Holidays in Sri Lanka, tips and reviews from tourists. Holidays in Sri Lanka: tourist tips What to wear in Sri Lanka

Typically, tourists who write reviews about Sri Lanka are divided into two opposing camps. Some fall in love with this tropical island, others are very unhappy with their holiday in Sri Lanka. Driven by my curiosity, I read a couple of hundred reviews from tourists, combined them with my experience of traveling in Sri Lanka and chose 7 reliable ways to ruin the impression of a holiday in Sri Lanka.

First, let's announce the entire list:

1 | Expect to see heaven on earth in Sri Lanka

What can you see in advertising photographs of tour companies offering tours to Sri Lanka? The pictures depicted a paradise for those who are hungry for a seaside holiday. Photos of snow-white sand with bowing palm trees, alluring bungalows in the turquoise sea and colorful coral reefs with bright fish promise an unforgettable holiday in Sri Lanka. Alas, these heavenly bungalows and reefs have nothing to do with Sri Lanka.

What awaits you in Sri Lanka? Tropical climate with high humidity, lush vegetation, endless expanses of the ocean, sandy beaches, but you can forget about the ideal picture of a paradise vacation.

The first thing you notice is trash and dirt. Garbage will be everywhere where it is not removed by the caring hand of the hotel staff. The beaches of the resort towns of Sri Lanka are built chaotically and some buildings look more like ruins than hotels.

Advice: If you want the perfect picture of a vacation on a tropical beach, choose a hotel with a high rating according to tourist reviews.

Here, for example, are some of the best hotels in Sri Lanka, where a good holiday is almost guaranteed:

2 | Buy a cheap tour to Sri Lanka in a 2*-3* hotel and expect good service

One of the problems in Sri Lanka is the lack of good staff. Trained and executive employees are being snapped up by 5* and 4* hotels. The rest get the lazy and careless ones.

The second problem is the attitude of the owners of cheap hotels towards their business. They charge a low price as compensation for worn-out furniture, a leaky roof, threadbare towels, laziness of staff, or a poor location.

There are exceptions, of course. You can also find small private hotels in Sri Lanka with low prices and wonderful home-like good service. But, as a rule, tours to such places are not sold.

Advice: If you still decide to go to Sri Lanka rather than go on your own, choose 4* and 5* hotels, or leave your claims to good service for another occasion.

3 | Allow only 5-7 days for your holiday in Sri Lanka

Flying to Sri Lanka is only half the battle. You still need to get to the chosen resort and hotel, and this will take several hours.

Rest after the move, adaptation, exploring the hotel's capabilities, tasting local rum and fruit. All! The vacation is over, it’s time to pack your bags home, but you haven’t seen anything yet and haven’t even had time to really rest.

Advice: allocate at least 10 days (preferably 2 weeks) for your holiday in Sri Lanka.

4 | Go on a tour of Sri Lanka's historical sites without a guide or preparation

To save money, you can find a driver with a car at the hotel or right on the street who will organize a trip to the sights for you. Perhaps he will even tell you that guides in Sri Lanka are expensive and you can “easily figure it out without a guide.”

The result is predictable. The Sigiriya rock fortress will turn out to be just “a rock that for some reason everyone is climbing.” The Golden Ancient Temple of Dambulla will be perceived as a “warehouse of some poor quality statues.”

Advice: if you decide to go on an excursion, do not spare money on a professional guide (usually more expensive than similar excursions in English). The second option is to prepare for the trip yourself by reading detailed articles about the sights of Sri Lanka (I warn you, there is catastrophically little information in Russian Wikipedia).

5 | Naively believe that no one will deceive you in Sri Lanka

Locals are usually very friendly people, but they really want to make money and the more the better. To deceive a tourist means to make money and, from the point of view of Sri Lankans, there is nothing wrong with such deception.

To sell an excursion, street barkers will tell tales of the Arabian Nights level, forgetting to mention the dilapidation of their transport, the driver’s hearing loss, the long journey on congested roads and other little things.

