Travel guides

Short, practical answers for your first trip to Sri Lanka: arriving at the airport, getting around, roads, money and what to expect.

• Which vehicle suits your group and luggage?Choosing the right size saves money and a squeezed ride. The right vehicle depends on how many people you are and how much luggage you have. Every...
• Arriving at Colombo Airport: what to expectBandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is in Katunayake, about 40 km by road from central Colombo and a short drive from Negombo. Almost every...
• Where to stay on your first night in Sri LankaMost flights into Colombo land in the night or early morning, and the road south is long. Deciding where to sleep on the first night is the single...
• Taxi, train or bus: getting around Sri LankaSri Lanka is a small island, but distances take longer than the map suggests. Roads wind, towns run into each other and speeds are modest. Here is...
• Arriving at Mattala Airport: what to expectMattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is in the far south-east, in the Hambantota district. It is a calm, uncrowded airport, which makes...
• Money, SIM cards and getting online in Sri LankaA few practical things to sort out in your first hour. Rates, offers and rules change, so treat this as a checklist and confirm details on the day.
• What to expect on Sri Lankan roadsDriving in Sri Lanka is different from driving at home, which is why most visitors hire a driver instead of a car. If you are new to the roads,...
• Colombo airport to the south coast: how it worksThe south coast is where most first-time visitors head: long beaches, surf, whale watching and the old Dutch fort at Galle. Here is how the trip...
• Temple and safari etiquette for visitorsTwo of the highlights of a trip, temples and wildlife parks, come with simple rules. Following them keeps people and animals safe and shows...

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