmania. Set in the clear waters of the Indian Ocean, its documented history dates back more than 3,000 years and its location has made it an important stop for travellers since the days of the Silk Road. Today, it’s home to more than 21 million people and many different languages, cultures and ethnicities. This relatively small country offers a rich diversity in experiences: here are our top five reasons to visit.

Tuk tuk driver in Sri Lanka

Modern cities of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo, is a blend of colonial-era buildings, bustling street markets and grand temples. By day you can explore the city’s historic Fort and Pettah districts, or venture far off the tourist trail on a guided tuk-tuk ride. Shop until you drop on Paradise Road, then reward your retail efforts with a cocktail in the historic, nineteenth-century Galle Face Hotel. Trincomalee, on Sri Lanka’s east coast, is a bustling port city that is famous for its many beautiful beaches and one of the best blue whale-watching places in the world.

Seema Malaka temple on Beira Lake, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Ancient sites of Sri Lanka

For a glimpse into the country’s past, pay a visit to its former capital city, Anuradhapura, which dates back to the fourth century BC. The city is scattered with ancient bell-shaped dagobas and the world’s oldest documented tree: a sacred fig tree that was planted in 249 BC. Anuradhapura, along with Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, form the island’s Cultural Triangle in the North Central province. Once home to the Sinhalese royalty, its temples, lotus-covered tanks (reservoirs) and majestic, rocky outcrops that once served as palace fortresses make this region a must on any Sri Lankan itinerary.

Hindu temple in Sri Lanka with sculptures of deities

Beaches of Sri Lanka

Thanks to its location in the Indian Ocean, there are plenty of lovely beaches from which to choose. Surfers will love the southern beaches such as Mirissa Beach and Araguam Bay, while Bentota, just a short drive from the capital city of Colombo, has plenty of great shopping and restaurants. If you’re looking for somewhere far from the tourists, head for Nilaveli – find a quiet spot on the powder-soft sand and treat yourself to a delicious crab curry.

Dondra Head Lighthouse, Sri Lanka

Wildlife of Sri Lanka

There are 26 national parks in Sri Lanka, which between them account for nearly ten percent of the nation’s total area. Within these parks you’ll find a wealth of remarkable wildlife, ranging from leopards and sambar deer to toque macaque monkeys and peacocks. The Sri Lankan elephant is one of three recognised sub-breeds of Asian elephant and can be seen in herds in the wild at several national parks including Kaudulla and Minneriya.

Leopard in Yala Naional Park, Sri Lanka

Tea in Sri Lanka

The teas that are grown in the Sri Lankan central highlands are world-famous for their quality, with the first plantation established here more than 150 years ago. A visit to Nuwara Eliya (the heart of the tea-growing region) for a tour of one of the tea estates is a great way to experience the vivid-green, mist-shrouded landscape of this lush region, learn about the history of tea-growing and sample a freshly brewed cup.

Sri Lanka has been blessed with wonderful diversity in scenery and culture, but it is the warmth of its people that will make your time here unforgettable. Your personal travel manager can help you to plan an itinerary or find the best tour to suit you.

Tea Plantation in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Talk to your local personal travel manager to plan your next adventure in Sri Lanka.

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10 things about Sri Lanka we learnt from Travel Guides

New direct flights are putting this tropical destination on the radar for Aussie travellers — and its budget-friendly attractions are blowing their minds.

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I’ve been to Sri Lanka 7 times, this surprised me

This epic island is the ultimate family holiday

Tourists abandoned this island, I went back

It’s the tropical island where a typical meal costs about 85c, one of the top attractions costs just $3.25 and if you want to splurge, you can fork out $6.50 for a high tea that’s “better than Groupon”.

And new direct flights are increasingly putting this emerging destination on the radar for Australian travellers.

Still, when Channel 9 reality show Travel Guides headed to Sri Lanka it caught the stars of the show by surprise.

“I can’t believe how cheap it is and how many things you can do,” says Travel Guides reviewer Mads.

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TAKE THE TRAIN

The train ride from Colombo to Kandy is long journey, but it’s a must for all visitors to Sri Lanka — and (at about $3.25 for the journey) is best value for money experience.

— Bargain hunting Fren family

The train journey to the heart of Sri Lanka sure beats the V-line, all for the low price of a few dollars. Don’t be scared to quickly poke your head out the doors to take in the view, but just be extra careful.

— Target boys Kev, Dorian and Teng

We had an entire plate of incredible street food for around $1.50. It was on the side of a highway and it was a bit of a gamble, but definitely worth it!

— Single travellers Taash and Mads

Co-ops, run by local women, and selling from the streets specialise in traditional vegetarian fare. You can fill your plate (and consequently your stomach), with incredibly tasty food for a pittance.

— Holiday snobs Kevin and Janetta

SEE ELEPHANTS

The elephant safari was a truly unforgettable experience — we never expected that!

— Cowgirl twins Stack and Mel

ADMIRE THE SCENERY

We didn’t expect the lush jungles and the pure greenery. Sri Lanka is really beautiful and full of amazing surprises.

One of the things that was amazing was the tea plantations in the mountains. The rich green colour of the tea plants nestled amongst the mountains was visually stunning.

ENJOY HIGH TEA

Best value for money would be the high tea ($6.50 at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya). It was very flash and very cheap.

BRAVE THE LOCAL TRAFFIC

Remember there are no rules, no right of way and the most important advice — show no fear!

FORGET YOUR STANDARD ORDER

Nothing in Sri Lanka was catered for Westerners which was great. Nothing worse than going on a holiday to experience a different culture and getting served a plate of spag bol and a VB!

STAY AT A SPECTACULAR HOTEL

We were really surprised at how nice our hotel was! (The $364 a night Heritance Kandalama ).

TRAVEL BY TUK TUK

Tuk tuks at high speeds and windy roads definitely are a thing in Sri Lanka, so just go with it. We thought we were going to die but we made it!

DON’T OVERDO THE PENNY-PINCHING

Sri Lanka’s a very cheap country for tourists but it’s also a poor country with many workers struggling to make a living. Tuk tuks are cheap but resist the temptation to bargain too hard and screw the driver down on a price just to say you’ve had a win. They need the few rupees it will cost you a lot more than you do.

The Sri Lanka episode of Travel Guides airs on Monday, March 19 after Married At First Sight on Nine. For more travel advice and inspiration sign up to Escape’s newsletter .

Despite its challenges, Sri Lanka is jewel of a nation that will keep you coming back again and again.

If you're looking for the perfect destination to take your teenagers, Sri Lanka ticks all of the family holiday boxes.

As Sri Lanka emerges from its dark years, this tourist is among the first to find it’s ripe for rediscovery.

7 reasons Sri Lanka should be your next holiday destination

I just returned from a trip and can report that Sri Lanka is still just as incredible as it always has been, and still has the potential to be the number one place for Australians to visit in 2024. 

Whether you prefer to take in the acknowledged sites or explore off the beaten track, Sri Lanka has it all in abundance. Philip Briggs , author of Sri Lanka: the Bradt Guide

Sri Lanka is a fantastic all-round travel destination. Most people know about the sumptuous surf-lapped palm-lined beaches that line the island’s long tropical Indian Ocean coastline. But the small Asian country formerly known as Ceylon – extending over an area comparable to the Republic of Ireland – has so much more to offer curious travellers than a stock beach holiday.

There are the ancient Sinhalese capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, where handsome domed dagobas, the tallest of which were built in pre-Christian times on a scale to rival the Egyptian pyramids, tower over jungle-bound monastic ruins adorned with centuries-old Buddhist statues and engravings.

There are exquisitely painted cave temples at Dambulla and Budugehinna, towering stone Buddha engravings at Avukana and Buduruvagala, and magnificent boulder-top royal citadels at Sigiriya and Yapahuwa.

The pretty inland city of Kandy, the most recent of Sri Lanka’s dozen or so erstwhile royal capitals, is renowned for its Temple of the Tooth, which stands as a living symbol of the island’s 2,400 years of Buddhist history. Contemporaneous with Kandy, yet contrasting with it in almost every respect, is the port city of Galle, a former colonial trade entrepôt – possessed in turn by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British – whose characterful old town is protected within the largest and best-preserved of the country’s time-warped European-built fortresses.

This impressive collection of cultural gems – many inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites – contrasts with some lovely scenery and great wildlife viewing. The Hill Country running south from Kandy supports a cover of neat tea plantations interspersed with misty moorlands and dense rainforests teeming with plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

An ever-growing network of national parks protects Asia’s densest elephant and leopard populations, and an abundance of peacocks (often seen performing their spectacular fan-tailed mating dance on the roadside), as well as sloth bears, wild boars and plentiful deer and monkeys.

Whether you prefer to take in the acknowledged sites or explore off the beaten track, whether your tastes veer towards beach holidays, wildlife viewing, cultural sightseeing or montane hikes, and whether your priority is upmarket luxury, mid-range value for money or affordability above all else, Sri Lanka has it all in abundance.

Food and drink in Sri Lanka

Restaurants.

Most restaurants in Sri Lanka slot into one of four broad categories. Most expensive, and largely confined to Colombo and to a lesser extent Galle, are genuine international restaurants that deal in specific cuisines, be it Japanese, French or Bavarian, and cater almost entirely to a clientele of business people, tourists and affluent locals.

Middling in price, with mains typically falling into the US$5–10 bracket, is a rather generic selection of ‘proper’ tourist-oriented restaurants that tend to offer predictable menus comprising a combination of grilled meat and seafood, pasta dishes, fried noodles and rice, possibly pizzas and/or burgers, and local dishes such as rice and curry or devilled chicken or fish. Also generally associated with larger towns and more touristy areas are deli-style places serving tea, coffee, juices, sandwiches, pastries, cake and the like.

Finally, every town, no matter how small, will boast at least one and usually several dozen little local holes-in-the-wall serving rice-and-curry buffets and other Sri Lankan staples for around US$1–2 per head. The Ministry of Agriculture funds extremely inexpensive eateries island-wide through a development programme for rural women, in which they learn traditional recipes and business skills, and can access loans for starting their own restaurants. Called  Hela Bojun Hala  in Sinhala-majority areas and  Ammachchi  in Tamil-majority areas, these outdoor food courts are clean, friendly and very popular, but won’t have much spoken English.

Local cuisine

Sri Lanka has a unique cuisine whose manifest South Indian roots are infused with various Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and Arab influences, and make far greater use of coconuts and seafood, as might be expected of a low-lying island with such a long tropical coastline. Sri Lankan dishes tend to be rather hot and spicy, but most tourist-oriented hotels and restaurants will modify their recipes to account for less fire-resistant Western palates. Chinese-style fried rice and noodles are a greasy staple on many local menus, while lighter snacks include fiery meat or vegetable samosas, and various deep-fried meat and vegetable cutlets. Fresh seafood is ubiquitous on the coast, and usually of a very high standard.

The staple diet is rice and curry, which differs from its Indian namesake-in-reverse in that a heap of rice is loaded on to a central plate, then surrounded by anything from five to 15 different curry dishes, each usually in a separate bowl. Another typical Sri Lankan dish is devilled meat, most often chicken or fish, which is smothered in chillies and served in a flame-red sweet-and- sour sauce with chopped leeks, tomatoes and other vegetables. It is usually cooked fresh, so can be as spicy or mild as you request, and served with rice.

Also known as appa, a hopper is a type of steamed or fried pancake made with a fermented rice-flour and coconut-milk batter. It is cooked in a bowl-shaped pan that causes the batter to pool at the bottom, so the sides are crispy and thin, while the base is thicker and softer. As with string hoppers, it is generally a breakfast dish, eaten with fish or chicken curry, though an intriguing variation incorporates an egg, fried sunny side up.

Locally produced mineral water costs around US$0.50 per 1.5-litre bottle. The usual selection of international fizzy drinks is equally inexpensive, as is soda water, a refreshing alternative to its sugary counterparts. Also very refreshing is  thambili , the golden-hued native ‘king’ coconut you’ll see on sale at stalls around the country. The vendor will chop off the top of the coconut so you can drink the liquid from within. Freshly prepared fruit juices and smoothies are also widely available in cafés and restaurants, but you might want to ask to have it prepared with only a small amount of sugar, or none at all. Tea, as might be expected, is ubiquitous and generally of superb quality, and good coffee is served in smarter cafés, usually at a price.

Good locally brewed lager-style beer is widely available, with the main brands being Lion, Carlsberg, Anchor and Three Coins, all of which come in recreational standard (around 5% alcohol) and industrial strong (upwards of 8%) varieties. These are available in 500ml cans and recyclable 625ml bottles, and usually cost around US$1.50 in so-called wine or beer Shops (a few of which can be found clustered on the main road through most towns) but double or more in restaurants and hotels. Imported wine, often of mediocre quality, is widely available but quite pricey.

The main local tipple is arrack, a strong (30–50% alcohol) rum-like spirit made from distilled toddy (coconut palm sap) but often diluted with less pure spirits. Many brands are available, starting at around US$6 for a 750ml bottle, though purer varieties are a bit more expensive. Connoisseurs drink arrack neat or on the rocks, while others drown it with cola and other fizzy drinks.

Alcoholic drinks are generally served at mid-range and upmarket hotels and restaurants, but not at cheaper family-run guesthouses and eateries. The main reason for this is the high cost of liquor licences, a consideration that also tends to push up prices in licensed establishments. It is usually acceptable to bring your own beer or wine to an unlicensed restaurant, but you should ask first, as some smaller places – especially in Islamic areas – will be uncomfortable with the idea. Many restaurants that depend mainly on tourist custom may also have a cheaper beer and wine licence, keep beer discreetly available without including it on the menu, or will go out to buy a couple for diners who ask nicely.

Health and safety in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is home to several tropical diseases unfamiliar to those living in more temperate and sanitary climates. However, with adequate preparation, the chances of serious mishap are small, especially now that malaria has been eradicated. And in the unlikely event you are taken ill, decent hospitals and pharmacies exist in most large towns, consultation fees and laboratory tests are relatively inexpensive, and doctors and pharmacists almost invariably speak good English. Commonly required medicines such as broad-spectrum antibiotics, painkillers and antihistamines are widely available, but anybody who has specific needs relating to a less common medical condition should bring the necessary treatment with them.

Sensible preparation will go a long way to ensuring your trip goes smoothly. Particularly for first-time visitors to Asia, this includes a visit to a travel clinic to discuss vaccinations. A full list of current travel clinic websites worldwide is available on  istm.org . For other journey preparation information, consult   travelhealthpro.org.uk (UK) or   wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel (USA). Information about various medications may be found on   netdoctor.co.uk/travel . All advice found online should be used in conjunction with expert advice received prior to or during travel.

Immunisations

Make sure all your immunisations are up to date. A yellow fever certificate is not required unless you are coming from a yellow fever endemic zone. It is wise to be up to date with routine vaccinations and boosters as recommended in the UK. This would include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Immunisation against hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and TB may also be recommended, depending on length of stay and the nature of the visit. For example, those who are staying with friends and family, or who are undertaking long trips or to areas of poor sanitation are likely to be recommended hepatitis A and typhoid.

The biggest health risk used to be malaria, but this is no longer the case. Indeed, in 2016 the World Health Organization finally declared Sri Lanka to be malaria-free after a 3½-year period when no locally transmitted cases were recorded. Hence there is no reason to take anti-malarial drugs, though you might want to confirm the situation before you travel, and should still take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, which also carry dengue fever and the like.

Theft is not as rampant in Sri Lanka as some might expect, and street or beach muggings are fairly rare. However, pickpockets sometimes operate on buses, especially when passengers are standing close to each other, while razor blades are occasionally used to slash holes in bags or to cut the strap. Overall, though, Sri Lanka is certainly safer than most countries in Asia, and crime is far less prevalent than in most Western countries. Still, while there’s no call to be paranoid about personal safety, you shouldn’t be too casual about your possessions, and action such as leaving your handbag open on a train seat or your wallet peeping out of your hip pocket might be viewed as inviting trouble, especially since the protracted financial crisis may result in increasingly desperate behaviour.

Single travellers should avoid dark alleys and beaches at night. When in doubt, it is usually safest to leave valuables sealed in the hotel safe or in the mini-safe in your room. If you do get robbed and intend to claim from your insurance company, make a report to the police and get a copy of the report from them as proof of your loss.

Female travellers

On the whole, women travelling alone have little to fear on a gender-specific level, and they will generally be treated with respect and kindness by protective locals. That said, single women travellers may be worn down by unwanted male attention, such as persistent staring, inappropriate comments and flirtatiousness, and even groping. Some of these issues are most noticeable on the south and west coasts where ‘beach boys’ are common, as well as on crowded buses, and even hotel staff may behave poorly. Local women are treated significantly worse, which leads to complaints not being taken seriously, and Asian travellers may find they attract an in-between level of harassment.

Wearing a wedding ring and telling anyone who wants to know that you have a husband at home or waiting for you in the next town may help deflect attention. And while dress codes are relaxed enough in Colombo and other recognised resort areas, elsewhere – especially in strongly Muslim areas – it pays to dress modestly, which means covering your knees and shoulders, and wearing loose tops and skirts or trousers.

LGBTQ+ travellers

Homosexuality is illegal in Sri Lanka, a law that has seldom been enforced in recent decades, but which reflects a widespread stigmatisation of local gays and lesbians. Still, while Sri Lanka isn’t a destination suited to single travellers in search of any kind of LGBTQ+ scene, homosexual couples are unlikely to encounter any problems with discrimination in hotels and other tourist institutions, provided they exercise some public discretion.

Travel and visas in Sri Lanka

Nationals of all countries except for the Maldives, Singapore and the Seychelles require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka, which amounts to the same thing as a visa. The ETA costs US$35 at the time of writing and can be applied and paid for by credit card at  eta.gov.lk . Check the URL carefully, as scam ETA sites abound. The application must be made within 30 days of your intended date of arrival and usually takes up to one day to process, whereupon you’ll be emailed a letter that you can print out and show upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport to guarantee entry.

If you don’t have an ETA, you can buy a visa on arrival, but this means joining a tiresome queue at a special desk in the airport, and carries a small risk of being refused entry for some or other reason. Until recently, the online ETA application process was exclusively for tourist visits, but business travellers can evidently apply on the same website.

The immigration desk customarily stamps in visitors for 30 days. If you intend to stay longer, the conservative option would be to obtain a visa covering the full duration of your visit from a Sri Lankan embassy or high commission (to see a full list of consulates abroad, visit  mfa.gov.lk and click on the ‘missions’ tab). Alternatively, you can extend your stay to 90 days at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo at any point within the original 30-day period.

US citizens may also obtain a reciprocal five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for US$135 (including the ETA), but confirm at your local consulate as this visa is only advertised by the Permanent Mission in New York City.

Getting there and away

Practically all international flights to Sri Lanka land at Bandaranaike International Airport , which stands in Katunayake some 30km north of central Colombo and 10km southeast of the popular resort town of Negombo. Bandaranaike is serviced by a good selection of international airlines offering non-stop and/or reasonably direct one-stop flights to most capital cities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. These include the national carrier SriLankan Airlines , which operates direct services to London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Moscow, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Canton, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Karachi, Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Dubai, Malé and several cities in India.

Coming from Africa or the Americas, the flight of least resistance is generally a one-stop routing through the Middle East with Emirates, Qatar or Etihad. From Australia or New Zealand, the most convenient option is through Asian cities such as Tokyo or Singapore.

Major airlines that fly to Bandaranaike include: Aeroflot, Air India, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fly Dubai, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines. For a full list of airlines and flights servicing Bandaranaike, visit   airport.lk .

Getting around

Distances in Sri Lanka are relatively short and the limited but useful rail system is supplemented by a network of well-maintained surfaced roads connecting all major towns and most other points of interest. This means it is very easy to get around, whether you travel with a rented car and driver, or depend on public transport, which includes an inexpensive and all-but-comprehensive bus service and an equally affordable rail network. In addition, a plethora of reasonably priced three-wheeler tuktuks can be found almost everywhere for short urban hops or local excursions.

A limited network of domestic flights is available but seldom used by tourists, except to travel between Colombo and the far north- or east-coast resorts such as Trincomalee and Batticaloa. The main domestic carriers are SriLankan Airlines, Helitours , FitsAir and Cinnamon Air .

Established in the colonial era and vastly upgraded following the end of the civil war in 2009, Sri Lanka has a useful rail network comprising four main lines out of Colombo. These are the South Coast line running to Matara (and Beliatta, reaching Hambantota and Kataragama in the future) via Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle and Weligama, the Hill Country line running to Badulla via Kandy, Hatton and Ella, the East Coast line running to Trincomalee via Kurunegala, Maho and Gal Oya Junction as well as to Batticaloa via Kurunegala, Maho, Gal Oya Junction and Polonnaruwa, and the Northern line to Jaffna and Mannar via Kurunegala, Maho and Anuradhapura.

The road network is good and extensive, and the main highways are generally well maintained, although country lanes are bumpier. There are also two excellent multi-lane toll roads in the southwest: the 160km Southern Expressway connecting the southern Colombo suburb of Kottawa to Matara via Bentota and Galle, and the 35km Katunayake Expressway linking the northern Colombo suburb of Kelani to Bandaranaike International Airport. A third tollway (Central Expressway) connecting Colombo to Kandy is being constructed in three phases, with the first section between Kurunegala and Mirigama opened in early 2022; it is expected to be completed by 2024.

Also known as three-wheelers and ground-helicopters, motorised tuktuks are the most ubiquitous form of transport in Sri Lanka, swarming and weaving between larger vehicles in every town and village, and usually sitting waiting at any strategic junction countrywide.

In Colombo, most tuktuks are metered and the first kilometre incurs a charge of about Rs80, with subsequent kilometres at Rs60. Elsewhere, tuktuks are unmetered and rates are negotiable within the range set by local cartels, but you shouldn’t be paying more than around US$1 per 3–4km, though in some cases you might need to factor in waiting time, or the fare for the driver to return empty.

When to visit Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka can be visited at any time of year, provided that you tweak your itinerary to allow for regional seasonal variations that are unusually divergent for such a small country. Climatically, the popular west and south coast of Sri Lanka are at their best during the winter months (December–April), when the sea is calm and rainfall is relatively low.