Fruit sellers, seeing new arrivals with a fresh tan, will raise prices 2-3 times. Even in a store they may try to sell goods at 2 times the price or not give change.

Advice: Be prepared for deception, check the price (in stores, most products have the price indicated on the package), bargain and count your change.

6 | Expect to see a rich underwater world in Sri Lanka

If you're spoiled by the Red Sea and coral reefs of Egypt, you can leave the fins and masks at home. In Sri Lanka, nothing interesting awaits you underwater. The underwater world here is scarce, especially when compared with Egypt, the Maldives or Thailand.

But there is an opportunity to meet turtles, and if you’re lucky, even swim with them. You can see whales on a boat excursion in Mirissa (but lately there has been such a crowd of boats there that I would not recommend this entertainment). Much more interesting will be a sea tour to Kalpitiya, during which you can see wild dolphins at close range.

Advice: Don't waste your money on glass bottom boat rides or diving.

7 | Count on no insects or critters in your hotel rooms in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka attracts many tourists with the richness of its nature. The tropical climate means heat all year round, rich flora and fauna. Here life is in full swing in every corner, including hotel rooms. Mosquitoes and harmless pet lizards (gekos) will live with you in the hotel; monitor lizards and monkeys can walk around the hotel; birds will look into your windows.

(until 1972 Ceylon) - a country that occupies an entire island in the Indian Ocean, rightfully wins the title of one of the popular winter holiday destinations among our tourists.

Sri Lanka means "Blessed Land" in Sanskrit.

The style of holiday in Sri Lanka can be briefly defined as follows: away from the hustle and bustle, closer to the sea and nature. There is hardly a more “leisurely” country in the world: no one is in a hurry here, everyone enjoys life - including hotel staff. Most of the attractions in Sri Lanka are natural, just like most of the activities. You won't find noisy discos here until the morning, but picnics in nature, fishing or barbecues on the beach - as many as you like. Well, diving, of course. But what Sri Lanka cannot please is its proximity to our immensity: the flight here is quite long.

Flight

Flight from Odessa to Colombo is carried out by airlines Flydubai via Dubai and Air Arabia via Sharjah twice a week. In addition, Emirates airline flies from Kyiv. The flight to the UAE takes approx. 4.5 hours. The waiting time for the next flight is usually 2-3 hours. And the next flight directly to Colombo takes about 4 hours. You do not need to obtain a visa to the UAE; tourists wait for their next flight in the transit area of ​​the airport.

There is no alcohol on sale in duty-free at Sharjah Airport. This is an emirate in which there is a “dry law”

Visa

Visa is issued upon arrival at the airport, according to which tourists can stay in the country for no more than 30 days. Its cost is $35. Payment is made only in dollars, change is also given in dollars. Visa applications for children under 12 years of age will remain free. For citizens of CIS countries who visit Sri Lanka in transit, the visa will also be free (up to 48 hours).

Season

The rainy season in Sri Lanka lasts in the summer, from May to October. Almost 95% of all precipitation falls at this time. However, the way we imagine the rainy season is not entirely true. The rains do not last long in Sri Lanka, about 15 minutes at a time. And they fall mainly at night. So this does not interfere with tanning. The main disadvantage of the rainy season is strong wind and waves, so swimming in the ocean is quite dangerous. In other months the island is dry, so the period from November to the end of April is the most favorable for a holiday in Sri Lanka.

Acclimatization

On every trip, especially if, after covering a considerable distance, we find ourselves from cold winter to hot summer, the first 2-3 days may show symptoms of a mild cold: heaviness in the head, eyes, chills, and sometimes nausea. This is the notorious acclimatization. The first thing you realize when leaving Colombo airport for the parking lot is that it is really very hot and humid here. But believe me, In just a few days, your stay on the island will become absolutely comfortable.

