best travel guide book sri lanka

21 Books on Sri Lanka That’ll Spark Your Wanderlust

by Julie Dec 13, 2022 Books

Looking for a book or two about Sri Lanka?

Planning a trip to the country and want to know something about it before you go?

Or just want to know more about its history?

Here is a list of 21 books on Sri Lanka. I have read all of them. Some, I adored. Others I liked, and only a small number, I wasn’t as fond of. I’ll tell you which ones to pick up and which ones to skip.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop.org Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Please see this website's  Disclosure for more info.

I’m ashamed to admit this:

Before I read the first page of the first book I ever read on Sri Lanka, I knew almost nothing about the country. I knew there had been a civil war and I knew a church had been blown up a year or two earlier. I’d heard something about tigers and tea plantations. But that’s about it.

I had never even really had an interest in visiting the country.

But then I was stuck at home during the pandemic, wishing I could be somewhere else when I came across a travel blog about Sri Lanka.

I was intrigued.

So, I picked up a book about Sri Lanka and then another and another.

And before I knew it, I was hooked, and I wanted to know more about the country.

I read 20 books about Sri Lanka, and I even planned out my itinerary for when I could visit once the pandemic was over.

That was 2020.

It’s now 2022, and I’m updating this post to add the Booker Prize-winning book, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida , to this list, and wishing I could visit.

Despite all my planning, I haven’t made it to Sri Lanka.

Instead, I ended up going to Mexico. Fell in love with that country. Made it through Central America, and then headed back to Mexico. All in about 18 months.

Hopefully, I’ll make it to Sri Lanka after I end my journey through South America in 2023.

In the meantime, here is an updated list of the best books on Sri Lanka—I have read (as of December 2022). I’m sure there are more out there. If you know of any not on the list, let me know in the comments below.

Table of Contents

5 out of 5 Stars

• This Divided Island
• Island of a Thousand Mirrors
• Noontide Toll: Stories
• The Seasons of Trouble
• The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

4 out of 5 Stars

• Anil’s Ghost
• Cinnamon Gardens
• Elephant Complex
• On Sal Mal Lane
• The Road from Elephant Pass
• The Teardrop Island
• What Lies Between Us

3 out of 5 Stars

• Running in the Family
• The Tea Planter’s Wife
• The Village in the Jungle

2 out of 5 Stars

• Trouble in Nuala

Non-Fiction Books on Sri Lanka

Start your reading of books on Sri Lanka here with my list of non-fiction books. By beginning here, you’ll get some background knowledge on the history of Sri Lanka especially covering the events since independence from the British. It’ll make it easier to understand the novels on Sri Lanka.

Wanna Get FREE Books?

You can get 2 FREE books by joining Amazon Audible  with a FREE trial for 30 days . It's a great way to listen to books while going for a walk or going to the gym. Even if you've tried the FREE trial once and not continued after the first month, you can try again the following year.

1. The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers

By gordon weiss (2012), my rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

“The stage was set for a nation that in the achivement of its own identity and independence in 1948 saw denial of the identity of others in their midst–Tamils, Muslims, Christians–as their right.”

I was a bit hesitant about reading The Cage as it got mixed reviews. However, I’m really glad I did . It helped me a lot in understanding two important aspects of the war: (1) what led to the civil war and (2) what happened during the closing days of the war from the perspective of aid workers on the ground. Did the Sri Lankan government purposely kill civilians? Did the Tamil Tigers purposely put civilians in harm’s way?

It’s not an easy book to get through as the writing is quite dry. Unlike This Divided Nation and Seasons of Trouble that were more anecdotal and that looked at the war from the point of view of the average person, The Cage is a straightforward, factual account looking at the war from those in charge : the government, the Tamil Tigers, the United Nations, and the Red Cross.

There were two highlights for me: One was the first third of the book where Weiss was laying out the root causes of the war. It was fascinating to learn how Buddhism in Sri Lanka developed into an extremist and racist religion .

The other highlight was reading the account of the war from the perspective of the United Nations commander who was delivering relief supplies to the refugees as bombs were raining down on him and his staff. It had me on the edge of my seat.  

A very good book on Sri Lanka!

2. This Divided Island: Life, Death, and the Sri Lankan Civil War

By samanth subramian (2015), my rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

“Shrink the humanity of your enemy, and the fighting must seem easier, more just, less complicated. Warfare consists of several psychological tricks, not least the ones you play upon yourself.”

If you’re looking to read just one non-fiction book on Sri Lanka, make it This Divided Island —part travelogue and part oral history on life after the civil war. Easy-to-read and hard-to-put-down. One of my top 2 favorite books on Sri Lanka!

Indian journalist, Samanth Subramanian moves to Sri Lankan in 2011 and travels around the country talking to a cross-section of Sri Lankan society to get their take on the war and the peace. He meets with the wife of a journalist who disappeared (probably killed by the government), wives, fathers, mothers of Tamils who also had disappeared, a Sinhalese academic researching “Urban Buddhism”, right-wing Buddhist monks, and many more. What was so impressive is how Subramanian gets these people to trust him and open up to him to tell him their stories.

This Divided Island is a brilliant work of investigative journalism . It’s insightful, riveting, and heartbreaking.

The writing is superb— empathetic and engaging , not dry like a lot of non-fiction books.

3. Elephant Complex: Travels in Sri Lanka

By john gimlette (2016).

“Until Sri Lanka, the world had never seen the suicide bomb, but by the early nineties they were moving quietly through the Colombo crowds.”

Elephant Complex was unlucky for me in that it was the first book about Sri Lanka that I read. Not knowing much about the country beyond a Wikipedia entry, I had a hard time understanding what the author was talking about. Gimlette tends to just jump into events without providing any background information. At first, I found it frustrating, and I struggled to keep my focus on the page.

The book is part travelogue and part history. I did enjoy how he organized the book . It’s part travelogue and part history. His travel route follows the history of Sri Lanka. He begins by visiting the ancient cities of Sri Lanka (Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, and Sigiriya) and ends in the northeast where the civil war ended in 2009 before heading back to Colombo. As a history lover, I like how he did that.

However, I appreciate the book for what I learned about Sri Lanka and for how much it inspired me to visit and read more about the country. There’s a lot here on elephants (never knew how dangerous they could be), the ancient cities of Sri Lanka , and the events leading up to and during the civil war.

One big negative for me was that Gimlette didn’t make enough connections with Sri Lankans like Subramian, Mohan, and even Briggs did in their books. He should have traveled by public transportation, learned some Tamil, and spent more time in the country.

This travelogue is a great book if you love books on travel and history. I recommend it but perhaps not read it as your introduction to Sri Lanka.

MORE BOOKS FOR THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELER:

• Books on Indonesia
• Books on Korea
• Books on Thailand

4. Running in the Family 

By michael ondaatje (2011), my rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

“But nothing is said of the closeness between two people: how they grew in the shade of each other’s presence. No one speaks of that exchange of gift and character — the way a person took on and recognized in himself the smile of a lover. Individuals are seen only in the context of these swirling social tides.”

Written by Michael Ondaatje, Running in the Family is a collection of musings, poems, stories about his eccentric family, and sprinkles of culture and history on Sri Lanka . There are some chapters that are just streams of consciousness. The chapters have no connection with each other. Some are dull, while others were fascinating.

I like the stories of Ondaatje’s family —the alcoholic father and the family home that is infested with cobras (I hate snakes). I think the family is part Dutch and part Sinhalese, but it wasn’t clear how the family tree came about. It’s a slightly dysfunctional family with lots of madness and alcoholism, but it’s also a large one with a long, grand history. I sort of envy the latter.

I also like the parts about the Insurgency of 1971 —how the government imprisoned the insurgents in a local high school. Afterward, when the student returned, they “found hundreds of poems written on walls, ceilings, and in hidden corners of the campus.”

I think if you’re a big Michael Ondaatje fan, then you might enjoy Running in the Family . I didn’t like enough of it to finish.

5. The Seasons of Trouble: Life Amid the Ruins of Sri Lanka’s Civil War

By romini mohan (2015).

“Even in pre-independence Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was once known, school and college enrolment among Tamils exceeded that of other ethnicities in the country. Gradually, differences in educational attainment came to form the identities of the Tamil and Sinhalese communities, which grew into separate ethnic blocs, each of which considered itself wronged by the other.”

Before I give you a summary and review of Seasons of Trouble , let’s talk about the cover of Seasons of Trouble. This has got to be the butt-ugliest book cover I’ve ever seen. I was so turned off by the cover that I almost didn’t read it.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, let me tell you what I think of what’s inside the book:

Seasons of Trouble – one of my top 2 favorite books on Sri Lanka . Wow! I mean, really. Wow! Could not put it down. It reads more like a novel than a work of non-fiction. The investigative journalism is the best I’ve seen. Heartbreaking, insightful, riveting . Need I say more?

Rohini Mohan travels around the world including a year living in Sri Lanka interviewing hundreds of regular Tamil Sri Lankans about what happened during and after the war. The book, though, just covers the stories of 3 people.

Mugil: At the age of 14, Mugil becomes a Tamil Tiger. She kills her first human being at the age of 14 . Shoots him point-blank right in the forehead as he pleads for his life. She then goes on to shoot the next soldier and the next.

Sarva:  Sarva is picked up on the street by the anti-terrorism unit and brought to a secret place where he is tortured in unspeakable ways (wait until you get to the ending when he tells you what was really done to him—I had tears running down my face!) getting him to confess that he was a Tamil Tiger.

Indra: Indra is Sarva’s mother. There is some iron will in this woman that drives her for over five years to find, save, and protect her son. She works relentlessly with NGOs, corrupt government officers, the police, and human traffickers while the people around her have already given up.

Like I said, Seasons of Trouble is a remarkable and unforgettable book . It’s a book that will keep you reading late into the night. It’s also one of the best books to help you understand what it was like for Tamil civilians to be caught in the middle between the Tamil Tigers and the army during the last days of the civil war, how the Sri Lankan government harasses and tortures Tamils, and how the Tamil Tigers recruit child soldiers.

6. The Teardrop Island: Following Victorian Footsteps Across Sri Lanka

By cherry briggs (2013).

‘We were once called “the Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, but what do they say about us now?’ He looked at the map and began to trace the route Tennent had taken across the island. ‘It would be interesting to follow his route now and see how much has changed,’ he said thoughtfully, moving his finger along the coastline and deep into the jungle interior. ‘We think we have changed so much, but I expect in many ways we have not changed at all.’

Don’t you love it when a book exceeds expectations ? Based on the not-so-positive reviews on Goodreads, I wasn’t even going to read The Teardrop Island. However, it turned out to be one of my favorite books on Sri Lanka.

It’s a couple of years after the end of the civil war. Cherry Briggs, a British teacher teaching in Sri Lanka, comes across a 1000-page travel book on Sri Lanka by Irishman, Sir James Emerson Tennent, who was the colonial secretary in the country in the mid-1800s. Not having learned much about Sri Lanka in her year of living there, Briggs decides to retrace Tennent’s travels around Sri Lanka and then write a book about it as well. She goes to Colombo, Galle, the tea plantations, the beaches along the west coast, Batticaloa and Trincamola, Jaffna , the ancient cities, and Mannar .

I think I liked Teardrop Island so much because I could relate to the writer —a teacher and a female traveler going solo around Sri Lanka on broken-down buses, talking to locals, and visiting the touristy and not-so-touristy sights. It gave me the courage and motivation to do the same.

It was also refreshing reading a book that wasn’t ONLY about the war . She talks also about some fascinating Sri Lankan customs and traditions that I didn’t know about before.

By Sonali Deraniyagala (2013)

“I will kill myself soon. But until then how do l tame my pain?”

Looking for that perfect gift for friends or family?

Amazon Audible Gift Membership is a great gift to give to anyone even those who don’t love reading. Your loved one gets one FREE audible book a month plus access to Amazon’s amazing Audible catalogue. It’s the perfect way to read while going for walks, working out, or doing mindless chores.

Fiction Books on Sri Lanka

Here are 12 fiction books on Sri Lanka. There are some true gems here. The best thing here is that all of them were written originally in English. 

8. Anil’s Ghost

By michael ondaatje (2001).

“American movies, English books – remember how they all end?” Gamini asked that night. “The American or the Englishman gets on a plane and leaves. That’s it. The camera leaves with him. He looks out of the window at Mombasa or Vietnam or Jakarta, someplace now he can look at through the clouds. The tired hero. A couple of words to the girl beside him. He’s going home. So the war, to all purposes, is over. That’s enough reality for the West. It’s probably the history of the last two hundred years of Western political writing. Go home. Write a book. Hit the circuit.”

While in the midst of reading it, I have to say Anil’s Ghost wasn’t my favorite book I read on Sri Lanka. Ondaatje has a disjointed style of writing that I grew impatient and frustrated with at times. But there’s something about this book that I can’t get out of my mind. It’s been over a month since I last read it and I still can’t stop thinking about the characters and story . The characters and story are so rich and complex and the world that Odaantje is so dark and haunting. There is always a sense of danger in the air.

I’d like to read another novel by Odaantje to see if I come away with the same impression.

Anil, a forensic scientist working for a human rights organization, is sent to the country where she grew up to investigate stories of kidnapping, torture and death during the communist uprisings in the South and the Tamil war in the North . The government pairs her with Sarath, an archaeologist. He’s distant and secretive. Can she trust him? Together they uncover a skeleton not more than five years old in a cave that only government officials have access to. Is this one of the many people who had been kidnapped, tortured, and killed by the government or by communist separatists or by terrorists in Sri Lanka’s long civil war? Who does this skeleton belong to? A farmer, a teacher, a student, a doctor?

I wish someone would turn this book into a movie like X did for The Year of Living Dangerously (you can read my review on the book here).

I’m wavering between giving this book 4 or 5 stars. If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear what you think!

9. Cinnamon Gardens

By shyam selvadurai (2000).

“Annalukshmi folded her arms to her chest and prayed, not to God but to her better self, for the strength to wait, to hold fast to her ideals, even when there was nothing ot pin her dreams on.”

10. Funny Boy

By shyam selvadurai (2015).

“Right and wrong, fair and unfair had nothing to do with how things really were. I thought of Shehan and myself. What had happened between us in the garage was not wrong. For how could loving Shehan be bad? Yet if my parents or anybody else discovered this love, I would be in terrible trouble. I thought of how unfair this was and I was reminded of things I had seen happen to other people, like Jegan, or even Radha Aunty, who, in their own way had experienced injustice. How was it that some people got to decide what was correct or not, just or unjust?”

11.  Island of a Thousand Mirrors

By nayomi munaweera (2014).

“We have learned not to care about the state of that other place even as it burns or drowns.”

Island of a Thousand Mirrors is one of my favorite kinds of books to read : a novel on the history of a country told through the eyes of three generations of one family.

Yasodhara Rajasinghe is a Sinhalese Buddhist who comes from a well-educated family from southern Sri Lanka. She spends her early years in Colombo living an idyllic life with her grandmother, parents, and younger sister. A Tamil family lives in an apartment above her family. The son of the Tamil family and Yasodhara form a close friendship. Then the events of Black July happen, and her family decides to leave Sri Lanka to start over in the United States. She gradually assimilates into American society. Then her sister and her return to Sri Lanka.

