A Quick Guide to Sri Lanka
Wijaya Beach, Unawatuna
Sri Lanka is one of our favourite places to visit so far- we’ve travelled there twice. There is a mixture of idyllic beaches, great food, amazing people, and culture in abundance.
Here is a quick 7-step guide to this beautiful island.
1. Flights (Based on flying from the U.K.)
The flights will be the costliest part of your journey, but the reward is paying reasonable prices for everything else whilst you’re out there. We have only flown there with Emirates due to it being one of the most popular airlines, known for its comfort and customer service. Other airlines include Sri Lankan Airlines- they offer direct flights as opposed to Emirates (connection in Dubai), Etihad Airlines (connection in Abu Dhabi) and British Airways (connection in Doha).
The flight prices will vary depending on the time of year you visit and the departure airport- we visited in February 2018 and flew from Birmingham, it cost us £625.50 each whereas when we flew from London Heathrow in April 2019 it cost £884 each. (Both prices are for return trips). These prices included 30kg checked luggage and 2 pieces of carry-on luggage (10kg cabin bag and a small handbag/backpack). Use a flight search engine website such as WayAway to compare the best prices for your time of travel.
The flight is long- but again, worth it! The emirates flight is 7-8hrs to Dubai then a further 3.5-4hrs to Sri Lanka.
2. Weather:
The weather from November-May is tropical heat, up to 36 degrees Celsius. The weather can vary depending on region, the capital city was extremely humid with daily thunderstorms whereas the southern province was still extremely warm but a clearer air, and the odd shower of rain. It is worth noting that from May through to June the south-east of the country experiences a monsoon season with flooding and the North-East experiences it’s monsoon season from October to November.
3. Where to Stay:
Use apps such as Air BnB, booking.com or Vrbo to get luxury homes or apartments for extremely good prices. We stayed at some incredible rooms within small houses in Colombo (The capital city) for around £26 a night! In the southern province you can rent an entire villa for two for as little as £50 a night. In Hikkaduwa- a popular surfing and backpacker spot, we rented a private room on the beach front for £23 a night. It is worth noting that none of these prices included breakfast- if you stay in one of the shared houses you can normally pay a small fee for breakfast.
4. Language:
The language spoken throughout Sri Lanka is mainly Sinhalese and whilst we normally like to learn a bit of the language before travelling to that country, we did not learn any Sinhalese for our trips. However, within the capital city and in the popular tourist areas, English is widely known, sometimes it can be broken but the locals are super friendly and will help you to figure things out!
Some quick and easy phrases include:
Hello: ආයුබෝවන් āyubōvan (pronounced: i-u-bow-an)
Thank you: ඔයාට ස්තූතියි oyāṭa stūtiyi (pronounced: oi-yata-stoo-ti)
Please: කරුණාකර karuṇākara (pronounced: Karoo-na-ka-ra)
6. Getting Around
Our favourite mode of transport in Sri Lanka is the tuk-tuk. You can attempt to hire a car but from what we have experienced of the roads is madness! Traffic is fast paced and slightly dangerous. We saw plenty of tourists using mopeds in the south if you’re up for it! But the tuk-tuks are so much fun and so cheap.
As a tourist, you will experience an abundance of tuk-tuks driving up next to you and asking if you need a lift therefore, they are not hard to come by. What we would recommend is always agreeing your fare price with the driver before stepping foot into the vehicle, most tuk-tuks do not have meters and you will be charge a made-up amount if you do not ask the driver for a price to your location. Be mindful that some of the drivers like to drink alcohol on the job, and you will be able to see a bottle holder in the front of the vehicle- it is always wise to see what they are drinking and how much they have drunk before getting into that vehicle.
Train: Sri Lanka is famous for its scenic train journeys. You can travel across the country using the affordable train. We travelled from Colombo to Hikkaduwa on the south-west coast for Rs. 260-400 (around 60p- £1) it took 2 hours, and we were hanging out of a door on the side of the train for a majority of the journey which was a thrilling experience! The most famous train journey is from Ella to Kandy, it takes 7 hours and can cost as little as £1 (Rs. 413 rupees), it travels through the stunning countryside.
