Even though Sri Lanka may seem like a “small” island to you (especially next to India, its big sister), don't be fooled! The landscapes are varied, the places to visit are multiple and the distances are rather long to cover.
In order to make the most of this beautiful country and to discover its cultural, natural and seaside aspects, discover our practical guide to help you prepare for your trip to Sri Lanka by answering the 10 most frequent questions you ask yourself before going on vacation.
What landscapes can we discover in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is a country where nature is very different depending on the regions you go to. Thus, you will have the impression of making several trips in one and your vacation will be guaranteed a change of scenery!
- First of all, you will be able to discover jungle landscapes in the country: tropical forests exist, like Sinharaja in the southwest of the country.
- You have much drier areas, with more arid landscapes, especially when you go up to the north (Jaffna) or the northeast coast (Trincomalee region).
- At the heart of the island, the region is mountainous and you will discover tea plantations as well as pines and other freshness loving plants.
- In several places you will also find regions reminding you of the African savannah : in particular towards Wilpattu (north-west) and Yala (south-east).
Finally, the landscapes of Sri Lanka would be incomplete if we did not approach the magnificent beaches that border the coasts of the country : you will find them almost everywhere at the edge of the Indian Ocean, they are the majority compared to the rocky beaches.
The magnificent beaches of Sri Lanka
When to go to Sri Lanka?
Vous pouvez leave almost all year round at Sri Lanka! Indeed, the island has different climates, which allow you to discover regions while being under the sun.
So if you want to leave between December and April, the West, South, Center and Cultural Triangle regions are the most favorable.
If you are traveling between May and September, the preferred regions are the East Coast, the North Peninsula and the Cultural Triangle. You will also be able to go through the south, you will not be under a downpour in theory (only a few showers and an often cloudy sky), however, you will not be able to swim. Indeed, the monsoon is mainly in the currents of the Indian Ocean, which make swimming dangerous.
In the end, October and November are the two most "risky" months Regarding the rain, but with climate change, you are not immune to having good weather during these two months.
To find out more, also read our dedicated article:
When to go to Sri Lanka? The best periods according to the regions
What budget should you plan for during your stay?
Your budget in Sri Lanka depends on how you travel!
If you have a rather low budget profile, your daily cost will increase between 15 and 25 € per day and per person. With this budget, you can sleep in guest houses (without air conditioning) for around 10-20 € a night, take public transport (buses cost between 1 and 5 € for longer distances), eat local (between 1 and € 5 for a meal) and do inexpensive tours, such as local temples, a cooking class, etc.
If you have an average budget, it will be necessary to count between 30 and 60 € per day and per person. You can travel with a driver (around 50-70 € per day for the car, to be divided by the number of travelers. If your driver is a “driver-guide”, the price will be higher). Sleep in comfortable accommodation for 25-40 € a night, eat half-local, half-western (between 5 and 10 € a meal) and make visits such as safaris or the sites of the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura: between 25 and 30 € per site).
Finally Yes you have a substantial budget and you love luxury, you will also find what you are looking for in Sri Lanka. You can get around in a van (from 70 € per day), sleep in beautiful hotels ("boutique hotels"), enjoy upscale restaurants and do unusual activities such as a hot-air balloon ride (from 150 -200 €).
Visit Sri Lanka
How to go to Sri Lanka?
To get to Sri Lanka, you don't have 10 solutions: you have to take the plane. You will have to count about 12 hours of flight (more or less, depending on your stopover) from a departure from Paris. Several companies serve the destination such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air India, Turkish Airline, Ethiad Airways or even Sri Lankan Airlines for the most famous.
Some companies will allow you to reach the country at discounted prices : Qatar Airways is often cheap, but companies like Saudia allow you to get tickets for around 450 € round trip.
There is no boat to connect India to Sri Lanka, however if you do a cruise, you can disembark on the island for a day by sea.
How to get around on site?
Several means of transport exist on site in Sri Lanka. The most comfortable and the one that will save you the most time, is the car with driver (or driver-guide). Indeed, it is particularly dangerous and not recommended to drive yourself in Sri Lanka! The only downside to this means of transport is that it is expensive.
For smaller budgets, you can travel by public transport : Buses and trains cost only between 0,50 cents and 5 € in Sri Lanka. Finally, to make short distances, you can absolutely take a tuk tuk, who will be happy to take you to your destination.
Warning : It is strongly recommended not to travel on two-wheelers in Sri Lanka, driving is very risky because of the buses that run at high speed.
Where to sleep in Sri Lanka during your stay?