By contrast, the less feted but increasingly popular east coast, from Trincomalee south to Arugam Bay, is driest and most agreeable to visit during the summer months (late April–September), while the little-visited north receives the bulk of its rain over the stormy months (October-December), leaving the rest of the year quite dry. Rainfall patterns are less of a consideration when it comes to visiting Kandy and the archaeological sites of the Cultural Triangle, but ideally you would want to avoid the wettest months of October to December.

The Hill Country around Nuwara Eliya and Ella has a more even monthly rainfall spread than the rest of the country, but the wettest months are again October and November, while the driest are January to March Sri Lanka has a near equatorial location and it mostly stands at altitudes of below 100m, which means that it tends to be hot and humid throughout the year, seldom dropping much below 25°C, even at night. Because it lies in the northern hemisphere, conditions are slightly cooler and more pleasant over the northern winter, especially from December to March. The only part of Sri Lanka to diverge significantly from this sweltering tropical climate is the temperate Hill Country around Nuwara Eliya and Ella, which stands at altitudes of over 1,000m and is almost always moderate by day and cool by night.

Public holidays and festivals

Sri Lanka has only five fixed-date public holidays but another 20 (or in some years 21) variable-date ones associated with the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or Muslim calendars. These include 12 (or in some years 13) ‘poya’ days , the Sri Lankan equivalent of the full-moon Uposatha observed in other Buddhist countries, held at full moon every lunar month.

Sri Pada Pilgrimage Season

Tens of thousands of multi-denominational pilgrims climb the 2,243m-high Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) to pay homage and make observance over a four-month season that runs from the Unduvap (December) Poya to the Bak (April) Poya. The Buddhapada at the summit reputedly enshrines the footprint of the Gautama Buddha. Hindus, Muslims and Christians make the pilgrimage for their own religious reasons.

Duruthu Perahera

A colourful religious pageant, complete with caparisoned elephants, torch-bearers and dancers, takes place at Kelaniya Temple, on the outskirts of Colombo, over the three days before the Duruthu (January) Poya to mark the start of the first of the Buddha’s three visits to Sri Lanka.

Galle Literary Festival

Sri Lanka’s premier arts festival used to be held for three days in mid-January, attracting dozens of writers and performers from all over Asia and the rest of the world. It hasn’t been held since 2019 owing to an organisational shift, but check the Facebook page for updates.

Tamil Thai Pongal

Thai Pongal is an ancient thanksgiving harvest festival celebrated by Tamils and other Hindus the world over. Houses are decorated with mango and plantain leaves and the hearth is decorated with rice flour. Dates vary slightly from one year to the next, but usually it takes place over four days starting between 12 and 15 January.

Navam Perahera

Focused on Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, this spectacular perahera with parades of dancers, elephants, whip-crackers and hundreds of Buddhist monks was first staged in 1979 but is now a major fixture on the Colombo calendar, taking place over two days building up to the Navam (February) Poya.

Sinhalese and Tamil New Year

The island’s two main ethnic groups, Sinhalese and Tamil, celebrate a common traditional New Year at what was originally a harvest thanksgiving festival that marks the passage of the sun from Pisces to Aries. It occurs on 13 and 14 April. Games customary to the time and other rituals take place primarily in villages, and many people take the week off to go on holiday or visit their families, so trains and hotels will be crowded.

Vesak (May) Poya

This is a thrice-blessed day for Buddhists as it commemorates three important events in the life of the Gautama Buddha: his birth as Prince Siddhartha, his attainment of enlightenment and his death. The day is devoted to religious observances and charity, as well as being celebrated with illuminations, pageants and  pandals  (decorated and electrified hoardings). Celebrants set up wayside stalls to distribute food and refreshment to pilgrims and passers-by.

Poson (June) Poya

Second in importance only to the Vesak Poya, Poson commemorates the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and is celebrated with religious observances in addition to illuminations and processions. Poson is particularly special at Mihintale, where the grounds fill with vendors and pilgrims.

Esala Perahera

Sri Lanka’s oldest and most spectacular Buddhist festival, held over ten nights in Kandy, honours the Buddha tooth relic preserved in the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), as well as its four guardian deities: Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini, each of which have their own temples. During the preliminary five days, the perahera is held within the precincts of each of these five temples. The public perahera then begins, taking place over five spectacular nights with men cracking whips leading the parade, followed by men bearing flags of the various provinces of the former Kandyan kingdom.

Though not an official holiday, Vel is Colombo’s main Hindu festival, with the ornately decorated Vel Chariot making its annual trip between ancient temples in the suburbs of Pettah, Wellawatta and Bambalapitiya. It takes place over July or August.

The festival of lights celebrated by all Hindus takes place in late October or early November and commemorates the return from exile of the heroic deity Rama.

The last poya of the rainy season, the November poya also marks the end of the Vassana Samaya, a period of retreat practised by Bhikkhu monks, who stay indoors to meditate for the duration. At many temples it is marked by the Katina Cheeva ceremony, a colourful procession during which the Katina Robe and other clothes intended for the monks are carried to the temple by beneficent locals.

Unduvap Poya

Also known as Sangamitta, the year’s final poya commemorates the arrival in Sri Lanka of the shoot of the sacred Bo Tree under which the Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

What to see and do in Sri Lanka

Adam’s peak.

A monumental granite prominence that rises in pyramidal isolation above the surrounding hills, Adam’s Peak is quantitatively only the fifth-highest summit in Sri Lanka, but few would question its status as the country’s most imposing natural feature. As suggested by its Sinhala name Sri Pada (Sacred Footprint), the 2,243m peak is also the island’s holiest summit, attracting hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims between the Unduvap (December) and Vesak (May) poyas, supplemented throughout the year by a relative trickle of fit and energetic tourists.

Climbing Adam’s Peak

In theory, four different trails lead to the summit, but only two are now in regular use: the popular modern Nallathanniya Trail and to a lesser extent the ancient and tougher Ratnapura Trail. Whichever route you use, and whatever time of year, a nocturnal ascent is recommended, with the aim of summiting shortly before sunrise. Walking shoes with a good tread, or better still hiking boots, are recommended, and older or less fit travellers might also find a walking stick useful.

The mountain’s windswept upper slopes can be surprisingly chilly at night, so bring plenty of warm clothing. And bear in mind that traipsing up and down 5,000-plus steps will put some strain on the leg muscles and knees of all but the fittest walkers, so plan on a couple of days’ rest after the climb.

Most popular today is the Nallathanniya Trail, which was pioneered in the 19th century following the creation of a road infrastructure around Hatton, and is now the choice of most local pilgrims and practically all tourists. Starting in Nallathanniya, this is the shortest route up Adam’s Peak at 7km, and it starts at a higher altitude than any of the alternatives, meaning the total altitude gain is slightly under 1,000m.

It is also the best-maintained route, paved almost in its entirety, and punctuated by police posts at 1.5–2km intervals, namely Gangulathanna, Rathu Ambalama and Idikatupana. The toughest part of the trail is the final 1km ascent from Idikatupana, which comprises an outrageously steep flight of rock steps, hemmed in by steel bars and known as the Mahagiri Damba (literally ‘Great Rock Climb’).

For those primarily interested in the cultural experience, the best time to climb Adam’s Peak is during the five-month pilgrimage season, which runs from the December poya to the May poya. The path of uneven steps is illuminated at night throughout the season so there is no need for a guide, and there are plenty of small food stalls and tea shops to refresh hungry and thirsty travellers. The downside of climbing in season is that progress tends to be slowed by the sheer volume of pedestrian traffic, which can get a bit claustrophobic, and means you need to allow at least 4 hours for the nocturnal ascent, setting off from Nallathanniya by 01.30– 02.00.

Unless you’ve an insatiable appetite for crowds, try to avoid climbing on poya nights or over weekends in late December or March and April, when the procession frequently slows from a dawdle to a standstill. Things tend to be quieter and more manageable in January and February, especially on non-poya and weekday nights. During those times, finishing in 2½–3 hours is more feasible, and there is still plenty of cultural activity to observe throughout.

Prior to the 19th century, the main pilgrimage route up Adam’s Peak, traversing sections of stone stairs set in place more than a thousand years ago, was the Ratnapura Trail , which actually starts 20km from Ratnapura at the village of Sri Pagama (altitude 250m). Some pilgrims still use this most ancient route today, believing that, as the toughest ascent, climbing around 2,000m over the course of 11km, it is also the most spiritually meritorious.

It is also open to foreign travellers who want to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and dozens of ancient Sinhala kings, at least during the pilgrimage season, when regular buses run from Ratnapura to the trail head at Sri Pagama, and the whole route is lit up at night. Be warned, however, that this is a genuinely demanding ascent that takes at least 8 hours, and as such it can be recommended only to hardcore hikers.

Sri Lanka’s top surfing destination and one of its most popular backpacker chill-out venues, the great curving coastline of Arugam Bay is fringed by a wide sweep of surf-kissed palm-lined white sand that runs south from Pottuvil Point. Yet despite its iconic status today, Arugam’s rise to prominence has been anything but smooth. The bay first attracted the attention of travellers in the 1970s, and while some of these pioneering visitors would ride out lazily on tyre tubes, they didn’t surf as such, but were attracted by the beach’s solitude and undiscovered feel.

By the early 1980s, the near-perfect waves of A-Bay – as it’s known to aficionados – were attracting more serious surfers, and the legend grew during the late 1980s and 1990s, when LTTE activity rendered the east coast unsafe for visitors. By the turn of the millennium, Arugam Bay had started to attract a steady trickle of adventurous surf enthusiasts, prompting a second wave of low-key tourist development, but this was curtailed by the tsunami, which flattened most of the beach resorts and claimed an untold number of lives.

Since then, tourist amenities have developed at quite an astonishing pace. Indeed, with its chilled atmosphere, tropical seaside setting, and plethora of backpacker-friendly mom-and-pop restaurants and lodges, A-Bay today feels like an embryonic Sri Lankan counterpart to Goa or Phuket.

What to see and do in Arugam Bay

Tourist activity in A-Bay is dominated by the beach, which stretches for 6km south from Pottuvil Point to Pasarichenai, interrupted only by the mouth of the Arugam Lagoon between the townships of Pottuvil and Ullae. Ironically, though, while this stretch of coast offers superb surfing, the water is generally too rough to be safe for swimming without a flotation device, the main exception being the sheltered shallow stretch of beach in front of Mambo’s (at the south end of Ullae), where local holidaymakers frequently congregate to take a dip.

Further afield, there are plenty of opportunities for day excursions. For wildlife lovers and birders, highlights are a boat trip on the Pottuvil Lagoon or jeep safari into Kumana or Lahugala-Kitulana National Park, while archaeological sites of note include Muhudu Maha Temple, set right on the bay, and the more remote ruined monasteries of Kudumbigala and Magul Maha.

Surfing and beaches

The top surfing spot at Arugam Bay is the southern headland between Mambo’s and the Upali Beach Resort. The best swell magnet of all the points in the region, this is where the long right-hand reef breaks to create waves in the 0.6–2m range, and – on a good day – a clean wall that barrels in the sections and gives the surfer a 400m ride right through to the inside. Close to this, between Mambo’s and the tourist police station, Baby Point is ideal for beginners, also a right-hand break but with waves seldom reaching more than 1m high, is ideal for beginners.

Other excellent surfing sites further afield include Pottuvil Point, whose right-hand break, best from August to November, is suited to more experienced surfers; and the more northerly Whiskey Point, which has good metre-high waves all year round. Several other good surfing spots line the coast south towards Kumana National Park. The scenic Elephant Rock beach 4km south of Ullae and Peanut Farm beach another 1.5km south of that are both good for beginner to intermediate surfers. Panama beach, close to the small town of the same name, typically has 1–1.5m-high waves suited to intermediate surfers, while Okanda beach, near the entrance to Kumana National Park, is a scenic and remote spot whose 2m waves should be attempted only by experienced surfers.

Muhudu Maha Temple

Predominantly Muslim since the early 17th century, Pottuvil is nevertheless the site of an active beachfront Buddhist temple founded by King Kavan Tissa in the 2nd century BC. Now greatly reduced in area, Muhudu Maha reputedly extended over more than 100ha in its ancient prime, and presumably many of the original buildings have been engulfed by the surrounding tall dunes. According to certain traditions, it was at Muhudu Maha rather than Kirinda that Princess Viharamahadevi came ashore and met her future husband Kavan Tissa.

Today, the most obvious relict of the original monastery is an Anuradhapura-period image house complete with the original 3.5m-high rock-hewn pillars, and a badly damaged statue of the Buddha with two minutely hewn and well-preserved Bodhisattva figures looking back at it. The prominent white dome-top dagoba, by contrast, is a modern addition, unveiled by President Sirisena in 2015. The temple is 15 minutes’ walk and signposted from just north of the bridge over Arugam Lagoon; a tuktuk from Ullae should cost around US$1–2.

Pottuvil Lagoon 

This mangrove-lined estuarine lagoon supports a rich marine birdlife, and it is also a good place to see large crocodiles, water monitors and more occasionally elephants. Two-hour return boat trips to the lagoon mouth are run by the Kottukal Lagoon Ecotourism Centre from an office and jetty on the northern outskirts of Pottuvil. The excursion can be done first thing in the morning, when the birdlife is most conspicuous, or in the late afternoon, when the odds of coming across an elephant are highest.

The boat trip costs US$13.50 per person, irrespective of group size, while a return tuktuk from Ullae should set you back around US$5–6. You might well get a better price by booking the whole excursion, inclusive of transport, though Ranga’s Beach Hut or Ecowave in Ullae.

Set on a fine natural harbour on the island’s west coast, Sri Lanka’s largest city and main commercial hub is the focal point of a metropolitan area that incorporates Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (which replaced Colombo as official administrative capital in 1982) and whose population of five million represents about a quarter of the national total.

Colombo is an unusually safe, affordable and welcoming metropolis, with much to occupy travellers wanting to explore urban Sri Lanka on its own terms. The National Museum offers a fine introduction to the country’s main archaeological sites, while the engaging inner-city districts of Fort and Pettah are steeped in history, and a growing coterie of art galleries and boutique shops lend the city an appealingly cosmopolitan aura.

Elsewhere, multicultural Colombo hosts an astonishing urban variety: historical monuments and towering modern skyscrapers, colonial churches and ancient Buddhist temples, gleaming hotels and trendy restaurants, tree-lined boulevards and mysterious lanes, glittering casinos and state-of-the-art 3D cinemas, traditional produce markets and 21st-century shopping malls…it’s a fascinating place to explore at whim.

What to see and do in Colombo

Galle face green.

The largest green space (or, much of the time, brown space) in central Colombo, Galle Face Green – not, as might be supposed, named after the more southerly port of Galle, but a derivative of the Sinhalese word  gal  (rock) – is an obvious place to start or end any walking tour of the city. Measuring almost a kilometre from north to south, this elevated seafront promenade was initially laid out by the Dutch, who lined the ramparts above the rocky coastline with a battery of cannons to fend off Portuguese and other maritime attacks. During the British colonial period, Galle Face Green was much larger than it is today, sprawling inland to Lake Beira, and it served as a recreational ground complete with horse-racing track, golf course and other sporting fields.

The green is prettiest and most atmospheric at dusk, being ideally located to catch the sun setting over the Indian Ocean while locals promenade companionably in the sea breeze, catch up on gossip, fly kites or knock around balls, or buy fresh snacks from night-time hawkers. Two of Colombo’s most imposing colonial relicts bookend the long narrow green: the Galle Face Hotel, the city’s oldest hostelry, built in 1864, and a fine place for a sundowner or snack; and the Old Parliament Building described below. In early 2022, Galle Face Green became the lively, unified ‘Gotagogama’ ( gama  meaning village), where protestors against the financial mismanagement of President Gota Rajapaksa’s administration camped out.

Fort District

The most historic quarter of Colombo, Fort is traditionally regarded as the city’s CBD, and it remains an important banking and commercial centre, despite having been superseded in many respects by booming suburbs such as Kollupitiya and Cinnamon Gardens. The district’s titular fortifications, built by the Portuguese in 1510 and expanded by the Dutch after 1656, were later demolished, almost without trace, by the British colonists.

Old Parliament Building 

Standing sentinel over the north end of Galle Face, the Old Parliament is the first building to the right as you cross from the Galle Road Bridge into Fort. An imposing forum-style neo-Baroque brownstone, it was constructed in 1930.

Today the building houses the Presidential Secretariat, while forming a sedate antidote to the glaring mirror-glass of the sky-scraping Bank of Ceylon headquarters behind. In its front gardens stand statues of several former Sri Lankan presidents and other leaders.

Old Dutch Hospital 

Vying with the maritime museum as Fort’s oldest building, the Old Dutch Hospital is clearly recognisable from two watercolour paintings made in 1771, but it is most likely a century older than this. Almost certainly, this building is the ‘well-built hospital where sick Dutchmen are well-served by surgeons and slaves with medicine and plasters’, as recorded by German solider Christopher Schweitzer in 1681, and the same hospital where Paul Hermann – a VOC surgeon whose vast collection of dried plants and drawings earned him the sobriquet ‘Father of Ceylonese botany’ – worked in the 1670s.

It served as a hospital and apothecary throughout the British colonial era, but was converted to a police station in the early 1980s, and suffered heavy damage in 1996 when the Central Bank opposite was destroyed in a suicide bombing that killed at least 91 people and left more than a hundred bystanders blind.

Following the end of the civil war, the timeworn building was restored under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology, to reopen as the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct in 2011. Now one of the main tourist draws in Colombo, it contains several restaurants and souvenir shops, but it is also of interest as a fine example of functional Dutch colonial architecture, comprising two sets of former wards and barracks, with 50cm-thick walls and red-tiled roofs supported by massive teak beams, whose wide verandas enclose a pair of large courtyards.

World Trade Center

Dominating the skies above the courtyard of the Old Dutch Hospital, Colombo’s own World Trade Centre (WTC) is the city’s tallest building, comprising identical east and west 40-storey towers that stand 152m tall. It was inaugurated by President Chandrika Kumaratunga on 12 October 1997, and only three days later formed the target of an LTTE bombing that left the skyscrapers unscathed, but killed 15 people and wounded more than a hundred. The twin towers, which do not have an observation deck for tourists to visit, is surpassed in altitude only by the Lotus Tower, which overlooks Lake Beira and stands 305m tall.

Presidential Palace

This magnificent two-storey residence was built in 1790 by Johan van Angelbeek, the last Dutch governor of Ceylon, on the site of a freshly demolished 16th-century Portuguese church. Van Angelbeek’s granddaughter sold it to the British colonial administration in 1804, since when it has served as the residence of 29 British governors and six presidents.

Known as King’s or Queen’s House during the colonial era, it is hidden behind a wealth of trees and heavily guarded, but you can catch a glimpse of the grand façade through the foliage. In front of the palace stands a statue of Sir Edward Barnes (the governor responsible for much of island’s development between 1820 and 1831), from which all distances ex-Colombo are measured.

Cargills Building

One of Fort’s most iconic landmarks, Cargills is a two-storey department store whose striking red-and-white puce stone exterior incorporates plaster horns-of-plenty bursting with bounty, and a shady multi-arched ground-floor walkway and balustrade typical of Colombo’s older buildings. The property was acquired by Cargills – Colombo’s oldest store – in 1888, and the present-day building was constructed over 1902–06.

It stands on the site of a one-storey house that quite possibly started life as the first Dutch governor’s residence in Colombo (the foundation stone is dated 1684) and that was occupied by Frederick North, the first British governor of Ceylon, 1798. It is unclear to what extent elements of these older structures were incorporated into the present-day building. The interior is just as impressive as the façade, with its dark wooden floors, tall ceilings and ornate arches ,  and it houses what must surely be the world’s only colonial-style KFC outlet!

Pettah District

Situated immediately east of Fort and separated from it by a 50m wide channel, Pettah started life during the Dutch and early British periods as a select residential area, but it later came to be regarded as the ‘native quarter’. The name Pettah is often said to derive from  pettai , a Tamil word used loosely to describe a colony or place, but a more likely etymology is the Sinhala word  pitiya  (village) or phrase  pita kotuwa  (‘outside the fort’).

Today, Pettah is Colombo’s haunt of the streetwise, a hectic and sprawling inner-city open-air bazaar where everything you ever wanted, and many things you never will, can be found in a motley assortment of hardware shops, garment stores and grocery stalls, all stacked high with goods that flow over on to the pavement. Reminiscent of parts of Cairo or Mumbai, the narrow streets (or, if you prefer, wide alleys) of Pettah are jammed with bargain hunters, herds of trucks, cars and bullock carts, explosive klaxons of tuktuks, and porters barking instructions to move out of their way.

Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque

Built in 1908 as a place of worship for Tamil immigrants, the striking Jami Ul-Alfar is also known prosaically as Samman Kottu Palli (Mosque for Indian Muslims) and more descriptively as Rathu Palliya (Red Mosque), owing to the giddying assortment of red-and-white stripes, chequers, jags and spirals that enliven the exterior.

A tall and ornate building, it has the slightly surreal appearance of a fairy-tale candy castle, with a façade of barbershop-pole columns supporting boldly patterned arches and windows, all topped by a trio of plump minarets whose shape was inspired by the pomegranate fruit.

Outside of prayer times, respectfully dressed non-Muslim visitors are usually allowed inside, but women may have more difficulty gaining access. Foreigners have been barred from entering since the beginning of the pandemic, so tourists may want to contact for updates.

St Lucia’s Cathedral 

Located at Kotahena about 1km northeast of Pettah, St Lucia’s Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Colombo, is the city’s largest Christian shrine, with a capacity of 6,000. Its origins can be traced to 1760, when Catholic Fathers belonging to the apostolic Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri built a rudimentary palm-roof church on the site. This was superseded by a modest brick-and-mortar church constructed in 1782 and elevated to cathedral status in 1838.

The present-day church, a Gothic replica of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, with a massive silver dome crowned by the cross and colonnaded façade topped with seven statues of Biblical figures, was built over 1872–81 and received a papal visit in 1995. The interior contains many beautiful stained-glass windows and statues, notably Our Lady of Kotahena, a unique dark-skinned Madonna-and-child paraded during the annual procession through Kotahena held every May.

Cinnamon Gardens

Cinnamon Gardens (also known as Colombo 07) is the city’s most prestigious suburb, a leafy residential area where private colonial-era mansions and villas rub shoulders with – or peer across hedges towards – boutique hotels, art galleries, foreign embassies and lofty edifices of officialdom such as the Town Hall, National Museum and Independence Memorial.

