For your first Sri Lanka trip, 8 to 11 days are suggested to cover most of the popular tourist cities, such as Colombo, Negombo, Kandy, Sigiriya, Galle, Nuwara Eliya. You can visit the Sigiriya Lion Rock, Temple of Tooth Relic, Horton Plains National Park, Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya (Dambulla Cave Temple), Spice Garden, Yala National Park, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Mackwoods Tea Factory, etc. If you have more days, your tour can be extended to Trincomalee, Mirissa, Bentota, etc.
When is the Best Time for Tours to Sri Lanka?
Generally, December to March is the best time for tours to Sri Lanka, as the weather is comfortable with little rain and moderate temperature. Christmas is a good choice and many Europeans would go there to spend their winters.
There are only dry season and wet season in the country. The heavy rain might come only in May and part time of November. The annual average temperature is 85℉(30℃), so it is necessary to bring the sunscreen and mosquito-repellent perfume during your trip. However, try to keep warm and bring clothes like sweaters and down jackets in the mountainous regions because the weather differs sharply between day and night there.
Do I Need a Visa to Sri Lanka?
Generally speaking, clients traveling to Sri Lanka should apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) online in advance. After arrival at the port of entry, you will get a visa of 30 days. Sometimes, visa requirements differ for specific countries, you might contact your local consulate/embassy for the latest information.
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Main Line Rail Road in Sri Lanka
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Horton Plains National Park
How to Get to and Travel Around Sri Lanka?
At present, there is only one international airport in Sri Lanka, named the Bandaranaike International Airport, which is around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the capital city of Colombo and takes 40 minutes by car. Tourists can arrive in Sri Lanka from cities of many countries like Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai, London, Melbourne, etc.
The main transportation tools in Sri Lanka include coaches, cars, trains, taxis and TukTuk (three-wheeler).
• The coach is popular in most cities and towns. It is crowded though cheap.
• To rent a car is the most suggested choice. It is flexible and most efficient.
• The railway network centered on Colombo has been built increasingly perfect. Trains except the third-class carriages are more comfortable than coaches. It has been a must during Sri Lanka travel, especially the travel to tea gardens and the coast.
• The taxi is common, no matter what size the town is in Sri Lanka. It is a wiser choice than TukTuk for visitors if the distance is long.
• TukTuk is ubiquitous in Sri Lanka. Make an agreement on the price with the diver before getting on, and try to bargain.
In our guided Sri Lanka tours, you will enjoy services of English speaking driver guide with a comfortable air-conditioned car. The driver guide will handle everything on tours for you.
Sri Lanka is a country where most people believe in Buddhism. In this aspect, it is essential to respect and not kill animals, particularly crows. Try to have their taboos in mind before visiting temples: keep quiet, take photos after permission, do not touch the Buddharupa and do not use the left hand during communication. When entering the temples, visitors must take off shoes and hat. So for convenience, you are suggested to wear sandals or slippers. Besides, men cannot wear shorts and women cannot wear short skirts and suspenders. Moreover, local people focus on the environment protection, so the environmental awareness is necessary.
Read more on
Sri Lanka Travel Guide.