Saraswathie is a Tamil Hindu living in the middle of a war zone in northern Sri Lanka. She’s 13 or 14 years old and her life cannot be more different than Yasodhara’s. It’s a life of poverty, violence, and fear. But Yasodhara has dreams—one is to be a teacher. Unfortunately, one day she is arrested by the Sri Lanka security forces.

Eventually, the lives of these two women converge.

I really enjoyed Island of a Thousand Mirrors . It’s not a perfect book. The writer should have given equal coverage to both Yasodhara and Saraswathie’s stories. We hear about Yasodhara’s family’s history but not Saraswathie’s. So it feels rather unbalanced.

That being said, the story is engaging . The plot keeps you turning the page. A good pace. Fully-developed and interesting characters. Very accessible to western readers.

More Books From Around the World:

• 25 Books on Cambodia
• 25 Books on China
• 25 Books on Ecuador
• 15 Books on Guatemala
• 15 Books on Indonesia
• 27 Books on Japan
• 15 Books on Korea
• 10 Books on Malaysia
• 13 Books on Myanmar
• 25 Books on Panama
• 10 Book on Russia
• 10 Books on Singapore
• 20 Books on Sri Lanka
• 25 Books on Thailand
• 25 Books on Vietnam
• 16 Books on the Ancient Maya

12. Mosquito

By roma tearne (2007).

“You do not see how we have changed,” he said eventually. “We are so confused by this war. Sometimes I hear people arguing that it is the fault of the British. That even though they have gone, we still have an inferior feeling in us. Who can tell?” He shrugged, helplessly. “Our needs are so many, Sir, and our attitudes have because of them”

Mosquito is a love story taking place during the civil war. I generally enjoy reading love stories, but this one involving a 17-year-old girl and a 47-year-old man creeped me out .

Theo is a famous writer who left Sri Lanka many years ago only to return to the country after his wife died. He buys a villa on the beach north of Colombo.

He’s not afraid to express his opinion on the unfair treatment of Tamils and has even written a book on it. His servant, Sugi, continually warns him to be careful . Theo doesn’t listen.

On top of that, Theo falls in love with a Nulani, a 17-year-old girl who comes from a family with their own bit a controversy. Nulani’s father also held views about Tamils that were unpopular with the far-right and ended up murdered for his views .

Eventually, Theo pays for his indiscretion and naivety .

There’s one more thing that creeped me out. There’s another character named Vikram who rapes a local girl repeatedly , and then the writer actually has the girl falling in love with him.

13. Noontide Toll

By romesh gunesekera (2010).

“So now, I find it hard to believe anything and end up knowing nothing. Never mind the media. I don’t even know whether we are living in a capitalist state or a socialist one., a non-aligned one or a crooked one. And when I try to compensate against my prejudices, I end up believing everything and nothing, as if we are living in a country without consequences.”

Noontide Toll —now here is a book that is so beautifully written that you want to savor every single sentence. Written by Romesh Gunesekera, it is one of my top 3 books on Sri Lanka . A deep and insightful book, it asks philosophical questions about how a nation moves on when it has experienced so much terror, hatred, division, violence, prejudice, betrayal, and lies.

The civil war has ended a few years prior, and peace has finally come to Sri Lanka. Vasantha, a single guy in his fifties, retires early, buys an old van, and starts a business of driving foreign and local tourists, aid workers, generals, and exiles up and down the coast of Sri Lanka . Each chapter is a stand-alone story. In one chapter, he takes some Dutch tourists to the fort in Jaffna and in another some Sri Lankans who had escaped to Canada to the Jaffna library. My favorite is when he drives some Chinese businesspeople to the site of the last battle of the civil war.

As he drives to these places all over a country that has just gotten out of a 26-year civil war, he meets people whose lives have been forever changed by the war. He perfectly captures that feeling of a country that on the surface is at peace but underneath there is something definitely wrong with that peace.

It’s a very philosophical book about how a nation deals with its past. Do its citizens forget and move on? Can they ever forgive? Do they just think about the future like the Chinese and Vietnamese have done—progress and prosperity? Do they come clean and tell the truth like the Germans have done or do they keep it out of school textbooks like the Japanese? What happens when no one knows the truth? What happens when the government covers up lies about what really happened at the end of the war?

14. On Sal Mal Lane

By ru freeman (2013), my rating: 5 out of 5.

“God was not responsible for what came to pass. People said it was Karma, punishment in this life for past sins, fate. People said that no beauty was permitted in this world without some accompanying darkness to balance it out, and surely these children were beautiful. But what people said was unimportant; what befell them befell us all.”

On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman is a beautiful book whose tone, theme, and plot structure remind me of To Kill a Mockingbird .

The story takes place from 1979 to 1983 and follows the lives of a group of families (especially the children) who live on Sal Mal Lane in Colombo. Some of the families are Tamil, some Sinhalese, and some Burgher. Some are Catholic and some are Muslim. Some are free of prejudice, while others are filled with it. Some have loving families, while others are homes of abuse and violence.

At first, the children’s lives are quite idyllic. They do everything that children do. They play cricket, sing English songs, read English books, play the piano and guitar, hold talent shows, etc. There are a couple of outcasts, who you’re told repeatedly throughout the story that they’re going to bring trouble to the neighborhood.

Eventually, the tensions and prejudices between the Sinhalese and Tamils creep into the lives of the characters. The story comes to a climax in July 1983 when the Sinhalese murder 3,000 Tamils and burn down their homes and businesses. It’s interesting to see how the different families in on Sal Mal Lane react.

This is the perfect book for someone who likes stories that like to really get to know their characters . Like in To Kill a Mockingbird , it’s slow at first, but it picks up gradually as the tensions increase.

On Sal Mal Lane also the perfect book for helping you see the complexity and diversity of Sri Lankan society —not everyone has prejudices against other ethnic or religious groups.

Wanna Get FREE Books and Magazines?

A great way to get FREE books is to sign up for Amazon Kindle Unlimited with a FREE trial for 30 days . I’m a member of Amazon Kindle Unlimited and many of the books on my book lists come from it. You can get both Audio and Digital books, magazines, and my favorite, Lonely Planet Guide Books!

By Romesh Gunesekera (2014)

‘“The urge to build, to transform nature, to make something out of nothing is universal. But to conserve, to protect, to care for the past is something we have to learn, “ he would say.’

The year is 1962. Eleven-year-old Triton accidentally burns down a building at school and is sent to work as a servant in the home of Mr. Salgado. At first, he works under the petty and bitter Joseph. But eventually, he rises to become the head chef and lone servant of Mr. Salgado . His whole life is geared toward serving Mr. Salgado—to cook and take care of Mr. Salgado.

The story reminds me of Remains of the Day by my favorite writer Kazuo Ishiguro. In both books, you have the loyal servant living in an insular world where everyone is trying to hold onto the old values and social norms of an era that is coming to an end. Outside of the walls of the house, things are changing and not always in a good way. In Remains of the Day, it was England on the verge of World War II and in  Reef, it’s the beginning of the violence and conflict that will engulf Sri Lanka for the next thirty years.

The difference between the two books, though, is that Mr. Salgado comes off as a really good person. He’s a marine biologist. That’s where the title comes from. The Reef refers to the reef that Mr. Salgado studies and represents the desire to protect and conserve.

You might like Reef if you like books that move at a slow pace and a book that is more contemplative and descriptive than action-packed . I myself don’t need a lot of action, but I need some tension to motivate me to read on. I felt this book was missing some of that.  I also wanted to see Triton grow more as a character , overcome more obstacles, and find himself faced with some moral dilemmas. Yes, he became a better chef, but I didn’t see him becoming more independent. Without those things, I didn’t find the ending as plausible as it could have been.

16. The Road From Elephant Pass

By nihal de silva (2011).

“How could anyone say, ‘My people were here a thousand years ago, so this land belongs us [sic]’? Someone else would have there earlier anyway. Even if one race or tribe lived there in ancient times, what of it? They moved and someone else lived there later. Those who made these claims often produce ‘evidence’, based on selective research, to support their position.”

The Road from Elephant Pass is the most action-packed and most fun book to read on this list of books on Sri Lanka.

The year is 2000. At this time, the Sri Lankan military occupies the Jaffna peninsula and the Tamil Tigers the heavily-forested area south of Jaffna called the Wanni. Elephant Pass is the gateway to the peninsula. It is held precariously by the military.

Wasantha, a captain in the Sri Lanka military, is charged with escorting Kamala Velaithan, a member of the Tamil Tigers, to Colombo to give sensitive intelligence information that could end the war. What has driven her to betray the Tamils?

They are supposed to make their way from Elephant Pass to the airport in Jaffna to fly to Colombo. Unfortunately, Kamala arrives late and the jeep that is supposed to take them to Jaffna has a flat tire, so they start off late in the day and end up ambushed in an attack on the pass.

Wasantha and Kamala need to make their way by foot from Elephant Pass to Colombo. Their route takes them through the largest national park of Walliptu that has been closed to tourists because of the civil war. The park is filled with dangerous animals, poachers, and deserters from the Sri Lankan military.

It’s a fun, suspenseful adventure between two people from opposing sides of the civil war.

I loved the book for its introduction to the wildlife of Sri Lanka —the elephants, deer, birds, reptiles. Both Wasantha and Kamala are avid bird-watchers.

I also loved hearing the arguments about the conflict from both sides . Most of the books on this list are by Tamil writers, so it was refreshing hearing the Sinhalese side. But I’m not sure what de Silva’s background is.

There are tons of typos in the book!

I highly recommend The Road from Elephant Pass .

If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear from you. What did you think of the relationship between Wasantha and Kamala? Did you find it realistic?

17. The Tea Planter’s Wife

By dinah jefferies (2016).

“She felt poised at the point when life shakes itself up, and you have no idea where you’ll be standing when it settles in a new pattern, or whether you will be standing at all. What she did know was now that Laurence was not around, the battles lines had been drawn.”

Have you seen the Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rebecca, or read the Daphne du Maurier book the movie was based on?

The beginning of The Tea Planter’s Wife starts with that same eerie vibe and those odd and mysterious characters that are in the movie and book.

Gwen is the new innocent, naïve, and young wife of a wealthy and older British tea plantation owner in 1920s Sri Lanka. She arrives at her new home, a tea plantation in the hills of Sri Lanka, only to discover her new home isn’t as idyllic as she was hoping for.

Her new husband is cold and distant.

There’s a previous wife no one will talk about.

There’s a hidden grave of a young child and a secret nursery that hadn’t been touched in years.

There’s a jealous, bitter, and manipulative sister-in-law , who also happens to be a terrible dresser.

There are lots of rules about where Gwen can go and can’t go.

Unfortunately, The Tea Planter’s Wife turns away from a Hitchcockian masterpiece to become a typical romantic soap opera.

It’s a pretty decent book if you’re into romances. The story moves along at a really good pace . There’s plenty of suspense and heartbreak . The setting is deliciously fun to read about. It makes you want to book a ticket to Sri Lanka as soon as you can.

If you’re looking for an escape to an exotic location with endless fields of tea (truly a beautiful sight) and historic homes of wealthy colonial Brits, then this is a good book to pick up.

More Books to Read to Take You Around the World

• Books on Singapore
• Books on Myanmar
• Books on China

18. Trouble in Nuala (The Inspector de Silva Mysteries Book 1)

By harriet steel (2016), my rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

“She had been unhappy with her husband, but that wasn’t automatically a motive for murder. If it were, half the husbands in the world would be in danger sometimes.”

I love mysteries set in exotic locations, so I was excited to read a mystery novel set in Sri Lanka, especially in its tea growing region .

Trouble in Nuala is the first in a series of books set in the 1930s starring Detective Di Silva, a middle-aged Sri Lankan who’s been transferred from Colombo to the charming and idyllic village of Nuala,  a city located among the British tea plantations of the hill country. Di Silva is married to a British woman.

A Sri Lankan lawyer from Colombo comes to Nuala accusing one of the British plantation owners of whipping one of his workers . The head of the local government asks Di Silva to investigate. The owner, an unlikeable chap, denies he ever did something like that and accuses the worker of faking his injuries. Di Silva sort of shrugs all this off and goes on with his life until the British plantation owner is found murdered.

Who did it? The Sri Lankan lawyer? The plantation worker? The long-suffering plantation owner’s wife? The Chinese business partner? Lankan lawyer? The plantation worker who suffered a beating by the plantation owner? Was it the plantation owner’s wife? Or the Chinese businessman?

I liked her description of the setting. But Trouble in Nuala was a rather uninspiring mystery. A simple plot and disappointing ending . There were so many ways she could have gone with this book that would have made the story more original. Instead, she just resorts to stereotypes of certain ethnic groups.

19. The Village in the Jungle

By leonard woolf (1913).

“For the rule of the jungle is first fear, and then hunger and thirst. There is fear everywhere: in the silence and in the shrill calls and the wild cries, in the stir of the leaves and the grating of branches, in the gloom, in the startled, slinking, peering beasts. And behind the fear is always the hunger and the thirst, and behind the hunger and the thirst fear again.”

The Village in the Jungle wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a scathing critique of the colonial empire like Burmese Days by George Orwell or A Passage to India by E.M. Forster.  Instead, it was about the corruption, cruelty, jealousy, and superstitions facing one Sinhalese family that lives in a village in the jungle .

The head of the family is the father, Silindu. A lazy farmer but an avid and skilled hunter. He knows the jungle like the back of his hand. A bit of an loner, he doesn’t fit in well with the others in the village.

Silindu’s wife gives birth to twin baby girls and because they are female and not male, he’s so angry with her that he beats her. She dies. But as the girls grow up and take an interest in the jungle, he begins to adore them. The girls eventually grow up and now Silindu has to deal with the attention they attract from the men in the village.

During all of this, Silindu is harassed by the head of the village, the village shaman, a debt collector, etc.  It’s as if Silindu, the hunter, becomes Silindu, the hunted. Finally, he gets to a point when he can’t take it anymore. That is until one day he has had enough.

It’s interesting that this story is not really about the British or colonialism at all. And it made it kind of refreshing. A perfect book to read while traveling by train in Sri Lanka.

20. What Lies Between Us

By nayomi munaweera (2016).

“But here’s the secret: in America there are no good mothers. They simply don’t exist. Always, there are a thousand ways to fail at this singularly important job. There are failures of the body and failures of the heart. The woman who is unable to breastfeed is a failure. The woman who screams for the epidural is a failure. The woman who picks her child up late knows from the teacher’s cutting glance that she is a failure. The woman who shares her bed with her baby has failed. The woman who steels herself and puts on noise-canceling earphones to erase the screaming of her child in the next room has failed just as spectacularly.”

If you’re reading this review of books on Sri Lanka and the pandemic is still going on and everything still sucks, then I’d say, “perhaps hold off on reading What Lies Between Us .” It’s an incredibly well-written book , BUT it’s really, really, really, really sad. I mean heartbreakingly depressing . I generally love books that pull on my heartstrings and make me an emotional wreck, but in 2020 I’m not sure I can handle even more emotional wreckage.

The first chapter pretty much gives away the ending. The protagonist, Ganga, is in prison and she’s done something horrible that only a mother can do . The writer doesn’t tell us directly, but it isn’t hard to figure out. I just wish the writer hadn’t given the ending away like that.