The name Cinnamon Gardens dates to 1789, when the city bailiff Cornelis de Cock planted a 94ha tract of land, roughly corresponding to the modern suburb, with the cinnamon trees whose aromatic bark was the island’s most important export crop.

The gardens were tended carefully under Frederick North, the first British governor of Ceylon, dome and clock tower that stand more than 50m high, and a large open front lawn that runs southwest to Viharamahadevi Park. The hall doubles as the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council and mayoral office.

Colombo National Museum

Sri Lanka’s premier museum houses a collection of 100,000 artefacts reflecting various aspects of the island’s architecture, history and culture from prehistoric times to the Kandyan era. It was established by Governor Gregory in 1877 with just 800 exhibits, but rapidly expanded to fill up a purpose-built palatial Neoclassical building set in large grounds bounded to the north by Viharamahadevi Park.

The museum also houses the most important library on the island, and its green gardens incorporate a rather stuffy natural history museum (entrance included in National Museum ticket), the National Art Gallery, and a statue of Queen Victoria erected to commemorate her diamond jubilee in 1897.

The museum is split across two floors and contains 16 galleries, several of which were recently refurbished. The museum is entered through a grand lobby dominated by one of its most celebrated treasures: the 8th-century Toluvila Buddha, a masterfully serene 1.75m-tall crystalline-limestone statue unearthed during excavations at Anuradhapura in 1900.

Most of the other ground-floor galleries focus on a specific archaeological subject, for instance cast Hindu and Buddhist bronzes, granite statues, exotic and local ceramic items, and Brahmi, Sinhalese, Portuguese and Dutch rock inscriptions spanning a period of more than 2,000 years.

The history of Galle is spun around the sombre grey walls of its historic fort. These brooding hulks of stone – shipped to Sri Lanka as ballast and hauled into place by slaves from Africa – dominate this coastal city, looming gaunt against the blue sky to guard the harbour and wall off a small peninsula less than 10 minutes’ walk from the modern railway and bus stations.

For four centuries the fort has stood here; the thin end of the wedge driven by European invaders to open up their conquest of the island. Generations of Portuguese, Dutch and British traders – following the sea lanes of Arab merchants – lived and died in the fort. The Dutch forbade their pilots ever to leave its walls in retirement, in case they divulged the secrets of the maritime approaches to enemies.

Even today, when the battlements are brightly lit at night, there hovers a sense of foreboding, as though ghosts of soldiers past are waiting only for the light to dim so they may march again along its ramparts. As dusk gathers, its narrowed streets and cloistered inner courtyards of shuttered mansions echo softly with the murmurings of bygone evenings. The fort is steeped in history; you will sense it from afar and feel its spell from the moment you pass through its gates.

Within the fort’s 36ha confines, a grid of narrow roads is lined with Dutch and British colonial houses adapted to tropical living with colonnaded verandas and ornate gables. There are 473 houses in total, all catalogued by the Department of Archaeology, whose vigorous campaign to restore and preserve has ensured the old town retains the architectural integrity and cohesion that led to its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite this, the fort’s buildings have a diverse pedigree spanning almost 300 years. An estimated 50 pre-date the British occupation of 1796, and a further 104 were constructed before 1850.

Also represented are Art Deco homes from the 1930s, earlier Art Nouveau styles (with peculiarly Sri Lankan touches), and even a few brash modern houses built before planning regulations were enforced. In recent years, a great many properties have been restored to serve as guesthouses, restaurants, swanky boutique shops or other tourist-related businesses, leading the seedy charm that once characterised Galle Fort to be superseded by a more gentrified feel.

Even so, it is these timeworn buildings, with their proud façades and mysteriously shaded interiors, that give the fort much of its intriguing character, while their down-to-earth inhabitants provide its soul.

Extending over 800m from north to south and nowhere more than 600m wide, Galle Fort is easily and best explored on foot, and it is generally more fun to follow your nose than stick to a prescribed route. That said, the site descriptions below do follow a roughly 3.5km anticlockwise route around the old ramparts, starting at the Old Gate and Black Bastion, travelling west along Queen’s Street and north along Church Street to the Main (new) Gate, then running along the northern and western ramparts to Sri Sudharmalaya Temple.

From the temple, the route runs inland southeast along Parawa Street and east along Pedlar Street to the Historical Mansion Museum, then south along Leyn Baan Street to the southern ramparts and Galle Lighthouse, then north along Hospital Street via the Old Dutch Hospital back to the starting point at the Old Gate. Several shorter variations are possible.

Guided 90-minute walking tours of the Fort cost around US$35 per person. The most reliable contact is Galle Fort Walks , which also offers extended tours and night-time ‘ghost hunting’ excursions for US$70 per person, and special cooking and children’s packages.

Horton Plains National Park

Gazetted in 1988, the 31.6km² Horton Plains National Park protects a biodiverse watershed of montane grassland and dwarf forest perched at elevations of greater than 2,100m above the southern escarpment. Its best-known geographic feature is the sheer World’s End Viewpoint, which offers a spectacular vista over hills and valleys to the distant south coast, and forms the focal point of a popular 9km walking trail. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, the national park also incorporates the island’s second- and third-highest peaks in the form of the 2,395m Kirigalpotha and 2,357m Thotupola, both of which are accessible to hikers, though neither is as prominent as Adam’s Peak 30km to the west.

The evocative highland scenery is very different from anywhere else in Sri Lanka: the undulating windswept plains possess a haunting melancholy air reminiscent of Scotland’s grouse moors, while interspersing pockets of elfin cloudforest, all gnarled boughs encrusted with old man’s beard lichen, have the enchanted quality of a fairy-tale setting. Biodiversity is high, with shaggy-coated sambar deer being the most conspicuous large mammal, but the park also supports a large number of endemic birds and other wildlife, most quite difficult to see on a short visit.

What to see and do in Hornton Plains National Park

World’s end trail.

Roughly 10km in length, the circular World’s End Trail sticks mainly to the tussocky grassland of the open plateau for which the park is named, but it also passes through patches of dwarf forest and traverses marshy areas dominated by dwarf bamboo. It is normally hiked in a clockwise direction, branching left at the junction about 500m past the visitor centre, a point that also offers a good view west across to Kirigalpotha, the highest point in the range. From here, the trail runs to ‘Little’ World’s End, then on through a dense epiphyte-rich forest stand to World’s End, an 880m drop set at the head of Sri Lanka’s largest ravine.

The return leg from ‘Big’ World’s End follows the Belihul River and its tributary streams, which feed a number of pretty montane pools. The most significant features along this stretch are the forest-fringed 20m-high Baker’s Falls (named after Sir Samuel) and the Chimney Pool, a small manmade reservoir passed about 500m before you climb back to the junction where the circular trail starts. The trail is quite flat and well marked throughout, so there is no real risk of getting lost, except perhaps in extreme misty conditions, but some parts are heavily eroded and can be slippery after rain, so tread carefully.

Kirigalpotha Trail

About 6km in either direction, the least popular of the park’s three trails runs directly west from the visitor centre to Sri Lanka’s second-highest peak, Kirigalpotha (literally ‘Milky Rock Face’, in reference to its reflective white northern slope). It is a rougher and slightly steeper trail than World’s End, gaining some 300m in altitude, and less well marked, but the absence of other tourists gives it a genuinely off-the-beaten-track feel and means it provides a better chance of spotting wildlife and birds.

Ecologically, the first half of the trail passes through tussocky grassland with the Belihul River and associated bogland a few hundred metres to the south, while the second half climbs through increasingly dense forest cover, before reaching the open rock face at the summit. The view from the top isn’t quite so dramatic as World’s End, but it provides an impressively panoramic view over the national park and environs.

Thotupola Kanda Trail

Only 1.5km in either direction, this short but relatively steep trail leads uphill from the main road 500m south of Pattipola entrance gate to the 2,357m Thotupola Peak. It passes through dense montane forest where observant visitors might well see the pygmy and rhino-horned lizards, as well as several of the endemic and highland forest birds associated with the park. As you approach the peak, the trail runs through a peculiar pygmy forest whose species composition is similar to the park’s other montane forest, but with most trees coming in a kind of natural bonsai form, typically no more than 2m high.

The summit offers a good view to the lower-lying country to the east. The trail for the short climb is in generally good condition, but may be slippery in parts. Allow 11⁄2 hours for the return trip.

The Pattipola–Ohiya Road

The 11km road that connects the two gates is possibly more rewarding for wildlife than any of the walking trails, passing as it does through the full gamut of the park’s habitats, but offering better visibility particularly into the forested areas. The section between Pattipola Gate and the visitor centre tends to be quite busy with traffic between 06.00 and 08.00, when day trippers arrive from Nuwara Eliya, and again from 10.30 to midday, when most of them leave. The section between Ohiya Gate and the visitor centre carries very little traffic.

There is nothing preventing you from walking any stretch of this road, nor from driving along it and using the car as a mobile photographic hide, provided you don’t walk or drive off-road. Sambar deer are particularly common and often quite relaxed around vehicles in the open country between Ohiya Gate and the visitor centre. The road between Pattipola Gate and the visitor centre supports a higher proportion of forest; the Arranga Pool about 1km south of Pattipola Gate is a particularly rewarding spot for birdwatchers hoping to glimpse the rare and elusive Sri Lanka whistling thrush.

Ambewela Farm Shop

Boasting a pastoral setting on a crossroads near Ambewela village en route between Nuwara Eliya and Pattipola, this shop selling balls of cheese, jars of strawberry jam, goat’s milk, bottles of ghee and other homemade dairy products is a popular stop on the return trip from Horton Plains.

The capital of Northern Province, Jaffna is the main historic focal point of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population, and the country’s ninth-largest city, supporting a predominantly Hindu population of around 90,000. Historically, politically and culturally, this most northerly outlier of Sri Lanka is something of a land apart, owing in part to its location on the Jaffna Peninsula, a 1,000km² not-quite-island connected to the rest of the country by two road causeways, one entirely artificial while the other crosses a narrow natural isthmus called the Elephant Pass.

Unlike most Sri Lankan towns with a comparable population, Jaffna has the bustling, built-up feel of a proper city. Lined with medium-rise buildings, the claustrophobic grid of narrow roads that cuts through the compact commercial centre spills over with chaotic activity: horn-blasting cars and tuktuks, weaving bicycles, and dilly-dallying pedestrians all mingle with a bouquet of spicy aromas and blasting Bollywood tunes which – together with the proliferation of Hindu temples, and occasional traffic-defying cow on urban walkabout – underscore Jaffna’s cultural affiliation with the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, only 50km distant on the opposite side of the Palk Strait.

What to see and do in Jaffna

Central jaffna, central market.

The central market on the west end of Hospital Road is alive and buzzing with mercantile activity, with Jaffna products such as hand-woven palmyrah baskets, sweet blocks of jaggery and juicy tropical fruit being of particular interest. There’s also a small fish market down the south end of KKS Road, and no shortage of cheerful little eateries selling fruit juices and all manner of colourful homemade sweets and confectioneries.

Vannai Vaitheeswara Temple

Half a dozen Hindu temples are packed into the city centre, and visitors are welcome, though cameras are best left in your bag during puja services. The oldest and most attractive, Vannai Vaitheeswara Temple is an ancient Shiva shrine whose current incarnation, complete with a prominent five-tier gopuram, was built in 1790, and whose broodingly atmospheric stone-and-wood interior is free of the flamboyant flourishes associated with more modern temples.

It is busiest during the 20-day Shiva Festival and ten-day Ambal Devi Festival, which respectively climax on the full moon of March and July.

Jaffna Fort

The obvious place to start a more directed exploration of the city is Jaffna Fort, a hulking 7ha pentagon that dominates the waterfront immediately south of the commercial centre. Protected by five tall granite buttresses and enclosed by a moat along its four landward sides, the fort as it stands is essentially a Dutch edifice constructed between 1658 and 1680, but it was expanded from the original four-sided Fortress of Our Lady of Miracles of Jafanapatão built by the Portuguese over 1619–25.

There’s not much here in the way of interpretative material, but adventurous travellers might find their appetite for exploration whet by the photographs of some of Northern Province’s more obscure archaeological sites displayed in the rooms flanking the main entrance.

Jaffna Public Library

Set in manicured green gardens 200m east of the fort, the Jaffna Public Library started life in 1933 as a small private book collection. By 1959, the collection had expanded sufficiently to be relocated to a handsome multi-domed three-storey Indo-Saracenic building commissioned for the purpose by Alfred Duraiappah, then the city’s deputy mayor. The library grew to become one of the largest and most valuable in Asia, housing some 97,000 books and other documents, including many historic and unique Tamil palm-leaf and other manuscripts.

In June 1981, the entire collection went up in smoke when the library was burnt down by Sinhalese rioters, an act of mob violence perceived by aggrieved Tamils to be an indirect government attack not only on their academic traditions but on their very place in modern Sri Lanka. The partially restored building was set on fire again in 1985, this time by LTTE soldiers, after which it stood as a burnt-out shell for almost two decades prior to being restored to its former architectural glory and reopening in 2004. The library’s irreplaceable contents are lost forever, but more than US$1 million has been spent on assembling a new collection of mostly Tamil literature.

Jaffna Fishing Harbour

Follow the waterfront east of the fort for 700m, and you’ll arrive at Jaffna Fishing Harbour, which runs along Reclamation Road for more than 3km. With hundreds of colourfully painted wooden fishing boats bobbing offshore, the friendly harbour forms a surprisingly rustic appendage to central Jaffna, and it’s very photogenic too, especially towards dusk with the sun setting in the background over the Velanai Causeway.

Small  Passaiyoor market  near the end of Beach Road is one of the most exciting fish markets in the country, with boisterous morning auctions; get there by 07.00 to experience the frenzied calls, and the neighbouring buildings or trees draped with brilliant blue fishing nets.

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple

The built-up suburb of Nallur served as the capital of Jaffna for several centuries prior to the arrival of the Portuguese and relocation of the administration to the modern city centre 2km to the southwest. Its principal site, Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is the city’s most important and spectacular Hindu shrine, dedicated to Skanda (Kataragama).

The present-day structure started life in the mid 18th century as a small stone shrine with a palm-leaf roof, and has undergone several expansions over the centuries, most recently with the unveiling of two new nine-storey gopurams – reputedly the tallest and second-tallest in Sri Lanka – in 2011 and 2015. The most interesting time to visit is during the one of the daily pujas, all the better should your time in Jaffna coincide with the latter part of the 25-day annual  Nallur Festival , which ends on the last poya weekend in late August or early September.

Jaffna Archaeological Museum

Hidden away behind the Navalar Cultural Hall 1km south of Nallur Temple, the Jaffna Archaeological Museum might initially come across as musty and disorganised, but an eclectic selection of displays justifies the effort of locating it.

Of particular interest is a superb collection of Medieval brass statues and granite carvings excavated at the ancient Hindu temple sites of Nallur and Keerimalai, an intricately carved 17th-century wood temple door frame, a good example of an old palmyrah-leaf manuscript, also dating to the 17th century, and – more macabrely – kavadi skewers, spiked wooden sandals and other items associated with Hindu self-mutilation rituals.

Items that found their way here from Jaffna Fort include a Dutch gravestone complete with skull-and-crossbones, a brass sundial, and a war-scarred 1853 portrait of a 34-year-old Queen Victoria said, rather fancifully, to smile at the viewer at certain angles. The museum reputedly once housed several 2,000-plus-year-old items unearthed during early 20th-century excavations at Kantharodai, but these no longer seem to be on display.

The second largest of the eight main islands that comprise the Jaffna Archipelago, Velanai is a 35km² expanse of flat sandy soil, dotted with seasonal pans and palmyrah plantations and separated from the mainland by a gorgeous shallow lagoon. The island is thinly populated by comparison with the built-up Jaffna Peninsula, and far more rustic in feel, though this is partly an aftermath of the civil war, which left the countryside scarred with ruined and abandoned homesteads.

Situated on Velanai’s northern shore, the intriguing and unexpectedly substantial town of  Kayts  (pronounced ‘Kites’) is separated from Karaitivu Island by a 500m-wide channel serviced by regular ferries. Decidedly backwaterish today, Kayts was an important port during the Portuguese occupation of Jaffna (1619–58) thanks to its good and easily defended harbour and strategic location in terms of maritime access to the mainland peninsula.

It was then that it acquired the name Kayts (a derivative of Caes dos Elefantes, meaning ‘Elephants’ Quay’, in reference to the main item of export) and that a pair of Portuguese forts were built to guard the channel entrance 1km to its west. Kayts retained its strategic significance into the

As sweet and ripe for exploration as its irresistible name suggests, Kandy finds its way on to the itinerary of pretty much every visitor to Sri Lanka, and it seldom disappoints. Also known as the Maha Nuwara (literally ‘Great City’) or by the ancient name Senkandagala, Kandy served as the last capital of the Sinhala monarchy from the 1590s until it was signed over to Britain in 1815.

The sacred old city – lapped by the ornamental Lake Kandy, and overlooked by the verdant slopes of the Udawatte Kele Sanctuary – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose spiritual focal point Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) ranks high among the world’s most venerated Buddhist shrines. Enclosed on three sides by the jungle-fringed Mahaweli River, the greater city is studded with other historic landmarks, ranging from a quartet of ancient shrines dedicated to the city’s four guardian deities, to imperious colonial edifices such as the Hotel Suisse and Queen’s Hotel, to the vast and well-maintained Royal Botanical Garden, which celebrated its bicentennial in 2021.

What to see and do in Kandy

Kandyan cultural shows.

One of the most popular activities in Kandy is the late afternoon cultural show staged daily at several venues around the city. The shows include displays of typical Kandyan dances by men and women, in which the participants wear elaborate costumes with an extravagance of silver ornaments on ears and chests, as well as a juggling performance involving intricate twirling of lacquered wooden plates, some energetic somersaulting, daredevil displays of fire-eating and fire-walking, and a mask dance representative of low-country dancing.

The authenticity, if these things bother you, is open to question, but there is no denying that the frenetically percussive music – provided by a dervish-style drum troupe whose polyrhythms are adorned with occasional horn- and flute-like melodic flourishes – is utterly compelling. All the shows cost around US$7 per person, start at 17.00 and last for about 1 hour, an arrangement that allows audience members to move on to Sri Dalada Maligawa in time for the 18.30 puja.

Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth)

Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist shrine, Sri Dalada Maligawa houses the venerated top right canine of the Buddha, which was smuggled to Sri Lanka in the hair of a princess from Orissa in the 4th century AD, and secured as a symbol of nationhood in a succession of custom-built temples countrywide until it came to rest in Kandy in 1592.

The original two-storey temple completed in 1595 by King Vimaladharmasuriya I now forms the core of an inner temple enclosed in a grander and more expansive three-storey structure built a century later by King Vimaladharmasuriya II and further expanded under King Kirti Sri Rajasinha, while the moat and other adornments were added by King Vikrama Rajasinha, the last Kandyan monarch. The tall golden canopy that shades the central relic chamber was donated by President Premadasa in the 1980s, and extensive restoration work had to be undertaken in the aftermath of the 1998 bombing.

The temple’s plain but attractive white façade, set below layered Kandyan tiled roofs, is seen to best advantage from a distance (try the sloping Royal Palace Park or one of several viewpoints along Rajapihilla Road), with Lake Kandy in the foreground and a verdant backdrop provided by Udawatte Kele. Up close, the most prominent frontal feature is the Pittirippuva, an extruding octagonal belvedere that was originally built as an audience platform by King Vikrama Rajasinha and now houses a library in its base.

The main entrance leads across the moat and up a flight of stairs into the surprisingly small drumming courtyard, which is dominated by the inner shrine. Standing two storeys high, this handsome small building, the oldest part of the temple, is supported by engraved wooden pillars and its walls are adorned with a fantastically chaotic melange of intricate paintings and engravings (those at the rear are easier to inspect closely than the ones at the front).

Hatara Devale and Temple Square

Revered by Buddhist and Hindu residents alike, the Hatara Devale (four shrines) are each dedicated to one of Kandy’s four guardian deities, namely Natha, Pattini, Vishnu and Kataragama. Three of the shrines stand clustered close together in Temple Square, the large leafy block immediately west of Sri Dalada Maligawa. The fourth, dedicated to Kataragama, stands two blocks further west, at the southern end of Kotugodella Street. Entrance to all four shrines is free.

Kandy National Museum

Renovated in 2014–17, Kandy’s National Museum, which stands immediately east of the Sri Dalada Maligawa compound, is housed in the Palle Vahala (Lower Palace) built in the late 18th century as a royal harem (or, if you prefer, Queens’ Palace) for the consorts of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. A museum since 1942, it contains more than 5,000 artefacts relating to the Kandyan period, including the original Kandyan Convention signed by the British and the Chiefs of the Kandy on 10 March 1815.

Asgiri Monastery

Founded during the 14th-century reign of King Parakramabahu IV of Kurunegala, this historic and influential Buddhist monastery once extended all the way from the hills west of the town centre to the more easterly site of present-day Trinity College. The core monastery now stands about 5 minutes’ walk west of the town centre and incorporates several small temples with painted interiors.

During the Kandyan era, Asgiri served as a royal crematorium and burial ground, a tradition that started in the late 14th century when Queen Chandravati, the mother of King Sena Sammatha Vikramabahu, was cremated and buried here. The old royal burial ground and its funerary dagobas were cleared to make way for the construction of the railway line to Matale in 1880.

However, the monastery’s most intriguing structure, tucked away in a leafy compound 100m north of Hill Street, is the beautiful Adhanamaluwa Gedige, which reputedly stands on the exact spot where Queen Chandravati was cremated and was built as a memorial by her son. This robust and intricately carved stone temple, set below a striking two-tiered Kandyan tiled roof, is almost certainly Kandy’s second-oldest building and, as with the older Natha Devale, its architecture displays a strong Hindu influence.

It might come as a surprise to learn that the tranquil ornamental lake so integral to the modern-day Kandyan landscape was in fact completed in controversial and bloody circumstances a mere three years before the city’s Sinhalese monarchy was evicted by the British. Also known as Lake Bogambara or Kiri Muhuda (Sea of Milk), it was constructed over 1810–12 at the command of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, who used slave labour to dam the marshes and paddy fields that skirted his capital, and was delighted when they filled up not only with water but with fish, which he fed with boiled rice from a small island (reputedly connected to the palace by a subterranean tunnel so secret its existence has yet to be corroborated).

