Could Sri Lanka be the most versatile country?
Sri Lanka has been a sought after destination for a while and is gradually getting more and more popular each year. With so many different places to visit, it’s no wonder people are dying to visit this lush country! Whether you’re an avid hiking or a suntan seeker, there’s something to do for all types of travellers, making it the ultimate versatile country. One of the things we loved the most was that there are monkeys everywhere you went! There are plenty of outdoor activities to do here, and you might visit the country with the expectation of going whale watching but end up hiking a sacred mountain on the same day!
Know before you go
After going through a long history of civil war until 2009 (only just over a decade ago!), Sri Lanka has been rapidly picking back up again and the tourist industry seems to be booming. Colonised by the Portuguese in 1505 under the name Ceilao, it was then colonised by the British under the new name Ceylon. Sri Lanka gained it’s official name in 1972. The country has also been given many nicknames, but one that stuck is the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” due to it’s geographical location.
Fun fact: Sri Lanka made history in July 1960 when Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first female Prime Minister.
Religion
Buddhism is the main religion. However, the diversity of the country is also reflected in their religions and Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are also predominant beliefs here. With an abundance of places of worship to visit, you’ll need to ensure that you bring a piece of clothing to cover your knees and shoulders to show respect. If you fail to do so, you won’t be allowed in. They’re very/ strict on this and sometimes they’ll have extra shawls to rent at the entrance for about 100 rupees (approx. 50p).
The less crowded months are mid November to Mid December, and mid March to late April. Although I went during the Christmas period, which is predicted to be their busiest time, I never once felt that it was too overcrowded and filled with tourists. The town had a good vibe and was never fully packed in any restaurant.
If Only We Could Wake Up Facing the Sun Every Morning!
When to go to avoid mass tourism
For a relatively small island, the times to visit Sri Lanka is very weather dependent. As with most Southeast Asian countries, the monsoon season plays a big part in what months to travel but it’s still a year round destination! With that being said, Sri Lanka is still developing as a tourist destination and luckily mass tourism isn’t an issue there yet (and we hope it never will be!) We visited in March which is one of the peak months and we never encountered anywhere that was overly busy or touristy.
North + East Coast – May to September is when it gets less humid after their monsoon season. These parts are lesser visited due to the amount of time it takes to get there. Expect remote beaches, remnants of civil war and colonial forts.
South + West Coast – December to April is before the start of the monsoon season. Expect wild surf spots, whale watching and spiritual hiking.
Visit The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque) In Colombo
Eco Tip 11: Get a good water filter so you can make the most of the wonderful waterfalls and rivers on this planet!
Language
Sinhala – This is the official language, but depending on the region, many people speak Tamil. In the more developed and tourist areas the locals do speak English so it’s easy to get around.
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
So Interesting Watching the Old Farming Traditions
Getting There
We flew into the capital city of Colombo from London Heathrow on Oman Air. Bandaranaike International Airport is Sri Lanka’s main airport with good transport links to the centre. We used the airport WiFi to get an Uber to Colombo Centre which costed around 1700 LKR (roughly £7). This is the recommended option as it’s quicker and cheaper than regular taxis. If you prefer to catch public transport, you can catch the bus E3-187 from outside the terminal. This costs 130 LKR (55p) for a one way ticket but they only run every 30 minutes with no fixed schedule. Depending on traffic, it could take you from 30 minutes to an hour, which is about the same time as a taxi but the buses may not always run on time so you may be waiting for a while!
Get A local SIM
We’d recommend buying a local SIM at the airport so you don’t need to worry about finding WiFi spots. Sri Lanka has incredibly good tourist data packages and can start from as little as 49 LKR (20p!) When we first landed, we bought the ‘Hutch’ SIM (you’ll see the orange logo) thinking it was a great deal. We soon found out that it was mostly a SIM based in Colombo and the coverage wasn’t that great anywhere else. After speaking to a few locals, they recommended the ‘Dialog’ SIM and it was great! Check out their prepaid data packages here to see the different options they offer. It’s also really simple to top up or renew your package if you run out, just by downloading your app, entering your phone number and your payment details!
Come Out of Your Shell, It’s a Whole New World out There…
Where To Stay
From treehouses to resorts, Sri Lanka offers many types of accommodation for every budget. Prices do vary depending on the region but generally start from around £6 a night for a low cost hotel. Our favourite stay was at Kandy Cabana Eco Lodge, where they promoted sustainability and where we also had one of our favourite breakfasts of the whole trip!
What to do
There’s an abundance of activities to do here and something new in each region. If you’re into ancient temples, exotic wildlife spotting, hiking or trying out amazing local food, Sri Lanka has it all! Getting around is easy and there are always tuk tuks available for a good price. We’d recommend hiring a driver for parts of your stay as this will save you a lot of time and they’ll be able to show you some local spots that you may not be able to find yourself. We booked our driver through a company called Blue Haven Tours, who allocated a really knowledgeable and genuinely nice driver to us and made such a positive impression on our trip! We’d recommend either tipping them at the end of the day, or a lump sum at the end of your trip – it’s well deserved as they will be at your disposal at pretty much any time of the day. You can also rent mopeds or if you want to experience the roads like a local, rent a tuk tuk! The driving takes certain skill there and they tend to speed to avoid traffic, so if you’re not a confident driver then we wouldn’t recommend you hiring any transport.