In terms of accommodation in Sri Lanka, you have the choice Come in :
- La guest house : accommodation run by locals, with few rooms (often 5 at most).
- Him homestay : you sleep directly with the locals, in the heart of a Sri Lankan family.
- Acccommodation : you will find it everywhere, from small charming hotels to large boutique hotels.
- Rent a villa : ideal if you want to rest for a week by the ocean.
To book your accommodation, you can go directly to the site during the low season. Otherwise, the majority of establishments are on sites like Booking.com. On the other hand, Airbnb is underdeveloped in Sri Lanka (and not very financially advantageous).
You will easily find solutions for sleeping in Sri Lanka, all over the island and especially in areas frequented by travelers.
Note : for a single woman, it is not advisable to practice couchsurfing in this country. The practice is not widespread in the country.
What are the must-see sites in Sri Lanka?
Among the must-see sites to visit in Sri Lanka, you have:
- Sigiriya rock, in the Cultural Triangle, for its historical approach and its breathtaking view of the region. The visit can be done without a guide.
- Le site d'Anuradhapura, still in the Cultural Triangle, with special mention for the local Bodhi Tree Temple. We advise you to be accompanied by a guide on site.
- Take the train between Kandy and Ella, in order to enjoy the magnificent tea plantations and visit a factory by going to meet the pickers.
- Go on a safari to see the animals in the wild : elephants, leopards, bears, etc. There are many national parks to discover in Sri Lanka, such as Yala, Uda Walawe, Wilpattu or even Minneriya for the most famous.
- Enjoy the southern beaches (Tangalle, Mirissa, Hiriketiya) or from the east coast (Nilaveli, Passikudah).
Warning : you can visit "elephant orphanages", "turtle farms" or even "see whales" in Sri Lanka. These tourist activities mistreat animals by not respecting them, so we recommend that you avoid them, especially as there are responsible alternatives to see them in the wild.
Sri Lankan elephants
What souvenirs to bring back from Sri Lanka?
You have a wide choice of local souvenirs to bring back from your trip to Sri Lanka! Here are a few examples:
- Spices : especially curry, cinnamon and chili.
- Tea : the specialty in Sri Lanka is black tea, the best being English Breakfast. We advise you to buy it organic and in a supermarket, where the prices are cheaper than in factories.
- Sarees for women / sarongs for men : these are the typical clothes of Sri Lanka! Certainly, they are not easy to wear in everyday life.
- Batiks : these are paintings on fabric, which illustrate scenes of Sri Lankan life.
Tea picker, Sri Lanka
What to eat and drink in Sri Lanka?
The great specialty Sri Lankan culinary, it's rice and curry. It is a set of dishes, where vegetables are cooked with curry. You will find rice, papadams (kinds of crisps), meat or fish cooked like in a stew. You mix it all up with the rice on your plate and tradition has it that you eat it all with your left hand (without cutlery).
There is also other specialties : kotthu, hoppers, string hoppers, etc.Concerning the drinks, fresh fruit juices are excellent in Sri Lanka! Mango, passion fruit, lime, etc., just be sure to make sure they are made with bottled water.
The local alcohol is the arrack, made from coconut and usually cut with soda. It is a kind of local whiskey.
Sri Lankan food
Pratical information
Here is some practical and useful information for traveling in Sri Lanka:
- Currency is Sri Lankan rupee. In February 2020, 100 LKR corresponds to approximately 50 euro cents.
- Formalities: to visit Sri Lanka, you need an ETA. It is an electronic visa, to be done online, valid for 30 days. It costs 35 US dollars (note that it is sometimes free, depending on the period).
- No vaccine is not required to travel to Sri Lanka.
- It is customary to leave a tip to your drivers (the equivalent of a day if you are satisfied), the cleaning staff in the hotels (between 200 and 1000 rupees depending on the length of your stay), at the restaurant (about 10% of the bill).
- There are + 4h30 from
Stay in Sri Lanka
Even more info on Sri Lanka ...
Sri Lanka is therefore a rich, varied, comprehensive country that is accessible to all types of travelers! Whether you are in a backpack, in a suitcase, in family with children, on your own, the country will charm you and make you appreciate its diversity. One last little advice before going to Sri Lanka: remember to learn a few words in Sinhala, such as "istouti" for "thank you" (if you are in the Tamil zone, we say "nandri") or even "suba ratriak" for "good night ". It will help you bond with the locals who love these little touches!
But if you want to dig deeper into the subject, don't hesitate to check out all of our articles on Sri Lanka!