Today, the tadpole-shaped lake extends over 19ha and can be circumnavigated on foot along a shady 3.5km footpath. You’ll pass several impressive Indian flying fox roosts, and should also look out for waterbirds such as spot-billed pelican, Indian pond heron, black-crowned night heron, white-breasted waterhen and various cormorants and egrets. The walk could be extended with diversions to the Royal Palace Park, Malwatta Monastery and historic Hotel Suisse, all on the south side of the lake. Unfortunately, the handsome colonnaded Ulpenge (royal bathing house) built for the wives of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, on a platform immediately south of Sri Dalada Maligawa, is now a police checkpoint and closed to the public.

Royal Palace Park

Busier with courting teenagers than with tourists, this 2ha park slopes upward from the southwest lakeshore to offer splendid views across the water to the old town centre and Sri Dalada Maligawa. Its official name refers to it having been the site of a palace built for King Vimaladharmasuriya I, who famously repelled two attempted Portuguese invasions of Kandy during a 12-year reign that started in 1592.

Later a lakeside terrace built by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, it was remodelled as a park in 1880 under the acting Colonial Secretary Herbert Wace, and is still sometimes referred to as Wace Park (or, rather confusingly, as Wales Park, reputedly also its official name for a period, in honour of the Prince of Wales). Today, pride of place goes to a Japanese artillery gun captured in Burma during World War II and now housed under a small Kandyan-style pagoda.

Malwatta Monastery

Older than Lake Kandy, whose southern shore it overlooks, this attractive monastery was established in 1753 by Sri Saranankara Sangaraja and it contains two separate temples embellished with 18th-century architectural features, as well as a venerable Chapter House and tall octagonal library. A small museum exhibits several artefacts owned by the temple’s founder or dating back to that time.

Sinharaja Forest

Sri Lanka’s most important biodiversity hotspot and number-one birdwatching destination is the 88km² Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which protects the largest remaining tract of rainforest in the island’s southwestern wet zone.

An important watershed, it swathes a rugged mountain range that extends for 21km from east to west, but is classified as lowland rainforest owing to its relatively modest altitudes, which rise from below 100m to 1,171m at the summit of Hiti Pitigala.

In zoological terms, Sinharaja’s most remarkable feature is a quite extraordinary level of endemism, which embraces at least 830 plant and animal species unique to Sri Lanka, and more than a dozen plant genera whose range is confined to this one forest. The forest reserve is of particular interest to birdwatchers, since all but two of the 33 species endemic to Sri Lanka have been recorded here, and it is the easiest place to see many of them.

For all its biodiversity, Sinharaja ranks as one of Sri Lanka’s most undersubscribed major attractions. In part, this can be attributed to the relatively basic nature of accommodation in the area, and to it lying on something of a limb off the country’s main tourist circuits. Equally, it seems fair to say that a ramble through Sinharaja wouldn’t conform to everyone’s idea of a fun day out.

The lush rainforest interior can realistically be explored only by keen walkers prepared to brave an army of creepy-crawlies, and embrace the likelihood of being drenched in one of the all-but-daily tropical downpours. Of course, especially in the company of a (mandatory) guide, Sinharaja is actually a very safe place – far more so, it has to be said, than the country’s recklessly driven roads – and rough-’n’-ready travellers seeking a little outdoor adventure are likely to look back on a rainforest hike as a highlight of their time in Sri Lanka.

Frankly, tourists would be well-advised to embark on a forest adventure as soon as possible: the forest is under continual encroachment from agriculture, hunting and logging, as well as large developments that threaten to remove its UNESCO designation – such as roadworks and the 2021 government proposal to construct two 2ha reservoirs, which would displace thousands of families.

Yala National Park

Sri Lanka’s best and most popular safari destination, Yala National Park protects a vast tract of low-lying dry-zone wilderness which once formed part of the Ruhuna Kingdom, but was populated only by a thin spread of nomadic Vedda hunter-gatherers for centuries prior to being accorded official protection in 1900. Today, the park is renowned for its dense populations of elephant, leopard, water buffalo and to a lesser extent sloth bear, and it also hosts an exceptionally varied avifauna comprising more than 200 bird species.

Divided into five blocks, the 978km² national park, though smaller than Wilpattu, forms the centrepiece of the island’s largest conglomeration of protected areas, a 1,750km² tract of wilderness that also includes the contiguous Kumana National Park, the Yala Strict Nature Reserve (off limits to the public), Lunugamwehera National Park (gazetted in 1995 and essentially merged with Yala Block V) and three small buffer sanctuaries.

What to see and do in Yala National Park

Game drives.

The main activity in and around Yala is game drives, which can be arranged through any hotel or lodge in the area, as well as through a plethora of safari operators and one-man-and-his-jeep operations in Tissamaharama. Morning drives tend to be most rewarding for birds but afternoon drives come with a better chance of spotting an elusive leopard or sloth bear. If your budget (and tolerance of the sticky climate) runs to it, best to opt for an all-day drive, taking a packed breakfast and lunch, since elephants are most often seen at watering holes in the heat of the day.

A full-day drive in Block I also gives you time to explore the relatively untrammelled area around the Menik River, and ensures you will be out and about when most safari-goers are lunching outside the park. Almost all safaris take place in Block I, which supports high densities of game and a generous scattering of natural waterholes and artificial reservoirs, some originally constructed by the ancient kings of Ruhuna.

For those seeking a more off-the-beaten track experience, Block V, though relatively small at 26km², is highly recommended for scenery, waterbirds and relatively regular leopard sightings. Block V is usually combined with the contiguous and even less-visited Lunugamwehera National Park, a 245km² tract of disturbed woodland centred on the eponymous reservoir and known for its seasonal concentrations of elephants and varied birdlife (185 species, with aquatic species particularly well represented).

Blocks III and IV are also now open to the public but the dense vegetation may make for disappointing animal spotting (conversely, it is excellent for woodland and forest birds, and you’ll most likely not see another jeep). Back with Block I, it is also possible to obtain advance permission to take the bridge across the Menik River into the little-visited Block II, whose 35km-long Indian Ocean shoreline is studded with streams, lagoons and restored Ruhuna-era reservoirs.

Sithulpawwa Monastery

Enclaved within the northwest of Block I, this ancient and extensive Buddhist monastery – goal of an annual pilgrimage of tens of thousands of worshippers on the Poson (June) Poya – consists of more than a hundred caves with drip ledges centred on a massive whaleback outcrop surrounded by jungle and topped by a modern dagoba. It was founded in the 2nd century BC by Kavan Tissa, and legend holds that it housed more than 10,000 Arahant monks in its heyday, when it was surrounded by a productive agricultural area irrigated by a system of reservoirs.

This system gradually deteriorated over the centuries and the monastery and surrounding land were abandoned around 700 years ago following a prolonged and devastating drought that caused many of the monks to starve to death. A few very faded Anuradhapura-era paintings are preserved in one of the caves, and the views from the hilltop to the ocean are spectacular. The monastery is about 5km and signposted from Katagamuwa Gate, and the ascent of the taller hill takes about 15 minutes on foot. Although it is surrounded by the national park, it stands outside and no entrance fee need be paid to visit.

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Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Published: December 6, 2023

Sri Lanka was a wonderful surprise. I didn’t know what to expect going into my trip, but I ended up loving every bit of it.

It is a divided country, with the south dominated by Buddhist Sinhalese and the north by Hindu Tamils. After the British left in 1948, the Sinhalese controlled the government and enacted a series of laws that limited Tamil participation in society. Eventually, Tamil protests escalated and a 26-year civil war ensued, only ending in 2009.

Though it has been some time since then, Sri Lanka is still very much recovering — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit. In fact, my time there was especially memorable due to my experiences meeting and getting to know the incredibly friendly locals. No matter where I went, Sri Lankans welcomed me with kindness and open arms.

Traveling around Sri Lanka is relatively easy and very budget-friendly. English is widely spoken, so once you get used to the chaos, it isn’t too difficult to get around.

With that in mind, here’s my Sri Lanka travel guide so that you can save money, have fun, and make the most of your visit to this beautiful country!

A note on prices and currencies : Costs for attractions in this guide are in USD, while costs for restaurants and accommodations are in LKR. This is to most accurately represent the currency in which you will see prices. Foreign visitors are charged a different price from locals at most attractions, quoted in USD. Registered tourist establishments are required to accept only foreign currency from nonresidents, as part of a governmental scheme to build up the country’s reserves of stronger currencies.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around

How to Stay Safe

• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Sri Lanka

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Sri Lanka

1. Tour a tea estate

When the British colonized the island in the early 19th century, they quickly realized that the central highlands had the perfect climate and topography for growing tea. One of the largest, lasting impacts of colonialism is that a significant portion of the country is still covered in tea plantations or estates.

The town of Hatton is known as the tea capital of Sri Lanka, as it’s the central point of a few regions where the plant is still plucked by hand (and one of the few places in the world where this still occurs). Going on a plantation or factory tour is a great way to learn about this integral part of the country’s economy and culture. Tours are often free, though if there is a fee, it’s only around 250 LKR. Tours usually include a tea tasting at the end.

2. See the wildlife at Yala National Park

This is Sri Lanka’s second-largest and most popular national park. It’s well known for its abundant wildlife, especially the elephants and leopards that make their home here. In fact, it’s the best place in the world to try to spot leopards, as it has the highest density of them! The area is culturally significant as well, with two important Buddhist pilgrim sites, Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara, located within the park. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit these sites each year. While a guide isn’t required to enter the park, joining a safari led by an experienced local guide is the best way to experience Yala, as you’ll be able to ask questions as they point out animals to you. Safaris are quite affordable too, starting at just 8,600 LKR.

3. Hike Sigiriya Rock

Also known as Lion’s Rock, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the country’s most famous tourist attraction. In the fifth century, Sri Lankan ruler King Kashyapa decided to build his fortress on this massive column of granite rock. While it was abandoned shortly after his death, its remote location meant that the palace remained untouched over the centuries, and today it remains a fascinating example of ancient urban planning.

You can hike to the top for stunning views over the lush landscapes below; it takes an hour to walk up, as it’s single file all the way. As it’s one of the most popular things to do in Sri Lanka, you won’t have this place to yourself. Get there when it opens at 6:30am to avoid huge lines. If you are there after 10am, the crowds are so overwhelming, it’s not worth visiting. Admission is $30 USD ( guided day trips from Kandy that also include visits to the cave temples of Dambulla are $70 USD).

Pro tip: if you’re on a budget, climb Pidurangala Rock instead. It’s much cheaper (500 LKR), plus you’ll actually get views of Sigiriya Rock itself! (Just note that the trail does involve some scrambling at times, while the trail to the top of Sigiriya is steep but easier, with metal steps and staircases.)

4. Take the train

The British built the Sri Lankan railway system in 1864 to transport tea and coffee from plantations to Colombo, where these goods were then shipped out internationally. The train lines are still in use and provide a scenic way to explore the country. There are three main lines, but the ride from Kandy to Ella is widely considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It lasts seven hours and takes you through lush mountains, tropical forests, and endless tea plantations; the picturesque 20th-century Nine Arches Bridge is on this route as well.

If you’d like to take this journey, it’s best to book with a travel agency in advance as seats sell out quickly. Just adjust your expectations regarding timeliness and speed. Don’t be in a hurry when riding the rails in Sri Lanka!

5. Visit Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura was the very first capital of Sri Lanka and remained so for around 1,300 years. Today, many of the old ruins still survive and have been restored to their former glory. This archaeological complex and UNESCO site contains many of Buddhism’s holiest places, including Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the fig tree where it is believed that the Buddha himself obtained enlightenment. It’s also home to Jetavanaramaya Dagaba, which at 122 meters (400 feet) is the world’s tallest stupa. Most people either rent a bicycle or hire a tuk-tuk to take them around the complex. Admission to the five main temples is $25 USD, though there are many smaller temples and sites that are either free or just a couple of dollars.

Other Things to See and Do

1. visit kandy.

The country’s second-largest city was also the last capital of Sri Lanka’s monarchy, the Kingdom of Kandy, which arose in the late 16th century and resisted both Dutch and Portuguese rule before finally succumbing to British colonization in the early 19th century. Kandy is known for its well-preserved historic colonial center (now a UNESCO site), as well as the Buddhist shrine the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (supposedly an actual tooth of the Buddha). Many visitors come here because it’s the starting point for the scenic train to Ella, but make sure to spend a few days exploring the bustling streets, enjoying Kandy Lake, and wandering through the Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya, the nation’s biggest and most impressive botanical garden.

2. Explore Ella

If you take Sri Lanka’s most scenic train ride, you’ll end up in the town of Ella, which, though small, is a popular destination. Even if you don’t take the train to get here, the iconic Nine Arches railway bridge is one of the biggest attractions in the entire country. You can get to the lookout by hiking through the forest, and then waiting for a train to go by if you want that iconic “Sri Lankan postcard” shot. Other things to see and do here include traversing the surrounding rainforests to see stunning waterfalls, hiking Little Adam’s Peak or Ella Rock, and visiting the endless tea plantations.

3. Travel up north

After decades of war, the north has a legacy of destruction that has yet to go away. For that reason, most travelers focus on the southern half of Sri Lanka, with its plentiful hiking and charming beach towns. But seeing the north gave me a more nuanced perspective on a portion of the country without hordes of other tourists. In fact, in my time there, I saw only four Westerners.

As the area is mainly Hindu, you’ll find lots of beautiful temples here, including the impressive Nallur Kandaswamy in Jaffna. The north also offers beautiful yet uncrowded beaches, a plethora of tranquil islands to explore, and delicious food with a strong southern Indian influence.

4. See the temples

Sri Lanka has an astonishing number of impressive temples. Everywhere you go, there’s a beautiful temple! Some of the most famous include Temple of the Tooth (in Kandy), Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam and Gangaramaya (both in Colombo), Dambulla Cave Temple (in Dambulla), and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple (in Jaffna).

When visiting, be sure to dress appropriately, as these are active places of worship. Also, bring flip-flops to temples, since you’ll have to take your socks and shoes off before going inside. Entrance fees range from free to around $10 USD.

5. Take a cooking class

While I didn’t know much about the country’s food before arriving, I quickly became hooked on the delicious curries of Sri Lankan cuisine. Colombo Cooking Class offers three-hour sessions in which you make 10 dishes, including curries, coconut sambol, and papadam. The class takes place in the owner’s home, and it really feels like you’re learning to cook with a friend! The cost is around 20,000 LKR.

6. Hit the beaches

Since it’s a huge island, Sri Lanka’s coastline spans over 1,340 kilometers (830 miles), meaning there are countless beaches to enjoy. There are white-sand shores to stroll on, coral reefs perfect for snorkeling, picturesque sunsets to admire, and breaks great for surfing. No matter what you’re into, there’s a beach for you in Sri Lanka.

Arugam Bay and Mirissa Beach are some of the most well known, mainly as world-famous surfing destinations, but they both have nice beach towns to visit even if you don’t surf.

7. Day trip to Galle

Founded in the late 16th century by the Portuguese and later conquered by the Dutch in the mid-17th century, Galle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a beautifully preserved old fort town that’s worth a visit. A visit here is best spent just wandering around, admiring the Dutch colonial buildings, walking the perimeter of the old fort, shopping at the artisanal craft stores (or taking a workshop to learn how to make jewelry in the traditional style ), touring the National Maritime Museum, and eating fresh seafood.

But as that’s about the extent of what there is to do, I recommend visiting Galle as a day trip from Colombo rather than staying overnight. It’s super easy, as you can take the train directly, which takes about two hours.

8. Climb Adam’s Peak

Adam’s Peak is Sri Lanka’s most sacred mountain and an important pilgrimage destination. Hindus and Buddhists believe the mountain is the footstep of Shiva and the Buddha, respectively, while Muslims and Christians revere it as the first place Adam stepped on earth after his ousting from the Garden of Eden.

But even if you aren’t religious, trekking to the top of Adam’s Peak is a rewarding experience for both the challenge of the ascent and the magnificent views. It is a steep climb, with over 5,000 steps to get to the top, though there are many teahouses to stop at along the way. Most hikers start their climb from the village of Dalhousie around 2am in order to reach the top by sunrise. Depending on your fitness level, the entire journey takes around 5-7 hours.

9. Go whale watching

While countries like Iceland get all the press for whale watching, Sri Lanka is actually one of the best places to view these awe-inspiring creatures. Many species — including the blue whale, the largest animal on earth — migrate annually around the southern tip of the island, swimming closer to shore here than anywhere else in the world.

Mirissa Beach is the best place to depart from, and there are many operators offering tours. Be sure to go with a company that adheres to responsible international whale watching standards, which include stipulations like not getting too close, not feeding the whales, etc. I recommend Raja and the Whales, where an adult ticket is around 20,000 LKR.

10. Explore Colombo

As the country’s capital and location of its major international airport, you’ll undoubtedly be flying in and out of Colombo. This busy city is a bit of everything, with modern cafés and bistros right next to traditional Buddhist and Hindu temples. It’s worth spending a couple days here, getting your bearings and enjoying the cultural offerings.

Sri Lanka Travel Costs

Sri Lanka is cheap to visit. Even when you splurge, it’s not that expensive, especially if you stick to delicious local cuisine, travel on trains and buses, and don’t go crazy with your accommodation.

Accommodation – There is a lot of cheap accommodation throughout the country (and a growing number of hostels), though they’re really basic, with just a fan, mosquito net, and shower. At 2,000-4,000 LKR per dorm bed, you can’t go wrong though. Private rooms in hostels start around 6,500 LKR.

Guesthouses are more plentiful and affordable, with private rooms that have an en-suite bathroom starting at 5,000 LKR per night. Two-star budget hotels start around 8,000 LKR. In both cases, you’ll usually get free breakfast and Wi-Fi too.

You can find some unique Airbnbs in Sri Lanka, though they tend to be pricey. Prices range from 7,000 LKR per night for tree houses and cabins to 25,000 LKR and up for villas and larger properties. Most of the midrange options on Airbnb are hotels and guesthouses.

Food – Incredibly flavorful and packed with fragrant spices, Sri Lankan food is influenced by the culture and cuisines of foreign traders from all over the world. Middle Eastern, Indian, Portuguese, and Dutch flavors are particularly common due to trading routes and the country’s colonial history.

Cinnamon and black pepper are the two most important spices, though cardamom, pandan leaf, and lemongrass feature heavily too. Sri Lankan cuisine can be quite spicy, and dozens of types of peppers are grown and used on the island.

And, as an island nation, it should come as no surprise that fresh seafood plays a major role in many Sri Lankan dishes. Maldives fish (cured tuna produced in the Maldives) is a staple flavoring element. Coconut and rice are also two ubiquitous ingredients that you’ll find on the table at every meal and part of many street snacks.

Popular dishes include various curries (including fish, crab, or lentil), biryani (meat, fish, or vegetables cooked with rice and seasoned), pittu (cylinders of rice flour mixed with grated coconut), kiribath (rice cooked in coconut milk), roti (flatbread made from wheat flour), wattalapam (rich pudding made with coconut milk, jaggery, cashews, eggs, and spices), kottu (roti, meat curry, scrambled egg, onions, and chilies, chopped together with a cleaver on a hot griddle), appam (a thin pancake made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk), lamprais (rice cooked in stock, accompanied by meatballs, and baked in a banana leaf), breudher (a Dutch holiday biscuit), and bolo fiado (Portuguese-style layer cake).

Besides being delicious, food is also really cheap here. At a casual traditional restaurant, starters and snacks like roti or dosa are 240-550 LKR, while biryani costs 450-900 (depending on the meat chosen), and a typical curry dish costs 550-950 LKR. A fast-food combo meal is 750 LKR.

At restaurants with table service or for a more “Western” meal, a pizza is 2,500-3,500 LKR, a pasta dish is 1,500-2,200, and a burger is around 1,100-1,500 LKR. At an upscale restaurant, fish or crab curry is 3,500-4,000 LKR, while a chicken or vegetable curry is 1,000-1,500 LKR.

A bottle of water is 100-150 LKR, a cappuccino is 600 LKR, and a beer is around 500-600 LKR, though don’t expect too many chances to drink alcohol. Outside the coastal touristy beach towns and the capital of Colombo, there isn’t much nightlife or opportunity to drink. While you can always crack a beer at your guesthouse, Sri Lanka isn’t home to a big drinking/nightlife culture.

Some of my favorite restaurants were Balaji Dosai and the Slightly Chilled Bar in Kandy; Ahinsa in Sigiriya; and Upali’s and the Ministry of Crab in Colombo. The last one is an expensive seafood restaurant, but the food is delicious! Sri Lankan crab is famous worldwide — and gigantic. It’s not cheap, but sometimes you just have to treat yourself.

Backpacking Sri Lanka: Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of 9,700 LKR per day, you can stay in a hostel, eat cheap meals like street food (with limited drinking), use public transportation to get around, and do free activities like walking tours, hiking, and hanging out at beaches.

On a midrange budget of 18,000 LKR per day, you can stay in a guesthouse or private room in a hostel or Airbnb, eat out for most meals, drink more, take taxis to get around, and do more paid activities like museum visits or whale watching.

On an upscale budget of 35,000 LKR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel or private Airbnb, eat out pretty much anywhere you want, drink at the bar, rent a tuk-tuk or car to get around, and do as many guided tours and activities as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in LKR.

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Sri Lanka is very affordable, but there are still plenty of ways to help keep your costs low. Here are my top money-saving tips for traveling in Sri lanka:

• Get your visa in advance – You’ll need to get a visa for entry into the country. You can do this either online starting three days before you arrive, or upon arrival. It’s slightly cheaper if you do it ahead of time, plus you’ll skip the lines at the airport.
• Eat the local food – Outside of the major cities of Colombo and Kandy, you won’t find many non-Sri Lankan or non-Indian food options. What you do find is overpriced, subpar Western food that’s more often than not a chain. Skip it and stick to the local cuisine.
• Bring a water bottle – You shouldn’t really drink the water in Sri Lanka. And since the weather here is really hot, you’ll need to buy a lot of bottled water to stay hydrated (you’ll probably spend 300 LKR per day on plastic bottles of water). Instead, bring a reusable water bottle with a filter instead to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as its bottles have built-in filters to ensure that your water is always clean and safe.
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing is a great way to save money on accommodation while also getting some insight from residents. You might have better luck in the larger cities, but be sure to request early, as they also see the most requests.
• Visit in off or shoulder seasons – Visit during monsoon season or shoulder season to save money. Even though you will experience some rain, it doesn’t rain 24/7, and you’ll still be able to get out and explore.