Currency

The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). 1$ is approximately 130 rupees. At the airport upon arrival, there are many branches of local banks, which local touts will not let you pass by. The rate here is decent, you can safely change as many dollars as you plan to spend. If you don’t exchange enough local money, don’t worry. At resorts you can always find a bank where they can change your currency. If you have credit cards, take them as they are widely accepted in Sri Lanka.

Mobile communications and Internet

At the exit from the airport there are many counters of local mobile operators. Their tariffs are almost the same. If necessary, the SIM card is cut to micro or nano. Almost everywhere on the island there is a good 3G internet. So, you can immediately ask the employee to enter all the settings into your smartphone. A package worth 1000-1500 rupees will allow you to call a guide and use the Internet for 2 weeks. We usually advise our tourists to use the connection Dialog, worth 1350 rupees, 850 is transferred to the account. This amount is usually enough for 12-14 days.

Upon arrival, along with a visa, tourists are often given a starter package from a local operator. He's completely useless. You can safely keep it as a keepsake. But you are unlikely to be able to call him

Kitchen

In the vast majority of hotels in Sri Lanka, you can find dishes of both local and European cuisine on the buffet. Usually all dishes are marked, for example: red pepper - indicates that the dish is spicy, crossed out pepper - indicates not spicy dishes

Excursions

Who would have thought that on a small island with an area of ​​65.6 thousand square meters. km. located nine UNESCO sites. To visit Sri Lanka and not spend 3-4 days visiting the most interesting sights means not to see and not understand this island! In 3 days you can only see the most. In 7 days you can see the main thing. Even 2 weeks is not enough to see everything. We have specially prepared for you a list of the most significant and interesting sights of Sri Lanka with detailed descriptions, which will be discussed in one of the following.

It takes several hours to go on an excursion from any of the popular hotels on the southwest coast. So, for example, to Kandy - 4 hours, Sigiriya - 6 hours, Polonnaruwa - 6 hours, Yalla - 5 hours, Nuwara Eliya - 4 hours. This is worth considering when planning your vacation.

Diving

Sri Lanka attracts divers from all over the world with a variety of corals, marine life with unusual names and species (angelfish, Moorish idols, parrotfish), dolphins and whale sharks, which can be seen from March to April. But the main feature of diving in Sri Lanka is visiting underwater rocks, grottoes and sunken ships. About 20 dead ships from the 19th and 20th centuries at depths from 8 to 30 meters are open for inspection. These are tankers, steamships, bulk carriers, merchant ships and even a modern cargo ship. Many of them are well preserved, and you can even swim inside them.

Large dive centers(open from October to April):

• Bay Beach Aqua sports (Weligama)
• Confifi Marina (Bentota)
• Ubr Diving Center (Unawatuna)
• Diving Center (Dikwella)
• Hikkaduwa Diving Shcool (Hikkaduwa).

Resorts

All beaches on the island are public, there are no private ones at all. If you are vacationing in the west or southwest, in a resort area, you can ask hotel workers to bring you a sunbed closer to the beach. In the south of the island, in Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna there are many beach bars, they put out their sun loungers

Transport

Traffic on the island is on the left. Buses and trains are the only types of public transport. The fares for private and public buses are the same and are among the lowest in the world. "People's Taxi" in Sri Lanka, a three-wheeled scooter with a cab called "knock Knock"- an affordable alternative to a regular taxi ( the fare will be 20-25 LKR per km).

Few people rent a car in Sri Lanka: the traffic there is unusual, and drivers break traffic rules often and with pleasure, just like pedestrians. Therefore, it is best to use the services of a driver there or call a taxi

Safety

Overall the country is very friendly and safe for tourists. But there are things you shouldn't forget about. First of all, this strict personal hygiene– wash your hands thoroughly before eating, as well as vegetables and fruits purchased at the market. Tap water is not recommended for drinking: It is better to use mineral water and other factory-bottled drinks. Also, we always recommend taking with you mosquito repellents and common medications(painkillers, antiallergenic, antipyretic, patch, stomach upset, panthenol). Sunscreen is a must - you can get very sunburned here even in cloudy weather. There are no mandatory vaccinations to visit Sri Lanka. You should not visit temples in shorts or in clothes with open backs and shoulders. You must also take off your shoes when entering the temple. Photography in temples can only be done with permission. And standing with your back to Buddha statues is considered bad manners and disrespect for local customs.