After the first chapter, the book moves back in time to Ganga’s heartbreakingly painful childhood in Sri Lanka . Then tragedy strikes in her early teens and she moves to America. With the help of her cousin, she assimilates into American culture. But even as she becomes more American, she can’t get away from the secrets of her childhood . Eventually, it becomes harder to keep everything Ganga has tried to bury from coming to the surface.

What Lies Between Us is really well-written. The story is fast-paced and hard to put down . The main character is well-developed. It’s not hard to get emotionally attached to the main character .

21. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

By shehan karunatilaka (2022).

“History is people with ships and weapons wiping out those who forgot to invent them. Every civilization begins with a genocide. It is the rule of the universe. The immutable law of the jungle, even this one made of concrete. You can see it in the movement of the stars, and in the dance of every atom. The rich will enslave the penniless. The strong will crush the weak.”

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida is part mystery and part commentary on Sri Lankan history. My favorite kind of book!

The story takes place in 1990, Colombo. The Tamil War is going on in the North and the communist uprising in the South has just ended.

The protagonist, Maali Almeida, is a war photographer , homosexual, gambler, and slut (his words, not mine).

He’s recently died, and he now finds himself stuck in the In-Between, a space between life and reincarnation. Every one who dies has seven moons (seven nights) to get things in order before they enter the Light, where they will forget everything about their former life. The dead can wait out the seven moons in a kind of waiting room that resembles a chaotic tax office filled with a lot of angry customers. Or they can roam around their past lives as ghosts.

Like everyone else in the afterlife, Maali doesn’t want to be there. He’s got a box of photos that reveal war crimes perpetrated by powerful people that if made public will take down governments. Plus, he can’t seem to remember how he died and as he suspects, who murdered him and why . Was it for his photos? Or for another reason?

Meanwhile, down on Earth, his two best friends, Jaki and DD, are searching for him. Maali needs their help to find the photos . It’s his last chance to bring justice to the dead. And perhaps reveal who killed him.

As Maali is traversing the afterlife, he meets yakas (demons) and pretas (ghosts) . He’s also being pulled in two directions: One is by a professor murdered by the Tamil Tigers who’s trying to get Maali to go toward the Light. The other is by a murdered member of the JVP who’s trying to get Maali to stay in the In-Between and join him in exacting revenge on the powerful who are responsible for the killings and disappearances going on in Sri Lanka.

Seven Moons deservedly won the 2022 Booker Prize . It is a lovely, wonderful, brilliant book. Funny. Well-written. Empathetic. If you’re not familiar with Sri Lankan history, it might be challenging to make sense of the story. However, I believe the American version was revised by the author and editor to add background to the story.

Maali is a wonderfully funny but flawed character . However, the flaws make him more human. His friend, Jaki, is my favorite character—kind, wise, observant, and loyal.

For me, the book is about choosing whether to remember or forget . We take photos to document what happened, to bring criminals to justice, and to never forget. But is it better to forget and to move on with our lives or to always remember and never get over the injustices? Is revenge the best way to find justice or does it only keep the cycle of killing going?

Final Thoughts

That’s my list of 21 books on Sri Lanka. I hope you get a chance to read one of them on the list.

If you do, let me know what you think. Come back and drop a comment in the comment section below.

If you’ve already read one of them, let me know. I’d love to know what you think. Did you like the book?

If you can recommend another book on Sri Lanka, I’d love to hear from you too!

More Books from Around the World

• 30 Books on Singapore
• 25 Nonfiction Books on China
• 35 Fiction Books on Japan
• 28 Books on Vietnam
• 16 Books on the Ancient Maya'
• 13 Books on Russia and Vladimir Putin
• 35 Books on Ukraine

Are you on Pinterest?

Hey! How about saving one of these pins to Pinterest to read for later?

And feel free to follow me on Pinterest, where you'll find lots of travel articles for everywhere around the world.

Wow Julie, who would have thought there were so many good reads about Sri Lanka?! I definitely need to get one of these before I am going there. Bucketlist material. Best regards, Elisa of flitterfever.com

Hi Elisa, Yes! There are so many good Sri Lankan writers. I had no idea before I went on my book journey through Hoi An what great writers Sri Lanka has.

“Sarasu amidst slums of Terror\” Lucky de Chickera”s Novel deserves a recommendation as I believe that it is an excellent book well worth reading on Sri Lanka during the war days.. It was short listed for the Gratian and commended for the State Literary Award,

Thank you for the recommendation!Sadly, it’s not possible to buy online in the U.S.

Strange Fruit by Afdhel Aziz should be added to your list

Thanks for the recommendation!

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan – Excellent read!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

What are you looking for?

About the bamboo traveler.

Welcome to The Bamboo Traveler, a travel blog dedicated to helping those travelers who want to dig deeply into the history, heritage, and culture of a place. Whether it’s through the pages of your passport or the pages of a book, I’ll help you travel the world and uncover the history, culture, food, architecture, and natural beauty of some of the world’s most fascinating places.

Follow the Bamboo Traveler!

Traveling to Japan soon?

Get all my great travel tips as well as this FREE Japan travel and itinerary guide sent to your email right away!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Recent posts.

• Best & Worst Books on Myanmar
• Me Encanta Oaxaca Food Tour Review: Is It Worth It?
• 24 Best Things to Do in Puebla, Mexico (+ Itinerary)
• 17 BEST Things to Do in Campeche, Mexico
• How to Get from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido in 2024

Books for Armchair Travelers

• Books on Cambodia
• Books on Ecuador
• Books on Guatemala
• Books on Hong Kong
• Book on Japan – Fiction
• Books on Malaysia
• Books on Panama
• Books on Russia
• Books on Sri Lanka
• Books in Ukraine
• Books on Vietnam
• Books on the Ancient Maya
• Books by Murakami 
• Books on Pandemics

Get Your FREE Japan Itinerary Guide Here!

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive the latest travel tips for Asia and get a free 4-page PDF version of my 3-Week Japan Itinerary.

Pin It on Pinterest

15% off with code SEPT15

• Free shipping on all orders

• North America
• South America
• Middle East
• Australia & Pacific

New Releases

Trending Destinations

Experience Guides

• Outdoor Travels & Adventures
• Epic Guides
• Food & Drink
• Gifts & Inspiration
• Language Guides
• Lonely Planet Kids

Country Guides

Pocket Guides

All Guides & eBooks

• Lonely Planet Insider

Your cart is empty

Get this book for free by becoming a Lonely Planet Insider:

• 3 eBook downloads every year
• Exclusive offers and discounts

$2.99 USD/month (charged annually) Learn more

• Up-to-date information -  all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak
• NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card  with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel
• Planning tools for family travellers  - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids
• What's New feature  taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas our writers have uncovered
• NEW Accommodation feature  gathers all the information you need to plan your accommodation
• Colour  maps and images throughout
• Highlights   and itineraries  help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
• Insider tips  to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
• Essential info   at your fingertips  - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
• Honest reviews for all budgets  - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
• Cultural insights  give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics
• Over   55 maps

Covers  Colombo, the West, the South, Nala National Park, hill country, ancient cities, the East, Jaffna & the North and more

eBook is available in ePub, MOBI and PDF.

ISBN: 9781787016590

Edition: 15th

Publication Date: October 2021

Writers: Joe Bindloss, Stuart Butler, Bradley Mayhew

352 pages, 352pp color, 60 maps | Dimensions: 128mm × 197mm

Next edition due: November 2024

Which guidebook is right for me?

Country, city & regional guides.

• Top experience collections
• Regional itineraries recommended by experts (from a couple of days to multi-week)
• 3D illustrations and guided tours of key sights
• Extensive coverage of history and culture
• Detailed maps throughout - includes walking maps and a pull-out planning map

EXPERIENCE guides

(country, city & regional).

• Led by local experts that reveal their favorite experiences and hidden gems
• Personal itinerary building tools
• Seasonal planning calendars
• QR codes unlock additional online content

POCKET guides

(city & regional).

• Special features cover most popular sights
• Content organized by neighborhhod
• Recommended 1, 2, 3 and 4-day itineraries
• Guided walking tours

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

My visit to Sri Lanka — a jewel–shaped country in the Indian Ocean — was an unexpected surprise. I didn’t have a lot of expectations for the trip. But it turned out to be an amazing experience. I loved every bit of Sri Lanka: the verdant landscape, the delicious food; the crumbling, overgrown ruins; the abundant wildlife; and (especially) the welcoming locals who took hospitality to the next level .

Traveling Sri Lanka is a relatively easy thing to do. It can be a little chaotic, with overcrowded buses moving along clogged roads where lanes are mere suggestions, and trains packed to the gills with people hanging off the edges (which actually is kind of fun). But English is widely spoken so once you get used to the chaos, it isn’t too difficult to get around.

But there are a few things you should know before you visit Sri Lanka to avoid getting scammed, overspending, and, like me, missing some of the scenic trains!

Here’s my guide to visiting Sri Lanka:

Table of Contents

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: 14 Things to Know for Your Visit

Visiting sri lanka: how much does it cost, what to see and do in sri lanka: itineraries by region, where to stay in sri lanka.

Travel Tip #1: Get your visa ahead of time – 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 border!

Travel Tip #2: Don’t drink the water – You shouldn’t really drink the water in Sri Lanka, but as it’s really hot, you’ll want to keep hydrated. Bringing a reusable water bottle with a purifier will help you save money and avoid single use plastic in the process. ( My preferred brand is Lifestraw ).

Travel Tip #3: 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 a poor excuse for Western food that is overpriced and often a chain. Stick to the local food! It’s super delicious anyway.

Food, besides being crazy good, is also really cheap in Sri Lanka! Local food costs about 320-950 LKR for a meal of simple dishes like dosas (a kind of pancake), kottu (a dish made of roti (flatbread), vegetables, egg and/or meat, and spices), rice, chicken, and everything in between. At restaurants with table service, you’ll pay closer to 1,500-2,000 LKR.

Travel Tip #4: Don’t expect a party – There aren’t too many chances to drink alcohol in Sri Lanka. Outside the coastal tourist towns and the capital of Colombo, there isn’t much nightlife or opportunities to drink. While you can always crack a beer at your guesthouse, Sri Lanka isn’t home to a big drinking/nightlife culture. Expect your nights to be tame.

Travel Tip #5: Hire the Tuk-tuks – You can hire drivers cheaply. Any tuk-tuk driver will let you hire them for the day. Expect to pay around 10,000 LKR for the day. Moreover, tuk-tuk drivers are pretty honest, except in Colombo, where they will try to scam and overcharge you. Elsewhere in the country, you’ll get a fair deal. There’s no need to try to bargain hard.

Travel Tip #6: Take the airport bus – 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 the city, buses stop at (and leave from) Central Bus Stand, Pettah Fort, and Colombo Fort Station. Alternatively, a taxi is about 2,700 rupees.

Travel Tip #7: Travel by train – Train travel, while often slower, is the cheapest (and best) way to get around. The landscapes are beautiful, and there’s something relaxing about sitting at the window watching the country pass you by. Traveling by train lets you connect with local culture in a way that flying between destinations just won’t do (plus, Sri Lanka is so small that taking an expensive short flight doesn’t make sense). Just adjust your expectations on timeliness and speed. Don’t be in a hurry when riding the rails in Sri Lanka!

Some typical train routes and their approximate prices include:

• 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

Travel Tip #8: Book your train in advance – If you are taking the scenic train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya or Ella (or vice versa) and want a seat, book it in advance online. These tickets regularly sell out, especially in the high season. You can book starting 30 days in advance through the Sri Lankan railway’s website . Just remember to collect your physical tickets from the ticket office before departure.

Alternatively, you can always get a cramped unreserved second- or third-class ticket (where you’ll learn the new meaning of a tight squeeze) on the day of departure. The concept of “sold out” doesn’t apply to “cattle class.”

For more details on train travel in Sri Lanka, I recommend The Man in Seat 61’s guide .

Travel Tip #9: Show up early at Sigiriya – If you are visiting Sigiriya (an ancient rock fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s probably the most famous landmark in the country), get there when it opens at 6:30am to avoid huge lines and crowds at the site. If you are there after 10am, the crowds are so overwhelming it’s not worth visiting. It takes an hour to walk up as it’s single-file all the way!

Travel Tip #10: Plan around the monsoons – Sri Lanka is affected by two different monsoons, so if you want the best weather during your trip, you’ll want to keep monsoon season in mind. If you want to visit the beaches in the south and west, go in December-March, while April-September is best for visiting the north and east.

Travel Tip #11: Bring temple-appropriate clothing – Dress respectfully when visiting Sri Lanka’s sacred sites. That means wearing clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. You’ll also have to take your socks and shoes off before visiting temples (even if they are outdoors), so bring flip-flops to keep your socks clean!

Travel Tip #12: Day trip to Galle – Galle is only worth a day trip. Don’t stay over in the town. There is not much to do there at all. There was so little to do there I just went back to Colombo instead of staying the night. The same goes for many other towns, especially gateway towns to the national parks (more on that below).

Travel Tip #13: Don’t rush your trip – Looking at the map of Sri Lanka, you might say, “Oh, it’s not that big. I bet I can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.” You could, but you won’t “see” much. It will be too much of a blur. There is a lot to see and do in Sri Lanka and it takes a while to travel around. (For more on suggested itineraries, see below!)

Travel Tip #14: Learn a bit of history beforehand – I admittedly didn’t know much about Sri Lanka before visiting . But as I’ve said in the past, you can’t know a place if you don’t know its history. I bought a guidebook and a few books about Sri Lanka’s history, and I’m really glad I did as it deepened my understanding of the country before I even arrived.  

Sri Lanka is a cheap country to visit. Even when you splurge, it’s not that expensive. Overall, I would say you wouldn’t need more than a budget of 10,000-13,000 LKR per day. The country is very cheap, especially if you stick to delicious local or Indian cuisine (the food is so cheap there’s no reason to grocery shop and cook your own meals), avoid the overpriced Western style restaurants (local food tastes much better anyways), travel second- or third-class on trains and on buses, and don’t go crazy with the accommodation.

Even though I was on a budget, I didn’t go as low as I could have (such as staying in dorms every night, eating only Sri Lankan food, doing minimal activities, etc.) and still found it was hard to break the bank. The expensive days in which I took a tour or decided to try some fancy restaurant were balanced out on the other days I didn’t.

Here is a list of prices to help you get an idea of costs in Sri Lanka:

Typical Museum and Attraction Costs:

• National Museum in Colombo – 1,500 LKR
• Half-day tour at Yala National Park – 14,500 LKR
• Temple of the Tooth in Kandy – 2,500 LKR
• Sigiriya Rock – 9,700 LKR

Typical Food Costs:

• Bottle of water – 100 LKR
• Typical curry dish – 420-550 LKR
• Western dinner – 1,500-2,500+ LKR
• Domestic beer – 500 LKR

Typical Transportation Costs:

• Airport taxi – 2,700 LKR
• Train from Jaffna to Anuradhapura – 1,600 LKR
• Short tuk-tuk ride – 100 LKR

Where should you go in Sri Lanka? Everywhere – if you have the time! Most travelers focus on the southern half of the country, with its hiking and beach towns. After decades of war, the north has a legacy of destruction that has yet to go away.

Sri Lanka may look like a small island, there is a lot to see and do there! More than I imagined. Anuradhapura and Sigiriya both have amazing ancient ruins. Kandy is filled with hiking treks, a big Buddhist temple, and a butterfly garden. Nuwara Eliya is known for its hiking, Tissa is the gateway to Yala National Park (which has elephants and leopards), and Galle is a beautiful old Dutch fort town.