Where to Stay in Sri Lanka

Guesthouses are the most common and affordable option in Sri Lanka, though there is a growing number of hostels here too. Here are my recommended places to stay around the country:

• C1 Colombo Fort (Colombo)
• Palitha Home Stay (Sigiriya)
• Jaye’s Home Stay (Kandy)
• Backpacker Galle Hostel (Galle)

How to Get Around Sri Lanka

Bus – This is the cheapest and most widely used way to get around the country, though it can be a very crowded and at times harrowing experience. There are two types of buses: red Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses that are run by the state, and blue, pink, or green buses that are run by private companies. Private buses tend to be more crowded, as there are more seats, and drivers try to cram on as many passengers as possible.

Since you’ll most likely be flying in and/or out of Colombo, the blue Colombo Express Bus is the cheapest and easiest way to get from the airport to the city center. It’s just 110 LKR (the same price as the regular bus), leaves every 30 minutes (5:30am–8:30pm), and takes about an hour. In town, it stops at (and leaves from) the Central Bus Stand, Pettah Fort, and Colombo Fort Station. Alternatively, a taxi is about 2,700 LKR.

Tuk-tuk – All throughout Sri Lanka, you can hire drivers cheaply. Any tuk-tuk driver will let you hire them for the day, for around 10,000 LKR. Moreover, they are pretty honest — except in Colombo, where they may try to scam and overcharge you. Elsewhere in the country, you’ll get a fair deal, so there’s no need to try to bargain hard.

Ridesharing – Uber is available only in Colombo and is often more expensive than taxis, especially during rush hours. PickMe is a local taxi-hailing app that you can also use to hire tuk-tuks.

Train – Train travel, while slower, is the most scenic and culturally immersive way to get around Sri Lanka (plus, the island is so small that taking an expensive short flight doesn’t make sense). Sri Lanka Railways runs all trains, and you can find schedules and make reservations on its website.

There are a variety of classes from which to choose: first, second, third, and reserved or unreserved (third class doesn’t have reserved seating and doesn’t sell out). Seat reservations can only be made up to 30 days prior to departure.

Some typical train routes and their approximate prices include the following:

• Colombo to Jaffna (7–8 hours): 2,250 LKR
• Jaffna to Anuradhapura (2.5–3.5 hours): 1,600 LKR
• Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (3.5–4 hours): 2,500 LKR
• Colombo to Galle (2 hours): 1,600 LKR

For more details on train travel in Sri Lanka, I recommend The Man in Seat 61 . It’s the best resource for train travel information.

Flying – As Sri Lanka is a relatively small island, flying domestically doesn’t make much sense. There is only one airline that even offers domestic routes (Cinnamon Air) and those are expensive, starting at 77,000 LKR for a 30-minute flight. Skip the flights.

When to Go to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is effected by two different monsoon seasons, so if you want the best weather during your trip, you’ll want to keep that in mind.

If you want to visit the beaches in the south and west, go December through March. April to September is best for visiting the north and east.

The good news is that temperatures stay fairly consistent throughout the year. Coastal regions generally have average temperatures of 25-30°C (77-86°F) while in the highlands you can expect an average of 17-19°C (63-66°F).

While there is a lot of rain during monsoon season, it doesn’t rain 24/7 so you can still enjoy the country. But no matter when you visit, make sure to bring a rain coat just in case.

Sri Lanka is a safe place to backpack and travel — even if you’re a solo traveler. Violent attacks against tourists are rare. Petty theft is the most common type of crime, especially around popular tourist landmarks. Always keep your valuables out of reach on public transportation, in crowds, and at the beach, just to be safe. A little vigilance goes a long way here since most thefts are crimes of opportunity.

The main scam to watch out for is paying the “tourist tax” (elevated prices for travelers). If you’re worried about others, read this blog post about major travel scams to avoid .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe, though verbal (and at times physical) harassment unfortunately occurs more often here than in other countries. It’s a good idea to dress conservatively and avoid walking around alone at night.

Other issues that you may encounter involve civil unrest and the current economic crisis. Stay aware of any demonstrations that may be occurring (usually in Colombo). While they are generally peaceful, like anywhere, there is the potential for these protests becoming violent. Steer clear to avoid getting caught in the middle.

Also be aware that shortages of supplies are common, and fuel is currently being rationed. If you need medications, bring a full supply with you.

Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 119.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. It protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancelations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong unexpectedly. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Sri Lanka travel and continue planning your trip:

The Ultimate Guide to Sri Lanka: Costs, Itineraries, and Favorites

Sri Lankans: Making a Stranger Feel Like Family

How to Plan a Trip to a Place You Know Nothing About

Get my best stuff sent straight to you, pin it on pinterest.

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• Travel Destinations

The Ultimate Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Published: October 12, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Helen Behrens

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the ultimate Sri Lanka travel guide. Nestled in the Indian Ocean, this beautiful island nation is a vibrant tapestry of history, culture, and natural wonders. From ancient temples and UNESCO World Heritage sites to pristine beaches and lush tea plantations, Sri Lanka offers a diverse range of experiences for every traveler.

With its warm and friendly locals, delicious cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes, Sri Lanka has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists from around the world. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or a cultural immersion, Sri Lanka has something to offer for everyone.

One of the most appealing aspects of traveling to Sri Lanka is its compact size. Despite being a relatively small country, it packs a punch with its abundance of attractions and activities. You can explore ancient ruins, trek through lush rainforests, spot wildlife, relax on sun-kissed beaches, and indulge in mouthwatering cuisine all in one trip.

As you embark on your Sri Lanka journey, this travel guide will provide you with all the essential information to make your trip unforgettable. From visa requirements to the best time to visit, from transportation options to top attractions, we’ve got you covered.

So, pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to embark on an incredible adventure in the teardrop-shaped island of Sri Lanka. Let’s dive into the details and discover everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable trip to this enchanting destination.

Visa Requirements

Before traveling to Sri Lanka, it is important to understand the visa requirements. Most visitors need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. The ETA can be obtained online through the official website or from the nearest Sri Lankan embassy or consulate.

The visa process is straightforward and can usually be completed within a few days. The cost of the ETA varies depending on your nationality and the duration of your stay. It is advisable to apply for the ETA well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.

The ETA allows visitors to stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days. If you wish to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka.

It is important to note that passport validity is a crucial aspect of visa requirements. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka. Additionally, you may be required to provide proof of sufficient funds for your stay and a return or onward ticket.

For travelers who plan to engage in work or religious activities, it is necessary to obtain the appropriate visa type that allows such activities. It is advised to seek guidance from the Sri Lankan embassy or consulate in your home country to ensure you have the correct visa for your intended activities.

Lastly, it is important to abide by the laws and regulations of Sri Lanka during your visit. Any violation of the visa rules can result in fines, deportation, or legal consequences. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the do’s and don’ts of your visa to ensure a hassle-free and enjoyable trip to Sri Lanka.

Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit largely depends on what you want to experience during your trip. The island nation experiences two distinct monsoon seasons, which affect different parts of the country at different times.

From December to March, the west and south coasts, as well as the Cultural Triangle region, experience the dry season. This is considered the peak tourist season as the weather is sunny with minimal rainfall. The sea is also calm, making it ideal for beach activities and water sports. However, this is also the busiest time for tourism, so expect larger crowds and higher prices.

From May to September, the east coast and the north-central regions of Sri Lanka bask in dry weather, while the rest of the country experiences the southwest monsoon. The east coast is known for its pristine beaches, and this is an excellent time to explore them. The weather is hot and ideal for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters.

If you are a wildlife enthusiast or plan to visit the hill country, the period from July to September is ideal as the weather is cooler and perfect for exploring national parks and tea plantations.

For those seeking to avoid crowds and find better deals, the shoulder seasons of April and November are great options. During these months, you can enjoy relatively good weather and fewer tourists, making it an ideal time for budget travelers.

It is important to note that Sri Lanka is a tropical country, and sudden rain showers can occur at any time of the year. It is always a good idea to pack a light rain jacket or umbrella regardless of the season.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Sri Lanka depends on your preferences and the experiences you seek. Whether you choose to visit during the dry season or the monsoon season, Sri Lanka offers a wealth of beauty and experiences that will leave you with lasting memories.

Getting to Sri Lanka

Getting to Sri Lanka is relatively easy with its well-connected international airports and seaports. The main international airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), located in Katunayake, about 35 kilometers north of Colombo, the capital city.

Many major airlines operate direct flights to Sri Lanka from various destinations around the world. There are also several connecting flights available, making it convenient to reach Sri Lanka from almost anywhere.

Once you arrive at BIA, you can easily access Colombo and other parts of the country via taxi, ride-sharing services, or public transport. The journey from the airport to Colombo takes approximately an hour, depending on traffic.

If you are traveling to Sri Lanka by sea, the country has several ports that cater to international cruise ships and cargo vessels. The main port is the Colombo Port, which is one of the largest in South Asia.

For travelers coming from neighboring countries, such as India or Maldives, there are ferry services available as well. These services operate between Sri Lanka and select ports in India and the Maldives, providing an alternative and scenic way to reach the island.

Once you are in Sri Lanka, domestic air travel is a convenient option for exploring different parts of the country quickly. Domestic airports are located in cities like Colombo, Kandy, and Jaffna, and there are several domestic airlines offering regular flights.

If you prefer overland travel, Sri Lanka has a well-developed road network, making it possible to reach various towns and cities by bus or private car. There are also train services available, which offer a scenic and enjoyable way to travel between major destinations.

When planning your trip to Sri Lanka, it is advisable to check the latest travel advisories and make arrangements in advance to secure your preferred mode of transportation. With multiple options available, getting to and around Sri Lanka is convenient and adds to the overall experience of exploring this beautiful island nation.

Transportation within Sri Lanka

Getting around Sri Lanka is relatively easy, thanks to its well-established transportation network. Whether you prefer to travel by road, rail, or air, there are various options available to suit your needs and preferences.

One of the most popular modes of transportation for both locals and tourists is the extensive bus network. Buses connect almost every corner of the country, making it a convenient and affordable way to travel between cities and towns. There are different types of buses available, ranging from express buses to luxury air-conditioned coaches.

Sri Lanka also has an extensive train network that offers stunning views of the countryside. The train rides in Sri Lanka are not just a means of transportation but also a scenic experience. The journey from Kandy to Ella, for example, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, tea plantations, and mountain vistas.

If you prefer a faster mode of transportation, domestic flights are available between major cities. Sri Lanka has several domestic airports, and local airlines operate regular flights to various destinations. This is a convenient option for those who want to save time and skip long road or train journeys.

For shorter distances and exploring local attractions, tuk-tuks are a popular mode of transport. These three-wheeled vehicles are easily available in cities and towns, and they are a fun and adventurous way to get around. Negotiating the fare beforehand is advised to avoid any misunderstandings.

If you prefer more flexibility and convenience, renting a car with a driver is also an option. This allows you to navigate the country at your own pace and visit off-the-beaten-path destinations. However, it is important to note that driving in Sri Lanka requires caution and familiarity with local road conditions and traffic rules.

When traveling to remote areas or national parks, safari jeeps are commonly used to navigate the rugged terrain and spot wildlife. These can be hired through tour operators or at the park entrance.

Overall, transportation within Sri Lanka is well-organized and offers a variety of options to suit different preferences and budgets. Whether you choose the bus, train, plane, tuk-tuk, or hire a car, getting around Sri Lanka is part of the adventure and allows you to explore the country at your own pace.

Accommodation Options

When it comes to accommodation in Sri Lanka, you’ll find a wide range of options to suit all budgets and preferences. From luxury resorts to budget guesthouses, the country offers a diverse range of choices that cater to different travelers.

If you’re looking for ultimate comfort and indulgence, Sri Lanka is home to a number of luxury resorts and boutique hotels. These properties offer world-class amenities, stunning settings, and exceptional service. Whether nestled along pristine beaches, amidst lush tea plantations, or in the heart of ancient cities, these accommodations provide a lavish retreat for relaxation and pampering.

For those seeking a more authentic experience, Sri Lanka’s heritage homes, known as “boutique villas,” offer a unique stay. These beautifully restored ancestral houses provide an opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and history while enjoying modern comforts.

For budget-conscious travelers, there are plenty of guesthouses and budget hotels available throughout the country. These accommodations offer affordable options without compromising on comfort and cleanliness. They are ideal for those who prefer a more local and intimate experience.

In popular tourist destinations, you’ll also find a range of mid-range hotels and resorts that strike a balance between comfort and affordability. These properties offer quality accommodation, convenient locations, and a range of facilities to ensure a pleasant stay.

In recent years, Sri Lanka has seen a rise in eco-lodges and sustainable accommodation options. These properties focus on minimizing their environmental impact and offer an eco-friendly and responsible way to stay. Staying in an eco-lodge allows you to connect with nature while contributing to the conservation efforts of the country.

Another popular accommodation option in Sri Lanka is homestays, where you can stay with a local family and experience their way of life firsthand. This provides an opportunity to learn about the local culture, traditions, and cuisine while enjoying the warm hospitality of a Sri Lankan home.

When planning your accommodation in Sri Lanka, it is advisable to book in advance, especially during the peak tourist season. Research different areas and read reviews to find the best accommodation option that suits your needs and preferences.

Overall, Sri Lanka offers a wide range of accommodation options that cater to every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking for luxury, budget, boutique, or eco-friendly stays, you’ll find the perfect place to rest and recharge during your Sri Lankan adventure.

Top Attractions in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of incredible attractions, ranging from ancient historical sites to stunning natural wonders. Here are some of the top attractions that you should not miss during your visit to this beautiful island:

• Sigiriya Rock Fortress: Rising majestically from the jungle, Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit attraction. Climb to the top of the rock and marvel at the ancient ruins and breathtaking views.
• Golden Temple of Dambulla: This ancient temple complex is renowned for its stunning cave temples adorned with intricately painted frescoes and a vast collection of Buddha statues.
• Ancient City of Polonnaruwa: Explore the well-preserved ruins of the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa, including the Royal Palace, sacred temples, and colossal stone statues.
• Temple of the Tooth, Kandy: Visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, believed to house the relic of the tooth of Lord Buddha. Experience the rich cultural heritage and witness traditional rituals and performances.
• Galle Fort: Step back in time as you wander through the narrow streets of the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort. Admire the Dutch colonial architecture, visit the lighthouse, and browse through charming boutiques and art galleries.
• Yala National Park: Embark on a wildlife safari in Yala National Park, where you can spot elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and a variety of bird species. It is renowned for having the highest leopard density in the world.
• Nuwara Eliya: Known as “Little England,” this picturesque hill station offers stunning landscapes of tea plantations, waterfalls, and lush hills. Visit a tea factory, enjoy a scenic train ride, and immerse yourself in the cool climate of this charming town.
• Adam’s Peak: Take on the challenge of climbing Adam’s Peak, a sacred pilgrimage site for multiple religions. Witness the sunrise from the top and marvel at the panoramic views.
• Mirissa Beach: Relax on the golden sands of Mirissa Beach and enjoy the serene atmosphere and crystal-clear waters. Take a boat tour and spot dolphins and whales swimming in the ocean.
• Ella Rock: Hike to the top of Ella Rock and be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding tea plantations, valleys, and waterfalls. The journey itself is a scenic adventure.

These are just a few highlights of the many attractions that Sri Lanka has to offer. The country’s rich history, diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality make it a truly unforgettable destination to explore.

Cultural Experiences

Immersing yourself in the cultural fabric of Sri Lanka is an essential part of any visit to this enchanting island. From ancient temples and religious ceremonies to traditional arts and crafts, here are some cultural experiences that will offer you a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka:

• Visit Sacred Temples: Sri Lanka is home to numerous sacred temples, each with its own unique architectural and cultural significance. Explore iconic temples such as the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, and Sri Dalada Maligawa in Anuradhapura.
• Participate in a Puja Ceremony: Witness or take part in a traditional puja (religious ceremony) at a temple to experience the rhythmic chants, the scent of incense, and the mesmerizing rituals performed by devotees.
• Explore Ancient Ruins: Discover the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, and explore the ruins of ancient civilizations. Marvel at the monumental stupas, intricate carvings, and ancient monasteries that provide a glimpse into the country’s rich history.
• Attend a Cultural Show: Enjoy a vibrant cultural show featuring traditional dance performances, fire walking, and traditional music. These shows are a fantastic opportunity to witness the rhythmic movements and colorful costumes that showcase the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
• Try Sri Lankan Cuisine: Sample the diverse flavors of Sri Lankan cuisine, which is influenced by various cultures. Indulge in traditional dishes like rice and curry, hoppers, string hoppers, and seafood delicacies. Don’t forget to try the mouthwatering variety of tropical fruits.
• Visit Village Communities: Take a trip to a rural village and engage with the locals to experience the warmth and hospitality of the Sri Lankan people. Learn about their daily life, traditions, and customs, and perhaps even participate in activities such as cooking traditional meals or farming.
• Explore Art and Craft Villages: Sri Lanka is renowned for its intricate handicrafts, including wood carving, batik, pottery, and handloom textiles. Visit art and craft villages, such as Ambalangoda and Kandy, to observe the skilled artisans at work and perhaps even purchase unique souvenirs to take back home.

These cultural experiences will give you a deeper appreciation for the traditions and customs that have shaped Sri Lanka’s identity. Engage with the locals, embrace their traditions, and create lasting memories as you delve into the vibrant cultural tapestry of this fascinating country.

Wildlife and Nature

Sri Lanka is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, with its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife. From national parks teeming with exotic animals to pristine rainforests and breathtaking landscapes, here are some of the wildlife and nature experiences that you can enjoy in Sri Lanka:

• Yala National Park: Explore the wild wonders of Yala National Park, home to a rich variety of animals, including elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and endemic bird species. Enjoy thrilling jeep safaris that offer a chance to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitats.
• Wilpattu National Park: Known for its dense forest and natural lakes, Wilpattu is the largest national park in Sri Lanka. Embark on a safari and encounter leopards, elephants, deer, crocodiles, and an array of bird species in this untamed wilderness.
• Horton Plains National Park: Trek through the misty landscapes of Horton Plains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and marvel at the beauty of World’s End, a sheer cliff offering breathtaking views. Keep an eye out for elusive species such as the Sri Lankan sambar deer and purple-faced langur.
• Sinharaja Forest Reserve: Explore the last remaining primary rainforest in Sri Lanka, Sinharaja Forest Reserve. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a haven for endemic bird species, reptiles, amphibians, and a variety of plant species. Guided walks allow you to discover its incredible biodiversity.
• Whale Watching in Mirissa: Embark on a thrilling whale watching excursion from Mirissa and witness the magnificence of the gentle giants of the ocean, such as blue whales, sperm whales, and dolphins. This is an unforgettable experience that offers an up-close encounter with marine wildlife.
• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a sanctuary that cares for and rehabilitates orphaned and injured elephants. Observe these gentle giants up close as they bathe in the river and enjoy feeding times.
• Minneriya National Park: Known for its “Gathering” of elephants, Minneriya National Park is a hotspot for elephant sightings. The park also offers opportunities to spot other wildlife, including sambar deer, sloth bears, and birds.

These are just a few examples of the incredible wildlife and nature experiences that Sri Lanka has to offer. The country’s commitment to conservation and its diverse range of ecosystems make it a haven for nature enthusiasts and a paradise for wildlife lovers.

Beaches and Coastal Areas

Sri Lanka is blessed with stunning beaches and picturesque coastal areas that offer tranquility, beauty, and a variety of water activities. From golden sand beaches to vibrant coral reefs, here are some of the top beach destinations to explore during your visit:

• Unawatuna: Located on the southern coast, Unawatuna is known for its crescent-shaped beach, clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs. Snorkeling, diving, and beachside relaxation are popular activities here.
• Mirissa: Mirissa is a laid-back coastal town famous for its pristine beaches and whale watching opportunities. Enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and catching spectacular sunsets on the palm-fringed shores.
• Bentota: Located on the southwest coast, Bentota offers a mix of sandy beaches and serene backwaters. It is a popular destination for water sports like jet skiing, windsurfing, and boat rides along the Bentota River.
• Arugam Bay: Situated on the east coast, Arugam Bay is known for its beautiful beaches and excellent surf breaks. It attracts surfers from around the world and offers a laid-back atmosphere, perfect for relaxation.
• Trincomalee: The town of Trincomalee on the east coast is home to stunning beaches and warm azure waters. Nilaveli Beach and Uppuveli Beach are popular spots for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.
• Kalpitiya: Situated on the west coast, Kalpitiya is known for its pristine beaches, dunes, and lagoons. It is a haven for water sports enthusiasts, offering activities like kite surfing, kayaking, and dolphin watching.
• Pasikudah: Pasikudah, located on the east coast, boasts a long stretch of shallow waters and soft white sand. It is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying water sports.

These are just a few examples of the beautiful beaches and coastal areas that await you in Sri Lanka. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, water sports, or simply a chance to soak in the sun, the beaches of Sri Lanka offer a perfect escape.

