Sri Lanka can be visited all year long with an average of 27°C, but there are favorable seasons for certain parts of the island. December to April is the best time to visit the West and South Coasts and May to September for the East Coast.

You must apply for your tourist visa online. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to: https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/ as soon as you have finalized your reservation.
2. Pay your visa fee of 75 USD / adult (standard visitor visa). A 6-month visa is issued, with compulsory exit every 60 days. You will be charged an additional service fee of 18.50 USD and a convenience fee of 7.27 USD. You can also apply for a tourist visa for a longer period, see the official website.
3. The authorities will process your application and get back to you as soon as possible, with visa approval sent to you by email.
4. Book your international flight at any time. We recommend that you use a travel agency to book your flights, so you'll have all the help you need if you need it.

As a reminder, special rates apply to residents of countries in the SAARC zone (Asian countries). Visas are free for children under 12.

Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.

Please note that fees and procedures may change at any time, so please consult the official website for more information.

Despite the high temperatures, you'll want to pack something warm for mountain excursions and something modest that covers your shoulders and legs for religious sites. Here are some other things to consider bringing:

- A raincoat
- Cool weather clothes for cool evenings and for touring the Hill Country
- Appropriate footwear for climbing Sigiriya and Dambulla
- A pair of socks to protect your feet from the hot ground when you remove your shoes to visit temples
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Mosquito repellent (for skin and clothes)
- Hat or cap
- Swimwear
- Binoculars for jeep safaris
- A reusable water bottle (to limit the usage of plastic bottles)
- A flashlight is always useful
- An old phone to use with a local SIM card
- A small first aid kit and prescription medication (there are many pharmacies in Sri Lanka if you need something)

If you’re hiking:
- Good walking shoes
- Long thick pants and high socks to cover the pant bottoms and protect you from leeches (necessary in Sinharaja and Knuckles Range regions)

While there are no mandatory vaccines, we recommend you be up to date on universal DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-polio) vaccines. Consult with your doctor regarding vaccination against tropical diseases at least 3 months before your arrival. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those travelling from countries at risk for this disease.

Sri Lanka is a relatively safe country. However, as in any country, you have to be careful and trust your intuition. Pickpockets are often present in crowded tourist sites. Keep an eye on your belongings and keep your valuables close to your body.

Sri Lanka is not a dangerous country for women traveling alone, but some precautions are probably worth mentioning here. Be careful who you befriend as single women are sometimes targeted. Don't walk alone at night and dress modestly to match the culture of the country when you are out and about. But feel free to wear your swimsuit at your hotel and on the beaches in the East and the South where locals are accustomed to foreign tourists.

The Sri Lankan Rupee is the only official currency of the country. However, Euros and US Dollars will be accepted on main cultural sites or in large hotels. You can exchange currency at exchange offices, banks and hotels (euros and dollars). On the other hand, in order to avoid the risks of fraud and limit bank fees, we advise you to use cash and make withdrawals via ATMs (local distributors) as this is the most common and, simple means of payment.

February 2021, 1 USD = 193 LKR and the largest ticket in Sri Lanka is 5,000 LKR = 25 USD.

It is very easy to travel in Sri Lanka thanks to the multiple types of transport, whether with a city itself or from one city to another. Tuk-tuk, trains and bus transport, cost just a few hundred rupees.

If you take a tuk-tuk in Colombo, make sure it has a meter! Count 40 LKR per kilometer (60 LKR the first). You can download Pick Me and/or Uber to order a tuk-tuk.

In other cities, it will be necessary to appeal to your negotiation skills. Make sure you have settled the fare amount with your driver before leaving.

If you want to take the local bus, good luck! Local buses are often crowded and noisy with music at the highest possible volume, however, it's fun to experience.

Train journeys in Sri Lanka are a unique experience, and they cross breathtaking landscapes. If your tickets are purchased by your travel agent, you will have a guaranteed seat. It is also possible to buy tickets on the spot, without a guaranteed seat. There are special, new train cars just for women if you like. Be prepared to be flexible as delays are common. Excuse any train delay!

Sinhalese and Tamil are the official languages of Sri Lanka. Sinhalese is predominant in most of the country, about 73.8% of speakers are Sinhalese and 20% are Tamils.

English is recognized as a “link” language in the constitution. Today, the three languages are taught at the primary level.

With an area of about 65,000 km2, the island has more than 22,576,000 inhabitants, made up of several ethnic groups. Seventy five percent of the total population is Sinhalese, mainly Buddhist, sixteen percent is Tamil and mainly Hindu, and the rest of the population is made up of Muslims and Christians. Also, in terms of community, there are Burghers who are the descendants of the first Dutch and Portuguese settlers, and ethnic minorities such as Sri Lanka's indigenous people, the Veddas. Despite a civil war from 1983 to 2009, which pitted the Sinhalese and Tamils against each other in a conflict for independence, they live together in peace today. Sinhalese and Tamil are both taught at school and everyone is accepted.

Religion is an integral part of life for the people of Sri Lanka and it is important to know a few things so as not to accidentally disrespect them when visiting religious sites. Choose outfits that cover your shoulders and knees; take your shoes off at the entrance (hint- wear flip-flops to make it easy) don't turn your back on Buddha; don't take selfies in the temple.

If you want to eat with your hands as the locals do, use only your right hand because the left hand is considered impure (especially for Muslims and Hindus).

Mai Globe Travels has officially been certified as a “Safe & Secure” travel agent by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. This means we are allowed to operate and organize trips for guests, following mandated tourist board regulations. Some of these requirements include staying in Level 1 hotels for the first 14 days, using certified driver guides, and visiting only authorized sites for the first 14 days.

The Sri Lankan authorities have a plan for how to allow travelers to visit the country safely. As of now, travel guidelines are the same for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

Visitors are required to stay in level 1 certified hotels, and travel in a covid-safe bubble for the first 13 nights/ 14 days. Travelers can travel and can change hotels during their stay as long as they stay in the bubble, and there is no minimum stay required. Guests who wish to stay longer than 14 days and test negative for covid will be allowed to travel freely after their 14th day.

You will do a PCR test on the day of your arrival at the hotel, you are kindly requested to stay in your room until your negative results are obtained (allow 24 hours on average). A second test must be carried out before your departure, if it is negative you are allowed to travel freely.

Children between 2-12 years will have to do one PCR test before the end of the 14 days.

Travelers are expected to follow the country’s covid-19 health guidelines and protocols for safe travel.

- Please respect social distancing at the airport during the check-in, security check, and boarding process.
-You will be required to pay for and take the PCR tests during the first 14 days.
- Please follow the required health procedures at your accommodations.
- Wear a mask in public places, common areas, and during tours and excursions.
- During the first 14 days, you will have the opportunity to visit 15 licensed tourist sites. During visits, wearing a mask and social distancing are required.

Read our article on travel conditions right now in Sri Lanka.