And one more thing: be vigilant about monkeys! Numerous flocks of these insolent creatures have become something of a natural disaster in Sri Lanka. They scurry around everywhere and are very intrusive. They can snatch food or things from your hands, even a camera or video camera. Moreover, monkeys can get into a hotel room and cause a complete pogrom there. Therefore, before leaving, you should always tightly close windows or special mosquito frames with mesh.

Souvenirs

Sri Lanka is famous all over the world for its precious stones: sapphires, rubies, topaz, etc. It is better to purchase jewelry in specialized stores, requiring the appropriate receipt or certificate. Also known all over the world are Ceylon tea, spices, and handicrafts: masks, batik, leather items. You can also buy inexpensive textile products in cities. Good souvenirs would be local red rum or coconut oil, all kinds of Ayurvedic remedies.

Want to know more about Sri Lanka?

Holidays in Sri Lanka are becoming more and more popular every year. The country is beautiful. There is something for everyone here. But every country has its own characteristics. To make your vacation cloudless, you should follow simple rules:

1. Water

Residents of Sri Lanka take care of cleanliness, but still, wash your hands more often. Especially before meals. Tap water is not suitable for drinking - use bottled water. Bottled water is sold on every corner. Make sure the cap is closed before purchasing. Or drink water like they do in India

2. Food

The national cuisine on the island is delicious. The food is seasoned with local herbs, sauces and hot spices. If you don’t want to feel like the serpent Gorynych and breathe fire, ask them to prepare food for you that is not very spicy. To do this you need to say “no spicy”.

Before eating the most popular Sri Lankan curry dish, you can order coconut. Coconut milk will soften the fiery taste of the curry.

If you want to eat like the locals, that is, with your hands, remember that Sri Lankans eat by putting food into their mouths with their right hand (since the left is considered unclean) and with all 5 fingers. Putting a finger in your mouth and sticking it out is extremely indecent. It is believed that this is neglect of food.

3. Money exchange

There are exchangers on the island. There are many of them in tourist places, but the best exchange rate is at Colombo airport. We recommend that you change your money there immediately upon arrival, if not all of it, then most of it. This is beneficial because At the end of your trip, you will be left with unused rupees. You can exchange them at the airport at the purchase rate. To do this, be sure to keep your receipt.

4. Shopping

You need to bargain everywhere and always, except in those places where there are price tags or a fixed price. For example, prices in hotels and supermarkets are fixed. But at the market, in a shop, with a street vendor or rickshaw driver (driver), you must bargain.

By the way, in Sri Lanka the price is indicated on each product. It is printed in small print to remind you of the expiration date. In small shops the price is simply covered up with a marker. If there is no supermarket nearby, and you need to make purchases right now and in this store, know that you will definitely overpay (a little, but you will overpay). Find out what prices are in Sri Lanka.

5. Clothes

The weather in Sri Lanka is hot, so don't wear synthetic clothes. Wear linen or cotton clothes.

6. Shoes

In national parks, for example in Sinharaja, or in places where there is a lot of wet grass, wear closed shoes, the most correct ones are sneakers. And long sleeves and long pants that can be tucked into socks. These precautions will protect you from insect bites and forest leeches.

Closed shoes can protect you from leeches. They also advise you to wear white shoes, then, it seems, leeches will not pester you. We dressed according to the rules, but the leeches still tried to stick. But simple salt helped. You need to sprinkle it and wipe your shoes and hands.