Though I originally had planned to explore only the south due to my limited time there, I was offered the opportunity to talk to a member of Parliament in Jaffna up north and learn about the Tamil war, so I rearranged my route to spend more time in the north.

I was glad I did. Seeing the north gave me an added perspective on a portion of the country without hordes of other tourists. In fact, in my time up north, I saw only four Westerners.

So…where should YOU go with so many places to explore?

I would break your Sri Lanka travels into two parts — the north/center and the south — and focus on one of those regions. There’s simply too much to do in the country and travel (buses and trains) around the country is too slow to try to cover so much ground in a limited time.

Unless you have more time, then the world is your oyster!

Southern Route (two weeks) : Colombo – Hikkaduwa – Galle – Mirissa – Tangalle – Tissa – Ella – Nuwara Eliya – Kandy – Colombo

Northern Route (two weeks) : Colombo – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Kandy – Sigiriya – Anuradhapura – Trincomalee – Jaffna – Colombo

North and South (four weeks) : Colombo – Jaffna – Trincomalee – Anuradhapura – Sigiriya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Tissa – Tangalle – Mirissa – Galle – Hikkaduwa – Colombo

If you have a month, you could do this entire route plus add in the coastal towns of Arugam Bay and Negombo. With two weeks, focus on either the southern coast or the central/northern areas.

One thing to know is that once you’ve done the major things in a city, there’s very little reason to stay. For example, Tissa is the gateway to Yala National Park. Tour operators run most tours in the early morning (a higher chance of seeing animals) so if you took one of those tours ( like this one offered by local tour operator Shehan Safari ), you could be on a bus moving on to your next destination by lunchtime. There’s really not much else in the town.

The same could be said with Jaffna. Tick a few boxes and then move on. Galle is more a day trip from a nearby beach town than a place to spend a few days. Sigiriya and Dambulla can be done in two nights (though I added an extra night because I liked the family I was staying with).

I’d recommend spending more time in Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Kandy, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, as those places have more activities and are worth staying longer in.  

Like everything else, accommodation in Sri Lanka is super affordable. There are a lot of cheap accommodation options throughout the country. Hostels are really basic (fan, mosquito net, electric shower) but at 2,250-3,200 LKR per dorm bed, you can’t go wrong.

Guesthouses are more plentiful and affordable, with private rooms that have an en-suite bathroom starting at 7,000 LKR USD per night. You’ll usually get breakfast with your room too.

Here are some recommendations for places to stay around the country:

• C 1 Colombo Fort (Colombo)
• Palitha Home Stay (Sigiriya)
• Jaye’s Home Stay (Kandy)
• Backpacker Galle Hostel (Galle)

Sri Lanka is an easy country to visit, and with a few tips, you can travel there with ease. This is a very budget-friendly country, even if you go nuts on the attractions and tours. I didn’t spend a lot of money, averaging just 11,500 LKR per day. (Any expensive days will be balanced out with the cheap days where you just walk around, hike, or sit on the beach!)

Sri Lanka may be small but it packs a powerful punch. Take your time to see this land of jungles, waterfalls, monkeys, delicious food, and lovely people!

Book Your Trip to Sri Lanka: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. It’s my favorite search engine as it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

Related Posts

GET YOUR  FREE TRAVEL STARTER KIT

Enter your email and get planning cheatsheets including a step by step checklist, packing list, tips cheat sheet, and more so you can plan like a pro!

Hugh Sitton / Stocksy United

Endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of elephants, rolling surf, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and flavorful food make Sri Lanka irresistible.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, attractions, must-see attractions.

Polonnaruwa

Part of Parakramabahu I’s northern monastery, Gal Vihara is a group of beautiful Buddha images that probably marks the high point of Sinhalese rock…

Uda Walawe National Park

With herds of elephants, wild buffalos, sambars and spotted deer, and giant squirrels, this Sri Lankan national park is one of the nation's finest. In…

Kumana National Park

This 357-sq-km park, once known as Yala East, is much less frequently visited than its busy neighbour, Yala National Park. Consequently, it's a far less…

Jaffna Fort

Long the gatehouse of the city, the vast Jaffna fort, overlooking the Jaffna lagoon, has been fought over for centuries. Today you can wander its walls,…

Dutch Hospital

This terracotta-tiled, Dutch-era structure dates back to the early 1600s. Beautifully restored, it's now home to trendy shops, cafes and restaurants. In…

National Museum

Offering a captivating walk through Sri Lankan history, this delightful Colombo museum sprawls across a gleaming white, neo-Baroque building constructed…

Arugam Bay Beach

This long crescent of sand, partially shaded by coconut palms, is as good a reason as any to visit Arugam Bay. In season, its appeal to surfers is obvious…

Mirissa Beach

A vision of tropical bliss, Mirissa Beach boasts powdery pale sand, while its azure water is framed by an arc of coconut palms. The west side is the…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

From finding the best surf to trying the ultimate local dishes, here are the top things to do in Sri Lanka.

Things to Know

Here's what you need to know about health, safety and etiquette for a trouble-free trip to Sri Lanka.

Transportation

Our guide to transportation can help you plan the best way for your travels around Sri Lanka.

Visa Requirements

Here’s our guide to navigating the entry requirements for visiting Sri Lanka as a tourist, with information on visa types, costs and how to apply for one.

Money and Costs

With travel experiences that don't break the bank and incredible hospitality, Sri Lanka is a great place to visit for those on a budget.

Traveling with Kids

Whether you're traveling with toddlers or teenagers, we give you tips on where to stay and what to do for an unforgettable family adventure in Sri Lanka.

Best Road Trips

Hire a car and driver or rent a motorcycle and explore the best of Sri Lanka with these road trip routes.

Plan with a local

Experience the real Sri Lanka

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from Sri Lanka

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Accessible Travel

Aug 28, 2024 • 6 min read

Aug 20, 2024 • 7 min read

Aug 13, 2024 • 12 min read

Aug 8, 2024 • 11 min read

Jul 29, 2024 • 12 min read

Jul 23, 2024 • 9 min read

Feb 14, 2024 • 8 min read

Nov 7, 2023 • 8 min read

Nov 1, 2023 • 7 min read

Oct 16, 2023 • 8 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Sri Lanka

Sri lanka and beyond.

The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka

This Sri Lanka guidebook is perfect for independent travellers planning a longer trip. It features all of the must-see sights and a wide range of off-the-beaten-track places. It also provides detailed practical information on preparing for a trip and what to do on the ground. And this Sri Lanka travel guidebook is printed on paper from responsible sources, and verified to meet the FSC’s strict environmental and social standards. 

This Sri Lanka guidebook covers: Colombo and the west coast, the south, Kandy and the hill country, the Cultural Triangle, the east, Jaffna and the north.

Inside this Sri Lanka travel book, you’ll find:

A wide range of sights – Rough Guides experts have hand-picked places for travellers with different needs and desires: off-the-beaten-track adventures, family activities or chilled-out breaks

Itinerary examples – created for different time frames or types of trip

Practical information – how to get to Sri Lanka, all about public transport, food and drink, shopping, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, tips for travellers with disabilities and more

Author picks and things not to miss in Sri Lanka –  Cricket, Adam's Peak, Big Buddhas, Galle, Yala National Park, World's End, rice & curry, birds, Kataragama, Anuradhapura, Bawa hotels, Sigiriya, Ella, The Pettah, whale and dolphin-watching, Polonnaruwa, Bentota, Kandy Esala Perahera, Sinharaja, Ayurveda, Arugam Bay, Kandyan dancing and drumming, Dambulla, Mirissa, Kandy   

Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money, and find the best local spots

When to go to Sri Lanka – high season, low season, climate information and festivals 

Where to go – a clear introduction to Sri Lanka with key places and a handy overview 

Extensive coverage of regions, places and experiences – regional highlights, sights and places for different types of travellers, with experiences matching different needs

Places to eat, drink and stay – hand-picked restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels

Practical info at each site – hours of operation, websites, transit tips, charges

Colour-coded mapping – with keys and legends listing sites categorised as highlights, eating, accommodation, shopping, drinking and nightlife  

Background information for connoisseurs – history, culture, art, architecture, film, books, religion, diversity

Essential Sinhala and Tamil dictionary and glossary of local terms 

Fully updated post-COVID-19

The guide provides a comprehensive and rich selection of places to see and things to do in Sri Lanka, as well as great planning tools. It’s the perfect companion, both ahead of your trip and on the ground.

Description

Book details.

This title is a part of Rough Guides Main Series

Practical travel guides series covering countries, cities and regions, with detailed factual travel tips, perfect for independent, long-stay, backpacking and budget-conscious travellers seeking comprehensive travel information and off-the-beaten track experiences

Extensive practical travel information including getting there, getting around, climate information, safety tips, accommodation explanations, food & drink advice and shopping essentials 

Curated author picks with destination highlights at the beginning of each guide

Ready-made itineraries covering every corner of the destination

Colour-coded places chapters with detailed coverage of places and sights, presented in a points-of-interest structure 

Extensive recommendations for accommodation, restaurants, shops and leisure activities for all budgets

Colour-coded detailed maps with marked-up key sights 

Insights on history and nature highlights  

Easy to use, newspaper-style layout

All guides published from January 2021 are printed on paper from responsible sources verified to meet FSC’s strict environmental and social standards

Free eBook with each printed guide published from May 2019 

Format: 129 x 198mm

Price: £14.99-£26.99 | $13.99-$34.99

Extent: 616–1208 page

BOOK DETAILS

Which payment options can I use in the Rough Guides Shop?

You can pay with credit card : Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and via PayPal .

How can I download my ebook after purchase?

After you purchased an ebook, you will receive an order confirmation email and a separate email with a download link for your ebook. This link is valid for 3 days.

After this period, you can log in to your account and download the ebook (not a complementary free-ebook) from your order list in the section "My Shop Orders" .

Please note : The ebooks available to purchase from Rough Guides online bookshop are typically anywhere between 30MB and 120MB. We recommend that you download your ebook over WiFi or check your data allowance with your mobile network provider to ensure it is sufficient.

How can I contact Rough Guides about a shop order?

You can contact our shop team at " [email protected] ".

To help our team reply faster, please copy and use one of the following email subject lines:

• "Book shop: orders, shipping, returns"
• "Website: general usage and technical problems"
• "Guide books: corrections and other questions"
• "Tailor-made travel"

You might also love

Pocket Rough Guide Hong Kong & Macau

The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia On A Budget

The Rough Guide to Taiwan

Insight Guides The Silk Road

The Mini Rough Guide to Singapore

The Rough Guide to Tokyo

Insight Guides Southeast Asia

The Rough Guide to Japan

The Rough Guide to India

Sri Lanka travel guide – holiday advice and tips from Colombo hotels and restaurants to cuisine and homestays, wildlife, national parks (e.g. Yala and Horton Plains), wellness tourism and historic sites. Features Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, Arugam Bay, Dambulla cave temples, Sigirya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Galle Fort, Jaffra and beach resorts.

Related products

Jordan Highlights

Diving South East Asia Footprint Activity & Lifestyle Guide

Africa Overland

About this book

The new seventh edition of Bradt’s Sri Lanka remains the most detailed and comprehensive guidebook to this alluring island nation. Written by Philip Briggs, one of the world’s most experienced and highly regarded guidebook writers, this thoroughly updated guide provides detailed coverage of every aspect of this diverse and compact country, from idyllic tropical coastlines to mist-shrouded tea plantations and time-warped colonial homesteads. Alongside in-depth sections on all major beach resorts, archaeological sites, historic towns and national parks, it introduces adventurous travellers to intriguing lesser-known sites and emergent destinations inaccessible for decades prior to 2009, when the civil war ended. Beach holidays are a year-round attraction, while fantastic Buddhist-affiliated UNESCO World Heritage Sites range from the massive dagobas of Anuradhapura, built in pre-Christian times on a scale rivalling Egyptian pyramids, to Dambulla’s exquisitely painted cave temples. Wildlife-viewing opportunities abound, and this guide provides unparalleled, illustrated advice on making the most of these. Asia’s densest elephant and leopard populations thrive in an extensive network of national parks, complemented by fine whale and dolphin-watching, and 450 bird species including 30 occurring in no other country. Extensive hotel and restaurant listings, covering everything from exclusive boutique hotels to shoestring homestays, have been cherry-picked based on the author’s personal inspection of hundreds of properties countrywide. Sri Lanka’s increasingly renowned cuisine features strongly, as does its growing focus on wellness tourism including Ayurveda therapies. This guidebook differs further from competitors by catering for truly independent travellers, providing 70-plus visitor-focused maps covering all major towns and resorts, clear directions for public transport, and off-the-beaten-track information. Following a tourist boom in the south, and the gradual opening of the north and east to independent travel, tourism jumped 15% in the two years to 2018. Following COVID-19 and a 2019 terrorism incident, Sri Lankan tourism is again welcoming visitors, with infrastructure benefitting from recent investment in trains, which provide comfortable, efficient and inexpensive public transport. Whether you’re into wildlife, culture, beaches or cuisine – and whether you seek luxury or budget travel – Bradt’s Sri Lanka will address your every need for an enjoyable visit to this bewitching and varied country.

Before ordering ebooks from us, please check out our ebook information .

About the Author

Philip Briggs (www.philipbriggs.com) is one of the world’s most experienced and knowledgeable guidebook writers, having been researching and writing guides for Bradt and other well-known publishers for 30 years. In 1991, he wrote the Bradt Guide to South Africa, the first such guidebook to be published internationally after the release of Nelson Mandela. Over the rest of the 1990s, Philip wrote a series of pioneering Bradt travel guides to African destinations (Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, Rwanda) that were then – and in some cases still are – otherwise practically uncharted by the travel publishing industry. More recently, he authored the first dedicated English-language guidebook to Somaliland, as well as a new guide to The Gambia, both published by Bradt. Turning his attention now to both South America and Asia, he has written Bradt guides to Suriname and Sri Lanka. Philip spends at least four months on the road every year.

