29 really useful things you need to know when travelling to Sri Lanka

​This summer was our first trip to Asia and Sri Lanka and there was a lot I wish I had known before we went, this post is a little summary of things to know if you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka.  

1. You need a visa for Sri Lanka and they are easy to buy online before you go via the ETA Official Website, make sure you fill in all the details correctly though as if you get something wrong you have to pay again (yes that was me)!
2. The Sri Lankan Rupee is a closed currency which means you cannot purchase before you go.  We used a Revolut card and app, we loaded money on and then you can just transfer more when you need it.  It is a VISA debit card and widely accepted plus you can use it to draw out cash at the ATM, of which there are many, but they are not immediately obvious how to use them.  Our driver helped us the first few times.  When you arrive at the airport ask your driver to take you to an ATM straight away en route to the hotel as you will need cash for tipping etc.
3. And onto tipping, yes it is nice to do so but it doesn't have to be a lot.  The currency can be a bit confusing though so 500 Rs is only about £2.50 - we were typically tipping around 100 to 500 Rs to the very helpful hotel staff.
4. Buy a local SIM card for your phone - this can be done at the airport, we used Dialog but make sure you have an unlocked phone with you!  Wifi is easily available but is not always terribly reliable or fast.
5. We took a lot of travel sockets specifically for Sri Lanka and didn't use any of them, in the hotels we stayed in, it was normal to have English sockets!  But if you are travelling on a lower budget this may not be the case but worth checking before you go.
6. Book your own driver through a reputable travel company - we used Paradiso Travels.  It is virtually impossible to hire a car in Sri Lanka anyway but you really wouldn't want to, the roads are chaos.  Sri Lanka is a tiny island and there isn't much space between the towns so don't go to sleep whilst travelling, there is so much to see and it was one of the highlights of my trip, just watching everyday life going past.
7. In the busy cities do make sure you have a ride in a tuk tuk, they are everywhere but only get in one that has a meter or you could be charged anything.  The tuk tuk drivers are quite pushy in enticing tourists to choose them so stand your ground.
8. Do a train journey!  The rail system is pretty basic but there are some amazingly scenic routes especially through the hill country and it is an experience that you really must have in Sri Lanka - read my post about our journey here.
9. Do your research regarding the weather in Sri Lanka, we travelled in UK summer time as it suited us with the long school holiday and we knew we were arriving at the end of one of a monsoon season.  We still had rain but it is very brief, I worried before we left whether I would need a waterproof jacket, umbrella etc but no you don't, the rain is so heavy, you take shelter then it stops and life carries on again.  
10. However, the temperature is very hot and very humid throughout the year (except in the tea plantations) so be prepared for it to hit you when you step off the plane.  We really appreciated having a few days rest in Negombo before starting our travels, you do need that time to adjust.  But pack warm layers and a jacket for the tea plantations.
11. There is so much to see and do in Sri Lanka, the country is rich and diverse. don't waste too much time just on the beach, go out and explore.  See my other posts about Sri Lanka with some ideas.  But don't try and fit everything in with just a two week holiday.  We were there nearly three weeks and it still wasn't long enough.  You will need to allow for the long travel time between each destination but make sure you focus on seeing things properly, don't rush it and plan to go back again, you will want to I promise!
12. Colombo is the capital city and is worth a one day visit.  We were booked on a open top bus tour but it got cancelled due to the rain - the Sri Lankan's do tend to cancel quite easily as they are not so set up for the weather, we British are much more likely to just carry on.  A walking tour or a bus tour though would be essential in such a big city.  And have dinner at Nuga Gama at the Cinnamon Hotel - it is a replica of a traditional Sri Lankan village.
13. We split our itinerary into three parts.  Our base was Negombo (where our family live and close to the airport at Colombo), then the South Coast, Whale Watching and the Udawalawe National Park and finally Kandy and the Tea Plantations.
14. As we were staying in quite high end hotels and had our own vehicle and driver we travelled with our large main suitcases.  Every hotel is very helpful in providing assistance on arrival and offering services like laundry or an iron and ironing board.  I hated living out of a suitcase though and I definitely took too much with me.  With hindsight I'd have packed less and used the laundry service more.
15. Make sure you have a shawl or pashmina to ​cover your shoulders and a skirt or trousers to cover your knees for visiting religious sites.  And don't pack outfits that are too revealing, the culture in Sri Lanka is that the women keep themselves more covered, so do be respectful.
16. The toilet facilities whilst travelling are basic - well very basic and often don't have toilet roll so do have something with you!  They all have a shower attachment for personal washing but it meant every toilet we stopped at (and in a lot of public places and restaurants) the floors were soaking wet so bear in mind, if you are wearing long trousers or long skirt, the bottom will get wet.