If you need to travel a long distance and need to do it by car, arrange a private car either through your place of stay or through local travel agents- do your research on the fees for that journey so you don’t get overcharged.
6. Places of Interest:
There are too many places of interest to list in this “quick” guide. We will be posting separate guides to some of these specific places, but just to list a few:
Colombo- Capital City: A busy, vibrant, and fun city, with temples nestled amongst skyscrapers. Double check travel info before visiting as there has recently been civil unrest within this city (2022)
Kandy: Often cited as the 2nd Capital: Set in the centre of Sri Lanka, surrounded by rainforests and mountains, this is the cultural hub of the country with many sacred Buddhist sites
Hikkaduwa: A beautiful little surf town that has become popular with backpackers for its beautiful beaches, party scene and giant sea turtle gatherings!
City of Galle (pronounced gool) and Galle Fort: A UNESCO world heritage site, this city is mainly sat on an old fort of which you can walk the perimeter, as well as weaving in and out of the small streets, exploring the markets.
Unawatuna: A backpacker’s dream, this small town is a popular place to stay due to its safe and large, beautiful beach, as well as an intriguing walk from the road down to the beach itself, passing by local shops and restaurants. It has a party atmosphere here at night with plenty of bars and beach parties.
Wijaya Beach: This is our home from home in Sri Lanka, as cheesy as that sounds. Wijaya is not far from Unawatuna but provides the feeling of an intimate beach with a lagoon area to safe swim in, as well as encountering giant sea turtles and taking photos with the famous “frog rock”. Wijaya beach is home to the Wijaya Beach restaurant and hotel which offers pizza cooked in a traditional stone oven, as well as a variety of other dishes, tasty cocktails, and an incredible view.
Yala National Park: An astonishing day trip to Yala will take you on Safari in the stunning national park. We spent 4 hours on safari and experienced one of the best days of our lives.
There are plenty of places I have missed because the island is a lot bigger than it seems! Keep updated on our social media for future blog posts about more places of interest in this remarkable country.
7. Food & Drink:
One of our favourite parts about travelling is trying new foods and relaxing with a cold beverage. Sri Lanka has some of the best food- the curry is one of the most famous dishes. The curry is often offered as mild, medium, or hot- we will warn you that medium is still very spicy! As for vegan specific food, Sri Lanka is extremely accommodating for plant-based dishes. Around 70% of the population identify as Buddhist, therefore vegetarianism is prominent. Our favourite place for food is a little restaurant in Unawatuna where the food is made in a home kitchen- you walk into their living room to order!
As for drink, lion lager is a refreshing beer to enjoy in the sun, cocktails are strong and well made and we cannot talk about drink without talking about KING COCONUTS! Neither of us like the taste of pure coconut, but a king coconut tastes like a natural tropical juice drink- they are also cheap and easy to find. Many street vendors on the side of the road sell them, they are as hydrating as water and can even be used to treat wounds due to them being sterile.
Important Things to Note:
Take mosquito repellent- we didn’t experience too many in built up areas but during our stay in the jungle and anywhere close to water, you will find many!
Vaccinations required and recommended: Covid-19 vaccination, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, rabies, Typhoid always check your government website before travelling for up-to-date country advice.
Strong sunscreen is recommended- it can reach extreme temperatures.
Check which areas to swim in, even if you are a strong swimmer. I was nearly whisked away in a particular area due to the large waves and strong currents.
Watch out for tourist scams in busy areas- the general population in Sri Lanka are amazing people, but just like any other country there is always someone out to scam tourists.
We hope you found our little guide helpful if you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, feel free to get in touch with us if there is anything we have missed: CONTACT PAGE- we will be posting a lot more guides and tips!
