Sri Lanka Travel Guide
In April 2022, we had the fantastic opportunity to explore Sri Lanka for the first time. We’ll share with you in this post our itinerary and a Sri Lanka Travel Guide.
We had just finished working with @visitabudhabi and were about to go on a one-month trip to the Maldives shortly after. Wondering where we could go on this one-week gap that we had between one trip and the other, we had the brilliant idea to explore Sri Lanka. The island is close to the Maldives, with less than a two-hour flight, so it was indeed the perfect opportunity to do it.
By the way, if you’re interested in going to the Maldives, we have a complete “how to start planning your next trip to the Maldives” and more than ten hotel reviews.
Funny enough, we ended up having a last minute job in a hotel in Sri Lanka that was about to open for the first time. If you want to see the results, check their IG by clicking here.
Why you should visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an incredible country located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and separated from the mainland of the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.
Sri Lanka is an island that consists mainly of flat, undulating coastal plains, with mountains only in the south-central part.
The highest point is Pindurutalagala, which reaches 2,524 meters above sea level.
The country has 103 rivers, the Mahaweli River being the longest. All these waterways give rise to 51 natural waterfalls of 10 meters or more. It also has 45 estuaries and 40 lagoons, a mangrove ecosystem covering over 7,000 hectares, and many paradisiacal places to visit.
How long should I stay in Sri Lanka?
We spent one week in Sri Lanka, and we can start by saying that our stay was too short! The country is vast, and we would recommend around 15-20 days to be able to explore all the different regions and landscape the country has to offer.
Also, keep in mind that it takes a lot of time to go from one place to another. An average of two-three hours or more, depending on where you’re going.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka
The weather in Sri Lanka is rather complicated for such a small country since the island is affected by two separate monsoons. But, on the bright side, this means that there is usually good weather somewhere on the island at most times of the year.
Generally, the best time to visit the west and south coasts and the Cultural Triangle is between December and April. However, the climate is at its finest on the east coast from May to October.
We visited Sri Lanka at the beginning of April and got pretty good weather.
What you should know before visiting Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka language: Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages of Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka currency – Sri Lankan rupee.
- Sri Lanka’s religion – Buddhism is the primary religion.
- The capital city of Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka has two capitals: Colombo, which remains the executive and judicial capital of Sri Lanka; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, a Colombo suburb, is the legislative capital.
Driving in Sri Lanka
This is a topic you should really pay attention to.
In all our travels, we always rent cars. The reason is that as we are usually working with tourism and/or hotels, we need to be flexible and go from points A to B whenever we want. So we don’t usually use public transportation or private drivers. Fred is good at getting around anywhere. With a GPS in his hands, nobody can stop the guy!
However, it’s essential to say we did our research before visiting the country, and IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO RENT A CAR IN SRI LANKA.
The traffic there is insane! The locals know how to get around themselves, but it’s different for tourists. There are no traffic signs, and if you find one, nobody respects it. Also, as we mentioned previously, places are far from one another, so be prepared to spend a lot of time inside a vehicle in Sri Lanka.
Even after reading this, if you still want to take the high risk and rent a car, if I’m not mistaken, you must apply for a government permit. It’s not just a simple “show me your license, and there’s the car” situation.
But indeed, follow our advice and let it with the “experts.” It is not worth it to take the risk.
In our case, we got a private driver for the first time in our travels! It’s not as expensive as we thought, and it worked out very well.
Arriving in Sri Lanka
Welcome to Sri Lanka!
After a 4.5-hour flight from Abu Dhabi, we finally landed at Colombo Airport in Sri Lanka.
Our driver was waiting for us at the airport and we went from Colombo to Taangalle.
If you want a private transfer, we recommend this one: @slbrotherstour. Fair prices and friendly people. and
We overnighted at a modest, cute guesthouse. We arrived at 1:00 am, and check-in was until 6:00 pm! However, the lovely owners waited for us with a huge smile! A lovely welcome.
In the morning, the breakfast was excellent, and after that, the owner took us to Anantara with his TukTuk. We were completely in love with the Sinhalese and how they treated others. We felt blessed to meet such amazing people.
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort
The peace haven of Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort is nestled in the middle of a coconut plantation overlooking the Indian Ocean. The spectacular beachfront setting, expansive gardens, and excellent facilities make the resort a top choice for families or couples seeking luxurious relaxation.
Close to the ancient fortress town of Tangalle, the beach is golden-hued and overlooks the bustling Indian Ocean. You can explore the island’s rainforests, pilgrimage sites, fishing ports, cliffside dining options, surfing adventures, and a relaxing spa.
To enjoy all the experiences the resort offered us, we woke up early, saw an indescribable sunrise on the beach, and took the opportunity to take many photos.
Then we set off on a 90-minute hike led by Anantara Peace Haven Nature Guru Eddie. We learned more about all the species of animals and flowers we can find at the resort. It was a great morning touring the resort and learning about the coastal ecosystem, beautiful fauna, and flora that the resort strives to protect.
Gastronomy
On our travels, we have the opportunity to get to know different cultures, and we love to see what people eat for breakfast. Did you know that in Sri Lanka, they have curry for breakfast? A novelty that we had not seen elsewhere.
In the afternoon, we went to try the High Tea Experience, with a great selection of local teas with the option of canapés and sweets.
We tried one of the resort’s signature IL Mare for dinner, with the best Italian cuisine and sea views.
Accommodation
We stayed in a 97 m2 chalet, private garden for relaxation, plunge pool, double sun loungers, double bed, bathtub overlooking the park, and much more.
Anantara Kalutara Resort
Located just 1 hour from Bandaranaike International Airport, this resort boasts a secluded beachfront location. We were welcomed with a beautiful local dance to the sound of the traditional Yak Beraya.
Gastronomy
Breakfast arrived by boat, and we took the opportunity to tour the resort’s lagoon. Anantara Kalutara is the only luxury resort in Sri Lanka with 360-degree ocean and lagoon views.
The Italian restaurant Aquolina is located in the adults-only pool. The view of the sunset is an incredible experience. It also has other dining options, offering the best of Thai, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Food for all tastes.
Accommodation
This time we stayed in a 123 m2 chalet with a deck, private pool, living and dining room, and the most beautiful view of the lagoon.
Spa
With a menu of treatments inspired by ancient Ayurvedic healing traditions, at this Spa, you will be able to discover unique and exotic therapies from across Asia or indulge in Western spa practices revered by the world.
For us, this is the best way to relax. We are always in a hurry to create content around our partner resorts. Thus, receiving a message allows us to relax and not think about work for an hour.
Before we started traveling as content creators, Fred had never had a massage! Nowadays, it’s one of his favorite things, and I don’t blame him! Whenever we see it on our itinerary, we are so happy. We totally recommend it! Trust us; you will feel much better afterward.
Final Thoughts
This was our first time in Sri Lanka. It was 7 incredible and unforgettable days: breathtaking landscapes, colorful and diverse fauna and flora, wonderful people, and mouth-watering gastronomic experiences.
What else would you like to know about Sri Lanka? Leave your question below, and we will help you.
