How to plan a trip to Sri Lanka
This little island of tea plantations, misty hills, glorious beaches and enchanting waterfalls is home to diverse cultures and rich history. Surrounded by the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean lends it a warm and sunny climate most of the year whilst great seafood and mouthwatering cuisine are worth experiencing. As you intend to visit this fascinating island here are a few things you need to know ahead.
Landing in Sri Lanka
Health and Medical Requirements - Currently visitors need not have the COVID-19 PCR test or Rapid Antigen Test Report as long as they are fully vaccinated.
Visa Requirement – Most visitors except for a few nationalities require a visa to land in Sri Lanka, however, the process is easy as Electronic Travel Authorization is available online, do ensure you apply for the same ahead of travel if you are not a national exempted from visa into Sri Lanka.
How long to spend in Sri Lanka
With diverse experiences on offer be it the beaches, nature and wildlife, culture and history, shopping and amusement and the food scene take your pick of what you like to do and plan the stay accordingly. If you are making a long-haul flight to Sri Lanka it is worth staying at least a week or more at any one of the luxury resorts in Sri Lanka, whilst if it is a medium or short-haul flight a stay of a week or less would be acceptable as your body needs to adjust to a new time zone to enjoy your stay.
The duration is also dependent on your budget and interest in different attractions and experiences whilst you are in Sri Lanka.
Best times for travel
Being a tropical country, Sri Lanka is generally warm. December to April is considered the best time to visit Sri Lanka as these months are dry to enjoy the outdoors. However, from May to November there can be rain during certain days due to the monsoon seasons affecting different parts of Sri Lanka. Even during rainy seasons, some parts of the island remain dry letting you enjoy those attractions.
If you are a beach lover, remember there is always a dry beach for you any time during the year on this island may be it is in the south, west or east.
Exploring Sri Lanka
With so many diverse experiences appealing to different types of visitors, exploring Sri Lanka will be a rewarding and memorable holiday. Following are a few of the outstanding places/experiences to explore as enjoyed by guests at Heritance Hotels & Resorts.
Nuwara Eliya – A picturesque city in the central highlands of Sri Lanka also called Little England. A visit to this city is a different experience due to the beauty around you with rolling tea plantations (a tour of one is a great experience culminating in tasting a fresh cuppa), a lovely golf green, scenic boat rides and many more.
Silvery cascades of enchanting waterfalls – As you explore around Sri Lanka have a close view of these beauties, St Clairs, Ramboda, Aberdeen, Devon, Bambarakanda, Dunhinda, Diyaluma etc. Experience the magic of seeing cascading water falling from great heights.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress – An iconic rock which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with remains of moats, landscaped gardens and pillars as well as frescoes showcasing the superiority of craftsmanship of a bygone era.
Galle Dutch Fort – Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Fort in the south of Sri Lanka is a living city still carrying many traces of the olden days in the streets, buildings and ramparts.
Beach Experience – Golden sands, turquoise waters and swaying palms beckon visitors around the island to laze at the beach, revel in beach activities and create memories.
National Parks – There are quite several noteworthy parks to explore such as Yala, Udawalawe, Minneriya, Kaudulla, Kumana, Bundala etc.
Transportation in Sri Lanka
Getting about Sri Lanka can be a mix of Private vehicles (such as Hotel taxis), and other Taxi services such as Uber, Pick Me or three-wheeled tuk-tuks for short rides. Public transport which is bus and train services operate however is time-consuming but cheap.