Passport & Visa – Passports requiring a visa should have one blank page and be valid for at least six months from date of departure from Sri Lanka. If you are travelling on a British passport you need to obtain an electronic visa prior to departure. Most countries do require a visa and may be obtained electronically depending on nationality https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/

Vehicle & driver: Your driver guide who will meet you at the airport will have a copy of your itinerary provided to him. They have been advised to advise the Colombo office of any changes that you wish to make to the itinerary. The cost has been calculated for the planned miles. Any additional miles will be charged and should be communicated to you.

Travel Information: Sri Lanka has a recorded history that spans back 3000 years. Like its massive neighbour India, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, home to many religions, ethnicities and languages. It is also still blessed with a variety of wildlife that has survived alongside this human civilization, on this small island for centuries. Today it offers tourists a diverse experience – from the modern city of Colombo with its sky scrapers to national parks teeming with elephants and religious and cultural buildings of multiple origins.

Rich in history, modern day Sri Lanka blends the strong influences of the Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers who occupied the island. Today it relishes the freedom which the end to the thirty year civil war has brought in the past year. Sri Lanka gained its independence from the British in February 1948 and today is setting out on a path to becoming a more developed and prosperous country.

Key Facts:

  • Capital: Colombo Population: 20.1 million Total area: 25,332 sq miles
  • Airport: Bandaranaike Int. Airport
  • Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)
  • Languages: The main language spoken in the country and in the southern regions is Sinhala. To the north of the country, Tamil is more widely spoken by the locals. However all over the country English is widely spoken in the tourist areas and in all of the hotels.

The Weather

7° north of the equator, Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures in Colombo and on the beach between 26°c to 32°c. However, the rainfall varies considerably during the year and it is important to know when the Monsoon affects the different parts of the island.

  • Northeast monsoon: November to February
  • Southeast monsoon: April to June

Religion – Sri Lanka is a multi-faith society. Although 60% are Buddhists, the remainder are Hindu, Christian and Muslim. In many places, temples, churches and mosques can be seen adjacent to each other. When visiting temples and historic sites, it is required to wear trousers or items below the knee line & keep shoulders covered. Essentially a conservative society, it is important to maintain dignity at all times in public places.

Public Holidays – Sri Lanka is renowned for having many Public & Bank Holidays. Poya day is the name given to a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka which occurs every full moon day, each month. Most shops and businesses are closed and no alcohol is served in public places on Poya days & other Public Holidays, including hotels and restaurants. A restricted alcohol service may be offered, by room service, in your hotel.

Currency and Cash – In Colombo, cash can be withdrawn from ATMs and there are plenty of banks which will change money and travellers cheques. However, ATMs are not so widely available whilst touring but all the major hotels will change currency, but tend not to give the best rates. On arrival at the airport you will have the opportunity change the currency.

Tipping – this is completely at your discretion; however the rule of thumb is to tip a bell boy in the region of 100 rupees for a piece of baggage and perhaps a little more if the service has been good. In restaurants it is normal for a 10 percent service charge to be added to the bill. Equally, a cash tip of 200-300 rupees given to a waiter who has provided great service will be appreciated. As a developing country, rates of pay in Sri Lanka are well below the levels which are normal in Europe and a modest tip will be appreciated.

Driver / Guides – Your driver guide will generally stay with you throughout any organised tour. However, having been dropped to a beach resort you may be picked up by a different driver for any onward or airport transfer. The guides will speak good English and have been trained to act as your guide throughout your visit. It is important that you tell your driver guide what you like and dislike and don’t hesitate to ask him to stop or to vary your itinerary. He will, of course, advise you if you are going to incur any additional entrance fees or mileage charges. The driver / guide is paid by the tour company and his meals and accommodation have been organised. Your guide will not expect to normally eat with you in the evenings and it is up to you to invite him to join you at lunch time. Tipping is of course discretionary, but we would suggest between US$15-25 per day, dependant upon your experience.

Sea – On the South and West Coast the currents can be very strong throughout the year. It is always best to assume that swimming is dangerous and not do so until you have explored and asked further from your local hotel. Never swim in the sea when you are alone or after dark.

Mosquitoes – Unfortunately they exist and it is difficult to avoid them. We recommend that you use an insect repellent which is at least 50% Deet. These are readily available in Boots and at the airports and come in many different methods of being dispensed.

SIM cards and phone coverage – phone coverage is excellent in Sri Lanka, if you have a problem, in particular with receiving emails, change manually to the Mobitel or Dialogue networks. Pay as you go SIM cards are also widely available and can be purchased at the airport.

Clothing requirements – when visiting the country hill areas of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the temperatures can drop in the evening and it is advised to travel with a light jumper or jacket. When dinning in the evening in hotels, many hotels require trousers, collared shirts & closed shoes to be worn. Light cotton materials are ideal for the climate of Sri Lanka. We would advise you to take sturdy shoes for walking on uneven ground or trekking. Knees and shoulders must be covered when visiting temples for men and women. Children under the age of 8 from the rules of covering in the temples.

Alcohol – Alcohol is served in most hotels and can be bought freely in supermarkets and from off-sales shops. Many of the small boutique hotels do not have an alcohol licence but may have arrangements in place to purchase on your behalf. It is safe to assume that they do not and make alternative arrangements. Please note that the sale of Alcohol is strictly forbidden on most religious & public holidays and including all Poya days. Hotels are permitted only to serve alcohol in your hotel room on these days and not in public areas. The government has from time to time also decreed additional days when Alcohol sales are restricted.

Food – Sri Lankan curries are hot so beware. However, you will find in all of the hotels and certainly in Colombo that your choice of food is extensive.