sri lanka
Island in the Indian Ocean
Information
Over 21 million people call Sri Lanka Home and is an island country of asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. Endless beaches, timeless ruins, amazing wildlife and incredible train rides are part of the tourist experience. Sri Lanka was once ruled by the British so there is also plenty of colonial history and great buildings. The variety of wildlife and birds is incredible and well worth some focused time on.
QUICK FACTS:
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
Language: English Sinhala, Tamil
Visa: ETA-Visa is initially for 30 days but can be extended for up to 6 months.
Power: 230 volts AC. Plug types D & G
Safety: The country is on a whole a safe place to visit, take normal measures to ensure your safety and check on current status before travelling.
TRANSPORT:
Flights can be used to fly around the country but unless time is really short this is not a big island and you will miss most of its wonders by flying.
Trains are incredibly cheap and an easy way to get around, the routes are some of the most scenic in the world.
Buses are cheap, but the drivers can be very scary.
Hiring a car and driver is the best option for most travel.
FESTIVALS:
- Vesak Poya – Festival of lights (Buddhist)
- Kandy Esala Poya Perahera (Buddhist)
- Poson Poya Festival (Buddhist)
- Deepavali / Diwali (Hindu)
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
- Ramadan and Eid (Muslim)
Planning
Weather is Tropical with 2 seasons, wet and dry. Generally the coastal areas average 28C year round while the hills are cooler with a year round average of 16C to 20C. Perfect for the photography of wildlife and birds.
Packing:
Multiple layers as it can be cool in hills. Rain coat of some form. Good walking shoes for the national parks and hiking.
BUDGET:
Accommodation:-
Dorm Bed 1500 LKR
Basic Double Beds with air cond 6600 LKR
Luxury 27000+ LKR
Food:-
Stalls : 250 LKR
Local restaurants : 2500 LKR
Resort or similar : 4500 LKR
Transport:-
Car hire with a driver 6200 LKR
Bus/Train local journey 20 LKR
Taxi 48 LKR flagfall plus 40 LKR per km
Areas
Cyclone’s, Peacock’s and Turtle’s
Turtles, Whales & Surf Hello Sri Lanka again. Arriving with a welcoming mat in form of Tropical Cyclone. Luckily we decided not to fly out
Sri Lanka escaping the cold
Escaping what’s left of the Adelaide winter 2 years after first getting a contractor organised to re-coat our fibreglass pool and after we had
Sri Lanka Part 2, National Park Circuit
OUR JOURNEY NOW BECOMES 3 We had ordered a taxi for 11.30pm to pick Chris up fromairport. When we went downstairs, no taxi came, manager
Sri Lanka Part 1, South
SOUTH COAST We arrived at 12.00 only 10 mins late. Amazingly everything is organised these days, no hassle by drivers or anything. Weather was cloudy
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Short Thai Break
Quick stop off for some R&R and lots of rain… Rain, Rain and more Rain After the disappointment of our Jordan trip being cancelled we
Mighty Nature
A brief visit to Brazilian Falls, Rivers and Wildlife A new (but short) adventure – more organised than our normal as we have organised this
Wildlife and more
On shore and underwater The best way to see the Galapagos is by boat – luckily we have the freedom to book late –