Last Updated: March 23, 2024 | Flavorful Asia
A few days ago, I traveled to Sri Lanka. There, I explored its endless beaches and rich culture, overcoming various challenges along the way. Here are some pieces of advice and my travel itinerary for you.
Sri Lanka does not offer free visas, but they provide an E-visa. I obtained the Sri Lanka E-visa in exchange for 30 dollars. It is a very easy process, and there will be no such problem.
We were asked a lot about immigration in Sri Lanka, such as “why we had come to this country”, “how long we will stay”, “where we will stay”, “how much money I have brought”, and “Do you have a return air ticket”, “Did I booked a hotel”, and “have you traveled to any country before”, etc. The immigration officer questioned us for about 30 minutes. Therefore, it’s essential to be prepared for such inquiries before traveling to Sri Lanka, especially ensuring you have proof of return travel and hotel bookings.
After landing in Sri Lanka, it’s advisable to exchange some money at the airport if you don’t have Lankan rupees. However, avoid exchanging large amounts as the airport’s exchange rates are not favorable. Try to exchange money in Colombo/Negombo City for better rates. Alternatively, if you have an international debit or credit card, you can use that to get the international rate.
It was almost one in the morning when I landed at Colombo airport. Upon leaving the airport, some people said, “It’s late at night, so you won’t get a taxi outside now. Take a taxi from me.” However, upon researching, they were asking for a much higher taxi fare. So, I left the airport and was surprised to find no shortage of taxis outside. I then hired a taxi after bargaining.
If you have an international SIM card, you don’t need to do these things. After landing in Colombo, your first task is to get a SIM card because, without it, you can’t do anything. Even Google Maps will only work once the location is correct. There are many SIMs available like Airtel, Dialog, etc. I researched and found that Dialog works well there because it offers good data and calling packs. So, I went to buy a SIM card. We didn’t take the SIM card from the airport because the prices were very high. At a SIM card shop, the shopkeeper was charging extra for the SIM, which was not a problem. However, the issue was that when you buy a SIM, you have to take a one-month package. Since we were not staying in Sri Lanka for a month but rather for one to two weeks, we looked for a one-week package. Upon a suggestion from Dialog’s customer care, we found a one-week package and went to Dialog’s office to get the SIM card. It took us a lot of time to get the SIM.
Now that I reached Sri Lanka and my SIM card problem is solved, the question arises: where will you stay? Should you stay in Colombo or Negombo? If you don’t want any trouble, you should stay in Colombo, especially if you have gone with a travel agency. There is no problem with renting a taxi or renting a bike or scooter, then you can stay in Colombo. But if you want to rent your bike or scooter, then you should stay in Negombo.
I mistakenly stayed in Colombo city at night and looked for a bike rental there the next day but couldn’t find one. The next day, I went to Negombo City and rented one there. You will find many Bike/Scooty rental houses in Negombo City. From there, you can rent a bike/scooter of your choice. I hired a scooter and had to pay a deposit of five thousand LKR and a daily charge of seven dollars.
Before embarking on your journey, it’s essential to thoroughly inspect your rented scooter for any issues, such as brake functionality, scratches, and tire condition. Requesting a newer scooter is advisable for a more comfortable ride.
To drive in Sri Lanka an International Driving License is necessary. However, some countries’ driving licenses are accepted. You can find out by googling. If your license is not valid in Sri Lanka, an International Driving Permit (IDP) can be obtained for a fee of 5000 LKR, along with passport-sized photos and a copy of your driving license.
Many people go to the north side of Sri Lanka, like Jaffna, etc. Due to my personal preference, I chose to skip North Sri Lanka because I did not want to see it, and there are limited tourist accommodations. Additionally, very few tourists go there.
My journey began in Negombo. Followed by visits to Dambulla and Nilaveli Beach, which was not initially planned but turned out to be one of the best places I have seen in Sri Lanka. After Nilaveli, I moved to Kandy in the middle of Sri Lanka. After exploring Kandy City, I went to Ella, where I stayed for two days. From there, I went to Nuwara Eliya and then to South Sri Lanka to see Mirissa and Galle. I ended my journey in Colombo, covering the whole of Sri Lanka by traveling a total of 1800 to 2000 kilometers.
Among the places visited, The best place was Nilaveli; I liked the weather there, the hospitality, and the beach-view resort. Then, I enjoyed Ella for its streets, food, etc. Also, I liked Negombo; the beach there is not beautiful, but the vibes, the road, the crowd, and the culture there are all worth it. Additionally, I enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and culinary delights of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan food is good for me. Sri Lankan people like their food a little spicy. Vegetarians and non-vegetarians will find all kinds of food. However, non-vegetarian food is more prevalent. The seafood there is pretty good; you can try it. Especially, their prawn dishes are very tasty. So, don’t worry about food; Lankan food is good.