Additional Information

Introduction PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 History and Background History, Government and politics, Economy, National flag, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture Chapter 2 The Natural World Geography and climate, Natural history and conservation Chapter 3 Practical Information When to visit, Itineraries, Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Getting there and away, Security and safety, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette Chapter 4 Health and Safety Preparations, Common medical problems, Other safety concerns

PART 2 COLOMBO AND SURROUNDS Chapter 5 Colombo History, Orientation, Getting there and away, Getting around, Crime and safety, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Bars and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Muthurajawela Wetland Sanctuary Chapter 6 The Coast from Negombo to Kalpitiya Negombo, Waikkal, Chilaw and surrounds, Puttalam, The Kalpitiya Peninsula Chapter 7 Inland of Colombo The A1 towards Kandy and Kurunegala, Kurunegala and surrounds, Avissawella and the Kelani Valley Railway Chapter 8 The Western Resort Coast: Bentota, Kosgoda and Hikkaduwa Kalutara and surrounds, Bentota and surrounds, The coast from Kosgoda to Ambalangoda and Madu Wetlands, Hikkaduwa,

PART 3 THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE Chapter 9 Dambulla, Sigiriya and Surrounds Dambulla, Historic sites south and west of Dambulla, Sigiriya, Habarana, The elephant parks: Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu Chapter 10 Polonnaruwa History, Orientation, Getting there and away, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Other practicalities, Tour operators and bicycle hire, What to see and do, Around Polonnaruwa Chapter 11 Anuradhapura and Surrounds History, Getting there and away, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Mihintale Monastery, Thanthirimale Temple, Wilpattu National Park

PART 4 NORTHERN AND EASTERN PROVINCES Chapter 12 Northern Province Mannar Island, Jaffna Chapter 13 Eastern Province When to visit, Further information, Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Batticaloa, Ampara and Gal Oya National Park, Arugam Bay

PART 5 KANDY AND THE HILL COUNTRY Chapter 14 Kandy and Surrounds History, Getting there and away, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Mahiyanganaya and surrounds Chapter 15 High Hill Country: Adam’s Peak, Nuwara Eliya and Ella, Hatton, Adam’s Peak and Nallathanniya, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains National Park, Haputale, Bandarawela, Ella Chapter 16, Low Hill Country: Kitulgala, Ratnapura and Sinharaja Kitulgala, Ratnapura, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Kanneliya Forest Reserve

PART 6 GALLE AND THE DEEP SOUTH Chapter 17 Tissamaharama and the Southern Safari Circuit Embilipitiya, Udawalawe National Park, Wellawaya, Buttala, Kataragama, Tissamaharama, Kirinda, Yala National Park, Bundala National Park, Hambantota Chapter 18, The Southern Resort Coast: Tangalle, Matara and Weligama Bay Tangalle, Towards Matara, Matara and surrounds, Mirissa, Weligama and Midigama Chapter 19, Galle and Surrounds History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Unawatuna and the Rumassala Peninsula, The coast east to Koggala

Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Glossaries General glossary, Annotated glossary of key historical, legendary and mythical figures Appendix 3 Further information Index

You may also like…

North Korea

Travel Guide Sri Lanka

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

Select Month

• roughguides.com
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice

Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

Perfect balance of activities and rest. Excellent standard of accommodation. Highly efficient organisation and great value for money. Highly knowledgeable ...

Sri Lanka, an island south of India crams an extraordinary variety of places to visit within its modest size. Lapped up by the Indian Ocean, the coastline is lined with idyllic – and often refreshingly undeveloped – beaches , while the mainland boasts a compelling variety of landscapes ranging from wildlife-rich lowland jungles to the misty highlands of the hills, swathed in tea plantations.

Where to go in Sri Lanka

Best time to travel to sri lanka.

• How to get to Sri Lanka

Getting around Sri Lanka

10 best places in sri lanka, sri lanka travel itineraries, food and drink in sri lanka, drink in sri lanka, sri lankan buddhism.

You’ll find plenty of man-made attractions too when you visit Sri Lanka. It boasts more than two thousand years of recorded history, and the remarkable achievements of the early Sinhalese civilization can still be seen in the ruined cities and great religious monuments that litter the northern plains.

The glories of this early Buddhist civilization continue to provide a symbol of national pride, while Sri Lanka’s historic role as the world’s oldest stronghold of Theravada Buddhism lends it a unique cultural identity. But there’s more to Sri Lanka than just Buddhists. Its geographical position at one of the most important staging posts of Indian Ocean trade laid it open to a uniquely wide range of influences. Generations of Arab, Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers subtly transformed its culture, architecture and cuisine. Meanwhile the long-established Tamil population in the North have established a vibrant Hindu culture that owes more to India than to the Sinhalese south.

The tropical island has become more of a hot-spot to keen travellers in recent years, although tourism in Sri Lanka remains relatively low key. The country’s wonderful individuality – evident in its contrasting landscapes and its distinct culture, is helping to shape Sri Lanka as a top destination.

• Size and location : Lying a few degrees north of the Equator, Sri Lanka is slightly smaller than Ireland and a little larger than the US state of West Virginia.
• Currency : Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
• Politics : Sri Lanka achieved independence from Britain in 1948, and rejected its colonial name, Ceylon, in 1972. The country has had a functioning democracy since independence, and in 1960 elected the world’s first female prime minister.
• Religions : Sri Lanka’s population comprises different ethnic and religious groups. The two largest are the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese, and the predominantly Hindu Tamils; there are also many Christians and Muslims.
• Languages : Sinhala, Tamil and English are officially recognized languages.
• Health : Sri Lankans enjoy a healthy life expectancy of 77 years. But it also has one of the world’s highest suicide rates and one of the highest death rates from snakebite.
• Education : Sri Lanka has a literacy rate of almost 93 percent
• Exports : The country’s main exports are clothing and tea. Rubber, coconuts and precious gems are also important.

Are you already planning your trip? Read our Sri Lanka travel tips to be well prepared .

Sri Lanka has it all. Watch whales off palm-fringed beaches, track leopards in lush rainforests and hike through the hill country to verdant tea plantations. You can get an insight into the island’s culture by exploring Buddhist monuments, clambering over colonial forts and indulging in its intensely flavoured cuisine. With such a wealth of attractions, figuring out where to go in Sri Lanka can be quite a task, although its relatively small size means you can fit a lot into a single trip.

We’ve covered the length and breadth of the island to uncover the best places to go in Sri Lanka – from the popular to those off the beaten track.

West coast of Sri Lanka

All visits to Sri Lanka currently begin at the international airport just outside Colombo , the island’s capital and far and away its largest city. It’s a sprawling metropolis whose contrasting districts offer an absorbing introduction to Sri Lanka’s myriad cultures and multi-layered history.

Many visitors head straight for one of the west coast’s beaches, whose innumerable resort hotels still power the country’s tourist industry. Destinations include the package holiday resorts of Negombo and Beruwala , the more stylish Bentota , and the old hippy hangout of Hikkaduwa.

More unspoilt countryside can be found north of Colombo at the Kalpitiya peninsula and in the vast Wilpattu National Park nearby, home to leopards, elephants and sloth bears.

South coast of Sri Lanka

Beyond Hikkaduwa, the south coast is significantly less developed. Gateway to the region is the marvellous old Dutch city of Galle , Sri Lanka’s finest colonial town. Beyond lies a string of fine beaches. These include the ever-expanding village of Unawatuna and the quieter stretches of coast at Weligama , Mirissa and Tangalla, as well as the lively provincial capital of Matara , boasting further Dutch remains. East of here, Tissamaharama serves as a convenient base for the outstanding Yala and Bundala national parks, and for the fascinating temple town of Kataragama.

The hill country

Inland from Colombo rise the verdant highlands of the hill country , enveloped in the tea plantations (first introduced by the British) which still play a vital role in the island’s economy. The symbolic heart of the region is Kandy , Sri Lanka’s second city and the cultural capital of the Sinhalese. Its colourful traditions are embodied by the famous Temple of the Tooth and the magnificent Esala Perahera, Sri Lanka’s most colourful festival .

South of here, close to the highest point of the island, lies the old British town of Nuwara Eliya , centre of the country’s tea industry and a convenient base for visits to the spectacular Horton Plains National Park . A string of towns and villages – Ella , Haputale and Bandarawela – along the southern edge of the hill country offer an appealing mixture of magnificent views, wonderful walks and olde-worlde British colonial charm. Close to the hill country’s southwestern edge, the soaring summit of Adam’s Peak is another of the island’s major pilgrimage sites. The gem-mining centre of Ratnapura to the south serves as the best starting point for visits to the elephant-rich Uda Walawe National Park and the rare tropical rainforest of Sinharaja .

The Fort, Galle © Shutterstock

The Cultural Triangle

North of Kandy, the hill country tumbles down into the arid plains of the northern dry zone. This area, known as the Cultural Triangle , was the location of Sri Lanka’s first great civilization, and its extraordinary scatter of ruined palaces, temples and dagobas still give a compelling sense of this glorious past. Foremost amongst these are the fascinating ruined cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa , the marvellous cave temples of Dambulla , the hilltop shrines and dagobas of Mihintale and the extraordinary rock citadel of Sigiriya .

One of Sri Lanka’s most popular and interesting nature reserves, Minneriya National Park , also lies within the region and on the route for the hundreds of elephants that migrate between various parks each year.

The east and the north

Gateway to the east is the characterful, if war-torn, city of Trincomalee . The east’s huge swathe of pristine coastline itself remains almost completely undeveloped, save for the sleepy villages of Nilaveli and Uppuveli, just north of Trinco, and the surfing centre of Arugam Bay , at the east coast’s southern end. But the construction of a huge new resort at Passekudah is likely to change that.

If you’re looking where to visit in Sri Lanka that’s even less visited, the north is slowly emerging after years of civil war. Increasing numbers of visitors are making the long journey to the absorbing city of Jaffna , while a side-trip to remote Mannar, closer to India than Colombo, is another adventurous possibility.

National parks and reserves in Sri Lanka

Almost 15 percent of the island is made up of national parks and reserves. They cover diverse terrain, and harbour a wealth of wildlife, while many are situated in areas of outstanding beauty. Sri Lanka’s huge biodiversity is also putting the island on the map for eco-tourism with fantastic eco-lodges and hotels gradually appearing.

Sri Lanka’s top 8 national parks and reserves:

• Yala – South of the island, bordering the Indian Ocean; home to a host of wildlife, including crocodiles, elephants and the highest density of leopards in the world.
• Horton Plains – Stunning scenery of grasslands and cloud forest at a height of over 2,000 metres in the central highlands. The cliffs at World’s End plunge dramatically to the lowlands below.
• Uda Walawe – Just south of Horton Plains; elephants are the main attraction (home to around 600). Other wildlife includes buffaloes, spotted and sambhur deer, crocodiles, macaque and langur monkeys.
• Bundala – Just south of Yala and a good alternative for escaping the crowds. Doesn’t have the range of wildlife as Yala, but a delight for birdwatchers. Also home to elephants, crocodiles, turtles and other fauna.
• Minneriya – An unusually wide range of wildlife considering its size. Elephants are the main attraction (highly visible at certain times of the year during migration between various parks – numbers peak in August and September when they come to drink from the reservoir). Other wildlife includes macaque and purple-faced langur monkeys, sloth bears and notoriously hard to spot leopards – only around 20 in all.
• Kaudulla – Also part of the migration route for elephants. The best time to visit is between August and December; numbers peak in September/October (around 200 gather to drink from the lake, the Kaudulla Tank).
• Wilpattu – The largest in Sri Lanka but closed for several years during the civil war. Poaching has reduced wildlife numbers, although the situation is gradually improving. More peaceful than the more famous parks, such as Yala. Once famous for its leopards and sloth bears, but harder to spot these days.
• Sinharaja Forest Reserve – UNESCO World Heritage-listed, a pocket of undisturbed tropical rainforest, home to a fantastic array of jungle wildlife.

Blue Magpie, Sinharaja National Park © Wright Out/Shutterstock

Discover more places in Sri Lanka

• The south Travel Guide

The weather in Sri Lanka

The climate is affected by two separate monsoons, meaning you can usually dodge the rain when you travel to Sri Lanka, as it will probably be dry somewhere on the island. The east is a mirror image of the west: when the southwest (“Yala”) monsoon hits the west and southwest, from April or May to September, the sun is shining in the east and northeast and vice versa. However, the northeast (“maha”) monsoon is generally lighter. In October and November, just before the maha monsoon, there is unsettled weather across the island. This means you might get caught in a downpour or thunderstorm wherever you are.

Bear in mind that there are variations in the general weather pattern, which means no two years are likely to be quite the same. But it’s a pretty safe bet that temperatures will be more or less constant. You can rely on an average temperature of 26–30˚(often higher) on the coast and the lowlands, dropping the higher up you go. So if you’re heading to Kandy , you can expect temperatures of 18˚–22˚, but only 14-16˚ in the hill country, such as Nuwara Eliya . And temperatures in the hills can drop to almost freezing at night, so make sure you pack extra layers.

Broadly speaking, in terms of the weather, the best time to visit the west and southwest of Sri Lanka, including the hill country, is December to March. If your itinerary is geared more towards the eastern side of the island, you’ll get the best conditions from around April or May to September.

Get more information on weather in Sri Lanka , including an average temperature and rainfall chart.

Festivals in Sri Lanka

When you visit Sri Lanka chances are there will be a festival in full swing or preparations for one will be underway. With four major religions coexisting on the island, each with its own calendar of festivals, as well as many public holidays, these events can be hard to avoid. You might be planning your itinerary to avoid the biggies, that seem to bring the island to a standstill, or you might want to be in the thick of it – to experience the real essence of Sri Lanka.

Here are just three of the big festivals that take place each year, which are also public holidays:

• Sinhalese and Tamil New Year – Very much a family festival, which marks the Lunar New Year (usually in April). Businesses are closed as the island enjoys festivities, games, and traditional foods.
• Vesak Poya – An important Buddhist festival in May celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Homes hang colourful lanterns outside, and pandals (panels depicting scenes from the life of Buddha) are displayed all over Sri Lanka.
• Kandy Esala Poya Perahera – Sri Lanka’s most extravagant festival, celebrating the Buddha’s first sermon and the arrival of the Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka, lasting ten days. Kandy comes alive with colourful spectacular processions of elephants, drummers and dancers and acrobats. Dates vary according to the Lunar calendar, but usually late July or August.

Leopard at Yala National Park © Marcin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock

Unless you arrive on a cruise ship, the only way to travel to Sri Lanka is to fly into Bandaranaike International Airport (BMI) at Katunayake, just north of Colombo . The best way to bag a good deal on the cost of a flight is to book as far ahead as possible, but fares tend to be pretty constant year-round.

Travelling to Sri Lanka from Europe

SriLankan airlines offers direct flights from the UK (London Heathrow); there are also indirect flights available travelling via the Gulf and India. Likewise, if you’re travelling to Sri Lanka from Ireland you can fly indirect from Dublin to Sri Lanka via cities in the Gulf – the other option is to make your way to Heathrow for a direct flight.

Travelling to Sri Lanka from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

If flying to Sri Lanka from the US you’ll have to make at least one stop; if coming from the east coast there are several one-stop options from New York, Boston and Toronto via the Gulf. Routes from the west coast go via east or Southeast Asia, as well as via the Gulf.

If you are coming from Australia direct flights are only available from Melbourne, otherwise you’re looking at a one-stop option. You can also take a one-stop flight from New Zealand.

Travelling to Sri Lanka from Asia

Sri Lanka is well served by carriers operating from other countries in South and Southeast Asia. There are also direct connections to many places in the Gulf.

Get more in-depth information on flights to Sri Lanka .

Getting around Sri Lanka is, on the whole, much quicker and easier than is used to be – with the long-overdue upgrade on the Expressway and improvements on the railway.

That said, away from the motorways and main train lines the going can be slow and, if travelling by bus, rather uncomfortable.

Getting around by bus

As a rule of thumb, buses are generally faster than trains for travelling around Sri Lanka, and a cheap way to get around. It’s the main means of transport, getting into those hard to reach corners of the island, although it can be a bit of a rough ride, with drivers careering around corners and the older buses giving a bit of a bone shaking experience.

Getting around by train

Going by train is more relaxed and can be a great way to take in the landscape, especially on the intercity services on the hill-country route from Colombo to Kandy and Badulla. These have a special carriage, or observation car, with large panoramic windows offering 360-degree views.