Adventure Activities

Sri Lanka is not only a destination for breathtaking landscapes and cultural experiences but also a haven for adventure enthusiasts. From thrilling water sports to adrenaline-pumping treks, here are some of the top adventure activities you can enjoy in Sri Lanka:

• Whitewater Rafting: Experience the rush of navigating through fast-flowing rivers and challenging rapids. The Kitulgala region is known for its excellent whitewater rafting opportunities, offering an exhilarating adventure amidst stunning natural surroundings.
• Surfing: Head to the southern coast, especially places like Arugam Bay, Weligama, and Mirissa, to catch some waves. Sri Lanka offers surfing spots suitable for all skill levels, making it a popular destination for beginners and seasoned surfers alike.
• Hiking and Trekking: Lace up your boots and explore the stunning landscapes of Sri Lanka on foot. From the picturesque tea plantations of Ella to the challenging trails of Knuckles Mountain Range, there are plenty of options for all levels of hikers and trekkers.
• Zip-lining: Experience the thrill of flying through the treetops on a zip-line adventure. The lush forests of Kithulgala and Ella provide stunning backdrops as you zip across the canopy.
• Rock Climbing: Test your strength and agility by scaling rocky cliffs in Sri Lanka. The central region, including places like Sigiriya and Knuckles Mountain Range, offers excellent rock climbing opportunities.
• Wildlife Safaris: Embark on an exciting safari adventure in one of Sri Lanka’s national parks. With a guide, spot majestic elephants, elusive leopards, and a variety of other wildlife in their natural habitats.
• Hot Air Ballooning: Soar above the scenic landscapes of Sri Lanka in a hot air balloon for a truly extraordinary experience. Enjoy panoramic views of lush greenery, rolling hills, and historical sites.
• Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: Discover the vibrant underwater world surrounding Sri Lanka. Head to popular diving spots like Hikkaduwa, Trincomalee, and Pigeon Island, where you can explore colorful coral reefs, encounter marine life, and swim with turtles.

With its diverse landscapes and thrilling activities, Sri Lanka offers endless opportunities for adventure enthusiasts. Whether you’re seeking an adrenaline rush or a chance to explore the natural wonders of the island, you’re sure to find an adventure that suits your taste.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Shopping in Sri Lanka is not just about buying souvenirs; it’s an immersive experience that allows you to explore the country’s vibrant culture and craftsmanship. From traditional handicrafts to high-quality tea and gemstones, here are some shopping highlights you can indulge in during your visit:

• Handicrafts and Batik: Sri Lanka is renowned for its intricate handicrafts, including wooden masks, hand-woven textiles, and colorful batik fabrics. Visit local markets and artisan workshops to witness the craftsmen at work and purchase unique pieces as a memento of your trip.
• Gems and Jewelry: Sri Lanka is famous for its precious and semi-precious gemstones, especially sapphires. Explore reputable gem stores to find beautifully crafted jewelry that can make for a valuable and lasting souvenir.
• Tea and Spices: Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea producers globally, and you can find a vast range of high-quality teas to take back home. From aromatic Ceylon tea to herbal infusions, visit tea plantations or specialty tea shops to find the perfect blend. Don’t forget to also explore the diverse range of fragrant spices that add flavor to Sri Lankan cuisine.
• Art and Antiques: Art enthusiasts can browse through art galleries and antique shops to find exquisite artwork, traditional masks, and unique collectibles. Authentic antique pieces require proper documentation for export, so ensure compliance with customs regulations if purchasing such items.
• Handmade Jewelry and Accessories: Sri Lanka is a treasure trove for handcrafted jewelry and accessories. Explore local shops or designer boutiques to find intricate silverware, beaded jewelry, and fashionable accessories crafted by local artisans.
• Spices and Ayurvedic Products: Sri Lanka is known for its ayurvedic traditions, and you can find a wide range of herbal remedies, oils, and beauty products. Visit herbal gardens or Ayurvedic centers to purchase authentic products that promote wellness and health.

When shopping in Sri Lanka, it’s always a good idea to compare prices, check the authenticity of goods, and purchase from reputable sellers. You can also visit government-run handicraft centers and authorized stores to ensure fair trade and genuine products.

Remember to be mindful of customs regulations and restrictions regarding the export of certain items, particularly antiques and wildlife products. Familiarize yourself with the appropriate guidelines to ensure a hassle-free shopping experience.

Bringing back a piece of Sri Lanka through shopping and souvenirs allows you to cherish the memories of your trip and support the local artisans and industries that make the country’s cultural richness shine through their creations.

Food and Drinks

Sri Lankan cuisine is a delightful fusion of flavors influenced by various cultures and traditions. From aromatic spices to fresh seafood and tropical fruits, here are some must-try dishes and beverages to explore during your culinary journey in Sri Lanka:

• Rice and Curry: Rice and curry is the staple dish of Sri Lanka, consisting of a mound of fluffy rice served with an array of flavorful curries. Each curry, be it vegetable, seafood, or meat-based, is infused with aromatic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and curry leaves.
• Hoppers: Hoppers are a popular Sri Lankan breakfast dish made from a fermented rice flour batter. These thin, crispy pancakes with a soft center are often served with sambol (a spicy condiment) or with an egg cracked into the hoppers.
• Kottu Roti: Kottu roti is a unique Sri Lankan street food made by stir-frying a combination of chopped roti (flatbread), vegetables, meat, and spices on a hot griddle. The rhythmic chopping sound of the roti being cooked is a familiar symphony in urban areas.
• Seafood: Being an island nation, Sri Lanka boasts a bounty of fresh seafood. Indulge in succulent prawns, crabs, lobsters, and a variety of fish prepared in various delectable styles, such as grilled, curried, or butter-fried.
• Hoppers: Sri Lanka is renowned for its aromatic tea production. Visit a tea plantation in the highlands and witness the tea-making process, from plucking the leaves to the final infusion. Sip on a cup of hot Ceylon tea while enjoying the serenity of the tea gardens.
• Fruit Juices and King Coconuts: Sri Lanka is abundant in tropical fruits, and you have to try the refreshing fruit juices made from mango, pineapple, papaya, and watermelon. Additionally, enjoy the natural sweetness of a king coconut, a variety of coconut with a soft, jelly-like flesh and sweet water.
• Wadiya (Street Food): Sri Lanka offers a plethora of street food options to tantalize your taste buds. From piping hot samosas and vadais (deep-fried lentil fritters) to crispy roti with spicy fillings, explore the vibrant street food scene and savor the diverse flavors.
• Tropical Desserts: End your meal on a sweet note with traditional Sri Lankan desserts. Indulge in delicacies like creamy wattalappam (coconut custard), caramelized banana fritters, or refreshing curd and treacle (a sweet syrup made from the sap of the kitul palm).

Exploring the local food scene in Sri Lanka is best done by venturing into local eateries and street-side stalls, where you can savor authentic and flavorful dishes. Don’t hesitate to ask the locals for their recommendations and try the lesser-known regional specialties.

While enjoying the local cuisine, keep in mind the spice levels can be quite intense for those unaccustomed to spicy food. Feel free to request milder versions of dishes if you prefer a less spicy experience.

With its vibrant flavors and delicious aromas, Sri Lankan cuisine offers a culinary adventure that is sure to satisfy both your palate and your appetite. So, be sure to embark on a gastronomic journey and explore the diverse and mouthwatering food and drink options Sri Lanka has to offer.

Health and Safety Tips

Ensuring your health and safety during your trip to Sri Lanka is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here are some essential health and safety tips to keep in mind:

• Travel Insurance: Before traveling to Sri Lanka, make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost belongings.
• Health Precautions: Visit your doctor or a travel health clinic well in advance to get up-to-date on vaccinations and discuss any necessary medications, such as anti-malarial medication for certain regions.
• Water and Food Safety: Drink bottled water or boiled and filtered water to avoid waterborne diseases. Be cautious with street food; choose vendors with clean preparation areas and opt for thoroughly cooked or peeled fruits and vegetables.
• Sun Protection: Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, so protect yourself from the sun by wearing sunscreen with a high SPF, a hat, sunglasses, and lightweight, breathable clothing.
• Mosquito Protection: Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever are prevalent in Sri Lanka. Use mosquito repellents, wear long sleeves and pants, and consider staying in accommodations with mosquito nets or air conditioning.
• Safe Transportation: Choose licensed and reputable transportation providers and follow safety instructions while using public transportation. Avoid traveling at night, particularly in remote areas.
• Respecting Local Customs: Sri Lanka has a rich cultural heritage, so dress modestly when visiting religious sites and respect local customs and traditions.
• Emergency Numbers: Save important contact numbers, such as the local emergency services (Police, Ambulance) and your embassy or consulate, in case of any emergency.
• Personal Belongings: Take precautions to secure your personal belongings, including keeping valuables in a hotel safe, using a money belt, and being cautious of your surroundings.
• Weather Conditions: Sri Lanka can experience heavy rainfall and natural disasters like floods and landslides during the monsoon seasons. Stay informed about weather conditions and follow instructions from local authorities.

It is always wise to stay updated on travel advisories and follow any specific guidelines and recommendations from your government or relevant authorities regarding travel to Sri Lanka.

By taking these health and safety precautions, you can ensure a worry-free and memorable trip to Sri Lanka, focusing on exploring the incredible sights, immersing in the culture, and creating unforgettable experiences.

Etiquette and Cultural Norms

When visiting Sri Lanka, it is important to be aware of the local etiquette and cultural norms to show respect for the country’s traditions and customs. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Dress Modestly: When visiting religious sites, it is important to dress modestly, covering your shoulders and knees. This applies to both men and women.
• Remove Footwear: When entering temples, homes, and certain shops, it is customary to remove your footwear as a sign of respect. Look for cues from locals or signage indicating the expectation.
• Greet with Respect: Sri Lankans greet each other with a “Ayubowan” (May you live long) or “Vanakkam” (Hello). Use a gentle handshake or a slight bow when meeting someone for the first time.
• Use Right Hand for Gestures: Sri Lankans generally use the right hand for eating, giving and receiving items, and handshakes. Avoid using your left hand for these activities, as it is considered unclean.
• Show Courtesy to Elders: Respect for elders is highly valued in Sri Lankan culture. Use appropriate titles when addressing older individuals and offer them precedence in seating or in queues.
• Avoid Public Displays of Affection: Public displays of affection, such as hugging and kissing, are not commonly practiced or appreciated in Sri Lankan culture. It is best to show restraint in public settings.
• Observe Religious Customs: When visiting temples, follow the guidelines provided, such as removing headwear, refraining from taking photographs where prohibited, and participating respectfully in rituals.
• Ask Permission for Photography: Always ask for permission before photographing individuals, especially monks or religious ceremonies. Some locations may have restrictions on photography, so be mindful of signage and instructions.
• Respect Buddhist Traditions: When encountering Buddhist monks, show reverence by keeping a respectful distance and refraining from physical contact. Women should avoid direct contact or giving items directly to monks.
• Be Mindful of Cultural Sensitivities: For conservative communities, it’s advisable to dress modestly and avoid displaying excessive skin in public areas to respect their cultural sensitivities.

By being aware of and adhering to these etiquette guidelines, you can show respect for the local culture and enhance your interactions with the warm and welcoming people of Sri Lanka.

Money and Currency

Understanding the local currency and the financial aspects of your trip is essential when visiting Sri Lanka. Here’s some helpful information about money and currency in the country:

• Currency: The official currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). It is denoted by the symbol “රු” or “Rs.”
• Availability of Currency: You can obtain Sri Lankan Rupees through currency exchange services at international airports, banks, and authorized money changers throughout the country. ATMs are widely available in most towns and cities.
• Credit Cards and Debit Cards: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in major establishments like hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets. Visa and Mastercard are more commonly accepted, while American Express and Diners Club may have limited acceptance.
• ATMs and Cash Withdrawals: ATMs are the most convenient way to access cash. They are available in cities and towns across Sri Lanka. Inform your bank beforehand about your travel plans to avoid any issues with card usage abroad.
• Tipping: While tipping is not mandatory, it is customary to leave a small amount of tip for good service. In restaurants, a 10% service charge is often added to the bill. If not, a small tip is appreciated.
• Exchange Rates: The exchange rates may vary, so it is advisable to check the current rates before exchanging money. Banks and authorized money changers usually offer competitive rates.
• Carrying Sufficient Cash: While credit cards are widely accepted, it is advisable to carry some cash, especially when visiting rural areas or smaller establishments where card acceptance may be limited.
• Currency Exchange Receipts: Ensure that you retain currency exchange receipts to facilitate re-conversion of any unused Sri Lankan Rupees back to your home currency upon departure.
• Counterfeit Notes: Be cautious of counterfeit currency. Familiarize yourself with the security features of Sri Lankan banknotes to verify their authenticity.
• Local Expenses: Sri Lanka is generally an affordable destination, but the cost of accommodation, food, and transportation may vary depending on the region and the level of luxury you choose.

It’s always a good idea to have a mix of payment options when traveling, including cash and cards, for flexibility and convenience. Keep your money and valuables secure, and inform your bank about any travel plans to avoid any disruptions to your card usage.

By being informed about the currency and money-related aspects, you can ensure a hassle-free financial experience during your visit to Sri Lanka.

Communication and Internet Access

Staying connected and having access to communication services is important when traveling in Sri Lanka. Here’s what you need to know about communication and internet access in the country:

• Mobile Networks: Sri Lanka has several mobile network operators, including Dialog, Mobitel, and Etisalat, offering reliable coverage across the country. You can easily purchase a local SIM card at the airport or from mobile network provider outlets.
• International Roaming: If you prefer to use your existing mobile number, check with your service provider regarding international roaming facilities and associated charges before arriving in Sri Lanka. This option may be more expensive compared to purchasing a local SIM card.
• Internet Access: Most hotels, resorts, and cafes in popular tourist areas offer Wi-Fi access for guests. Some may charge for usage, while others provide it as a complimentary service. Free Wi-Fi zones are also available in certain public places.
• Internet Cafes: If you need internet access for a short duration, you can find internet cafes in major towns and cities. These cafes usually charge an hourly rate for internet usage.
• Public Telephones: Public telephones are available, and you can use prepaid calling cards to make domestic and international calls. These cards can be purchased from shops or kiosks.
• Messaging Apps: Utilizing messaging apps like WhatsApp, Viber, or Skype can be a convenient and cost-effective way to communicate with friends and family internationally via an active internet connection.
• Emergency Services: The emergency hotline in Sri Lanka is 119, which can be used to contact the police. For medical emergencies, dial 110 or visit the nearest hospital.

It is always recommended to have a backup communication plan through various channels, especially in case of emergencies or when traveling to more remote areas with limited network coverage.

With the availability of mobile networks and internet connectivity, staying connected and accessing information is generally hassle-free, allowing you to share your experiences and communicate with ease during your journey in Sri Lanka.

Travel Tips and Recommendations

Here are some travel tips and recommendations to make your trip to Sri Lanka even more enjoyable:

• Plan in Advance: Research and plan your itinerary in advance to make the most of your time in Sri Lanka. Understand the distances between destinations and consider the best modes of transportation.
• Check the Weather: Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with variations across regions. Check the weather conditions for the specific areas you plan to visit and pack accordingly.
• Stay Hydrated: Due to the warm climate, it’s important to stay hydrated. Carry a reusable water bottle and drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.
• Try Local Cuisine: Sri Lankan cuisine offers a rich variety of flavors. Don’t miss the opportunity to try local dishes and explore different street food options to savor the authentic flavors of the country.
• Respect Nature and Wildlife: When visiting national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, follow the instructions provided by park authorities and respect the natural environment. Do not feed or disturb the wildlife in any way.
• Stay Sun Safe: Apply sunscreen regularly, wear a hat, and protect yourself from the sun to prevent sunburn and heat-related illnesses. Seek shade during the hottest hours of the day.
• Be Mindful of Cultural Sensitivities: Respect local customs, traditions, and dress codes. Be mindful of religious and cultural sites, maintaining a respectful demeanor and following any guidelines provided.
• Keep Essential Items Handy: Carry a copy of your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents. Keep emergency contact information and the address of your accommodations easily accessible.
• Stay Alert and Keep Valuables Secure: Maintain situational awareness, especially in crowded places and tourist areas. Keep your belongings secure and be cautious of pickpocketing.
• Explore Off-The-Beaten-Path: While popular tourist sites are a must-visit, consider exploring lesser-known destinations to discover hidden gems and have more authentic cultural experiences.

Remember to be open-minded, embrace the local customs, and approach your trip with a spirit of adventure. Sri Lanka offers a rich tapestry of experiences, and by following these tips, you can make the most of your journey and create unforgettable memories.

Congratulations! You are now equipped with a comprehensive guide to navigate your Sri Lanka adventure. From exploring ancient ruins and immersing yourself in the vibrant culture to indulging in delicious cuisine and embracing breathtaking natural beauty, Sri Lanka offers a plethora of unforgettable experiences.

Remember to plan your trip in advance, considering visa requirements, the best time to visit, and transportation options. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage by visiting temples, attending traditional performances, and engaging with the warm and friendly locals.

Take advantage of the stunning beaches and coastal areas for relaxation or adventure activities such as surfing, diving, or whale watching. Explore the incredible wildlife and nature through safaris, hikes, and explorations of national parks. Don’t miss the chance to shop for unique souvenirs, try local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant markets.

Traveling responsibly, respecting local customs and traditions, and taking necessary health and safety precautions will ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. Stay connected with communication services and embrace the diverse culinary delights Sri Lanka has to offer.

So pack your bags with excitement and embark on a journey of a lifetime in the teardrop-shaped island of Sri Lanka. Discover the timeless beauty, immerse in the rich culture, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready to make the most of your Sri Lanka travel adventure!

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23 things you need to know before going to Sri Lanka

Oct 14, 2023 • 11 min read

Get to grips with Sri Lanka's complex culture with these top tips on health, safety and etiquette © Cavan Images / Getty Images

Floating in tropical waters off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is defined by its gentle Buddhist culture, friendly people and laid-back way of life despite its troubled recent history.

A little knowledge goes a long way when it comes to having an easy trip to this Indian Ocean island. For such a small nation, Sri Lanka is hugely diverse. Surf-pounded coastlines rise to forested national parks , temple-studded plains and jungle-covered highlands - with the added perk that nowhere is that far from a  beach .

Most visitors start on the coast and duck inland to tea gardens, ancient cities and national parks, but navigating Sri Lanka 's frenetic public transport system and cultural sensitivities can be confusing for new arrivals. To help you out, here are some of the things you need to know before traveling to Sri Lanka.

1. Apply for a visa in advance

As a first step, check the latest visa requirements for Sri Lanka. Most nationalities need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in advance of travel, but fortunately, they're not hard to get.

2. Check your travel vaccinations

Sri Lanka is a tropical destination, so check with your doctor to make sure you're up to date with your travel vaccinations. Recommended vaccinations for Sri Lanka include diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and polio. Long stayers might also consider getting vaccinated against typhoid and rabies (although rare, rabies can be fatal, and it's carried by dogs, cats and monkeys in Sri Lanka).

3. Plan your trip according to the monsoons

Between May and September , the south coast and west coast of Sri Lanka are lashed by the southwest monsoon, which brings plenty of rainfall and choppy seas, while northern and eastern parts of the island are fine and dry. When the northeast monsoon hits Sri Lanka between November and March, the south and west are at their best, and it's the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka that see the showers.

In fact, monsoon rainfall in Sri Lanka is quite sporadic – expect short, sharp downpours interspersed with long, hot sunny spells. Traveling to different parts of Sri Lanka during their rainy "off-seasons" has its rewards – visitor numbers fall and hotel rates drop quite significantly.

4. There's no alcohol for sale on full moon days and religious events

Sri Lanka has a huge number of bank holidays, and almost half of these are poya days, marking the arrival of the full moon, an auspicious event in Sri Lankan Buddhism. All poya days are dry days – alcohol is not sold in shops, restaurants or bars (though you can still access your hotel room’s minibar). The ban on alcohol also extends to other religious events such as the Buddhist festival of Vesak in May.

5. Carry cash: the currency is the Sri Lankan rupee

Stock up on rupees on arrival in Sri Lanka, not before, and don't change more than you need. Sri Lankan rupees are hard to exchange outside of Sri Lanka. ATMs are widespread all over the country – stick to Bank of Ceylon ATMs where possible as they don't charge a fee. Card machines are common in larger hotels, restaurants and tourist-oriented shops.

Try to build up a stash of lower denomination notes wherever possible (for example, withdraw LKR5900 rather than LKR6000). You'll need small bills to pay for tuk-tuks and buy things from local shops and markets and for tipping. Carrying some cash in dollars, euros or pounds sterling is also useful – all are widely accepted in tourist areas.

6. Be realistic about how much ground you can cover

It takes a surprising amount of time to travel around Sri Lanka thanks to winding routes and the limited number of roads crossing the interior of the island. Traffic also has to navigate a variety of hazards including badly surfaced roads and roaming wildlife (buffaloes, cows, feral dogs and even elephants). To do the island justice, don’t rush. You’ll need at least a month for a circuit of the island with detours to national parks, ancient cities and tea plantations inland.

Thanks to Sri Lanka’s improving expressway network, road travel from Colombo to southern towns such as Galle ,  Matara and  Tangalla is fairly rapid. With its twisting, congested roads, the  Hill Country is the most time-consuming region to navigate (consider taking trains to explore instead).

7. Pack the right gear for Sri Lanka’s hills and religious sites

Sri Lanka’s mountains reach elevations of over 2,000m (6,560ft) and temperatures are lower in the highlands than on the coast. Pack a light jumper for cooler nights and early morning starts (particularly between December and March). Also bring a sarong – you can use it as a beach blanket or towel, as a shawl or skirt to cover your shoulders or knees when visiting temples, and as a warm layer when traveling on air-conditioned buses or for pre-dawn safari jeep drives.

8. Plan ahead for the hill country trains

Sri Lanka Railways runs the nation's trains, including services on the spectacular Main Line, which slices east from Colombo  through the island’s highest mountains, cloud forests and tea estates. It’s a stunning journey and hugely popular with tourists and locals alike, particularly the section between Kandy and Ella .

Book tickets in air-conditioned first class or fan-cooled second class well ahead to guarantee a seat, either in person at stations or online via booking sights such as 12GoAsia . Tickets are released 10 days prior and sell out quickly.

9. Swimwear is for the beach only

For the most part, Sri Lankans are socially conservative and deeply religious. Swimwear is fine for the beach, but not when wandering about town. Going nude or topless is not permitted on any Sri Lankan beaches.

10. Avoid public affection and disruptive behavior

Public displays of affection are frowned on, as is loud or brash behavior, and losing your temper in public (keep this in mind when haggling – this should never be an angry process).

11. Dress respectfully when visiting temples

When making trips to religious sites, wear clothing that covers the legs and upper arms and shoulders. Remove your shoes and headwear before entering any Buddhist or Hindu temple or mosque, even if the site is a historic ruin. Socks are allowed (and you'll need them on scorching hot sunny days).