7. Temples

There are many religious buildings on the island. The main religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. When entering the temple, shoes must be removed, shoulders must be covered, and headdress must be removed. Bring warm socks with you. The floor may be cold. You can enter the temple in socks.

This warning applies to the large and especially revered temples of the island. It is often not prohibited to wear shoes to enter small temples or places of worship on a local scale.

8. Sun

The sun is hot. It's easy to get sunstroke or burn. Be sure to apply sunscreen to your body and wear a hat. Find out how to choose sunscreen.

9. Beaches

The shores of the island are almost a continuous beach strip. Topless sunbathing is not accepted in Sri Lanka. No comments

10. Ocean

In Sri Lanka it is not just the sea - here you are immediately dealing with the ocean. As in any sea or ocean, there are fast and extremely dangerous rip currents on the island (rip currents are fast, the direction is from the shore to the sea). Therefore, be careful when swimming in beach areas.

Swim in the beach areas. Wild beaches are dangerous due to rip currents

10. Facilities

Usual amenities: bath, shower, toilet are located in houses or rooms. There are no problems with this. But there may be a problem with hot water in the shower. Therefore, even at the stage of booking a hotel, find out whether your hotel has hot water.

Please note that even if you have a 5-star hotel with a beautiful view of the mountains or the beach, this does not mean that the hotel has hot water. The modest guesthouse across the road may have hot water, but you don’t.

11. Mosquitoes

The situation with mosquitoes on the island is approximately the same as in Russia. There are mosquitoes and mosquitoes. Sri Lankans hang gauze curtains over their beds, but under the curtains it can be stuffy, and they are often dusty. Hotel linens are changed, but curtains are not.

Take it from home or buy a fumigator and fumitox locally (sold in any supermarket, approximate price 80 rubles in our money). If you want to get enough sleep, it’s better to play it safe and charge a fumitox tablet at night. Local mosquito coils help, but you will have to live in constant smoke.

Take a room on the 2nd floor or higher. The ground floor is often damp and there will be more mosquitoes, accordingly. But there are exceptions, probably it all depends on the terrain. There were no mosquitoes in our room.

12. Traffic

In the center of the island the beauty is unearthly! Hire a driver with a car and enjoy the views. Local drivers know the roads and their features very well. In addition, the driver can be your guide. At your request, he will stop the car and give you time to admire the picturesque view from the most advantageous point.

Nature is a source of pride for Sri Lankans. It seems to me that they enjoy listening to our delighted screams. So, take a driver and relax to the fullest! We had an excellent driver-guide. .

13. Roads

Roads in Sri Lanka are unpredictable. There may be European quality, or there may be ones that you wouldn’t even dream of in a nightmare (but this is rare). There are many serpentines, ruts, and potholes. For those who have problems with the vestibular system, take anti-sickness pills with you on your trip. We recommend tablets.

Most often, the roads on the island are in good condition, but this does not mean that you can travel 100 km in 1 hour. This may take you at least 2 hours. Yes, this is one of the. When we were planning our route at home, we naively believed that we could travel the length and breadth of the country in a few hours. On the very first day, we began to adjust our plans due to time discrepancies. We multiplied the planned time by 3, then everything came together.

In Sri Lanka it is rare to drive on a motorway; usually these are winding roads where the average speed is 30-40 km/h. But the landscapes are magical. You can enjoy them in peace.

15. Fraudsters

These characters can be found everywhere. I am glad that in Sri Lanka there are very few of them and they are small. Let us introduce you to several types of scammers:

a) One of them is the so-called whipboy. Beachboys walk along the beach and offer different types of clothes, trinkets, etc. In the store you will buy the same thing for 2 times cheaper. If you don’t want to throw money away, just turn away and pretend you’re not interested.

b) Another type of bred is tour guides. They unobtrusively approach you at some landmark and begin to show or tell you something. Information may vary. Starting from “look, I’ll click like this and the leaf will close,” to actually useful and interesting. But you decide for yourself whether you want to learn something and pay for it or not.

c) Rickshaw men or taxi drivers. Before you get into a taxi, be sure to agree on the price and where he will take you for this price.