Go Whale Watching
If you’re into wildlife spotting, this activity is a MUST DO! Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to spot blue whales and because of the geographical location of the country, the blue whales swim closer to the shore which means you can do this tour in half a day and plan something else for the rest of the day. It’s likely you’ll also spot sea turtles and dolphins here too!
Recommended Tour Operator
Make sure you find a reputable and responsible tour operator at all times, especially when you’re visiting an endangered species such as the majestic blue whale. We highly recommend Raja And The Whales based in Mirissa on the south coast. They’re a local family run business running the tours for over 7 years, making them the first to start whale and dolphin watching tours in Mirissa. They’re very respectful towards wildlife and go to spots that other tour operators don’t go to. We even saw other boats racing towards the whale when they spotted them, which obviously scared them and caused them to swim away! They offer a delicious Sri Lankan breakfast on the tour which is freshly cooked on board. During the tour they’ll take pictures of the whales (they would rather you enjoy the experience of seeing the whales with your eyes rather than behind a lens) and they’ll email you the pictures after, all for free!
Whale Watching Is a Must Do in Sri Lanka!
Experience the scenic train ride
The infrastructure in the country is well developed and is rapidly improving throughout the years, providing great railway links across the country. With so much greenery everywhere, it’s no surprise that the train routes offer picturesque views. The most well known route is from Kandy to Ella, taking you through tea plantations and lush mountains. The total train ride is 7 hours so make sure to sit on the left side of the carriage (if you’re taking this route) as this is where you’ll get better views of the landscapeWe’d highly recommend to book your tickets in advance as the seated tickets sell out very quickly. You can either buy them at any train station in country or online via 12go. It’s a really simple website to use and is the only official online ticket seller for trains in Sri Lanka. We’d recommend bringing a packed lunch prior to your journey, although they do sell local snacks on board. If 7 hours seems too long, the most scenic part of the ride is from Nanu Oya to Ella (the option we went for) which takes around 4 hours, even though it seemed a lot quicker as we were so fixated with the views!
“Sweet Life Continues in the Breeze, in the Golden Fields.”
The Train Seats Are Actually Pretty Comfy!
Visit the historical sites
With such a strong culture, Sri Lanka is one of the best places to explore ancient temples and really get to learn about the history and religious beliefs. A large historical site is Polonnaruwa, an ancient city and World Heritage Site dating back to the 10th century. You can rent a bike here and cycle around as the grounds are quite big and sometimes you just want to get from A to B quickly!
Don’t Forget to Cover Your Shoulders and Knees When Visiting Holy Places
Try some surfing
If surfing is something you’ve always wanted to try and never had the courage or opportunity to do so, Sri Lanka is one of the best places to start! With plenty of reef and beach breaks, the waves can be very mild here which makes for perfect conditions for beginners. The best beginners surf spots are:
Arugam Bay
Mirissa
Weligama
Hikkaduwa
Unawatuna (this is where we did ours)
We took our lesson with Nalu Surf Shop & School, who had great beginner techniques and we picked it surprisingly quickly!
Surf Lesson Complete!
discover hidden waterfalls
No trip is complete without chasing waterfalls! Sri Lanka is full of unique waterfalls, with our favourite one being Diyaluma Falls. At 220m high, it’s the second tallest waterfall in the country after Bambarakanda Falls in the Badulla District. It’s just over an hours drive from the small torn of Ella.The hike up to the waterfalls is an adventure in itself and depending at what point you start, it can take from 20 minutes up to am hour to get to the top. Try getting there before 9am as you’re more likely to get the whole place to yourself , or you could sit in the pools all day and catch the sunset in the late afternoon! If you’re after your daily dose of adrenaline, there are pools at the top where you can cliff jump off!
Visit the Many Pools of Diyaluma Falls!
Not a Bad Place to Chill if You Ask Me!
Go on a tea tour
Sri Lanka is the world’s second top tea exporter, with India being number one and the middle east being the third. They export 97% of their product and sell most of it at auctions to tea sourcers. Unfortunately, there is a lack of manual workers at the tea plantations now as the newer generation in are focusing more on tech and engineering jobs. This is leading to the government discussing higher salaries for plantation workers and hiring people from India and China to make up the numbers. There are many tea factories you can visit across the country where you’ll learn how tea is produced, how to identify different types of tea and you’ll be able to enjoy a freshly brewed cup at the end!
Learn About the Different Processes of Tea Production
A Visit to the Tea Plantation Is a Real Eye Opener!
explore the secret beaches
Being an island located in the Indian Ocean, it’s no surprise that the waters are warm, blue and surrounded by tropical trees! It’s not hard here to find secluded beaches if you want to. In fact, they’re so secluded that the only other person you may see here is a local selling fresh coconuts! Even the most well known beaches, such as Mirissa, maintained a relaxed vibe and still weren’t overly crowded during high season. One of the best things about the beaches here is that no one hassles you trying to sell products on the beach, which means you can sunbathe in peace!
