Flair Magazine
Sri Lanka, the teardrop-shaped island in the Indian ocean is a great destination that caters to different budgets and travellers of all types, ranging from no-frills backpackers to luxurious lifestyle seekers and honeymooners. It was also called Ceylon back in time, so yes you guessed it! It’s the birthplace of Ceylon tea and unsurprisingly, the main world tea hub. Sri Lanka is a spectacular destination that should definitely be on your travel bucket list. Here is what you need to know about it
Best time to visit: From December to March for sunny weather or May to August for surfers and water sports lovers.
Currency: Lanka Rupee ($1 is approximately 155 LKR).
Visa: 24-48 hours online and costs only 35$, valid for a month double entry.
Languages: Sinhala is the main language and English is widely spoken.
Network operators: Dialog, Mobitel, Etisalat and Airtel All relevant booths are available at the airport and offer great packages of data and calls. For 10$, you can get 14 GB of data and 30 minutes of local calls.
Transportation: Public buses are very cheap and costs vary according to the distance travelled from 5 EGP to as high as 50 EGP, and they can take you anywhere. Trains are also one of Sri Lanka’s highlights. They are relatively affordable but it’s sometimes very difficult to actually book a ticket. Cost ranges from 15 EGP to 150 EGP depending on class chosen and distance, as well. Tuktuks are everywhere and if you can bargain like a real Egyptian, you are good to go. You can even rent your own tuktuk for the whole trip for as low as 10$ a day.
There are also taxis and Uber cars in Colombo, the capital, and services by an app called “pickme” that can be downloaded when you get there, since it uses your Sri Lankan number.
Must Have Food:
When in Sri Lanka, rice and curry, Kothu, seafood and string hoppers are a must-eat!
Also, make sure to try their Ceylon tea and tropical fruits.
Places to Visit: Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonaruwa which is known as the golden cultural triangle Ella, Nuwara, Eliya, Haputale for hiking and tea plantations, Sigiriya for the lion rock and a good hike, and Dambulla for both the golden temple and cave temple.
For safari and animal lovers, there is Yala, Uduwalawe and Pinawala. As for beaches, our favorites include Tangalle for a private non-touristic beach experience, Mirissa for whale watching, Unuwatuna for a more touristy vibe and night life, Talpe for the turtles’ hatchery and Hikkaduwa for surfing lessons. Tip for those traveling via Saudi Airlines:
Don’t wear shorts during your flight because they won’t let you in, unless you cover yourself with a blanket!
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