TRAVEL TIPS TO VISIT SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is the most beautiful island in the Indian Ocean called as tourist’s paradise, is a splendid Island of waterfalls, rainforest, diverse wildlife and endless beaches. It’s famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, including the 5th-century citadel Sigiriya, with its palace and frescoes, and the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Its flavorful cuisine reflects its history as maritime hub and cultural melting pot.

Whenever you visit Sri Lanka these tips will help you a lot.
When to Visit

The peak season is between December to March as many European travelers prefer the warm sunshine and the golden beaches of Sri Lanka. Apart from this period, the months of July & August could be also considered a peak period in Kandy due to the famous “Esala Perahera” which is a must to see for all travelers.

However, Sri Lanka has no off season per as clear blue skied bright sunny days are the general rule even during the wet season.

Visa & Customs

When you need to obtain a Sri Lanka visit visa, this won’t be a huge problem as many nationals are granted a visit visa on arrival valid for 30 days.

However, please visit Sri Lanka Immigration for more information and to check if you are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival.

Visitors to Sri Lanka bringing in more than US$10,000 should declare the amount to the Customs on arrival. You may be required to open your baggage for inspection when your departure to Refrain from carrying prohibited or restricted goods. Certain types of animal products, antiques and gold are not allowed to be taken out of the country.

Please visit for more information: Sri Lanka Customs

Time

Sri Lanka Standard Time is five and a half hours ahead of GMT.

Currency/Money Exchange

The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee. Currency notes are in 10s, 20s, 50s, 100s, 200s, 500s, 1000s,2000s and 5000s. Make sure you have plenty of lower denomination notes (Rs50, Rs100, Rs500), especially when travelling and you need to buy small items, fruit, and eat cheap meals, because change is often hard to come by apart from at hotels and big shops. 

Foreign currency and Traveller’s Cheques may be changed at any hotel, although commercial banks offer better rates. Converting Sri Lankan rupees back to a selected foreign denomination could be done at the airport bank which is open 24 hours of the day. Please retain your money changing receipts.

Credit Cards

Most hotels, restaurants and shopping centers accept most international credit cards. No surcharge is required for their use. Cash advances may be acquired against credit cards at certain bank ATMs. Most widely accepted cards are American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

Banks are generally open from 9.00am to 1.00pm from Monday to Friday. Some city banks close at 3.00pm, while others offer night banking facilities and some are open on Saturday mornings. Generally banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, all public holidays. ATMs are most found adjoining bank branches island-wide. 

Shops

Most shops open at 10.00am and close at 6.00pm. Shops are usually closed on Sundays and Full moon (Poya) days. 24 hour/7days open shops are located in most of City areas. Please note that the full moon poya day has religious significance for Buddhists and alcohol is not served in hotels, bars and public recreational areas on this day.

Where to Stay

Usually all visitors to Sri Lanka travel by air; flights arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport, 35 km north of Colombo, and 6 km of Negombo. Sri Lanka has an excellent range of accommodation facilities to suit all budgets from luxury hotels to low budget accommodations.

You will find best Hotels in Colombo in Here: Hotels in Colombo

It is common that most popular hotels are overbooked due to the limited room inventory in the country.

Therefore, it is advisable to book in advance if you are planning a trip during the peak season.

Food & Drinks

Your hotel will provide you safe and high quality food. Sri Lankan ‘Ceylon’ tea is prepared as in the West and coffee too. There are a huge variety of bottled soft drinks, including well-known international brands. Thambili ( king coconut water )is a safe and refreshing option. Local beer and spirits are widely available. Drink plenty of water during the day to avoid dehydration.

 Water

Tap water is not safe to drink, Filtered, mineral and bottled drinking water is available at most retail shops. There are now many brands available, mostly using spring water from the highlands of the island.

   Transport

There are various modes of travel that can be used Public transport like local buses, trains , AC buses . For buses and trains the rates are fixed and you can travel around easily. Also you can use Budget taxi, Three-Wheeler (tuk-tuk) for a reasonable rate.

you can use private vehicle with a driver or without driver. But Its best to leave any driving in the hands of experts.For short trips, hotels can arrange a car and driver between two points but for a longer stay it is better to engage the services of a driver who will travel with you.

