Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean, has a rich blend of cultures and influences. It was also an early center of Buddhism, and to this day, many pilgrims come to pay respect to Sri Lanka’s many temples such as tooth temple, while travelers enjoy the ancient art of Ayurvedic holistic healing. Thanks to its position in maritime trading routes which brought spices from Asia to Europe.
Sri Lanka has attracted foreign traders since ancient times-from the Arabs to the Romans, and colonists like the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the English whose churches, fortresses, and plantations are still existing today.
Here are a few practical tips from our Sri Lanka travel guide.
Travelers from most countries need a visa, but you can get it online for $35 and the application takes around five minutes. Don’t leave it till the last day. Give yourself a 48hrs minimum.
Sri Lanka is quite good value, budget travelers can get by $50 per day by taking local buses, trains and having simple meals like rice and curry which cost around $2 and $3 per meal, but we would like to recommend hiring a driver which makes it easier to travel in Sri Lanka, however it is going to cost you around $150-$200 per day/per person.
Traveling in Sri Lanka is often dictated by the monsoon. So if one side of the island is rainy, another part is dry. The best period to travel Sri Lanka is between December and April, where the rainy season is between May to August. Also, the weather between September and November is pretty good where you can often get 30% off at hotels.
Lastly here are a few things you should not forget to pack when you travel to Sri Lanka:
Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hats, and also ladies — do not forget your tampons because they are hard to get them here. The weather is quite warm here in Sri Lanka, so t-shirts, shorts for guys, light dresses for girls are recommended. Do like the locals and wear flip-flops which are perfect for the beach, temples, and even the rainstorm, but if you are planning on doing some hiking remember to bring some sturdy shoes.
Also, if you visit a temple try to be respectful to avoid offending locals and if you are a female try to cover your skin as much as possible. Cover your midriff and shoulders, wear pants down past your knees or wear an easy dress to throw on. And also, everyone has to take their shoes off when you enter a temple.
Men have to wear long pants as that is the normal dress code for the temple. Also, white is a good color to wear which is a sign of you are showing respect, but one of the biggest mistakes you could do to offend locals is to take a selfie with the Buddha Statue (Putting your back towards the Buddha is a big sign of disrespect. ) and any kind of imagery of the Lord Buddha, such as T-shirts, shorts, etc. don’t wear those. Even if you have a tattoo of the Buddha, unfortunately, that is a strike THREE and you are out.
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Here are some facts about Sri Lanka from our Sri Lanka travel guide:
- Size and location: Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is also known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean and it is a little smaller than Ireland in size.
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
- Politics: Sri Lanka got its freedom from Britain in 1948 and in 1972 they refused its name, Ceylon and changed it to Sri Lanka. The nation has had democracy since Independence Day, also one of the most interesting things is the 1st female prime minister in the world was elected in 1960.
- Religions: Theravada Buddhism is the main religion of Sri Lanka, with about 70.1% of the country’s population as followers. The other largest is the Tamils who are Hindu, there are Christians and Muslims as well.
- Health: Sri Lankan’s life expectancy is around 75 years. But unfortunately, the highest death rates from snakebites and suicide rates are from Sri Lanka.
- Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, and English are officially recognized languages.
- Education: Almost 94 percent of Sri Lanka has a literacy rate.
- Exports: Major exports of Sri Lanka are tea and clothing. Spices, coconuts, precious gems and Rubber are also one of their exports.
Here is a Sri Lanka itinerary 10 days which start from the capital of Sri Lanka (Colombo)
1. Day one of Sri Lanka tour package — Welcome to downtown Colombo. The first stop of your adventure is at the old Dutch hospital. It is the oldest building in all of Colombo, and it was originally a hospital for soldiers and officers from the Dutch East India Company. This entire area is known as Fort, because since the time of the Arabs in the 7th century the Portuguese, the British, and the Dutch have all used this place as a fort and a trading port. By the way do not forget to stop by one of the best restaurants in Colombo, known as the Ministry of Crabs, which has been ranked as one of the top 25 restaurants in all of Asia. After the lunch head on to Gangaramaya Temple, which is a Buddhist temple located in Colombo. This temple is very interesting because it mixes a lot of different Buddhist influences from around the Buddhist world. Gangaramaya temple is unique compared to other temples as it is kind of like a part museum, part school, and part temple. It is a must-visit place. Have a walk through the Pettah Market district, which is a bit busy all the time. Pettah is the main market center in Colombo, which is found next to the port. In Pettah you have mosques, temples (both Hindu and Buddhist). Red Mosque is found in Pettah, and it is the largest mosque in Sri Lanka. The building was built in 1908. There is around 8% of the population here in Sri Lanka that is Islamic.
