10 Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to Sri Lanka

One of the most beguiling destinations that you can visit is none other than Sri Lanka. One of the things that you will notice in Sri Lanka is that it has beautiful landscapes, besides, that even the locals are very friendly. The best place to visit in Sri Lanka is the British Colonial heritage. And the most perfect time to visit Sri Lanka is 2021. Also, you should note that when you are traveling to Sri Lanka make sure that you travel slowly if you want to see the beauty of the place. There is no need for a Sri Lanka visa for US citizens, the travelers can simply travel with an electronic travel authorization (ETA). It is available online and the US citizens need not apply for a visa. 

  1. Best Places to Visit –  

You will get an incredible experience if you are traveling to Sri Lanka for the first time. There are so many things for you to see like animals, and then meet with friendly people, then landscapes, etc. Some of the interesting places that you can visit in Sri Lanka are the capital of Colombo, Adam’s peak, Udawalawe, the national park of Yala, etc.

  1. Take Things Slowly, Don’t Rush –

One of the things that travelers must know is that life in Sri Lanka is laid back. People take things easily, so don’t plan too many activities in a day, or you will get tired. Plan things step by step and slowly, if you really want to enjoy the beauty of Sri Lanka. 

  1. Know the Culture –

There are beautiful places to visit and plenty of things to be done. It is also important that when you go to Sri Lanka, you also get to know the culture of Sri Lanka. Make sure to take out time to visit historical sites and know about the colonial era and civil war and much more about the Sri Lanka.

  1. Get Ayurveda Therapy –

Another best thing that you will know about Sri Lanka is the Ayurveda and the ayurvedic massage therapies. So, if you are in Colombo, you can get the therapy done. It’s affordable and also worth it. There are various therapies including aromatherapy that are done. 

  1. Eat With Hands – 

Additionally, you should make sure that when you are in Sri Lanka, you eat just like how the locals eat the rice and curry with their hands. And there is a sink also where you can wash your hands later. There are some good beaches in Southern Colombo and apart from that, there are excellent restaurants, stylish guesthouses, contemporary arts, and some good-styled bars that you can enjoy when in Colombo. 

  1. Carry Creams for Mosquitoes –

One of the demerits that you will note about Sri Lanka is the mosquitoes. So, you will always have to carry in your bag mosquito repellent.

  1. Keep Cash in Purse –

Always have some cash in your purse. You can get the money from the machines, but again small shops do not have change for huge cash. Therefore, say if you are traveling in buses or tuk-tuk then it is important that you have a small amount of cash also in your purse. Plus, you should also give tips at the restaurants. So, if you leave a 25/- or 60/- then even that is ok. 

  1. Take Taxi & Colorful TukTuk – 

Another thing that you will note is that there are very colorful tuk-tuks in Sri Lanka. So, you can always enjoy your ride in your favorite color tuk-tuk. It is very time-consuming to travel in Sri Lanka. So, make sure that you plan things accordingly before traveling. Another best place where you can visit is Ceylon. One of the mistakes that first-time travelers do in Sri Lanka is to visit 2-3 places at a time without any prior planning. So, this should not be done. It’s best to book a taxi and travel from one point destination to the other destination via the hotel. And not to forget, please don’t expect the car and fuel price to be cheap. It will be costly.

  1. Don’t Rent a Car –  

Especially for US citizens and other foreign travelers, it is advised not to rent a car and travel by yourself. It requires a special permit like an international driver’s license. But one of the best things would be if you hire a driver and start traveling. You can travel by train also and enjoy the scenic beauty of Sri Lanka. You can get some of the best views from the 2nd and 3rd class carriages, so book your train tickets accordingly. 

  1. Why Not a Bus? 

You can do an overall traveling of Ceylon through trains. Lol, one of the things that you will know about Sri Lanka and why you shouldn’t travel by bus even if it’s cheap is because they drive like mad. It’s similar to how they drive in Southern parts of India. And when in Sri Lanka don’t forget to go on a wildlife safari, to see the leopards, and wildlife elephants in their natural surroundings. There are some beautiful beaches and Buddha temples also in Sri Lanka that you can visit. 

Feature image:

Photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels

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