Drivers like to offer to take you for a ride here and there, and at the same time stop at a cheap boutique or souvenir shop, “which only he knows about.” As a result, they will bring you to their brother, godfather, father-in-law and will force you to buy goods at a decent markup. Of course, the driver will receive the commission; the godfather-brother-matchmaker will sell the goods. Everything is in profit.

16. Monkeys

Monkeys are the scourge of any Asian country. Don't feed the monkeys! They immediately become impudent and snatch the food out of your hands. They can injure, bite, and steal things and documents. And in general, monkeys in the wild are not cute monkeys in a zoo. Be extremely careful with them, don't get close!

Don't get too close to the monkeys

17. Rains

No matter where you come, be sure to keep an umbrella next to you. This is especially true for the central part of the island. The weather there is changeable and light rain can fall at any moment. It could end just as suddenly. If you forget or lose your umbrella, you can easily buy it on the spot. An umbrella for Sri Lanka is not a luxury, but a necessary part of life.

Sincerely,

Sri Lanka (Ceylon), located in the Indian Ocean, south of India itself. A trip there will be remembered for its local flavor, interesting traditions, diversity of religions and beliefs, local fruits, spices and other curiosities.

Also in the temple it is forbidden to show emotions, make a lot of obvious gestures or point a finger, take something with your left hand and turn your back to a drawing or statue of Buddha. The locals are friendly, but don't mind being photographed without asking.

Cloth

It is not advisable to bring clothes made from synthetic fabrics with you, since the air in Ceylon is humid and quite hot. If you intend to go to the mountains, warm clothes and sneakers will come in handy. Don’t forget about umbrellas and raincoats, which are very useful in conditions of frequent rain. In addition, it is worth bringing creams, caps and glasses.

Shoes

Any place of worship is only allowed to be visited barefoot. It is necessary to purchase disposable socks, but even in them it is uncomfortable to walk on the floor or ground - due to the humid climate of the island. In this case, it is recommended to purchase insoles.

Usually shoes are put into storage. But this is not a prerequisite, unlike removing shoes. You can put it in your backpack or bag.

Monkey

Most of them are inveterate thieves. This is aggravated by the fact that, according to tradition, it is not allowed to take something back from them (especially near temples) - local residents may even get angry. The solution is to keep all phones, players, etc. on straps or in cases.

Jewelry

The fame of Sri Lanka's precious stones resounds throughout the world. But you can buy expensive jewelry, as well as cut stones, only in large stores with a state license. There you will receive a receipt and an export certificate.

The gorgeous beaches and exotic nature of Sri Lanka attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. However, the island is not only long sandy beaches with comfortable recreation. Sri Lanka is also home to interesting sights and an excellent selection of a wide variety of entertainment.

According to responses from travelers, Sri Lanka can guarantee a fairly relaxing holiday. There are no nightclubs and a huge number of shops, crowds of vacationers and loud entertainment centers.

So, below are systematic reviews from vacationers about their vacation on the paradise island: about its beaches and cost of living, about interesting places and weather.

Nature of the island

The local nature can be called a real paradise: tall palm trees with coconuts, huge tea plantations, bananas - and that’s just the plants. What can we say about the giant turtles and monitor lizards that walk around the island? This is the positive side of Sri Lankan nature.

There are also disadvantages here. For example, mosquitoes and other insects. So those wishing to spend a holiday on this delightful island must take special equipment with them.

Holidays in Sri Lanka are famous for its stunning diving spots. By the way, excursions to grottoes and caves are organized here, where you can look not only at the inhabitants of the sea, but also at sunken ships.

Island attractions

Sri Lanka is replete with attractions that have won the hearts of travelers of all ages. For example, it is worth mentioning the Sigiriya Rock or the Kandy Botanical Garden, ancient cities or cave temples, as well as many places that will leave a lasting impression.