Improvements have been made on the rail network across the island and intercity lines have comfortable air-conditioned carriages. But getting around the hill country is still painfully slow.

Getting around by plane

Domestic air services provide a superfast alternative to long journeys by road or rail and are memorable in their own right, with frequently beautiful views of the island from above.

Getting around by car

You can drive yourself, but it’s definitely not the most relaxing way to get around Sri Lanka.

Although roads are generally in reasonable condition, the myriad hazards they present – crowds of pedestrians, erratic cyclists, crazed bus drivers and suicidal dogs, to name just a few – plus the very idiosyncratic set of road rules followed by Sri Lankan drivers, makes driving a challenge in many parts of the island.

For the greatest flexibility and not a great expense you could hire a car with a driver. Bear in mind that many drivers work on commission from hotels, restaurants and the like, which means they may be quite insistent on taking you to places where they get a payoff. Going with a reputable company is best: they pay drivers a decent wage so that they’re not reliant on commission.

Getting around by rickshaw

Rickshaws are a convenient and fun way to travel short distances in Sri Lanka, although journeys can be rather hair raising, the way they dodge in and out of fast-moving traffic. Make sure you set a fare with the driver before you set off.

Read more on getting around Sri Lanka : in-depth information on flights, buses, cars and trains.

Sigiriya Rock © Ryszard Stelmachowicz/Shutterstock

This unique tract of undisturbed tropical rainforest is a botanical treasure trove of global significance, with UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Sinharaja is just how you imagine a jungle to be: intense humidity, the cacophonous sounds of animals and insects, dense foliage and huge trees.

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most rewarding wildlife reserve, with marvellous scenery and abundant wildlife. You’ll most likely see elephants, and chances are you’ll catch sight of a leopard, as the park claims a higher concentration of these wild cats than anywhere in the world. Other animals with the wow factor include crocodiles and macaque and langur monkeys. For birdwatchers Yala is exceptional; if you visit from October to March you’ll see thousands of birds ending their migration from the north.

Mirissa ’s picturesque harbour is the jumping-off point for exhilarating boat trips to see one of Sri Lanka’s biggest attractions: blue whales. If you go on an excursion between December to April you’ll almost certainly see one of these magnificent creatures, and you may see both sperm whales and blue whales – as well as spinner dolphins.

The old Dutch quarter of Galle is Sri Lanka’s most perfectly preserved colonial townscape. Known as the fort, its time-warped streets are lined with historic Dutch colonial villas hidden behind formidable ramparts. Enjoy the laid back ambience by taking a stroll around the atmospheric streets and walls.

The east coast’s most appealing and easy-going beach hangout is Arugam Bay . Quirky cabanas, mangrove-fringed lagoons, and world class surfing are all on offer, and it’s a great jumping off point for excursions into the stunning surrounding countryside.

The spectacular rock outcrop of Sigiriya (“Lion Rock”) was the site of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable royal capital and palace, complete with ornate water gardens, paintings of celestial nymphs and 1300-year-old graffiti. Getting to the top of the Sigiriya Rock entails a pretty stiff climb and requires a decent head for heights in places.

Colombo ’s absorbing bazaar district is stuffed full of every conceivable type of merchandise with each street concentrating on particular goods, from colourful fabrics to jewellery, mobile phones to Ayurvedic herbs. Navigating the busy streets of the Pettah can only be done slowly, and the constant hubbub of crowds and vendors, and porters bustling their way through can feel like an overstimulation of the senses. But this is all part of the unique experience – there’s nowhere else in Sri Lanka quite like it.

The enchanting series of caves at Dambulla hold a treasure trove of Sinhalese Buddhist art, with shrines, superb murals and over a hundred Buddha statues. The caves are situated within the Cultural Triangle, making an ideal visit on the way to, or from, Sigiriya.

The ascent to the top of Adam’s Peak , one of the island’s most spectacular mountains, to see the Sacred Footprint is the classic Sri Lankan pilgrimage. Buddhists believe it is the footprint of Buddha, Hindus claim it is Shiva’s, while the Muslim version says it came from Adam. Make the journey at night for a chance to see spectacular views at dawn from the top. And if you go during the pilgrimage season between December and May, the route is illuminated and little tea shops are open through the night. The climb is a strenuous one, so some refreshment may just give you the energy to make it to the top.

Jaffna is unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. This lively town in the north offers insight into Sri Lankan Tamil culture and reveals much of its colonial and civil war past. Combine a visit with a trip to the islands off the tip of the Jaffna Peninsula. Kayts, Karaitivu, Nainativy and Delft include secluded beaches, colonial forts and remote Hindu temples.

Creating an itinerary for your visit to Sri Lanka will depend on what’s on your list for things to see and do. From relaxing beach holidays to activity-packed wildlife adventures, it’s possible to cover everything on your wishlist.

Travel ideas for Sri Lanka

Created by local experts

Sri Lanka: Off the Beaten Track

The ideal itinerary for everyone planning to go on a Sri Lankan adventure. Hike historic temples, become part of a Sri Lankan village for a day, visit tea factories, and many more activities included before spending the last few days relaxing on the beach.

Affordable Luxury

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage exploring stunning sunny beaches; lush green mountains; unspoilt forest trails and breath-taking world heritage sites. This all-encompassing itinerary includes accommodation, private transportation and a variety of excursions and activities.

Discover Sri Lanka

There is so much to see and do in Sri Lanka! This 10-day trip will take you around some of the most exciting parts of the country; spot Elephants in their natural habitat, discover the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and learn more about the famous Ceylon Tea plantations.

The Temples and Sacred Sites of Sri Lanka

Immerse yourself in the rich cultural and religious heritage of Sri Lanka with our tour of the region's most significant temples and other religious monuments. Visit Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and much more.

Sri Lanka Family Adventure

Discover Buddhist temples, impressive rock statues and fortresses, rolling green tea plantations and colonial homes. Get up close to elephants, noisy monkeys and turtles; relax on golden sandy beaches and simply enjoy a good rice and curry - Sri Lanka offers the ultimate family adventure.

Sri Lanka – Culture and Coast

Absorb Sri Lanka's ancient culture at Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, before heading deep into lush jungle plains for jeep safaris and encounters with wild elephants. Journey south to colourful Kandy with its temples and tea factories, followed by a relaxing stay on sandy southwest beaches.

The Grand tour is ideal if you have two-three weeks to visit the main attractions, as well as some of the lesser-visited sights. Our Wildlife and nature itinerary covers some of the best natural attractions on the island. It can be squeezed into a week, although a fortnight would give you more time to explore and even give you time to visit some of the places listed in the Grand tour itinerary. The Buddhism and beaches itinerary leans away from the obvious crowd pleasers and combines religion with culture and wildlife.

Below is a suggested itinerary covering some of the best places in the south of the island – ideal for first-time travellers with just a week to ten days, to explore.

First time in the south

Days 1 - 3: Galle

All flights arrive at Colombo , the capital of Sri Lanka. We recommend you head straight to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle . The wonderfully preserved colonial town reveals Dutch and Portuguese influences from the 18th century, and provides a good dose of culture to start your trip.

Days 3 - 5: Mirissa

Once you've wandered the markets and cafes in Galle, travel to picturesque Mirissa . You can easily spend two days swimming and relaxing on the beach. Whale-watching is a highlight and considered the best spot to see whales and dolphins in Sri Lanka.

Days 5 - 7: Talalla

Talalla’s unspoiled beach is popular with surfers. If waves aren’t your thing you could take part in yoga sessions – or simply notch up some more chill out time on its creamy-coloured sands.

Days 7 - 10: Yala National Park

Go on safari in Yala National Park . The guided jeep tours give your the chance to appreciate some of Sri Lanka's most beautiful wildlife, from magnificent elephants to the more elusive leopards.

Discover our other itineraries .

Golden Temple in Dambulla © Nuwan Liyanage/Shutterstock

From family-run guesthouses to budget hotels and luxury accommodation, boutique hotels in old colonial buildings and eco lodges, when you’re looking at where to stay in Sri Lanka, you should be able to find accommodation to suit your budget.

Prices in coastal areas tend to vary according to the seasons, especially along the west coast, (usually by between 25 and 50 percent) from November 1 through to mid- or late-April.

Get further information on accommodation : types of accommodation, room rates, how to find a room, best places to stay in Sri Lanka (eco-lodges and hotels).

Travel advice for Sri Lanka

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting Sri Lanka

• Crime and personal safety tips Sri Lanka
• Culture and Etiquette in Sri Lanka
• Eating and drinking in Sri Lanka
• Getting around Sri Lanka: Transportation Tips
• Travel Health Sri Lanka
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Sri Lanka
• Tips and travel advice for Sri Lanka
• Best time to visit Sri Lanka

We’ve put together some tips and advice for travelling to Sri Lanka.

How safe is Sri Lanka?

Following the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka in April 2019, governments of the UK, US and Australia have downgraded their travel warnings. Tourists are no longer being advised not to travel to Sri Lanka, although the British Foreign Office warns visitors to “remain vigilant”. Many other countries have also relaxed travel restrictions to Sri Lanka. Check your government’s advice before you travel.

Other issues of safety

Taking sensible precautions against theft is always a good idea, although it’s worth mentioning that petty theft in Sri Lanka is lower than in other Asian countries as well as most European and American cities, and muggings and violence against foreigners is rare. Simple measures to protect against theft include: using safes in hotels and guesthouses for your valuables; avoiding dark beaches at night (especially women travellers). Also keep a copy of important information, such as passports and insurance details.

The most common cause of accidental death in Sri Lanka is traffic related, followed by drowning. Currents can be seriously strong, water suddenly deep, and there are no lifeguards on the beaches. Always check local advice before going into the water.

Wildlife doesn’t usually pose a great threat. However, there are crocodiles in Sri Lanka, so keep away from areas crocodile inhabited waters, and if you are bitten by a snake, seek medical help immediately. Wear sturdy footwear, socks and long trousers if walking through heavy undergrowth.

Read more on safety in Sri Lanka : swimming safety, avoiding scammers and con artists, reporting a crime, travel advisories.

Entry requirements

Unless you’re from the Maldives or Singapore you’ll need a visa (ETA) to visit Sri Lanka. You can buy a visa valid for 30 days in advance online; a 90-day visa can be obtained by post or by visiting the nearest embassy/consulate. Your passport must be valid for six months after you arrive. Always check with your local embassy/consulate for the most up-to-date information regarding entry requirements before travel. Foreign embassies and consulates are virtually all based in Colombo.

Get more information on visa requirements in Sri Lanka.

Costs and money

Sri Lanka is not as cheap as some other countries in South and Southeast Asia, but if you go for budget options with accommodation and eating out, and use buses and trains, rather than hiring a car and driver, it can still be inexpensive. If you opt for luxury accommodation and a driver for your stay it’s possible to spend around $500 a day.

Worth noting:

• Various government taxes are sometimes added on to hotel and restaurant charges so best check beforehand what’s included.
• Tourist prices apply for admission to various attractions; for example, the entrance fee to a national park or site within the Cultural Triangle may cost you around $25, but for a local it costs around 25 cents or free entry respectively.
• It’s worth bargaining for everything – from a rickshaw ride to a room in a guesthouse, as prices aren’t usually fixed, but be courteous when haggling – a few rupees here and there will make a big difference to a local living on a handful of dollars a day.
• Tipping is a way of life in Sri Lanka.

Read more on costs and money : daily costs, bargaining, tipping etiquette, tourist prices, etc.

Hygiene standards in Sri Lanka are reasonable, medical care is decent and Sri Lanka was officially declared free of malaria by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 (there’s no guarantee the disease won’t reappear, so check with WHO before travel. Nevertheless, it is a tropical country with the usual tropical diseases. Make sure you have travel insurance to cover against illness or injury (as well as theft and loss).

Simple health precautions to take include:

• Be up to date with the following vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A. Other jabs you might consider are tuberculosis, meningitis and typhoid.
• Avoid drinking tap water. Although chlorinated and generally safe, unfamiliar micro-organisms can lead to upset stomachs. Also avoid ice.
• Stick to hot food that has been freshly prepared; avoid salads (likely washed in tap water) and food that has been sitting out for some time.
• If you have diarrhoea chances are it’s food or drink related and will only last a few days. Stay hydrated and take oral rehydration tablets if the problem is severe. Get medical help if you have diarrhoea that persists longer than five days, if there is blood in your stools, or you have a fever – possible symptoms of giardiasis or amoebic dysentery.
• Try to avoid being bitten by mosquitos – they can carry diseases such as dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.
• Wear light-coloured clothing that covers you and sleep under a net. Repellents in spray form, mosquito coils, as well as plug-in devices, are available.

If bitten by a snake get medical attention immediately. Wear proper shoes or boots, socks and long trousers if walking through heavy undergrowth.

Read more on health in Sri Lanka : information on vaccinations, health care in Sri Lanka, water and food, diarrhoea, dysentery and giardiasis, mosquitos and tropical diseases, marine hazards, hepatitis, rabies, other diseases, dangerous animals and insects.

Idi appa (string hoppers) with egg curry © bonchan/Shutterstock

Reflecting its geographical position, local traditions combined with a colonial imprint, as well as locally grown tropical fruit and fresh seafood, cuisine in Sri Lanka is a culinary delight. Nuanced flavours are a result of a wealth of spices, featuring in everything from curries to sambols and chutneys, while coconut, in myriad forms, appears in the majority of dishes.

Seven different foods to try in Sri Lanka:

• Rice and curry The staple food in Sri Lanka, akin to the curries of South India and South Asia. Often includes “Maldive fish” (a strong-flavoured pinch of sun-dried tuna). Meat or fish curry served with dahl is standard; various side dishes include curried pineapple, curries of sweet potato, garlic, and jackfruit. Pol sambol (coconut sambol ), is a common accompaniment – a combination of onion, chilli powder, Maldive fish and salt.
• kottu rotty A classic street food ubiquitous on the island. Essentially chopped rotty , (or roti), a fine, doughy pancake, stir-fried with vegetables, meat, or egg.
• Hopper ( appa ) Small, bowl-shaped pancakes (traditionally made from a batter containing coconut milk and palm toddy), with various ingredients in the middle, such as fried egg (egg hopper). Often eaten at breakfast with dahl or curry.
• String hopper ( idi appa ), nests of steamed rice vermicelli noodles, also usually eaten at breakfast with dahl or curry.
• Pittu A combination of flour and grated coconut, steamed in a cylindrical bamboo mould – resembling coarse couscous. Can be sweet (served with ghee and sugar), or savoury, such as with mutton curry.
• Lamprais Rice baked in a plantain leaf; accompaniments include chicken or a boiled egg, plus some veg and pickle.
• Vadai ( wadai ) A popular street food of spicy doughnut of deep-fried lentils. A familiar sound is the hawker’s cry of “ vadai-vadai-vadai !”, on trains and buses.

Read more on food in Sri Lanka including: where to eat, costs and tipping, specialities, seafood, desserts and sweets.

Water, soft drinks, tea and coffee

It’s best to avoid tap water. The usual soft drinks are available, such as Coca-Cola and the like; firm favourites are locally produced ginger beer and cream soda, and coconut water is widely available.

Coffee has always played second fiddle to tea, although most tea served in Sri Lanka is surprisingly bland, considering it’s the national drink.

