FAQ Sri Lanka

Ensure that your UK passport is valid for 6 months after the date you plan to arrive.

You’ll need to apply for a visa online through the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) website. This can be done from 90 days prior to your departure and costs $35 for an individual online application, which will be valid for 30 days. You should receive a response to your application within a couple of days. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, your visa can be extended at the Department of Immigration in Sri Lanka.

Head over to our visa page for more information.

Yes, we would always recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance when travelling, especially overseas, that is suitable for your requirements and needs.

When packing for a trip to Sri Lanka, it’s important to consider the warm and humid weather. Lightweight clothing made of breathable fabrics is recommended, along with comfortable walking shoes. Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit if you plan on visiting the beaches or for a cooling dip in the hotel pools.

Packing for Sri Lanka depends a lot on the season that you are travelling in. In the spring and summer, light cotton clothes are a good idea. However, if you are planning a trip to the mountains you will need to bring some warm clothes because the temperature – especially above 2000 meters – can get quite cold.

It is worth noting that when you visit religious buildings, neat clothing is essential and in the Buddhist and Hindu temples, you must not wear any hats or headwear. Also do bear in mind that you must have knees and shoulders covered so it’s a good idea to have light scarves and sarongs to throw on quickly when visiting temples.

It is always best to get the advice of a GP or travel nurse before travelling overseas to check which vaccinations you might need or if any boosters are required. The Fit for Travel website provides a comprehensive guide on all the vaccinations you should consider.

We know heading off on holiday is always a little bit stressful, especially on the day you leave, so we would advise doing these things before you depart:

• Check you have all your necessary documentation, including your passport!
• Take a photo of your documents and email it to yourself and travelling partners. Having a copy on your phone always comes in handy too.
• Ensure you have all your chargers and converters for any phones, cameras, tablets you are taking. A portable battery pack is a handy item to have in your hand luggage.
• Take snacks and a big bottle of water for your flight.
• Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, we advise arriving 3 hours prior to your flight departure.
• Pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage and take a photo of your checked bag in case it goes missing en route.
• Sit back and relax knowing we have your holiday sorted!

The native language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala and it is spoken by around 70% of the population, with the remainder favouring the Singaporean language of Tamil. English is a second language in Sri Lanka and is widely used for official and commercial purposes, but locals are often keen to test their English out on you.

A melting pot of cuisine is one of the many benefits of a varied culture, and Sri Lanka has great food by the plateful! A dish not to be missed is the Sri Lankan Hopper which is a thin, crepe-like batter infused with coconut milk and spices that is then formed into a bowl shape to hold fried eggs. It’s a truly versatile dish that’s served as breakfast, a midday snack or even as a hangover cure! If you are looking for a more gourmet treat and love crab, then the ‘ Ministry of Crab’, opened by two former cricket players in a beautiful old Dutch hospital in Colombo, is a must. The restaurant serves sweet, succulent and spicy Sri Lankan crab and was recently voted one of Asia’s top 50 restaurants.

What do you need after a heavy meal? A cup of tea! Fortunately, you are in the homeland of arguably the best tea in the world – Ceylon Tea. Ceylon tea was first produced in 1867 by British-born James Taylor on his Tea Estate of Loolecondera on the hilly outskirts of Kandy. This delicate and aromatic tea is now one of Sri Lanka’s top exports and over 25 different grades of Ceylon tea are produced at plantations across the island.

Sri Lanka is a country of unique and diverse culture, with a fascinating and, at times, turbulent history. The country’s cuisine and music have been significantly influenced by Southern India and Sri Lanka’s colonial history is evidenced in its tea industries, as well as the popular sport of cricket.

Sri Lankan culture is also heavily influenced by the heritage of Theravada Buddhism and has one of the oldest living Buddhist traditions in the world. Here, about 70% of the islanders practise Theravada Buddhism and over 15 thousand monks devote their lives to serving and preaching Buddha’s teachings. The influence and deference to Buddha can be seen in the numerous ancient temples and statues, some of which are spectacularly carved into the mountainside.

We are contactable in the UK during office hours and our local partners in destination are available 24/7 for any support or help you might need. They are in the best position as they will be on the same timezone, so they should be your first contact in a case of emergency.

The Sri Lankan rupee comes in denominations up to 5,000, so it’s worth carrying change for those smaller purchases. You can exchange money in almost every hotel, however we suggest exchanging your money in an authorised bank to avoid higher rates.

Not all of the entrance fees are included with our trips (see specific bite-sized trip for exact details) but are payable locally instead. This is so you are free to choose on the day whether or not to visit certain sites. To help you budget here is a handy list of the entrance fees to the main sites of interest.

All prices are per person, and children under 6 are usually free. There is often 50% discount for those under 12. These prices are quoted in dollars which are widely accepted, although it can be cheaper to pay in rupees. We have given the approximate rate in pounds to help you budget.

• Anuradhapura – US$ 25 – £19
• Polonnaurwa – US$ 25 – £19
• Sigiriya – US$ 30 – £23
• Aukana – Rs. 1000 (Approx. US$ 8) – £6
• Dambulla Rock Cave Temple – Rs. 1,500 (Approx. US$ 12) – £9
• Cultural Show in Kandy – Rs. 1,000 (Approx US$ 8)  – £6
• Dalada Maligawa – Rs. 1,500 (Approx US$ 12) – £9
• Royal Botanical Garden – Rs 1,500 (Approx. US$ 12) – £9
• Horton Plains Park – US$ 15 per person + Service charge of US$ 8 in total + VAT 16% – £20
• Udawalawe National Park – US$ 15 per person + Service charge of US$ 8 in total amount + VAT 16% – £20
• Kataragama Temple – No Fees (A donation is appreciated)
• Turtle Hatchery – Rs. 250 per person (Approx. US$ 2) – £1.5
• Colombo Museum – Rs. 800 per person (Approx. US$ 6) – £4.5
• Sinharaja – Entrance fee $10 & Naturalist fee $10 – £17
• Elephant Transit home- Rs. 500 per person (Approx. US$ 4.5) – £3.5
• Mirissa – Whale watching permit fee – US$ 18 per person – £14