Sri Lanka has an equatorial climate, so it is quite humid and temperatures hover around 30 degrees. The weather is practically the same all year round. The climate is quite diverse considering the size of the island. Sri Lanka is affected by two different monsoons. At the same time, it means that in some part there is always good weather – if it is raining in the south, there will be beautiful sun in the east and vice versa. It is assumed that the greatest amount of rainfall can be expected in June and July, but due to global climate change, it is difficult to predict whether this will actually happen. Despite this, the rains are usually short and warm, after which the sun returns. Therefore, you can visit Sri Lanka at any time of the year.

Despite its small size, Sri Lanka is very diverse. Even in terms of terrain, on both sides of the island there are mountains, rivers, lakes, rainforests, waterfalls, tea plantations, various beaches, and of course the whole thing is surrounded by the ocean. In addition, on the island itself you can see many Buddhist and Hindu temples, ancient palaces, ancient cities, Buddha statues and monuments of colonial architecture. All this surrounded by the beauty of nature, rich flora and fauna, many national parks where you can meet live elephants, leopards, monkeys and hundreds of species of birds in their natural habitat. Therefore, the best and recommended form of visiting Sri Lanka are sightseeing tours ending with a few days of rest on one of the beaches.

In the mountains (trekking, tea plantations) it is much colder. We recommend taking warmer clothes and a raincoat. Also take with you comfortable, light shoes (no flip-flops). We also recommend taking a light backpack or something to store your most important things, food for the road and water. Just in case, it’s better to have adapters for contacts and power banks. Sunscreen with a high SPF of 50 or higher should be essential. It’s worth having mosquito repellent with you, but a cheap, local and effective spray or cream can be easily purchased locally.

Everyone functions and reacts differently. Due to, for example, spicy food and changes in bacterial flora, we recommend taking with you medications for indigestion or diarrhea, as well as medications to protect the digestive tract, including: electrolytes and probiotics. Be sure to take something soothing for burns, e.g. panthenol, corn patches and something for a possible cold. An important element of the first aid kit may also be ointment for bruises or joint pain.

The most important is a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. It is best to apply for a visa online 7-10 days before arrival (https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/), confirmation will be sent to your e-mail, which you should print and take with you just in case. We recommend applying on the government website (link above) to avoid additional costs for intermediaries. As of today (May 26, 2024), the fee for an online visa for 30 days is USD 40 per person (+ approx. USD 18 for card payment transaction costs). You can also purchase a visa at the airport for USD 60.

It depends on the country you come from. You can check this on your government websites.

In Sri Lanka, followers of four religions live in peace and harmony. The main one is Buddhism (about 70%), followed by Hinduism (about 13%), Christianity (about 10%) and Islam (about 7%).

When visiting the temple, you should cover your shoulders and knees; a plain T-shirt and shorts or a skirt above the knee will suffice. We enter the temple without shoes – you can only visit it barefoot, so we recommend taking a pair of socks with you. In the temple in Dambulla, moving between caves requires walking several meters barefoot on dark stone, which becomes very hot during the day from the sun, and without socks can be a painful experience for the feet. Interesting fact: Buddhists visiting the temple often wear white.

In most hotels yes, but in tiny, family hotels or guesthouses it may not be the case. We recommend purchasing a local SIM card at the airport with an internet package.

You can buy it immediately at the airport, after leaving with your luggage in the arrivals hall, where all operators’ counters are located. The most popular is Dialog. The SIM card costs 1,300 rupees (about USD 5) and has about 5 GB of internet to start with.

It is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).

We recommend not replacing the entire unit immediately after arrival. Exchange some money at the airport for the first few days, and while you’re en route you’ll find plenty of places that offer a much better exchange rate. However, it is worth observing how the currency rate changes and exchanging it on an ongoing basis. However, remember that the higher the denomination, the higher the exchange rate. These are not very significant differences, but you can get a little more for a USD 100 banknote than, for example, 5 x USD 20.

Unfortunately no, only Sri Lankan rupees can be withdrawn from ATMs.

As in all of Asia, banks do not buy older banknotes (therefore, a hotel or shop may refuse to accept such a banknote). The same applies to those that have any defects – abrasions, scratches, bends, etc. It’s best to have nice new dollars with a blue stripe.

The sockets are British – with 3 holes – currently the standard holes are rectangular, but in hotels there are older types of round holes. The voltage on the contacts is 230 V.

Yes, especially in the evening. The quantity, of course, depends on the region, but it is not a big problem.

There is no risk of malaria, but dengue is very rare.

It is always worth giving discretionary tips, for example to a driver, on a safari, or to a guide in the rainforest. Therefore, we recommend having some change in Sri Lankan rupees, e.g. 100, 200, 500 notes.

In addition to standard magnets and other trinkets, we recommend taking home some delicious tea. It is best to buy it directly on tea plantations in a store, where you can find teas from many plantations, which is not possible in other parts of the island (plantations send it to Colombo for auctions, where it is auctioned, mixed by producers and in this form it goes to the stores we know ).
Additionally, it is worth purchasing spices, e.g. Ceylon cinnamon (the highest rated in the world), pepper, cardamom, chilli, fenugreek, ginger, and a wide range of curry mixtures are a perfect gift idea for your loved ones and for stocking your own kitchen.
In addition, we recommend cultural souvenirs such as handmade bracelets, Buddha statuettes, Hindu saris or Sri Lankan masks that protect against evil spirits or gain the favor of good spirits.
Let’s not forget that Sri Lanka is located on very rich deposits of precious and semi-precious stones – there will be plenty of jewelry and handmade stones