Sri Lanka was on our bucket list for a long time. Every time we used to plan, some or other things kept us postponing our trip. Finally, we could make it happen in August 2023. We were over the moon when we booked our flight tickets less than two weeks before our departure.
Guess what! We have got some excellent news for you.
We will be sharing the necessary hacks you need to know before you land your foot in this beautiful island country.
Let’s begin…………..
Best time to visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons:
1. From May to September, affecting the South Western Region.
The South Western Region includes areas such as Colombo, Galle, Bentota, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Yala National Park.
2. From November to February, affecting the North Eastern Region.
The North Eastern Region includes areas such as Trincomalee, Arugum Bay, Jaffna, Mannar, Ampara and Anuradhapura.
Plan accordingly based on your season of travel.
Things to carry in your backpack
- Cotton or linen clothes that are light and breathable.
- Walking/hiking shoes.
- Umbrella or rain jacket.
- Sunscreen lotion with high SPF.
- First aid kit with essential medicines.
- Reusable water bottle.
- Light snacks.
- Travel adapter (Type D/G for Sri Lankan power outlets).
- Insects/mosquito repellant.
- Sarong/scarf for covering in case of visiting temples.
- Power bank
- Travel map in case of low network coverage area.
Visa for Foreigners
Sri Lankan government issues ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for all foreigners. There is a separate fee for SAARC citizens and other countries. This is a simple process that you can apply through their website: https://www.eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/etaNavServ
It hardly takes two working days to get the confirmation in your email.
Travel Insurance
Though travel insurance is not mandatory to enter Sri Lanka. It is highly recommended to get one as it provides coverage in case of unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, baggage loss, trip cancellation, etc.
There are many online options available to choose from. Most of them are pretty affordable. You can check out various options at Policy Bazaar. We have taken Care Health Insurance, which was sufficient as per our requirement.
Things to keep in mind before you book your Stay
We were more inclined towards a budget trip, so we have chosen the stay options accordingly.
- Check out the stay options, which provide complimentary breakfast, as it saves you a lot.
- Do not forget to check out the distance of your hotel from the main tourist attractions and the city centre, of course.
- Staying in hostels can save you a penny if you travel solo.
- Look out for the food options nearby; otherwise, you may need to travel to the town area for your meals.
Food Options
Sri Lanka is a country famous for its spices. So be prepared to taste some Sri Lankan spicy delicacies. If you are not accustomed to having spicy food, you can request to reduce the level of spiciness.
Popular dishes include hoppers, kottu roti, rice with curry, seafood, paratha, coconut chutney, etc.
Deserts such as Kiri Alua, Kithul Hakuru and the most famous and not to be missed Tea Cake (you can only get it in a tea factory).
For tea lovers, this place is heaven. Sri Lanka is famous worldwide for its Ceylon Tea.
Local Transport
Sri Lanka has a wide range of transport options. A wide variety of public transport options are available, ranging from buses that are most common, then trains passing through the scenic routes and the colourful tuk-tuks (autorickshaws).
Also one can rent bike/scooter which can start from around 700 INR per day.
You can book cabs through the Pickme App.
Currency and Sim Card
The island country’s official currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). You can exchange your foreign currencies, such as US Dollar, Euro, Pound, Indian Rupee, etc., at any money exchanger.
Avoid currency conversion at the airport as they do not provide good rates. If required, convert a small amount to fulfil your immediate needs.
Three sim card counters (Airtel, Dialog and SLTMobitel) are available at the arrival hall’s exit.
Budget breakup for the Trip
Stay options: Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella
We randomly chose to stay at Vajira Road in Colombo. One could get a decent stay which would cost around 500 – 1000 INR per person/night. In Dambulla, as we wanted to experience something different this time, so went for a homestay which really gave us the homely vibes. The host was so warm and welcoming. It cost us around 800- 1000 INR per person/night. In Kandy, we opted to stay near to Kandy Lake. The stay options in and around Kandy Lake would cost around 800 – 1500 INR per person/night. Nuwara Eliya also has many homestay as well as hotel options. There are many hotels which provide the serene view of this mountainous town and also within budget which can start from approx 700 INR per person/night. In Ella also, you could get various hostel options starting from approx 400 INR per person/night.
Food: Average meal cost for local delicacies can cost around 300 – 800 INR per person. For more details on must have in local delicacies , refer to Food Options section above.
This trip cost us around 50000/- INR per person for 6 days 5 nights.
Places we chose to explore during our trip
1. Gangaramaya Temple (Colombo)
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2. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Sigiriya Rock
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3. Dambulla Cave Temple and Kandy Attractions
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4. Nuwara Eliya Attractions
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5. Moon Plains & Gregory Lake (Nuwara Eliya) and Ella Attractions
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6. Colombo City Tour
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7. What kind of help are we going to provide?
Let us inform you that we prepare itineraries not only for anywhere in India but also for Asia. We have been travelling since we were toddlers. So here in our blogs and stories, we will give you a glimpse of our journey and help you plan your trip.
Read about our Uzbekistan blogs.
Read about our Kazakhstan blogs.
Read about our Singapore blogs.
Read about our Vietnam blogs.
Read about our Cambodia blogs.
Read about our Bali blogs.
Read about our Kuala Lumpur blog series.
Read about our Sri Lanka blogs.
Read about our Nepal blogs.
Read about our Char Dham blogs.
Read about our Ladakh blogs.
Read about our day trip to Hyderabad.
Read about our Madhya Pradesh blogs.
Read about our Andaman and Nicobar blogs.
Do follow our Instagram handle @mindfulllofvacations and watch for the next destination story of Sri Lanka. For any query related to any trip, drop a mail at @mitkau007@gmail.com.
by mitkau