Tourists are less common in  Jaffna and the north where a distinct Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu culture predominates. Respect local etiquette when visiting Hindu temples – ask for permission before entering as non-Hindus are barred from entering some shrines. Some temples also require men to remove shirts and enter bare-chested (for example, Jaffna’s vast Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil ).

12. Show respect to Buddha images

Sri Lankan Buddhists take depictions of the Buddha very seriously and these should always be treated with respect. People have been deported from Sri Lanka for displaying "disrespectful" Buddha images, so avoid wearing clothing with Buddha images and if you have tattoos of Buddhist iconography, keep these covered. The same rules apply to statues – posing for selfies with a Buddha statue is a definite no-no, as is turning your back toward a Buddha image.

13. Be considerate when taking photographs

When photographing people, always ask for permission first. Note that if you photograph the famous stilt fishers at Koggala, you may be asked for payment (genuine stilt fishers are a rare breed nowadays). Flash photography isn’t allowed in temples (nor in the vicinity of military sites) and taking photos may be banned entirely at some Hindu sites. If you are photographing temples, be careful not to stand with your back toward a Buddha statue while you are snapping.

14. Use your right hand to eat

Traditionally, Sri Lankans eat with their right hand, using the tips of their fingers to mix rice and curry into little balls, and their thumb to gently push the food into their mouths. You may be encouraged to try this if you are invited into a local home for a meal, but always wash your hands first for hygiene reasons. Avoid eating (or shaking hands) with your left hand as it is used for less sanitary tasks such as personal ablutions.

15. Tipping is customary

Tipping is a way of life in Sri Lanka and many restaurant workers rely on the extra income this practice brings. Most larger hotels and restaurants add a 10% tip as standard; use this as a guide for how much to tip in places that don’t. 

16. Give wildlife space

In 2017, a British journalist died after being snatched by a crocodile at a lagoon near  Arugam Bay . Such attacks are rare, but they happen so be vigilant in rivers and lagoons. Dangerous sharks are not a problem in Sri Lanka, but poisonous snakes are found in waterlogged areas on land such as paddy fields. 

Keep a keen lookout for elephants on roads leading to national parks or when walking or driving in the hills. If you see one, keep your distance and be ready to back away. Never feed a wild elephant – this habituates elephants to associate humans with food and act aggressively.

17. Take standard safety precautions

Sri Lanka is one of the safest countries in Asia when it comes to petty crime. Violence against tourists is very rare, and theft and robberies are uncommon, though they do happen occasionally. As a precaution, wear a money belt and use your hotel safe.

Female travelers should avoid traveling alone at night, particularly on public transport, and take care walking alone on empty beaches. Given Sri Lanka’s conservative culture, long sleeves and dresses are culturally appropriate and will reduce the chance of being harassed.

18. Do not drink the tap water

Sri Lanka's tap water could theoretically be used for brushing your teeth but we don't recommend it, and it's certainly not safe for drinking. Bottled water is plentiful and better hotels provide clean drinking water for guests. If you do buy bottled water, check that the seal is intact and look for the Sri Lanka standards certification mark. Always dispose of empty bottles responsibly – filling your own drinking water bottle from a large bottle is better than buying lots of small plastic bottles.

19. Beware of scams and pickpockets

Scammers are active in  Galle Fort , Kandy and Colombo’s Galle Face Green , looking for tourists to cheat or charm out of money. Never buy gems hawked on the street – they will almost certainly be convincing fakes made from colored glass – and be dubious of any shop trying to sell you gems to "sell at a profit back home." Seek out information from official tourist offices and directly from operators rather than trusting agents, particularly if they seek you out first.   

Keep your money and valuables out of sight when on busy trains and buses, and when exploring crowded areas streets such as Colombo’s Pettah market district . Tuk-tuks have a habit of overcharging tourists – ask drivers to use the meter (and take another tuk-tuk if they refuse), or order a ride via Uber or local app,  PickMe .

20. Protect yourself against mosquitoes

Mosquito bites are one of the biggest health concerns in Sri Lanka. Although malaria has been eliminated, mosquitoes can carry debilitating dengue fever, a painful illness that can have serious side effects. No vaccinations are available for dengue and treatment can only reduce symptoms. Protect yourself by covering up at dawn and dusk, sleeping under a mosquito net and wearing strong repellent containing high levels of DEET ( diethyltoluamide ).

21. Be road-safe in Sri Lanka

Traffic is one of the biggest dangers facing visitors to Sri Lanka. Accidents involving motorcycles and lorries are common, and bus collisions – often involving pedestrians – are also a problem. Common causes of accidents include dangerous overtaking, overloading and pulling in suddenly to pick up passengers on the roadside.

Private bus company drivers tend to drive more recklessly than their government-run, SLTB counterparts. Don’t expect vehicles to stop at pedestrian crossings and keep your wits about you when walking beside any roads (sidewalks are rare in Sri Lanka).

22. Never underestimate the ocean

Sri Lanka's beaches may be idyllic, but there are few lifeguards and strong currents are a danger (particularly during the monsoon seasons). Many beaches shelve steeply and drowning is the second most common cause of death among tourists after road accidents. Seek local advice before swimming in unfamiliar water.

23. Natural disasters are a risk

Sri Lanka was one of the countries worst affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which swept away more than 35,000 people and devastated many coastal areas. Following the disaster, early warning systems have been put in place in major towns and resorts, but not in rural, isolated areas, so be alert to signs of earthquakes and tsunamis.

The most common natural disaster in Sri Lanka is localized flooding during the southwest and northeast monsoons, which can cause landslides in highland areas. Sri Lanka is also vulnerable to tropical cyclones and periods of drought. For up-to-date weather warnings and situation reports, bookmark the country’s Disaster Management Center website .

This article was first published March 2022 and updated October 2023

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Sri Lanka: The Ultimate Travel Guide

• 1 How much does a trip to Sri Lanka cost?
• 2.1 Historical Sites and Temples
• 2.2 Wildlife Safaris
• 2.3 Beaches
• 3 Flights to Sri Lanka
• 4 Accommodation
• 5 Sri Lanka Itinerary: 2 Weeks
• 6 Sri Lanka Itinerary: 3-4 Weeks
• 7 When to Go
• 8 Eating and Drinking
• 9.1 Public Buses
• 9.3 Tuk Tuks
• 9.4 Use PickMe
• 10.1 Trails, Hiking, and Longer Treks
• 10.2 Swimming and Surfing
• 10.3 Kitesurfing
• 10.4 Wildlife Safaris
• 11.1 Related

I grew up in Kandy, the country’s hill capital. In the last three years, I've decided to explore the tiny corners of my island. I’ve peeped my head out of train windows uncountable times, solved riddles of an 8-year-old in a small mountain village in Nanu Oya, and have befriended dogs who have guided me to mountain tops. And now, I’m putting all of my “local knowledge” into this ultimate travel guide to Sri Lanka.

How much does a trip to Sri Lanka cost?

Let me cut to the chase. It depends on your traveling style. If you are the kind of traveler who wants to sip Ceylon tea while being pampered in a vintage tea bungalow in Nuwara Eliya (which we apparently named Little England) on a dime, then Sri Lanka is not the ultimate budget destination for you.

While Sri Lanka is comparatively a “cheaper” destination to travel to, it’s not as cheap as neighboring India, Nepal , Tibet , or Southeast Asia.

If you are the kind of traveler who stays in homestays, hostels, mingles with locals, uses public transport and eats local food, then it’s absolutely possible to travel in Sri Lanka with $30 a day . However, adding a bit more comfort (using taxis often and having your coffee fix at mid-range cafes) plus activity entrance prices, then a budget of $50 a day would be more realistic.

Historical Sites and Temples

The cultural triangle – made of the three major historical cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy – are often frequented by history buffs. However, inside the triangle, there lies a plethora of lesser-known historical sites deserving of a visit.

Lion’s Rock in Sigiriya is named as the 8th World Wonder, though the entrance fee of $30 USD is putting many budget travellers off. Lion’s Rock is an architectural masterpiece, and if you are a history buff, you can't miss this place. Nearby Pidurangala Rock has become Instagram-famous over the years. Pidurangala offers stunning views with Lion’s Rock as the backdrop, and the 1-hour hike to the top is totally worth it. A three-hour drive from Dambulla is Yapahuwa, the 4th kingdom of Sri Lanka. The citadel is built on a granite rock, rising about 100 meters from the surrounding lowlands in Kurunegala District. While rock inscriptions of Ritigala Monastery are quintessential storytellers of the bygone era, Jathika Namal Uyana is Sri Lanka’s largest ironwood forest and pink quartz mountain in Asia. The rosy  tones of the quartz are slowly fading away with time, so now is the time to go.

Ambekke, Lankatilake, and Gadaladeniya temples close to Kandy are slowly opening up to tourists. The gigantic Buddha statue of Aukana and Buduruwagala in Wellawaya are fascinating sites to behold. Easily reached by nearby towns of Dikwella and Tangalle, Mulkirigala is another ancient rock temple which has become popular over the years.

The island is also home to a few world-famous Hindu temples. Devotees from all around the world flock to Seetha Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna when Hindu festivals and ceremonies are taking place.

Wildlife Safaris

If seeing wildlife is on your list of things to do in Sri Lanka, avoid visiting unethical wildlife “conservation” centers such as Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and unauthorized turtle hatcheries. Instead, consider visiting a national park to see wild animals in their natural habitats. Yala, Udawalawe, and Kaudulla have become insanely crowded over the years. But don’t lose hope – Sri Lanka has 26 national parks to explore.

Kumana National Park, located south of Arugam Bay, offers an amazing safari experience. The park is home to elephants, wild boars, foxes, peacocks and many other species of birds. In Gal Oya National Park, you can go on a boat safari to spot wild elephants hang out in Senanayaka Samudraya, the largest tank in Sri Lanka. For an unforgettable marine life viewing experience, head to Pigeon Island in Trincomalee. Be warned though, during peak season (April – August), it does get crowded. While Bundala is a paradise for birdwatchers, Maduru Ganga National Park is one of the lesser-known wildlife destinations in Sri Lanka. The jungle-clad lowlands here offer stunning landscapes and a quieter place to see elephants in their natural habitats.  

Being an island nation, there are countless beautiful beaches to choose from, many of which you'll never find in a guidebook. Here are some top choices from a local:

South Coast

• Mirissa, Weligama, Unawatuna Hikkaduwa: Immensely popular beaches, but very crowded, especially during the peak tourist season.
• Hiriketiya, Thalalla, Dikwella, Tangalle: Secluded beach villages. Check out Goyambokka, Rekawa, and Gurupokuna beach.

North Coast

Aptly named for the Casuarina trees that decorate the beach, Casuarina Beach in Karainagar is a popular option among the Northerners

Nilaveli , Uppuveli , and Arugam Bay are popular east coast options, however, Komari Beach (16 kilometers north of Potuvil) and beaches in Oluvil offer more authentic experiences

South of Kalpitiya is a small fishing village named Kappalady , home to a long sandbank and turquoise blue waters. You’ll likely see not a soul in sight.

Flights to Sri Lanka

Most flights arrive in Bandaranaike International Airport (airport code CMB ) in Katunayake, an hour’s drive from Colombo if you use the expressway. When searching for flights, use Skyscanner to conduct a broad search (select “Entire Month” if you don’t have fixed dates to visualize the cheapest dates to fly).

SriLankan Airlines offer flights to Colombo from many destinations across the world, including a direct journey from Melbourne. If you are in South East Asia, AirAsia offers cheap flights to Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur to Colombo has been the cheapest option over the years. Flights from Southern Indian cities (Chennai, Madurai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, and Bangalore) are common travel routes to Sri Lanka. Currently, IndiGo Airlines offers the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka from a number of Indian cities.

Accommodation

Sri Lanka has a wide range of accommodation options from luxe hotels to local-run homestays. While many luxury boutique hotels are priced at $200-400 USD, a private room in a typical luxury hotel normally begins at $100. Cinnamon Hotels and Jetwing Hotels are two popular luxury accommodation options. Check HotelsCombined , which compares prices of both hotels and hostels across a variety of booking sites.

Hostels are priced anywhere between $8-20 USD. Backpack hostels are often found in major cities and touristy areas such as Colombo , Kandy , Galle , Unawatuna and Ella . Hangover Hostels is one of the popular hostel chains on the island with four hostels in Colombo , near Airport , Ella and in Mirissa . Clock Inn , a pioneer in Sri Lanka’s backpack culture has a chic, modern hostel in the heart of Kandy. Pedlar’s Inn is the go-to place for budget travelers in Galle. In far-less-touristy areas, budget travelers can opt for local-run homestays and expect to pay anything over $15 USD.

AirBNB is quite popular in Sri Lanka, but is usually pricier than hostels and homestays (you can get $40 USD off your first Airbnb trip with this coupon ). Apart from these options, there are many beachside cabana style accommodation options and eco-friendly tree houses in the wild. Back of Beyond offers an amazing, eco-friendly experience in several offbeat locations in Sri Lanka and their properties usually begins at $100 USD a night.  

Sri Lanka Itinerary: 2 Weeks

To get an overall feel of Sri Lanka, one month is a good time. While slow travelers love to stay for 2-3 months, those who don’t have much time come for two weeks. This sample itinerary highlights what you can do and see in Sri Lanka in 2 weeks.

• Day 1 : Arrive in Colombo. Explore Colombo’s street food scene at Galle Face Green .
• Day 2 : Board the early morning train to Kandy and spend the rest of the day exploring. Go off the tourist trail to Bahirawakanda Temple and Udawattakele Sanctuary .
• Day 3 : Day trip to the Knuckles Mountain Range and Pitawala Pathana . One needs to use private transport, and renting a car, tuk tuk, or a van costs 7000 LKR ($45 USD) from Kandy. You’ll come across some of the most fascinating landscapes on the island. Along the way, stop by Bambara Kiri Ella Falls .
• Day 4 : Board the train to Nuwara Eliya. The train journey usually takes 3-4 hours. Nuwara Eliya has a relatively cooler, wet climate. Go for a walk in Nuwara Eliya town.
• Day 5 : Take a trek in Horton Plains National Park (you can instantly book a tour with transport on Viator ). Start early morning and reach the park by 6.30 AM to avoid the crowds. The walking trail there usually takes 4 hours.
• Day 6 : Board the early morning train to Ella. Go to Nine Arch Bridge in the evening ( this tour will take you there as well as Little Adam's Peak) and get a gist of the mountain town. Relax at one of the cafes.
• Day 7-8 : Explore Ella — Climb Little Adam’s Peak ( book a tour here ), Ella Rock, and explore waterfalls (Diyaluma Falls, Ravana Falls, Dunhinda Falls).
• Day 9 : Ella-Wellawaya-Tangalle: Board the bus to Wellawaya town from Ella. From there, you can board the bus to Tangalle
• Day 10 : Beach day! Hire a scooter and explore hidden beaches. Talalla, Dikwella, and Hiriketiya are some of the most spectacular spots. Towards Matara is Dondra, where Dondra Head Lighthouse is located on the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka.
• Day 11 : Day trip to Udawalawe National Park .
• Day 12 : Beach day! Today is your day to soak up the tropical sun. Taste amazing local food, sip some arrack (the local spirit), and chill in seaside cafes.
• Day 13 : Bus to Galle. The journey usually takes 2-3 hours. Explore Galle Fort . Stay overnight in Galle.
• Day 14 : Board the train to Colombo. Take another train to Katunayake or the highway bus to the airport. Fly out.

Sri Lanka Itinerary: 3-4 Weeks

If you are coming to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks, consider heading to Jaffna (3 nights), Anuradhapura (2 nights) and Sigiriya (2 nights) before heading to Kandy and the highlands. Jaffna is relatively new to tourism. Northern Sri Lanka has a unique culture of their own and the cuisine is entirely different. Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Point Pedro (the northernmost tip of Sri Lanka), Casuarina Beach, Jaffna Fort, Nainativu Island, Delft Island are some of the must-visit places in and around Jaffna. If you have 4 weeks, consider exploring the East Coast or Kalpitiya (if you love kitesurfing) for a week.  

Sri Lanka is a year-round destination. December to April is considered the high season. December and January are the peak months with relatively pleasant weather throughout the island, but expect chilly mornings and nights in hill towns such as Nuwara Eliya. The end of March to April is hot. Unbearably hot. Sri Lankan weather, however, is unpredictable. You are likely to have downpours in April evenings.

December to May marks the Adam’s Peak pilgrimage season. May arrives with monsoons, where several parts of the island are susceptible to frequent flooding every year. However, if you plan well, traveling in monsoons is a beautiful experience itself. While the northwest monsoons run from May-September, the beginning of April commences the east coast season, which runs till September. During this season, the east coast turns into a surfers’ paradise. August sees a rise in tourists due to Kandyan Perehera (a local festival held annually in Kandy). October to November doesn’t see many crowds, but it is in fact a perfect time to travel around the island.

Eating and Drinking

In Sri Lanka, eating out is cheap provided you stick to family-run restaurants, street food stalls, and hole-in-the-wall eateries. International cuisine such as Italian, French, or Bavarian will never have the authentic taste, but will be a Sri Lankan version. Your best bet is to stick to authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. 

While a few upscale restaurants serve authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in Colombo, I always find home-cooked meals in family-run restaurants to be the most delicious ones. Not only will you get a locals experience, but you'll also support the communities directly this way. Sri Lankan cuisine is punchy, red, and spicy. Most restaurant staff, even in rural areas, will ask you whether you like spice or not. In small places, a hearty meal will only cost you 200 LKR ($1.3 USD) but, the same meal will cost you $30 USD in an upscale restaurant.

If you are up for a drink, go for a Lion beer, the country’s own. A beer is usually 2-3 American dollars. Arack – distilled from nectar drawn from the coconut flower – is the Sri Lankan specialty, and best-consumed as a sundowner mixed with lime juice and king coconut juice.

Rice & curry is Sri Lanka’s staple meal. String hoppers (steamed rice flour in a noodle-like form) are widely available in family-run restaurants for breakfast and dinner. Koththu is Sri Lanka’s heartbeat, a dish that perfectly reflects the ordinary middle-class man’s lifestyle. Koththu is a mixture of flatbread, fresh vegetables, eggs and any meat of your choice – chicken, beef, mutton and seafood being most common. Making koththu is chaotic, noisy, and interesting to watch. All the ingredients are added to a heated metal sheet and further cut up using two metal blades. The chopping can be heard from miles afar. Snacks such as vadai (tiny fritters made of lentils) are often found in makeshift stalls and mobile carts on the roads. You’ll also meet plenty of vadai and banda iringu (corn on the cob) vendors on long-distance buses and trains.

Transportation

Public Buses

Although somewhat uncomfortable, Sri Lanka has an efficient bus network, and buses (and trains) are recommended for long distances. Ordinary buses can feel quite hectic to use. Private buses, while nicer, play loud music throughout the journey. Some routes are covered by more comfortable, air-conditioned Volvo services. If your journey takes more than 7 hours, board an overnight bus to save time and money spent on accommodation. Some Volvo and ordinary buses to outstations can be booked online via busbooking.lk and busseat.lk . 

Trains cannot be booked online apart from a few online travel agents who charge twice the price or more. Except for long weekends and school holidays which fall on April, August, and December, you will always find a seat on long distance trains. Just turn up the same day of your journey at the station and buy your tickets! If you want to pre-book your seats, go to Colombo Fort Railway Station on the day you arrive and reserve your seats.

Tuk tuks are auto rickshaws. They are frequently used for shorter journeys (1km – 10km). In Colombo, most tuk tuks have meters. Make sure your tuk has a meter before you board it to avoid scams. Agree on the price before you start your journey in outstations. The current standard rate for 1 km is 60 LKR (40 American cents).

As someone who lives in Colombo, I’m grateful to have PickMe . PickMe is a local alternative to Uber and functions better than Uber in Sri Lanka (yes, Uber is available here. Get a discount off of your first ride using our coupon ). The great thing about PickMe is that they have tuk tuks in their platform. For journeys longer than 2 km, it always works out a lot cheaper than taking a random tuk tuk on the streets. PickMe is available as a downloadable App. They also have a very responsive Twitter profile, but unfortunately, PickMe is currently only available in Colombo, Negombo, Kandy, and Galle city limits.

Trails, Hiking, and Longer Treks

The entirety of Sri Lanka is green… for now. Sadly, much of the country is swiftly clear-cutting jungle tracts to build skyscrapers. Day hikes are quickly becoming popular amongst travelers, especially in mountain villages such as Ella and Haputale. Some of the most picture-worthy scenery requires a bit of trekking, and it’s advised to hire a guide. Railway treks are quite popular, especially in the upcountry. Just keep an eye out for the occasional train.

Swimming and Surfing

Mirissa and Weligama in the South Coast and Arugam Bay in the East Coast are some of the world-class surf points of Sri Lanka. If you dream of having a whole beach to yourself, hire a scooter (usually only around 10 USD per day) and drive along the south coast. You will discover secluded beaches with soft, powdery sand and blue waters entirely to yourself.

Kitesurfing

Did you know that Kalpitiya Peninsula and Mannar are some of the world’s top kitesurfing spots? The peak season runs between the summer months of May – October while December – March is the shoulder season. Head to hidden villages such as Kappalady in Kalpitiya Peninsula to avoid the crowds. On the other hand, Mannar rarely gets any visitors. It’s slowly opening up to tourism after the Civil War, which ended in 2009.

As mentioned earlier, safaris cost a few bucks, but the price is worth it in exchange for a fully immersive (and ethical) wildlife experience. The prices are usually for the whole jeep/vehicle, and if you are a couple or a single traveler, it might be wise to team up with fellow travelers to split costs. A jeep usually costs anywhere between 3000 – 4000 LKR ($19 – $25 USD) for a safari in a popular national park such as Kaudulla or Yala . Keep in mind that this is only the price for the vehicle. You have to buy separate tickets for each person at the entrance as well.

Alternatively, you can browse safaris with photos/reviews and book instantly online at Viator . This saves you the hassle of finding tours in person or making phone calls back and forth. Many of these tours include the entrance fees for the parks and pickup from your hotel/hostel, so read the fine print to be sure of what is included, as these tours can often be the best value.

Safari prices and entrance fees for major historical attractions in Sri Lanka can be a little expensive (40 – 70 USD) but beaches come at no cost. And they are mostly never labeled as “crowded.”