17. We got loads of vaccines - typhoid, tetanus and for my daughter rabies as we thought she might be working closely with the animals at Dogstar.  In the event it wasn't necessary but do bear in mind that Sri Lanka does still have rabies and it is not advisable to stroke the street animals or the monkey's that are often handed to tourists (for a tip) just say no thank you.  More about this on a separate post regarding Dogstar Foundation.
18. Mosquito bites are common, I was covered in them!  And I took Jungle Formula (50% DEET) but it was still a problem in the hot areas, it was a relief when we were in the tea plantations.  Be prepared especially if you are usually susceptible to infection from a bite.
19. If you are white be prepared to get lots of attention.  We never felt uncomfortable though and everyone was very friendly but tourists do stand out, although tourism is growing fast in Sri Lanka, there were times where we would be a long way from the busy tourist towns and the locals are not used to seeing white people.
20. I wouldn't advise drinking the tap water but it is probably safe enough to clean teeth etc (we did) (it is not as bad as it is made out to be), all drinking water/ice in the big hotels and restaurants is filtered or ask for bottled mineral water.  If you buy a bottle whilst out and about then make sure the bottle has the plastic seal intact.  We took our own Chilly Bottles and filled them up every day with the free filtered water provided in our room at every hotel.  We didn't get ill while we were in Sri Lanka.
21. Although Sri Lanka is a much poorer country and is quite untidy and basic, it isn't dirty and despite the huge numbers of street dogs, we didn't see any mess on pavements etc.  Refrigeration is limited and so street food is cooked fresh every day meaning it is actually very safe to eat - and very good.  We did notice a few smelly drains though!
22. Eat Sri Lankan food!  Their curry's etc are amazing and you can ask for them to be served mild, they are used to the tourists and will adapt accordingly.  There are lots of vegan and vegetarian options.  Western dishes in most places will be terrible and expensive, we really enjoyed sampling the Sri Lankan dishes.  Sri Lankan's eat curry with their hands!  We didn't but just in case you wonder, don't be too shocked!
23. The pace of life is much slower in Sri Lanka, our family referred to it as 'Sri Lankan time' and it was something I struggled with as I am a 'do it yesterday' type of person but it is quite likely that drinks and food orders will not be rushed!
24. Most people speak English in Sri Lanka and are very happy to practice, their accents are quite strong though so you will need to concentrate to understand.
25. Don't go overboard with 'bartering' down the prices of things in shops and from street traders.  These people are poor and need those few coins you might like as a discount much more than you do.  Be kind and respectful.  
26. There are a lot of street traders, all fully licensed, but they can get a bit much especially if you are trying to relax on the beach.  I did make a friend of one of the beach sellers but I also spent quite a lot of money (well a lot to them, probably not to me) - I wrote about it here.  But do be polite and say no thank you but also do bear in mind this is their livelihood and if you purchase from them you will really make a difference to their lives.
27. There are lots of opportunities to tour 'factories' and your driver may be quite keen to take you to earn commission so I suggest you research in advance what you'd like to do, generally avoid the spice gardens and the turtle farms (they are not cared for properly) and think carefully about the wood carving and gemstones.  However if you would like to bring a gemstone or piece of jewellery back I can definitely recommend reading the Gemstone Detective book (Sri Lanka), it is a pocket sized travel guide as well as explaining all you need to know about buying gemstones and jewellery - available from Amazon on this link.  We did however tip our driver quite generously to make up for not going to all the factories!
28. Visting Sri Lanka will give you an amazing opportunity to see elephants (and other animals) in the wild but there are also a lot of elephants in captivity and the animal charities are working hard to discourage riding of elephants etc - as fun as this might sound, it is not so good for the elephant so do think carefully before joining in with these type of activities.  For us, once we saw them in the wild, we didn't want to see them in captivity and in chains (so best to avoid Pinnawalwe and the Millennium Elephant Foundation for example).  Read my post here about our day at Udawalawe National Park and the Elephant Orphanage.
29. Sri Lankan's are really lovely happy people, they smile a lot, they are kind and generous and want to chat to you.  In a tiny village in the tea plantations whilst we were out walking one gentleman was out with his young daughter and they stopped to say hello, shake our hands and offer to let me take their photo.  It was such a memorable moment.

​I can't recommend Sri Lanka highly enough, just go!  It is a warm and welcoming country with amazing places to see and visit, wonderful scenery and friendly people.  It is a gentler India and a good introduction to Asia.  I really hope we can go back one day!

Love from
Michelle xx
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​Do take a look at my other posts about my Sri Lanka itinerary (slowly adding to them) where I go into more detail about what we did and share my thoughts:
​
​Sri Lanka | Where shall I start?
Sri Lanka | Three Week Itinerary
Sri Lanka | South Coast, Whale Watching and Elephants
Sri Lanka | Kandy and the Tea Plantations
Train Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Negombo and Colombo
Helping good causes in Sri Lanka (Dogstar Foundation and Yawajeewa School)
29 really useful things you need to know when travelling to Sri Lanka
What to wear in Sri Lanka

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