Alcoholic drinks

Lager and arrack are the island’s staple forms of alcohol, Lion Lager being the most common brand. Arrack has a very high alcohol content and is produced by distilling toddy, a drink made by fermenting the sap from the flower of the coconut – sold informally in villages around the country.

Read more about drinking in Sri Lanka : soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, buying drinks, where to drink.

Traditional stilt fishing near Galle © Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock

Although Sri Lanka has a history of fine craftsmanship you’ll find much of the arts and crafts on offer is just mass produced and shoddily made. However, there are exceptions, especially in Colombo, where you can find quality goods – from books to tea and clothing. The general rule of thumb is the more informal the retail outlet the more scope there is for haggling. So you’ll likely get a greater bargain with a hawker on the beach, than an established shop, although asking if there’s a “special price” might get you a better price. Note that buying coral or any other marine product is illegal (it contributes directly to the destruction of the island’s fragile ocean environment). Also, you’ll need a licence to export antiques (anything over fifty years old).Here are some of the traditional crafts and other items you’ll find in Sri Lanka.

• Painted masks Originally designed to be worn during kolam dances or exorcism ceremonies, and on sale wherever there are tourists. The centre of mask production is Ambalangoda – a number of large shops sell a wide range of designs, some of heirloom quality.
• Elephant carvings Ranging from small wooden creatures to the elegant stone carvings sold at places like Paradise Road in Colombo.
• Batiks Introduced by the Dutch from Indonesia; widespread in Sri Lanka.
• Gems and jewellery Uncut gems are available in the gem-mining centre of Ratnapura, but watch out for fakes. Gem and jewellery shops are widespread – the main concentrations are in Negombo, Galle and Colombo, including large chains, such as Zam Gems or Sifani. For silver and gold jewellery try Sea Street in Colombo’s Pettah District.
• Metalwork Long been produced in the Kandy area, although intricately embossed metal objects such as dishes, trays, candlesticks and other objects can be found throughout Sri Lanka.
• Leatherwork Good quality hats, boots, bags, etc.
• Lacquerware Speciality of the Matale region.
• Carrom boards A kind of hybrid of pool, marbles and draughts (checkers) played throughout Sri Lanka.
• Wooden models of tuktuks Most commonly found in Negombo, but also available in Colombo and elsewhere.
• Lace Galle is the centre of lacework
• Buddha figurines Wood or stone Buddha carvings of varying standards are common.

The best (and cheapest) place to buy tea is in a local supermarket; Cargills supermarkets have a good selection, including unblended single-estate teas. The specialist Mlesna tea shop chain has branches in Colombo, Kandy, Bandarawela and at the airport, although they concentrate on more touristy offerings including boxed tea sets, flavoured teas and the like.

Top image: Golden Buddha Statue. UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Sri Lanka © Lyubov Timofeyeva/Shutterstock

No animal is as closely identified with Sri Lanka as the elephant – and few other countries offer such a wide range of opportunities to see them both in captivity and in the wild. The kings of Anuradhapura used them to pound down the foundations of their city’s huge religious monuments, while the rulers of Kandy employed them to execute prisoners by trampling them to death. During the Dutch era they helped tow barges and move heavy artillery, and under the British they were set to clearing land for tea plantations – even today, trained elephants are used to move heavy objects in places inaccessible to machinery. Elephants also play an integral role in many of the island’s religious festivals, and remain revered creatures – killing an elephant was formerly a capital offence, while the death of the great Maligawa Tusker Raja in 1998 prompted the government to declare a national day of mourning.

Buddhism runs deep in Sri Lanka. The island was one of the first places to convert to the religion, in 247 BC, and has remained unswervingly faithful in the two thousand years since. As such, Sri Lanka is often claimed to be the world’s oldest Buddhist country, and Buddhism continues to permeate the practical life and spiritual beliefs of the majority of the island’s Sinhalese population.

Buddhist temples can be found everywhere, often decorated with superb shrines, statues and murals, while the sight of Sri Lanka’s orange-robed monks is one of the island’s enduring visual images. Buddhist places of pilgrimage – the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy, the revered “footprint” of the Buddha at Adam’s Peak, and the Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura – also play a vital role in sustaining the faith, while the national calendar is punctuated with religious holidays and festivals ranging from the monthly full-moon poya days through to more elaborate annual celebrations, often taking the form of enormous processions (peraheras), during which locals parade through the streets.

The Rough Guides to Sri Lanka and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find even more inspiration for Sri Lanka here

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 06.06.2024

Ready to travel and discover Sri Lanka?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

• Travel & Holiday
• Specialty Travel

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the authors

Lonely Planet Sri Lanka (Travel Guide) Paperback – 16 Jan. 2015

There is a newer edition of this item:.

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher

Lonely Planet Sri Lanka is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Follow in the footsteps of Buddha and modern-day pilgrims to the summit of Adam's Peak, wander the crumbling ruins and lost cities of the cultural triangle in the heart of the island or explore undiscovered beaches on the recently reopened east coast; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Sri Lanka and begin your journey now!

Inside Lonely Planet's Sri Lanka Travel Guide:

• Colour maps and images throughout
• Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
• Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
• Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
• Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
• Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - tea, cuisine, wildlife, history
• More than 50 maps
• Covers Colombo, Galle, South, West and East coasts, the hill country, Jaffna, the ancient cities and more

Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Stuart Butler, Iain Stewart.

About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves.

• Print length 336 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Lonely Planet
• Publication date 16 Jan. 2015
• Dimensions 13 x 1.8 x 19.8 cm
• ISBN-10 1742208029
• ISBN-13 978-1742208022
• See all details

What do customers buy after viewing this item?

Product description

From the back cover, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lonely Planet; 13th edition (16 Jan. 2015)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1742208029
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1742208022
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 1.8 x 19.8 cm
• 7,214 in Specialty Travel
• 39,328 in Home & Garden (Books)

About the authors

Ryan ver berkmoes.

Growing up, my mom shuttled us between our home in California and her original home in Indiana. By age five I was ordering my family around O'Hare International Airport as we changed planes. Obviously the experience stuck as I've been traveling since. I worked as a journalist for many years, covering everything from wars to bars - obviously I prefer the latter. I've been writing travel guidebooks since the mid-1990s and have worked on over 110. I've covered places from glaciers in the Arctic to the beaches of Bali. From New York City to London to San Francisco to Melbourne. I've lived around the globe.

In writing my books, I try to be the good local friend every reader wishes they have, telling them both what not to miss and what to definitely miss. I look for places and details that you won't find elsewhere, which will elevate your trip way above the norm. And I try to have fun doing it. I hope everyone using one of my books has a fantastic journey, well beyond changing planes at O'Hare. Read more at www.ryanverberkmoes.com

Lonely Planet

With over 150 million guidebooks in print, Lonely Planet is a trusted source for any traveler. Since our inception in 1973, we've inspired generations of travelers to discover amazing places and enabled curious travelers to get off the beaten paths to appreciate different cultures and become agents of positive change.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 60% 26% 6% 5% 3% 60%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 60% 26% 6% 5% 3% 26%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 60% 26% 6% 5% 3% 6%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 60% 26% 6% 5% 3% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 60% 26% 6% 5% 3% 3%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the guide very informative, helpful, and up-to-date. They say it provides information on just about everything and is a great help for planning. Readers also mention it's easy to read, clearly written, and concise.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book very informative, helpful, and up-to-date. They say it provides information on just about everything and is a great help to their planning. Readers appreciate the good suggestions for people on a time restraint. They also mention the maps and information on transport links are useful. Reader also mention that the tips are good and the basic information about all types of accommodation is good.

"...I find these books very useful for city maps and information on transport links between cities...." Read more

"... Good suggestions for people on a time restraint. Colourful and broken down into simple sections that are clearly written...." Read more

"...This is an excellent guide, it provides information on just about everything you can think of, from restaurants, prices for public transport and..." Read more

"Really happy with this travel guide. Lots of great information that I found useful when planning my holiday...." Read more

Customers find the book easy to read. They say it contains simple sections that are clearly written. Readers also mention the advice is clear and concise.

"...Colourful and broken down into simple sections that are clearly written ...." Read more

"... Great to read up on places /areas before heading off on trips. Thoroughly recommend." Read more

"...with all LP books this has the required information, well laid out and clear and concise advice. Not too heavy either!!" Read more

"Good basic information about Sri Lanka- easily read and contains about right amount of information on sights and features." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the quality of the accommodation. They mention the prices are wrong and there isn't much variety of price ranges.

"...I appreciate it is the high season now. ..but even so, quite a lot of prices are incorrect already I.e Uda Walawe national park entry price...." Read more

"... Not much variety of price range accommodation , hopefully will be different when I get there! Delivered well before I expected it though." Read more

"An essential, however most of the accomodation prices stated were wrong . And descriptions of most thing were overly glamourised...." Read more

Reviews with images

Best for sightseeing

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• UK Modern Slavery Statement
• Sustainability
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Sell on Amazon Launchpad
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect and build your brand
• Associates Programme
• Fulfilment by Amazon
• Seller Fulfilled Prime
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Instalments by Barclays
• The Amazon Barclaycard
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Payment Methods Help
• Shop with Points
• Top Up Your Account
• Top Up Your Account in Store
• COVID-19 and Amazon
• Track Packages or View Orders
• Delivery Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Amazon Mobile App
• Customer Service
• Accessibility
• Conditions of Use & Sale
• Privacy Notice
• Cookies Notice
• Interest-Based Ads Notice

• We Plan Your Trip!
• Travel with Charlie
• Shopping Cart
• +1 562 455-9896
• CharlieTheTraveler
• Sign In / Join

• North America & Caribbean
• South America
• Other Destinations
• Popular Themes
• Terms, Conditions & Privacy

Live Chat Now

How can we help? (required) 800 Please shorten your message.

Name (required)

Email Address (required)

Phone Number (optional)

CharlieTheTraveler is headquartered in California. One of our team members will respond to you via email as quickly as possible. Please look out for our personalized message.

+1 562 455-9896 WhatsApp

[email protected]

Travel Guide to Sri Lanka

Featuring palm-fringed beaches, jungles home to leopards, elephants and rare bird species, tea plantations, colorful food, Buddhist temples, ancient ruins, and over 2,000 years of history, Sri Lanka is nothing short of an exotic island. No wonder why the Malay, Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, and British all wanted to settle here at some point. Now add into the mix inviting natives, happy backpackers, and cheap prices. Choosing Sri Lanka as your next destination would definitely be a smart choice.

List Price: $ 14.99 Original price was: $14.99. $ 9.99 Current price is: $9.99. Available for immediate download or online reading

You have already placed into your shopping cart the option to have access to all e-books. You must remove it in order to switch over to the option to purchase e-books individually.

Travel Guide to Western Europe

Travel Guide to Eastern & Southeastern Europe

Travel Guide to Southeast & Northeast Asia

Travel Guide to South America

Travel Guide to Mexico & the Caribbean

The Tricks Only Travel Experts Know

Testimonials.

Thanks so much for your helpful insights on Sri Lanka. I followed your itinerary to the letter and had a great time. You know how to decipher the customs in such a way that you make it easy for your followers to make friends wherever they go. Your itinerary saved me money, and my cousin who used it after me said it helped him avoid getting ripped off on a taxi ride.

You really have to know your stuff to travel to Sri Lanka and have a positive experience. It’s not because there’s something wrong with the country. It’s because the good stuff is somewhat hard to find. Your expertise is pretty impressive, especially since you’re also the author of several other itineraries. You have no idea how valuable your information is to a world that is getting smaller. Sooner or later we are all going to have to get to know one another.

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• 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!

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

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.

• Guided and Escorted Tours

Sri Lanka Guided Tours 2024/2025

Experience the best of Sri Lanka with our Sri Lanka-guided tours designed especially for travelers who value expert guidance and assistance throughout their journey. With knowledgeable guides by your side, you'll have access to insider tips, safety assurance, and expert navigation, leaving you to relax and soak up the beauty of Sri Lanka. Explore ancient archaeological sites, such as the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress or the sacred city of Anuradhapura, as your guide shares captivating stories and historical context. Discover the wildlife of Sri Lanka’s national parks, with an expert guide leading you to the best spots for encountering elephants, leopards, and a myriad of colorful bird species. Your guide will also help you bargain for unique souvenirs in the bustling stalls of Colombo. With everything taken care of, our guided tours to Sri Lanka offer unparalleled convenience.

Build a personalized itinerary for a more delightful travel experience with a customized trip to Sri Lanka . Or check out our guided tours for Sri Lanka below.

Showing  118 Trips in Sri Lanka  with 713 Reviews

• Most Popular
• Lowest Price First
• Highest Price First
• Lowest Duration First
• Highest Duration First
• Highest Discount

We use cookies to analyze traffic and give you personalized content and ads. It's an essential part of giving you a great site experience. Click on the 'Accept' button if you agree with our use of tracking and analytical cookies. Please refer to our  Cookie Policy  for more information.

Premium Sri Lanka

Discover Sri Lanka

Best of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Experience

Cycle the Back Roads of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Express

Off The Beaten Path

Colombo, Caves & Kandy - 8 days

Sri Lanka Uncovered

Sri Lankan Highlights

Sri Lanka Adventure Escape

Romantic Escape, Private Tour

Sri Lanka Encompassed

Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure

• Budget Tours
• Luxury Tours

Sri Lanka Guided and Escorted Tour Reviews

• Sri Lanka Tours
• Sri Lanka Eco Tours
• Sri Lanka Tours for Young Adults
• Sri Lanka Solo Trips
• Sri Lanka Tours for Senior Citizens
• Sri Lanka Tours for Mature Travelers
• Sri Lanka Family Tour Packages
• Sri Lanka Travel Deals
• Sri Lanka Group Tours
• Sri Lanka Private Tours
• Sri Lanka Small Group Tours
• Sri Lanka Budget Tours
• Sri Lanka Last Minute Deals
• Sri Lanka Tailor-made Vacation Packages
• Sri Lanka Luxury Tours
• Sri Lanka Customized Tours
• Sri Lanka Tour Operators

Popular Destinations

• Colombo Tours
• Negombo Tours
• Kandy Tours
• Sigiriya Tours
• Dambulla Tours
• Bentota Tours
• Galle Tours
• Anuradhapura Tours
• Unawatuna Tours
• Udawalawe Tours
• Hikkaduwa Tours
• Yala National Park Tours
• Mirissa Tours

Popular Activities

• Active and outdoor Tours
• Adventure Tours
• Art and architecture Tours
• Beach Tours
• Bicycle Tours
• City sightseeing Tours
• Cultural, religious and historic sites Tours
• Explorer Tours
• Farm and plantation visits Tours
• Getaways and short breaks Tours
• Local culture Tours
• National parks Tours
• Natural landmarks sightseeing Tours
• Safari Tours
• Wildlife Tours
• Wildlife safaris and game drives Tours

Upcoming Departures

• Winter tours
• Spring tours
• Summer tours
• September 2024 tours
• October 2024 tours
• November 2024 tours
• December 2024 tours
• January 2025 tours
• February 2025 tours
• March 2025 tours
• April 2025 tours
• May 2025 tours
• June 2025 tours
• July 2025 tours
• August 2025 tours
• September 2025 tours
• October 2025 tours
• November 2025 tours
• December 2025 tours
• January 2026 tours
• February 2026 tours
• March 2026 tours
• April 2026 tours
• June 2026 tours
• July 2026 tours
• August 2026 tours
• September 2026 tours

Trips per Duration

• 1 day tours
• 3 days tours
• 4 days tours
• 5 days tours
• 6 days tours
• 1 week tours
• 8 days tours
• 9 days tours
• 10 days tours
• 11 days tours
• 12 days tours
• 2 weeks tours
• 15 days tours

Trending Travel Guides

• Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka
• Great Sri Lanka Itineraries: How Many Days to Spend?
• 7 Days in Sri Lanka: Our Recommendations
• 2 Weeks in Sri Lanka: Our Recommendations
• 10 Days in Sri Lanka: Top 3 Recommendations
• Sri Lanka in January: Weather and Wildlife
• Sri Lanka in September: Weather and Travel Tips
• Sri Lanka in February: Beach Weather and Excursions
• Sri Lanka in October: Weather, Tips & City Tours
• Sri Lanka in July: Season of Monsoon and Mists
• Sri Lanka in April: Perfect Travel Weather
• Sri Lanka in June: Strong Hold of the Yala Monsoon
• Sri Lanka in August: The Last of the Yala Monsoon
• Sri Lanka in May: Travel Opportunities in the Monsoon
• Sri Lanka in December: Tropical Holiday, Sun and Rain
• Sri Lanka in November: Transitioning to Monsoon
• Sri Lanka in March: Weather and Destination Tips
• Things to do in Sri Lanka

Cycle Sri Lanka

14 days | discover a world of spice and splendour on a cycling trip across sri lanka.