Each of them is interesting, has a unique history and can give a lot of pleasure and unforgettable moments. There is, however, one significant disadvantage - the high cost of tickets and excursions.

Island hotels

Very often, tourists leave unflattering reviews about the hotels in which they stay. They say that the service and conditions here do not correspond to the cost of the rooms. True, if you work hard, you can find a decent hotel. Tourists who want to save money prefer to stay in guesthouses.

Resorts of Sri Lanka

Residents of the island

Here travelers are of two minds. Some are delighted with the friendly Sri Lankans, others complain about their stinginess and desire to fool vacationers. If we talk about language, almost everyone here speaks English. So there should be no barriers to communication.

Beaches of the island

In general, a beach holiday here is considered good. The beauty of the local nature is so natural and excellent that it is difficult to spoil it.

Tourists consider Bentote one of the best beaches. Wealthy travelers prefer to spend their time here. Well-developed infrastructure and hotels of various levels, a well-groomed shore and cleanliness are the main characteristics of the beach.

The beach in Hikkaduwa is suitable for young people who like to have fun. Diving and surfing are well developed here. Hotels near the beach have affordable housing prices. There are several cozy inexpensive cafes nearby.

Lovers of secluded relaxation and tranquility should visit Arugambey beach. Nice bungalows are available for rent nearby.

Wadduwa Beach will be a luxurious destination for travelers in certain hotels. It is worth noting that there is no special area for tourists here; each hotel is responsible for the cleanliness of the area allocated to it.

Tangalla Beach also received positive reviews. There are always few people here, constant cleanliness and inexpensive cafes nearby.

Previously, Unawatuna was considered one of the favorite beaches. After the reconstruction, tourists began to talk about the low level of service and garbage on the beach.

Island weather

Sri Lanka is one of those countries that has a distinct rainy season. Despite this, travelers go to this paradise at any time of the year.

– The best time for a vacation on the island is the winter months. At this time, it rains very rarely, the sun shines brightly, and the water in the ocean is warm. An ideal time not only for swimming, but also for excursion holidays.

– From March to April it is quite hot here. According to travelers, these are the best months to relax and engage in water activities.

– From May to September the island is not crowded. It is the rainy season in Sri Lanka at this time, which interferes with both beach holidays and excursions.

– From mid-autumn to the end the weather is quite changeable. The rains during this period are short-lived, so you can simply bring a raincoat. It's sunny and warm enough to lie on the beach.

Island prices

Most tourists agreed that prices in Sri Lanka are very high. For example, visiting an attraction will cost at least $25. Souvenirs can also be called quite expensive.

There are, however, points that suit travelers. Traveling by public transport and the cost of food are considered inexpensive. Exotic fruits are very cheap here.

Filters for tours to Sri Lanka

Vacation with children on the island

Sri Lanka can hardly be called an ideal place for a holiday with children. First of all, children have a hard time withstanding a long flight. Then there are big waves, so swimming can be dangerous even for adults.

Another danger is the ubiquitous insects that can carry tropical diseases. The not-so-clean cafes do not have a special menu for little travelers.

Tourists who decide to take their child with them praise the local nature reserves and nurseries with exotic animals and plants.

1. You should choose hotels with free breakfast. There is an option to eat in a cafe for local residents. Seafood here is prohibitively expensive, and the meat is not tasty. Moreover, the bill includes a commission.

2. Alcohol is sold in specialized stores. The cheapest place to buy alcoholic drinks is at duty free.

3. Tea will be cheaper in specialized stores or factories. The cost of souvenirs is too high.

4. You should take a charger adapter with you, since the sockets on the island are different.

5. On the full moon, local residents celebrate a special day on which all banks and shops are closed, and drinking alcohol is prohibited. It is better not to go to the island at this time.

6. You are allowed to enter Buddhist temples wearing closed clothes and without shoes.

7. It is better to take insect repellent with you.