The Thrifty Gist

• Based on your style of travel, Sri Lanka can be either a cheap or an expensive destination. If you travel like a local, there’s a drastic reduction in the costs.
• Use HotelsCombined to compare prices of both hotels and hostels, and Airbnb for homestays. Search “entire month” in the date field of Skyscanner to find the cheapest time to fly.
• Use PickMe to book tuk tuks and taxis in Colombo, Negombo, Kandy, and Galle city limits.
• Trains can be booked only at the station. Unless you board the train on weekends and during school holidays, which fall on the months of April, August, and December, booking ahead is not needed. Turn up at the station and buy your tickets.
• The best local food is often found in local restaurants and homestays.
• Sri Lanka’s pristine beaches come at no price. Most hikes and treks cost nothing or just a small fee. Safaris and major tourist attractions can be a little expensive for budget travellers, but offer an unforgettable trip experience.
• Many safaris and tours can be booked online instantly with Viator . Check the fine print on each tour, as often transport and park fees are included, making a tour better value and less hassle than going yourself.

• Cast & crew
• Episode aired Mar 19, 2018

The guides head to Sri Lanka, where they travel in a tuk tuk, taste what the local food scene has to offer, and take a trip to Ramboda Falls. After spending time in a Habarana village, they ... Read all The guides head to Sri Lanka, where they travel in a tuk tuk, taste what the local food scene has to offer, and take a trip to Ramboda Falls. After spending time in a Habarana village, they embark on an elephant safari. The guides head to Sri Lanka, where they travel in a tuk tuk, taste what the local food scene has to offer, and take a trip to Ramboda Falls. After spending time in a Habarana village, they embark on an elephant safari.

• Dorian Calleja
• Jonathan Fren
• Self - Narrator
• (uncredited)
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• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Sri Lanka travel guide: Everything to know before you go

B eaches, elephants, tea plantations, curries, sacred rituals, colourful ceremonies, and warmly welcoming people: Sri Lanka is south Asia in miniature. Hailed as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” and the “Teardrop of India ”, this ancient island nation has long been celebrated – and coveted – for its abundant landscapes, strategic significance, and rare beauty.

Thankfully, despite years of unrest and strife , Sri Lanka’s past is remarkably well preserved. From Victorian-era colonial clubs to centuries-old Buddhist temples, layer after layer of Sri Lankan history is within reach. Its natural heritage is rich, too. Ten national parks provide sanctuary for sloth bears to sambars, leopards to lorises, and of course plenty of elephants. For such a small island (roughly the size of Ireland), the diversity here is striking – you can climb mist-robed mountains, surf silvery shores, trek through abundant jungle, all in the same day.

Sri Lanka’s cities have that frenetic, cheerful chaos common to Asian cities, whether it’s Colombo ’s colonial grandeur or Kandy’s exalted lakeside lifestyle. Either way, the coast’s serenity is never far, with some of the finest beaches in the world ready to embrace you: champagne-coloured sand, palms in regal repose, and the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean.

Current travel restrictions and entry requirements

The Department of Immigration and Emmigration has introduced an online embarkation form , which will replace the paper embarkation card. Foreign nationals can complete the online form three days prior to arrival in Sri Lanka. The service is free of charge. All visitors are advised to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka; you can apply for on the ETA website. This can be done upon arrival, but it’s much simpler to do in advance.

All Covid-19 requirements have been lifted for entering Sri Lanka.

As entry requirements are liable to change, check before any travel for updates.

Best time to go

It depends on what you’re looking for. Thanks to its dual monsoon pattern, December-April tends to be best for beaches and wildlife excursions on the south and west of the island, while the dry months of May-September unlock access to the north and east.

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Each side has its pick of stunning locations, and if you want to see both (without getting drenched) then September-October and April are the shoulder seasons for you, offering cooler temperatures, fewer tourists and excellent hiking opportunities. April coincides with the local new tear celebrations, so be wary of increased congestion on the transport networks.

Top cities and regions

Kandy is Sri Lanka’s beating heart: Holy town, hilltop enclave, and spiritual centre. Sri Lanka’s ancient customs and natural beauty come together here, with temples, shrines and palaces reflected in the glassy surface of the lake, hugged by hills as green as any you’ll ever see. Take the Main Line train from Colombo, wind your way up the mountains, and enjoy one of the world’s most celebrated railway rides. Kandy is where Sri Lanka’s kings resided, and it’s easy to see why; today, the entirety of Kandy is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Despite the crowds, be sure to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, Sri Lanka’s greatest religious relic, and said to be from the Buddha’s own mouth. While you can’t see the tooth itself – only the case is on display – the temple itself is beautiful, with many chambers, galleries and artefacts. Go in the evening to witness the prayers and the candlelight. Further along the train line is Ella, where the British plantation owners once resided, and home to Ella Rock, whose summit is a challenging but reasonable hike (three–four hours).

Whitewashed, manicured, and orderly, Galle feels like a prestigious Mediterranean seaside resort. No wonder: it was founded by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch . Galle’s architecture and atmosphere have a distinctly European feel, from the prim and proper lighthouse to the austere Protestant churches. Gone are the laid-back surfer vibes of Weligama and Marisa, replaced by well-to-do couples, fashionable boutiques, and candlelit dinners.

Explore the well-preserved fort by daylight before taking a stroll down the tranquil lanes and avenues of the town itself. The seafood food is spectacular, the bars plentiful, and the nights balmy and untroubled. Just don’t expect much nightlife.

Crowded, frenetic, and choked up, Colombo used to be dismissed as merely the place from which to fly in and out. But Colombo has history, culture and excellent food.

If you’re keen on colonial history, the city boasts some of the best-preserved architecture from anywhere in the former British Empire. If not, there are plenty of temples, museums, and shrines besides. Hop on a tuk-tuk and explore an anthology of Sri Lanka’s past: the mind-melting stripes of Jami Ul-Alfar mosque; the statues of the Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist temple; and St Anthony’s Shrine, a Catholic church illuminated at night. Gathering these cultural riches is the Colombo National Museum, the biggest in Sri Lanka and featuring over 100,000 artefacts.

Anuradhapura and Sigiriya

The ancient city of Anuradhapura was abandoned in the 13th century, and was overgrown by jungle until the 19 th century. Since then, it has flourished as a site for both Buddhist pilgrims and tourists, who flock to see the shrines and relics. One of the most visited is a sacred pipal tree, planted in 245BC from a cutting of the Bo tree, under which it’s said the Buddha attained enlightenment. It’s recognised as the oldest cultivated tree in the world.

Even more iconic are the Dagobas, the wide-domed Buddhist temples that dominate the city. Ruwanwelisaya, the oldest and the grandest, can get crowded. Instead, go wherever the ceremonies are taking place. Outside of the city lies Mihintale, a hilltop where the first Buddhist monastery is said to have converted a Sri Lankan king and his hunting party. The view from the peak of the hills is spectacular, but go at sunrise rather than sunset, or prepare to huddle among couples.

Just over an hour away is Sigiriya, a rock formation featuring an ancient fortress. It’s another Unesco site, and possibly the single most popular attraction in the country. Although entry is a little pricey (£24 for foreign visitors), it’s worth it. You’ll see ancient frescoes, the centuries-old Mirror Wall, and the enormous – scarcely-believable – lion’s paws guarding the summit (the remains of what was originally a towering stone lion). It’s 350-odd metres to the summit, so wear your exercise gear and prepare to sweat.

Arugam Bay and Kumana National Park

Sri Lanka isn’t short of beaches. The crescent-moon sands of Arugam Bay are among the best. While Weligama, Mirissa, and Hikkaduwa have more of a party vibe, Arugam Bay’s tranquil beauty is better suited to relaxing. Pitched on the unspoilt east coast, the waves are best between May and October – when the rest of Sri Lanka is beset by monsoon rains and ocean currents. Arugam Bay’s thatched huts and sleepy shoreline is one of the finest places to get away from it all. The waves at Main Point are some of the best in Sri Lanka.

When you’re ready to explore again, hail a tuk-tuk and head to Kumana National Park. Unlike Yala, its famous neighbour, Kumana National Park retains much more of its wilderness – less zoo, more sanctuary. It’s especially good for bird spotting, with hundreds of species nesting there. A guide is included with entry, which means you can’t tour the park alone, but they’re such good spotters that it makes for a much better experience.

Best under-the-radar destinations

Until recently, the north of Sri Lanka was scarcely visited due to the 25-year civil war, with the Tamil-controlled northern regions engulfed in conflict. With the war long since over, travellers are returning to Jaffna, the biggest city in the north and previously completely inaccessible.

India is the cultural force here, not the Singhalese of Sri Lanka, and you immediately sense the difference. Language, food, atmosphere are all south Indian; Tamil rather than Sinhalese, masala dhosa rather than kottu roti , Shiva rather than Buddha. The biggest Hindu temple in Sri Lanka, Nallur Kandaswamy, is as vibrant and impressive as any in India, and if you’re hazy about the differences between Hinduism and Buddhism, exploring Nallur Kandaswamy after being in the south will sharpen you up.

Jaffna’s fort is smaller than Galle’s but is much less crowded, and especially beautiful at sunset. And fewer tourists means the locals are less accustomed to dealing with foreigners, though no less welcoming.

Wilpattu National Park

It’s Sri Lanka’s biggest national park , dominating the north-west coast, but Wilpattu has an undiscovered, secretive feel. While more popular national parks have “Disneyfied” the wildlife experience, with viewing stations, zoo-like enclosures, and money-making animal encounters, Wilpattu is wilderness proper.

If you want to pat an elephant and get a hundred likes for it, stick to Yala; if you want to lose yourself in dense woodland – quietly sighting a spotted deer, sloth bear or leopard – then Wilpattu is unsurpassed. Check into one of the forest lodges in the park, stick your jodhpurs on and experience a traditional safari game drive around the park.

Trincomalee

Given the sheer beauty of its glittering bay, it’s a wonder that Trincomalee isn’t better-known. Head over to the north-east coast and dip into a miniature world all of its own: tropical beaches bunched together like ripe fruit, shrines where the centuries peel away to reveal age-old rituals, and lagoon water as clear as crushed crystal. Half a dozen of Trincomalee’s beaches could make a strong claim for best on the island. Crack open a coconut, kick off your sandals, and luxuriate in the sunshine. When you’re ready to amble, there’s a colonial-era fort, historic temples, and rocky outcrops where you can spot blue whales.

Best things to do

Take the train deep into the tea plantations.

Whatever else you get up to in Sri Lanka, make absolutely sure that you take the Main Line train from Colombo to Kandy, and then from Kandy all the way to Ella. It takes eight hours or more, but this is one of those journeys that’s worth savouring. The train climbs inland from the coast, cutting through rock, farmland and jungle. You’ll travel across mountains veiled in mist, hillsides carpeted with tea leaves, and imposing brick-arched bridges from another era. If you fancy a cocktail and a party, stay on until at Ella; if you want a cup of tea and tranquillity, get off at Nuwara Eliyah.

Get a taste of surf culture

Surfing can be tough, physically draining, and utterly, blissfully exhausting. Getting on a board is daunting, especially when surrounded by confident surfers strutting about, so find a school that’s right for you. Although Weligama is the surf hotspot, there are less crowded (and much prettier) places to learn all along the south coast, such as Mirissa, Ahangama, or Unawatuna, which are also great for beginners.

While you can surf just for the day, it takes some getting used to, so if you have the time check into a surf camp for a few days. Plunging into the sea every morning, feeling the pump and force of the waves, and collapsing on the sands in happy fatigue afterwards is a rewarding, nourishing, and vital experience – especially if you combine it with some yoga. Plus, there is no appetite quite like the one worked up on a surfboard, so when you finally sit down for your coconut curry it’ll taste even better.

Get up close to wildlife

Many conservation projects in Sri Lanka are preserving wildlife sustainably while also giving you unparalleled access. Since the early 1990s, numbers of elephants, leopards, and other endangered species have risen considerably, and sustainable tourism has helped. The Smithsonian Primate Research Station, near Polonnaruwa, is the oldest of its kind in the world and Bundala’s flamingo-filled wetlands are a Unesco biosphere reserve. The safaris in the national parks – Wilpattu, Udawalawe, and Wasgamuwa – rival almost anything in Africa.

Read more on wildlife travel

Getting around

Travelling by train isn’t just convenient, it’s also a quintessential journey through Sri Lanka’s history and a window unto its landscapes. It’s also very cheap, with even longer journeys available for less than 2,000 rupees (around £5).

For short journeys, it has to be tuk-tuk. Individually decorated, stubbornly persistent and formidably cheap, travelling by tuk-tuk quickly becomes addictive. It’s not always comfortable, especially if you squeeze three or more into the backseat, but it’s a great way to chat to locals and get the wind in your hair. Agree the fee in advance, especially in tourist areas, but remember the country is suffering from a fuel crisis – if you can afford to fork out an extra hundred rupees, do it.

Otherwise, when you need that 6am ride to the airport or that drive down from the mountains to the coast, book a taxi. Many tuk-tuk drivers also have cars, so ask ahead about a taxi service. Roads are generally well maintained and safe, but driving can be erratic.

How to get there

Sri Lankan Airways offer direct flights between London and Colombo. Other airlines offer stopovers, often in Doha or Dubai .

Money-saving tip

Travel and food are cheap in Sri Lanka, but accommodation is comparatively expensive. Alcohol is pricey, too – this is a conservative island, and the drinking culture is much less raucous here than in the rest of south-east Asia. There’s no real hostel culture either, so the best value are the guesthouses, which are often family-run and very friendly. If you want the full-on luxury experience, Sri Lanka offers an enviable abundance of Western opulence – at Western prices, so book in advance.

Tipping isn’t expected, but haggling very much is. Friendly negotiation is part of the transaction here, so get stuck in.

What’s the weather like?

Thanks to its ocean winds, Sri Lanka is tropical and enjoyably warm most of the year round, with coastal temperatures averaging around 28C and upland areas averaging between 16-20C. The island experiences a dual monsoon, affecting one side of the island at a time. The south-western region and central highlands receive most of the island’s rainfall, whilst the north and the east experience a distinct dry season from May to September. Take a jacket – the evenings can get chilly.

What time zone is it in?

Sri Lanka Standard Time, GMT+5:30

What currency do I need?

The Sri Lankan rupee. You can’t get hold of these outside the country, so you’ll need to exchange or withdraw some after arrival. Exchanging at the airport will be more expensive, but it’s also a reliable 24/7 service and a good place to set yourself up for the next few days. Although card payments are growing increasingly popular, most small shops, local restaurants and markets still aren’t set up for it, so make sure you always have cash on you.

What language is spoken?

The primary language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala, although in the north Tamil is widely spoken. You’ll find English spoken by many, particularly as the language of commerce.

What plug sockets are used?

Types D and G. Plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern; type G is what is used in the UK.

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Where to See Leopards in Sri Lanka: A Guide for Wildlife Enthusiasts

• Updated on April 5, 2024
• Sri Lanka , wildlife

Sri Lanka, an island nation renowned for its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife, is one of the best places in the world to see leopards in the wild. These elusive big cats thrive in several national parks across the country, where they roam freely in their natural habitat. If you’re planning a wildlife adventure to Sri Lanka with the hope of spotting these magnificent creatures, here are three top destinations to consider.

Table of Contents

1. Yala National Park: A Leopard’s Paradise

Yala National Park , the most famous wildlife reserve in Sri Lanka , stands out as the premier destination for leopard sightings. Boasting one of the highest leopard densities globally, Yala offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to observe these animals, especially in Block 1, where they are most commonly seen. The park’s dry woodland and open grasslands provide the perfect backdrop for leopard spotting, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon when they are most active. Jeep safaris led by experienced guides enhance your chances of witnessing these big cats in their natural behavior, from hunting to lounging in the trees.

Location: Situated in the southeast region of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park borders the Indian Ocean and is approximately 260 kilometres from Colombo.

How to Reach: The most convenient way to reach Yala National Park is by road. From Colombo , you can take a bus or a taxi to Tissamaharama, the nearest town, and from there, hire a safari jeep to enter the park. Alternatively, for a quicker journey, domestic flights are available from Colombo to Hambantota , followed by a short drive to the park.

Best Time to Visit: The ideal time to visit Yala National Park for leopard sightings is during the dry season, from February to June. During this period, the animals are more likely to be spotted near water bodies, making sightings more common.

Where to Stay: Accommodation options near Yala range from luxury safari camps to budget guesthouses, mainly located in Tissamaharama and Kirinda. These offer various safari packages and amenities to suit different preferences and budgets.

2. Wilpattu National Park: Untouched Wilderness

Wilpattu National Park, characterized by its unique ‘willus’ (natural lakes), presents a more serene and less crowded alternative to Yala. It’s Sri Lanka’s largest national park and a fantastic place to see leopards in a more secluded setting. While the leopards in Wilpattu are somewhat more elusive, the thrill of spotting one amid the dense forest and along the water’s edges is unmatched. The park’s diverse habitats support a rich variety of wildlife, offering a holistic safari experience beyond leopards, including elephants, sloth bears, and numerous bird species.

Location: Wilpattu National Park is located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 180 kilometers north of Colombo, near the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

How to Reach: The park is accessible by road from Colombo or Anuradhapura. You can take a bus or drive to the park entrance. The closest town to the park is Puttalam, from where you can hire a vehicle to take you to Wilpattu.

Best Time to Visit: The best months for visiting Wilpattu are from February to October. During these months, the weather is drier, making it easier to spot wildlife as they gather around the remaining water sources.

Where to Stay: There are several accommodation options around Wilpattu National Park, including eco-lodges, camping sites, and guesthouses. These are typically situated near the park entrance, offering easy access for early morning safaris.

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3. Udawalawe National Park: Beyond Elephants

Though best known for its large elephant population, Udawalawe National Park is also a promising spot for leopard sightings. The park’s open savannah-like landscape allows for easier spotting of wildlife, and while leopards here are less numerous than in Yala or Wilpattu, they are indeed present. Visits at dawn or dusk can be particularly rewarding, with the bonus of encountering Udawalawe’s other wildlife, making it a comprehensive wildlife experience.

Location: Udawalawe National Park lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka’s Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, in the south-central sector of the island. It’s about 165 kilometers from Colombo.

How to Reach: The park is accessible by road from Colombo or the southern coast. Buses and taxis can take you to the nearby town of Embilipitiya, from where you can arrange a safari vehicle to enter the park.

Best Time to Visit: The best time for wildlife viewing in Udawalawe is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. This period offers the most reliable wildlife sightings, including leopards, as the animals frequent the waterholes.

Where to Stay: Near Udawalawe, there’s a range of accommodations, from budget-friendly guesthouses to upscale safari lodges. These establishments are mostly located around the park’s perimeter and often provide safari tour services to their guests.

Tips for Leopard Spotting in Sri Lanka: Practical Tips

1. choose the right time of day.

Leopards are most active during the cooler parts of the day, typically early in the morning and late in the afternoon towards dusk. Plan your safari drives around these times to increase your chances of sightings. Night safaris are not commonly offered due to conservation rules, so make the most of these peak hours.

2. Stay Quiet and Patient

Leopards are elusive and sensitive to noise. Keep quiet and minimize movement when on the lookout to avoid scaring them away. Patience is key; you might need to wait silently for a long time, but the reward of a sighting is well worth it.

3. Respect the Animals’ Space

Maintain a safe distance from the leopards and all wildlife. Encroaching too close can stress the animals, alter their natural behaviors, or provoke aggression. Follow the guidance of your safari guide to avoid any interference with the animals.

4. Hire an Experienced Guide

An experienced and knowledgeable guide can significantly increase your chances of leopard sightings. They know the park, the behavior of the leopards, and the most likely places for sightings. Additionally, they can share insights about the leopards and other wildlife, enriching your experience.

5. Use Binoculars and Cameras with Good Zoom

To observe leopards without disturbing them, bring binoculars and cameras with a good zoom lens. This way, you can see the details from a distance and capture the moment without needing to get too close.

6. Dress Appropriately

Wear clothing that blends with the environment; neutral colors like green, brown, and beige are ideal. This helps you stay unobtrusive and increases your chances of seeing wildlife. Also, be prepared for the park’s terrain and weather conditions by wearing comfortable, protective clothing and footwear.

7. Stay in the Vehicle

Except in designated areas, always stay inside your safari vehicle. Venturing out not only poses a risk to you and the animals but can also be against park regulations.

8. Go Off the Beaten Path

While the popular parks like Yala have high leopard densities, exploring less-visited parks like Wilpattu can offer a more secluded and equally rewarding experience. Sometimes, the path less taken leads to the most unforgettable encounters.

9. Respect the Environment

Keep the parks clean by taking all trash with you and not disturbing the natural habitat. The conservation of these areas is crucial for the survival of leopards and other wildlife.

10. Manage Your Expectations

Finally, remember that wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. Enjoy the overall experience of being in the wild and appreciate all forms of wildlife you encounter. Sometimes, the beauty of the search is just as rewarding as the sighting itself.

In Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity and commitment to conservation make it a haven for leopards and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re navigating the well-trodden paths of Yala, exploring the vast wilderness of Wilpattu, or enjoying the diverse landscapes of Udawalawe, the potential for leopard sightings is a thrilling prospect. Always remember to respect the natural environment and maintain a safe distance from all wildlife. With patience and a bit of luck, you’ll be rewarded with a glimpse of these majestic animals, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Further Reading:

• Sri Lanka’s Popular Places to See in May
• 10 Places to See in Sri Lanka in April
• Tourist Places to Visit in June in Sri Lanka
• Top 10 Destinations for Family Trip in Sri Lanka
• Attractions & Things to Do in Hikkaduwa
• Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka: Complete Guide
• Sri Lanka Visa for Indians: Travel Guide
• Visit to Sri Lanka in January for Best Places
• Top Places in Sri Lanka to Visit in February
• Sri Lanka Travel in March for Best Places
• 6 Places to See Sri Lanka in July
• Things to Do in Sri Lanka in August
• Places in Sri Lanka to See in October
• Sri Lanka Places to Visit in November
• Tourist Places in Sri Lanka to See in December

Tusk Travel Team

Tusk Travel is dedicated to delivering precise, genuine, and reliable travel guides through a dynamic team of writers, editors, and destination experts. We aim to provide comprehensive information in its simplest form, sharing insights to influence perspectives nationwide.

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