Overview of Sri Lanka

From jungles to skyscrapers, this island – once called the finest of its size by Marco Polo – boasts a variety of diverse destinations sure to keep tenacious tourists on their toes. There are endless beaches, historical ruins, welcoming people, plenty of unique and rare wildlife, famous tea and the list just keeps going! After a tumultuous time in Sri Lankan history, the war has ended and since then Sri Lanka has been looking up—especially for tourism. Now is the time to explore a country with myriad activities, pleasures and appealing landscapes. Whether you’ve already booked your flight to Colombo or are simply coming down with a case of wanderlust, here are a few ideas for your Sri Lankan getaway.

Things to See and Do

Adam’s Peak

Adam’s Peak is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka and you can find it nestled deep in the interior of the country. Besides being an incredible hike to the summit, Sri Lankan folklore focuses on Adam’s Peak pretty exclusively. It’s also referred to as Sri Pada (or Sacred Footprint) because of an indentation at the summit. It is considered a holy place and remains a very popular pilgrimage spot with a mind-boggling 4,800 steps to the very top. If you can, get a very early start on this adventure to be at the top for a sunrise you’ll never forget.

Head to the Beach

There are close to 1,600km of beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka, and with so many palm-lined beachfronts and idyllic spots along the coast, you could spend your entire holiday here in a heartbeat. Negombo Beach is conveniently close to the international airport and Unawantuna in Galle is ranked in the top 15 beaches in the world. Beaches to the south tend to be less crowded and more beautiful. Don’t jump in the water just everywhere—beware that swimming can be dangerous in many of the areas. Be sure to check with locals and always swim on a patrolled beach.

Ramble through the Dutch Fort of Galle

One of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka, the Dutch Fort of Galle is quite the sight to see—and explore! This site is open to the public where you can ramble through coastal ramparts and atmospheric, cobble-stoned city streets. There are colonial villas and hotels on every street and there are few places in Sri Lanka that have as much life and excitement as Galle does. Galle hosts a world-class literary festival every year and is also a centre of arts and crafts like lace-making, ebony-carving and gem polishing.

See Elephants at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala is a breeding ground for wild Asian elephants. When you visit the Orphanage, you will get to feed the newborn babies yourself, or can just enjoy seeing a herd of elephants heading to the river for a drink and a bath. If you are a fan of elephants, you can also try visiting the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe.

Wilfelife Abounds in Udawalawe National Park

Get a quick glimpse of Sri Lanka’s incredible wildlife diversity in this amazing National Park. Much of the wildlife found here is exceedingly rare—and can ONLY be seen here. The bird-watching is superb and there are opportunities for glimpses of elephants, leopards, monkeys and more!

Seasonality

For such a small country, weather patterns around the island are extremely erratic. Two separate monsoon seasons – in the northeast and southwest – bring continual rain at differing (and widely varying) times. The southwest “yala” monsoon brings rain from April/May to September – though the wettest period only extends through June. The northeast “maha” monsoon hits from November to March – though the wettest period only lasts through December. From October to November there are periods of intense rain (known as the inter-monsoonal period) randomly throughout the island. When visiting, the best times are December to March for the south and west coasts (where Colombo is located) and April to September for the north and east coasts.

While precipitation varies widely, temperatures remain near 26-30 Celsius year-round.

Travel Tips

• You will have to go online to purchase a visa into Sri Lanka BEFORE leaving Australia by visiting the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization System then following the proper online application process and paying. Once approved you’ll be able to print out the visa confirmation.
• There are ten vaccinations recommended by the World Health Organization for travellers headed to Sri Lanka: measles, mumps, rubella, adult diphtheria & tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Polio, Rabies, Typhoid and Varicella.
• Pickpockets are most active in crowded public transportation—especially buses in Colombo.
• Touts, or “friends” and “guides” as they call themselves, lurk around bus and train stations waiting to get you to go to a specific restaurant or guesthouse of their choice. Say you have a reservation to fend off the more aggressive touts.
• There are five species of venomous snakes in Sri Lanka, and it is relatively common to spot them, especially in the dry zone area around Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Be careful when wandering around the ancient ruins. Seek immediate medical attention, and keep the bite victim as still as possible while retrieving an antivenin.

Sri Lanka is beautiful, exotic and serene – but it can also be dangerous. Whenever you travel internationally, stay safe with travel insurance from youGo. Read your policy fully to ensure you know what we cover, then sit back and relax.