Day 2: Today it’s time to leave the city and move to the cultural triangle, where you will go on a safari to meet Sri Lanka’s most magical, mythical animals, the Elephant. But before you do that, you are going to check out what life is like here in rural Sri Lanka. You are going to do a little Village tour and get some food from a local family, afterward, it is going to be the Safari time in Kaudulla National Park. Here in Kaudulla National Park, you could see the Gathering, which is one of Asia’s largest wildlife spectacles. Going on Safari in Sri Lanka is in many ways superior to doing it in East Africa. If we talk about Elephants, they have been super important in Sri Lanka culture. During the time of the Sinhalese kings, it was prohibited for any citizen to hurt, kill or enslave these animals. They were used by the kings for transportation and even for executing prisoners.
Day 3 — So, we are still here at the cultural triangle, and we are about to visit the Sigiriya one of the oldest sites in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is also known as the Lion Fortress, one of the most iconic places in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which cropping that dominates the entire landscape with its height of 200 m. Top of Sigiriya is what makes it unique from other sites as it got mysterious ruins. Visit Sigiriya to find more about it.
Day 4 — The next spot you are heading onto is Anuradhapura, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it was the first capital of Sri Lanka. It plays a huge role in the story of Sri Lanka, and if we are going back to the history of Sri Lanka, this beautiful island was founded by Indo-Aryans from Northern India in the 5th century BC and what’s more interesting in this story is that they were led by an exiled Indian prince who arrived here in the same day that the Buddha gained Enlightenment. Within 100 years, they found Anuradhapura which became into a kingdom and the heart of Sri Lanka for over 1000 years. Day 5 – Today is the day you leave the cultural triangle and move to the heart of Sri Lanka, It is Kandy which is considered the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. On our way, we will stop by spice garden, where you’ll gain a little knowledge about the relationship that Sri Lanka has with spices. The climate of Sri Lanka is the homeland of many of its spices including cinnamon. Sri Lanka is also the exporter of over 90% of the world’s cinnamon. Our next stop will be at tooth temple, which houses the relic tooth of Lord Buddha, and it is the place where all the Buddhist teachings are held ” considered extremely holy among Buddhists. “ It is been in this place for more than 300 years, and the sacred tooth temple is one of the most important religious sites in Sri Lanka. Day 6 – Here we come to our 6th day. We have completed half of Sri Lanka itinerary 10 days, which is going to be an extremely beautiful day as you are heading to Nuwara Eliya on one of the world’s most scenic train rides. It takes approximately 3 hours to arrive at Nuwara Eliya, and this train goes through the hill country, which is where they grow tea in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is also known as “Little England” as you can see it from the red post box, and post office. One of the other reasons to call Nuwara Eliya as “Little England” is that you will find a replica of a British Village at the foot of Sri Lanka’s largest mountain (Pidurutalagala). Nuwara Eliya is famous because of its tea, this is the tea region in Sri Lanka. Tea in Sri Lanka is very popular in other countries by the word “Ceylon Tea”, and Nuwara Eliya is the home of Ceylon Tea. Day 7 – Today is day 7, and here we are in the south of the hill country which is Ella. The city of backpackers. Take on your boots and get ready for a hike in “Mini Adam’s Peak”, afterward let us visit a 500 m waterfall which is called Diyaluma Falls. One of the breathtaking locations in Sri Lanka. Day 8 – Travel to Tissamaharama, another place for a safari which is located in South East of Sri Lanka, and it is Yala National Park, the second largest National Park in Sri Lanka. It is also the highest leopard density in the world. Travel Sri Lanka to explore the stunning nature. Day 9 – You have been on an elephant safari, climbed the Sigiriya rock fortress, taking a scenic train ride and have been doing a lot for these 8 days, but today here we are at the coastal line of Sri Lanka’s surf town “Mirissa”. Mirissa is located in Southwest of Sri Lanka, it is one of the best places for surfing. You could also do Mirissa whale watching, scuba diving and many activities here. Also do not forget to visit the beautiful town “Galle”, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the best-preserved forts in Asia. It was built in 1589, by the Portuguese who traveled Sri Lanka for one thing, which is cinnamon. Portuguese were later kicked away by Dutch, who built most of the fortifications that you see here in Sri Lanka today. Galle Fort is not anymore a military fort, it is converted for tourism such as hotels, restaurants or shopping, but it still stands the test of time, and even weathered the 2004 Tsunami. Day 10 – After spending a great time in Sri Lanka, you’ll have come to the end of the Sri Lanka itinerary 10 days, but it is not the last time you visit Sri Lanka. We are here to welcome you always with our great hospitality. Please feel free to share our Sri Lanka travel guide with your travel buddies. Ready to book your Sri Lanka tour package? Write Us for a customized Sri Lanka tour package.
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