Health & Medical Facilities

Before you visit Sri Lanka it is advisable to take the following vaccinations, particularly if you plan a long trip or intend visiting remote areas unless you are coming from a yellow fever or cholera area. (Cholera is not considered a serious risk in Sri lanka.):
Typhoid (monovalent), Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies

In addition children should be protected against:
diphtheria, whooping cough, mumps, measles, rubella
The risk of malaria exists throughout the whole country apart from the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya. Once again, vaccinations are essential. Minor health problems can always be treated by doctors with practices in the resorts and elsewhere in the country.

Electricity

220 Volts/50 Hz Ac. If you travel with a laptop computer bring a stabilizer. Two and three pin plugs are used mostly.

Language & Communication 

Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages in Sri Lanka. Most people have some knowledge of English, and signboards are often in English.

International Direct Dialling (IDD), facilities are available at all city hotels, resorts, post offices and telecommunication centers. Also Free internet and Wifi facilities are available at most public places in city areas.

Places to visit

·         Colombo- Bustling port with colonial history

·         Kandy- (Tooth Temple, Elephants, Botanical Garden)

·         Nuwara Eliya- (Waterfalls, Gardens, Golf)

·         Yala National Park-(Safaris, parks, leopards, camping,Elephants, wild life)

·         Negambo-(Beaches, Lagoon, Canals, Nightlife, Scuba diving)

·         Bentota- (Beach, Surface water sports, turtles, surfing, seafood)

·         Hikkaduwa-(Beach, Surfing, Scuba diving, turtles, nightlife)

·         Dambulla(Golden Temple, caves, Elephants)

·         Trincomalee/ Batticloa -(Beaches, Seaside resorts, temple, scuba diving, whales)

·         Minnerya national Park-( Safaris, parks, leopards,Elephants, wild life)

·         Jaffna-(Temple, Clock Tower, Beaches)

·         Unawatuna-(Beaches, Kingfisher, Gardens, scuba diving)

·         Polonnaruwa-(Temple, History, palace, architecture )

·         Anuradhapura(Temple, History, Buddhism, Ancient Heritage)

·         Kalutara-(Beaches, Temple), Beruwala-(Beaches)

·         Udawalawa National Park-( Safaris, parks, leopards, camping,Elephants)

·         Habarana(Elephants, Safaris, Parks, Temple)

·         Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia(Zoos, Beaches, Nightlife)

·         Wilpattu Natinal park(Safaris, parks, leopards, camping, safari lodge)

·         Kalpitiya ( Kite surfing, Dolphins, Beach, Whale watching, wind surfing)

·         Badulla/Bandarawela-(Waterfalls, History, Backpacking, Temple, Nature)

·         Horton Plains(Backpacking, Leopords, Hiking, Parks, waterfalls)

·         Ratnapura(Museums, Mining, Architecture, Gems)

·         Kitulgala-(Rafting, adventure, rivers,forests, bird watching)

·         Sinharaja Forest Reserve-(Rainforest, safaris, reptiles,camping)

      Weather in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a year round destination with an abundance of sunshine all year round. The average temperature is around 27°C – 30°C in most parts of island. The temperature gradually drops as the land rises towards the hill country, with some parts of the highland as low as below 10°C. The island has two wet monsoon seasons; briefly between May and July in the south-west region and between December and January in the north-east.

What to wear

Sri Lanka is a tropical country and cotton clothes are the most ideal to wear and of course your bathing suits are a must if you are visiting the beaches. but you will need light woollens for the hills and waterproof clothing or an umbrella.

Modest dress for women is advisable especially when visiting the cultural and religious sites.

Photography

Sri Lanka is a photographer’s delight. However, permits are required before you can take photos at certain sites. There are some important restrictions that apply to photography regarding Buddhist imagery. When you visit a temple or other religious site, remember that photography should not be carried out in a manner causing disrespect. For instance, it is strictly forbidden to be photographed in front of or beside any statues and murals. Note that flash photography can damage old murals.
Tourists who wish to visit and or photograph the principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka are required to purchase a ticket from the Central Cultural Fund

Public & Safety

You may sometimes be overwhelmed by crowds of people in public places (railway stations, markets, bus stands, temples or simply busy streets). Some people will try to show you a hotel and sell you things. Taxis and three - wheelers are often there when you do not need them.

In general the threats to personal security for travelers in Sri Lanka are less concern. Therefore it is advised not to travel alone especially after dark. The island including the North and East is safe to visit. If you have anything stolen, report it to the tourist Police, Contact tel Number + 94 11 2382209