Like Father Like Son…
Like Father Like Son…
Hike
Thanks to the unique monsoon seasons in Sri Lanka, everywhere you look feels like you’re in the middle of a jungle! The forest covers just under 30% of the land area in the country but as the rest of the world, deforestation is becoming an issue here too. It’s home to 3314 species of vascular plants and nearly 2000 different species of fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.
Ella is classed as the hiking hub of the country, which is where you’ll find the famous Sigiriya rock. Haputale is also an up and coming destination and is actually quieter than Ella. The most popular hikes are:
Ella Rock
Duration – Approx. 4 hours one way
Pidurangala
Duration – 30 minutes – 1 hour one way
Lipton’s Seat
Duration – 1.5 – 2 hours one way
Hanthana Mountain Range
Duration – 1 day with overnight camping option if you want to hike the other peaks
Meemure
Duration – Hikes can vary from 1 to 3 days
Knuckles Range
Duration – Hikes can vary from 1 to 3 days
Explore the Wild Forests of the Country
Visit the woodwork shops
To be honest, we’re not into shopping at all when we travel but we make an exception for woodwork shops! Here you’ll find some beautiful woodwork pieces that they carve out of solid locally sourced wood. You’ll see the intricate detail and attention that as gone into carving each piece and the creativity is out of this world. You could also buy a thing or two and take them back as lovely souvenirs! There are a few factories scattered around the country so ask some locals in the area where they are as you’ll get the products for much cheaper than the shops.
indulge in the local food
If trying new foods is what you’re into, you’ll be in heaven here! The cuisine has been heavily influenced by various other cultures and they’re big on species and rich flavours. You won’t have a problem eating healthy here either because a lot of their dishes are vegetarian and always fresh. The Sri Lankan staple dish is rich and curry, along with bread and mouthwatering sauces made with beans and lentils. There is also a great variety of street food here, look out for signs that say ‘short eats’. A popular short eats dish is vegetarian Kottu, which is shredded roti combined with a selection of spices and vegetables (or meat option are also available). Food here is also very reasonably priced so forget your diet for the time being and tuck in!
A Seafood Platter Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This!
Try Some Sri Lankan ‘Short Eats’- You Won’t Regret It!
Gaze at exotic trees and fauna
Once reserved for the royals of Kandy City, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens houses 4000 species of plants across 146 acres. Be prepared for a lot of walking and learning about exotic plants worldwide. The immaculately kept gardens is also home to fruit bats, monkeys and even peacocks! We’d recommend a minimum of 3 hours here to have enough time to fully appreciate the sites.
Someone’s Had a Bit Too Much to Drink Last Night…
Interesting...
Get off the Main Road and Find Some Hidden Gems!
go on a safari
Yes, Sri Lanka also has safaris! With an abundance of national parks, it’s slowly becoming a world renown hotspot for safaris. The most popular one is Yala National Park, where you’ll get the chance to spot cheetahs. This does get quite busy so if you want to avoid the crowds, Bundala National Park may be a better option as it’s not far from Yala. Travel further west and you’ll find Udawalawe National Park. This has over 500 elephants so your chances of spotting them is pretty high! There are also over 180 bird species which seem to have gotten friendly with all the elephants!
Check out our post on Udawalawe National Park and African safaris!
Happy to See You Too!
We’re All Friends Here!
Female Safety
Before going we’d read some bad reviews where some women got harassed and were made to feel uncomfortable, which to be honest, was one of the reasons that had put us off going for such a long time. Throughout the whole trip were pleasantly surprised at how safe we felt here. Not only was there no whistling, hissing or any of the kind, no one had ever bothered us at any beach or walking down the street. There was only one incident at a bar – a man kept staring at us and even after we told him to stop he carried on doing it, so we alerted the staff and they asked him to leave straight away. That was a one off incident, so overall we felt completely safe in Sri Lanka and loved it! With that being said, still take the usual precautions and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Feeling ready to discover all that Sri Lanka has to offer? Book your trip with us and we’ll show you how to explore the country sustainably!
Sustainability Check + Giving Back
For thousands of years, Sri Lanka has always had a sustainable approach to conservation and is evident through travelling and their food. They’re aiming to grow sustainably with responsible tourism planning and development, all while trying to avoid mass tourism. Recycling is available for people in major cities, however it’s still an issue in smaller villages as the awareness hasn’t been shared in the more remote areas.
Checking our carbon footprint for our trip gives us a better understanding of our impact on the earth and how to invest in carbon offsetting projects based on reforestation and clean energy. Visualising it in the chart below puts our travel emissions into context and shows how much more effort we need to be putting in to travel more sustainably.
Here’s how you can follow these simple steps to give back after your trip:
1. Calculate your carbon footprint using a free online calculator
2. Offset your carbon footprint by visiting an online voluntary market through the purchase of carbon credits. Gold Standard is one of the leading certifiers of carbon credits.