Guided by an expert local leader, this 10-day cycling trip through Sri Lanka will take you to tea plantations, fishing villages, national parks, cities and lush green jungles. From Negombo to Colombo, you’ll see why Sri Lanka is Asia’s most exciting new destination. With pristine coastline, ancient ruins, rugged peaks and wildlife-filled national parks, it’s a dream for travellers who like to get active. In between two-wheeled treks, you can go on safari to spot leopards, take on optional food crawls, laze on the beaches of the southern coast, ride the rails (a must in Sri Lanka), explore the country’s premier Hindu and Buddhist sites, and see the famed UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya. With days of riding and nights of feasting, Sri Lanka will soon make its way to your heart.

Trip overview

• Ride to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya – an ancient rock fortress surrounded by lush greenery. Climb the stairs of Lion Rock and be rewarded for your efforts with a morning breakfast at the top with panoramic views.
• Cycle to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Anuradhapura and enjoy a guided bicycle tour of the ancient city, riding through woodlands, exploring the ruins and getting a peek of the sacred old Bo Tree.
• Step back in time as you explore Sri Lanka’s most important religious and heritage sites, including the Temple of Tooth Relic and Kataragama.
• Join optional food crawls in most locations and connect with the best local street food – from the freshly caught seafood of Negombo to the pulsing night markets of Colombo, this is the best way to experience Sri Lanka’s food cuisine.
• After cycling through cities, national parks and historic sites, take the chance to relax on the sandy beaches of the southern coast. Go swimming in the clear waters, take an optional cycle to nearby Weligama to see the colourful fishing boats selling their catch on the shore and watch the sunset.
• By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
• To complete this trip, it’s important that you’re both confident and competent in riding a bicycle. As the riding is mostly on sealed roads in varying states of repair, with the occasional gravel path, no technical cycling skills are required. But some downhill practice is a great idea before your trip.
• While the cycling distances on this trip are relatively short, the terrain of Sri Lanka is naturally hilly, so you’ll need to be reasonably fit, especially given the warm climate. This applies to the included activities which can add to the potential fatigue. The support vehicle will always be there if you need to take a break for an hour or a day.
• On this trip you have an expert cycling leader as well as a cycling guide/mechanic with you.
• Sri Lankan summers are very hot, with short, sharp monsoons in the southwest. Be sure to use adequate sun protection and drink plenty of water. The weather in this region also varies seasonally, so be prepared to get sweaty, and experience the occasional rainstorm, which may lead to a change of plans.
• If you have issues with heights, you might like to opt out of climbing the Lion Rock at Sigiriya (Day 6). There are lots of rough, narrow steps and tight walkways here.
• If you feel like doing all the riding but with less effort, you can hire an electric bike (e-bike) on this trip.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo, close to the airport. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5:30 pm tonight, but if you arrive early, you can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka by observing the local fishing craft in the town. Maybe feast on fresh seafood or rent a bike from the hotel reception and explore the surrounding countryside on two wheels. Tonight, your leader will have great recommendations for local dinner spots.

• Hotel (1 night)

There are no meals included on this day.

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Rise early and have some breakfast at the hotel, then start your cycling adventure with a test-ride through the city streets. Cycle from Negombo to Chilaw, through fishing villages, the scenic Dutch canal, coconut plantations and various tile factories. Sit down for a picnic lunch when you arrive in Chilaw. After, hop aboard a coach and travel to Anuradhapura. Here, you can settle into your hotel, relax and perhaps take a swim in the pool. You have the option of joining a 'food crawl' through the streets and markets of Anuradhapura tonight – this is a great chance to sample some tasty local cuisine.

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your cycling distance will be approximately 47km (29 mi) on mostly flat roads with about 150 m (500 ft) of elevation gain.

After breakfast, cycle to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Anuradhapura for a guided bicycle tour of the ancient city. Among the ruins you'll see the sacred old Bo Tree – a spiritual reminder of the beginnings of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the inspiration for Anuradhapura's great buildings. The ruins themselves are spread over quite a large area, with some in woodland settings and others appearing more cultivated with columns and ponds dotted throughout. Visit the impressive Isurumuniya Temple and the Anuradhapura Museum, then sit down with your group for a local lunch. Return to the hotel for a free afternoon and evening.

• Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple
• Anuradhapura - World Heritage Site of ancient kingdom ruins
• Anuradhapura - Isurumuniya Temple

Your cycling distance will be approximately 25 kms (16 mi) on mostly flat roads with about 120 m (390 ft) of elevation gain.

Cycle from Anuradhapura to Ritigala this morning, passing rice paddies, man-made water tanks and jungle scenery. Have some lunch along the way at a countryside kiosk then visit the beautiful Ritigala monastery, which dates back nearly 2000 years and is named after the mountain on which it sits. After exploring the site and learning a thing or two about its local mythology, board a coach and travel to Polonnaruwa. When you arrive, take the opportunity to relax and recharge.

• Ritigala Monastery Entrance

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. Your cycling distance will be approximately 45 km (28 mi) on mostly flat roads with about 180m (590 ft) of elevation gain.

Saddle up for a morning ride to Polonnaruwa – the second oldest kingdom in Sri Lanka. Visit the Vihara Temple, Parakrama Statue and Siva Temple while you explore the site, then cycle to Diyabeduma. The scenery along the way includes sanctuaries, man-made channels and farmlands. Refuel with a picnic lunch then travel from to Dambulla by coach. In the evening, you'll visit the Dambulla wholesale vegetable market, where there will be an option to join in on a local food crawl.

• Polonnaruwa ancient ruins

Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. Your cycling distance will be approximately 54 km (34 mi) on mostly flat roads with about 340m (1100 ft) of elevation gain.

Early this morning, you’ll cycle from your hotel in Dambulla to Sigiriya – this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to an ancient rock fortress that sits 200 m high among the surrounding gardens and reservoirs. Along the way, see the water garden, the boulder garden, the mirror wall and Sigiriya's frescos. You’ll want your camera today as the image of this site against the skyline is one to remember. Hike to the top of the fortress and enjoy some well-earned breakfast at the peak, taking in the panoramic views. After, jump back on your bike and pedal your way through the countryside, stopping for lunch at a spice garden near Matale. Enjoy a rest in the support vehicle as you drive the final leg to Kandy. Tonight, you’ll be treated to a traditional Kandyan dance performance – an insight into an age-old culture.

• Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit
• Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance - USD7

Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. Your cycling distance will be approximately 45km (28mi) on mostly flat roads with about 245 m (800ft) of elevation gain.

The visit to Lion Rock takes around 3.5 hours. It will be a steep climb with plenty of steps and walkways along the side of the rock. Those not wanting to go to the top can rest at the lion's paw until the rest of the group returns.

After breakfast at the hotel, you have the option to either head out for some extra cycling in the Hanthana Mountain Range (weather/time permitting) or stay in Kandy and explore. Later this morning, you’ll head to Giragama for a guided tour of a tea factory, learning about how Sri Lanka's favourite drink is made and sampling some of the delicious varieties. For lunch, visit the Hela Bojun Restaurant – a social enterprise founded by the agriculture ministry of the Sri Lankan government to provide employment for women from local communities while training and empowering them. Try some Sri Lankan dishes prepared by the women while learning a little more about the restaurant and their important mission. The rest of the afternoon is free. Tonight, visit the Temple of Tooth Relic – the most important Buddhist site in the country – then return to town for a food crawl.

• Kandy - Temple of the Tooth
• Kandy - Hela Bojun social enterprise lunch
• Giragama Tea Factory Tour

No included riding today but optional rides are available - just ask your leader. The tea factory will be closed on poya (the full moon) days and public holidays.

Transfer to Kandy railway station after breakfast this morning. From the station, you’ll embark on a scenic train trip from Kandy to Hatton, where you’ll then cycle to Maskeliya. Ride through leafy tea plantations to your lunch spot, where you’ll enjoy an authentic Tamil meal from a local kiosk. Check into your guesthouse, then relax this afternoon. If you like, you can take on an optional trek of Adam's Peak – a conical, snow-capped mountain that sits at 2243 m high. The pilgrimage season runs from late May to early December and is a fascinating time to visit.

• Scenic train ride from Kandy to Hatton

Your cycling distance will be approximately 40 kms (25 mi) on roads with a light climb, turning to mostly downhill, with about 550 m (1800 ft) of elevation gain.

Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but on the rare occasion that we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle. The Adam's Peak trekking option is usually best done from late May to early December, with December and January having the best weather, but due to inclement weather and safety concerns it can be cancelled at any time.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before cycling down from Bogawanthalawa to Balangoda. This is a short ride but one of the most beautiful stretches of road in Sri Lanka, following a path along the tea plantations and pine forest passes. Alongside mountainous views, you’ll cycle through tall trees, lush vegetation and serene landscapes with a soundtrack of birdsong. Maybe see some trickling waterfalls before stopping among the green slopes of Balangoda for lunch. Then, transfer to Tissamaharama. When you arrive, wind down at your hotel and share stories over a group dinner.

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your cycling distance will be approximately 25km (15 mi) mostly uphill with about 565m (1850ft) of elevation gain.

Cycle the tree lines roads through villages from Tissamaharama to Kataragama after breakfast. The holy city of Kataragama is a colourful and vibrant religious centre that rivals Adam's Peak in terms of national importance. This is where the two-week Kataragama Festival attracts thousands of Hindus and tourists each year in July/August. After, take a jeep ride through the beautiful Yala National Park – home to elephants, crocodiles and waterbirds like the great thick-knee. Yala also lays claim to one of the world's highest concentration of leopards! Return to Tissamaharama for the night where you’ll sit down for a group dinner.

• Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari

Your cycling distance will be approximately 26km (16 mi) on lightly undulating roads with about 160 m (530 ft) of elevation gain.

Overtourism and lack of sustainable management practices have become a major concern for us in continuing to visit Yala. In order to reduce our impact on wildlife and the environment we are trialling visiting a less touristed section of Yala, known as Block 5. Should we determine that high tourist numbers at Block 5 also make it difficult to continue visiting responsibly, we will change our itinerary to visit Udawalawe National Park, where wild elephants, wild buffalo, sambar deer and leopards also reside.

In September and October, when Yala National Park is closed annually for infrastructure development and rejuvenation, we follow the alternate itinerary of Bundala National Park.

After breakfast, cycle from Tissamaharama to Hambantota via Bundala National Park. After lunch at Hambantota, continue to Mirissa on your bike. You’ll have a free afternoon of beach time in Mirissa, where you can chill out and swim. The beach itself is a long curve of sand with clear waters, perfect for taking a dip and watching the sunset. You can also cycle to nearby Weligama, where the colourful fishing boats bring fresh fish to sell along the shore. The local cottage industry of lace products is also well worth a look if you’re seeking something authentic to bring home.

Your cycling distance will be approximately 41kms (25mi) on mostly flat roads with about 30 m (100ft) of elevation gain.

Enjoy a free morning to relax or if you like, go whale-watching (this activity is more successful from November through to April). Later, you’ll drive to Galle, stopping near the Galle Fort entrance on the way to meet with a local artisan Mr Sunil. A traditional woodcarving expert, he will take you through a practical demonstration of the craft and encourage you to give it a go yourself. When you arrive in Galle – home to an impressive World Heritage-listed Dutch fort with extensive walls and many old buildings – spend the evening exploring. Take a stroll around the historic fort and watch the sunset from the ramparts before driving back to Mirissa.

• Buddhist Temple Visit
• Galle - Traditional Sri Lankan Wood Carving - demonstration and participation

Your travel time will be approximately 2 hours.

While the famous stilt fishermen casting lines are an iconic sight, unfortunately this has become a real tourist trap, with travellers expected to pay for the opportunity of taking a photo. We advise our travellers to use their best judgement before paying for a photo.

Depart Mirissa after breakfast and drive to Colombo. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then head out on a leader-led walk of the city, passing the bustling Petta Bazaar, Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum. You’ll finish at the Barefoot fairtrade store, where you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. Tonight, there's an optional group food crawl to celebrate your journey. If you’d like to celebrate a trip well travelled, you’ll head to the local market stalls and tuck into some of Sri Lanka’s best street foods.

Your travel time will be approximately 3 hours.

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 2 dinners

Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support vehicle, Train, Jeep

Hotels (13 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. A Single Supplement is available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information. 2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organise a suitable sized bike. 3. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking. 4. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home. 5. Due to Intrepid's stance on elephant cruelty we do not visit the Perahera Festival and cannot purchase tickets on your behalf. 6. Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but on the rare occasion that we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle. 7. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Filter by rating

1-16 of 347 results

Dangerous Crossing: A Novel

Lonely Planet Sri Lanka (Travel Guide)

America for Beginners: A Novel

More results.

Top 12 Places to Visit in Sri Lanka - Top 12 Sri Lanka Travel Guide (Includes Sigiriya, Kandy, Yala National Park, Galle, Colombo, & More)

Sri Lanka - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

The Surfers Guide Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Travel Guide to the Ancient Cities of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla (Approach Guides 2022)

The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka: Travel Guide eBook (Rough Guides Main Series)

Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey

Questions of Travel: A Novel

The Teardrop Island: Following Victorian Footsteps Across Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Travel Guide 2024-2025: Unveiling Paradise - Beaches, Wildlife, Ancient Ruins, & Culinary Delights. Insider Tips & Up-to-Date Info for First-Timers.

The Gemstone Detective: Buying Gemstones and Jewellery in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Highlights & Impressions: Original Wimmelfotoheft (4K Ultra HD) (Children's Books by Philipp Winterberg)

The History of Sri Lanka: From Sigiriya to Serendipity

DK Sri Lanka (Travel Guide)

• Kindle Unlimited Eligible
• Asian Travel Guides
• Sri Lanka Travel Guides
• 4 Stars & Up & Up
• Kindle Edition
• Large Print
• Last 30 days
• Last 90 days
• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Registry & Gift List
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices