How to Plan a Trip to Sri Lanka
Tags: Trip, Sri Lanka

While Sri Lanka does look small on the map, make no mistake, this island nation will spoil you for choice when it comes to the many experiences on offer. Of course, as with any trip to a foreign destination, careful planning is required if you are going to make the most of your holiday. Here are some useful tips and insights to make a getaway even more enjoyable.

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Choosing When to Visit

Sri Lanka is a great place to visit any time of year, though it should be noted that December to April is when the weather is at its best. That said, this period is also the peak season so you can expect rates to be at their peak too! October to February is also generally a good time to visit the south and west coasts, while May to September is ideal for heading to the north and east coasts; during these periods, while one part of the island experiences monsoons the other enjoys more sunshine.

Selecting Accommodation

Be you planning a tour of the county or looking to be based at one or just a few destinations, it is important to find suitable accommodation ahead of your arrival. The great thing is, that you can easily find places to stay to match diverse budgets. Luxury hotels, colonial bungalows, private villas and family-friendly resorts are all on offer, while hostel, homestay and Airbnb options can be found too.

Deciding What to Pack

Since Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate with plenty of sunshine, it stands to reason that you will need to pack light cotton clothing. For beach holidays, you can take swimwear, shorts, skirts and flipflops; of course, sunblock with adequate protection is essential, while having sunhats, sunglasses and insect replant are useful as well. If you are heading to the hills where the climate is decidedly cooler, make sure to take some sweaters and sneakers too for trekking. Do keep in mind that if visiting religious sites like temples, you will need to dress conservatively and cover bare shoulders and legs.

Planning Your Adventures

Since there’s so much to see and do, planning your itinerary ahead is essential. One option is to do the research and bookings yourself; however, it always helps to book with local tour operators who specialise in certain aspects. For example, if your interests lie in nature and adventure travel, then the likes of Nature Odyssey are well suited since they offer guided tours to diverse parts of the island.

So what can you look to do when here? Laze on sun-kissed beaches, enjoy the exhilaration of water sports, explore ancient kingdoms, visit sacred sites, trek through majestic mountains or embark on a thrilling wildlife safari; Sri Lanka offers all this and more!

A special mention should also be made of the wellness journeys on the island. Traditional Ayurveda treatments are popular and provide a sense of holistic healing by way of age-old treatments that utilize natural herbs and oils. This form of wellness looks to provide balance for mind, body and soul and is worth experiencing when here.

Making Time for Foodie Discoveries

No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without sampling its exotic and aromatic cuisine which has a definite spicy “kick” to it! Colombo, the commercial capital, is one of the best places to savour local street food while resorts and hotels across the island generally do offer some of these popular dishes too.

Rice is a staple in Sri Lanka and is generally eaten with all sorts of curries be it different kinds of meats, seafood or veggies. Also well worth trying are “hoppers” which have a unique bowl-shape, “kottu roti” made by stir-frying chopped up flatbread with meats or veggies and ‘isso wade”, a deep-fried snack topped with a prawn.