THE COUNTRY
Located on the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is one of my favourite countries that I’ve travelled to. A country that's very diverse that can appeal to anyone. There's a lot to do and there's so many things to see here. I thought spending a month here being that it's a small country was enough but it was not.
Beautiful temples, sacred mountains, amazing food (especially if you're into spicy food), an endless amount of outdoor activities to choose from, very welcoming locals, a wide variety of beaches and the lush landscape, Sri Lanka has got all of this and more! I spent 30 days here and I know I'll be back again at some point to go back to the places I thoroughly enjoyed and the ones I missed out the first time around.
VISA/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Check that your passport is valid for the next 6 months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka. Applying for a Sri Lankan visa ahead of time online would be my preferred method as it makes things easier and quicker when entering the country. Once you've applied, you typically get approved between 24-48 hours.
A 30 day tourist visa, double entry is $35 USD online. A 30 day tourist visa, double entry, on arrival will set you back $40 USD.
CURRENCY
Sri Lankan Rupee is the currency in Sri Lanka. ATM's are available mostly everywhere. Debit/Credit cards are accepted in most of the established places such as hotels, hostels, restaurants etc. While hot tourist spots accept USD, use the Sri Lankan Rupee as much as possible as your money goes farther when using the local currency.
TRANSPORTATION
Tuk Tuks or Rickshaw - A convenient way for getting from one place to another in a city/town. Before you get in one, bargain and make sure you both agree on a price before getting in.
PickMe App - this is the Uber but for rickshaws. It's much cheaper to order a rickshaw through this app than grabbing one off the streets. On a side note, this is only available in certain cities.
Scooter - Scooters are also available for rent. May be the best transportation option if you need to get around the city a lot.
Bicycle - Another cheap option to get around the city/town. Depending on how far your destination is or where your final destination may be if it's within cycling distance, then this option makes sense.
Public Bus/Train - I have to say that this is my preferred way to get around the country from one city to another. It's cheap and surprisingly easy to use. For a country like Sri Lanka, I was very impressed with how easy it was to move in the country. Sri Lanka has an amazing public transportation system for tourists. This is by far the only country where I've gone back and forth in terms of my routes because it is so easy and cheap to go from one city to another. Fares for the public transportation (buses and trains) ranges between $0.50 - $3.00 USD
THINGS TO DO
Gangaramaya Temple (Colombo) - You're most likely going to land in this city and spending a day or two in Colombo is more than enough. Getting to this temple will give you a feeler of what the country is like.
Ravana Falls, Ella - There are a lot of locals here (usually taking selfies..) so just see it then leave.
The Independance Square (Colombo) - A cool spot to just walk around.
Anuradhapura - There's a buddhist stupa here that was first built in 140 BCE.
Minneriya National Park (Anuradhapura) - A good park to see elephants but I prefer going to Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park (Uduwalawe) - Wake up early to see the elephants as there's more activity in the morning as opposed to going in the afternoon when the elephants are avoiding the midday heat
Pidurangala Rock ( Dambulla) - If you had to pick one between Pidurangala and Sigiriya, Pidurangala is the better option. It offers better views and is much cheaper than Sigiriya. Pidurangala is also less touristy. The cost for Pidurangala is $3 USD while Sigiriya is $30 USD.
Sigiriya Rock (Dambulla) - Depending on your time and budget, you can end up doing both and see for yourself
Train Ride from Kandy to Ella - One of the most scenic train rides I've ever been to. A ride that takes about 7 hours to complete taking you through the beautiful landscapes on the countryside of Sri Lanka.
Hortons Plains National Park (Nuwara Eliya) - Wake up super early and see the wildlife and the natural beauty of the area
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Kandy) - Mostly locals go here making the experience even more unique.
Adam's Peak (Nallathanniya) - This is a sunrise hike that starts at 2 am. Depending on your fitness level it takes about 3-4 hours to complete the 5,500 steps that will lead you to the top. You're going to have to weave your way through locals going up as it's mostly locals going up here because Adam's Peak is a sacred mountain. It stands at 2,243 m high. At the top there is a footprint that is believed to be from the buddha himself. It will be windy and also chilly at the top so make sure you bring warm clothes and stay hydrated.
Nine Arch Bridge (Ella) - A very picturesque bridge worth visiting. Local trains do pass by here and there is a timetable for it as it doesn't come as often. It's worth looking into and plan your visit here accordingly. Seeing the train at Nine Arch is such an amazing thing to see.
Jaffna - This is off the beaten path and if you want to stay away from the tourists, this is the spot to be in.
Little Adam's Peak (Ella) - This hike will take you about 30-45 to get to the top. Great views at the top and this could be a warm up hike before you do Adam's Peak. Little Adam's Peak is 1,143 m high.
Beira Lake (Colombo) - There's a couple of restaurants around this lake. A good place to just walk around or to sit somewhere and relax
Ella's Rock (Ella) - This hike will take you 4-4.5 hours to complete depending on your fitness level. Great hike and a wonderful view at the top. Ella's Rock is 1,041 m high.
Arugam Bay - A good spot to catch the waves and surf.
Hikkaduwa Beach (Hikkaduwa) - A good spot to relax or surf if you're a beginner.
Mirissa Beach (Mirissa) - A very touristy spot. Probably have the most tourists here compared to the other beaches. Here you will find backpackers, flashpackers, vacationers, honeymooners, even family reunions. It's that kind of vibe here.
Unawatuna Beach (Unawatuna) - Here you will see the fisherman on stilts and once you're done you can go on this massive rope swing.
Galle Fort (Galle) - Good place to take a stroll.
Though the country just opened up for tourists not too long ago, tourism is picking up fairly quickly as there's a lot of developments happening in the country. You want to see this country before it changes drastically so don't wait up. For more on Sri Lanka, check out some of the videos down below! I hope you found these tips useful and if you have have any questions or feedback, drop me a line in the comment section. Safe travels everyone!