Sri Lanka
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Votes for Sri LankaThe short answer
December to March for the south and west coasts, July to September for the east. The island has two monsoons and they take turns.
It is smaller than it looks on a map but slower than it looks on a map. Three regions in two weeks is plenty.
When to go
Best months: Dec to Mar
What a day costs
Per person, not counting flights.
- Guesthouse$10
- Rice and curry$5
- Trains and tuk tuks$10
- Hotel$40
- Eating out$15
- Driver and trains$15
- Boutique hotel$120
- Restaurants$35
- Car with driver$35
What your whole trip would cost
1 vote = $1 US Dollar, charged by Stripe. No prizes, no refunds.
Votes for Sri LankaHow far it is
- London to Colombo11h
- Dubai to Colombo4h 25m
- Singapore to Colombo3h 40m
- Getting aroundA car with driver is the norm, and the hill country train is worth a slow day
- When to avoidThe southwest in May and June, and the east from October to December
Nonstop times from a few big hubs, to give you a sense of the distance. We have no idea which airport you are actually leaving from. Fares move weekly, so we leave those out.
When you land
- Airport to townThe airport is closer to Negombo than to Colombo. Prebook a car or use PickMe rather than the taxi touts.
- Cash or cardCash once you leave the cities. ATMs are common but charge for each withdrawal.
- Getting onlineDialog at the airport is cheap and has the widest coverage.
- What catches people outTuk tuks without meters. Book through PickMe and the price is fixed before you get in.
What not to miss in Sri Lanka
- The Kandy to Ella trainSeven hours through tea country for a few dollars. Reserve a seat or stand in the doorway.
- A morning safari at Yala or UdawalaweLeopards at Yala, elephants at Udawalawe. First light, never an afternoon tour.
- Rice and curry at a local placeTen or twelve small dishes for a couple of dollars. The hotel version is not the same thing.
- Sigiriya at opening, and Pidurangala next to itThe rock is the famous one. The hill opposite has the better view of it and costs almost nothing.
Still deciding?
🧳 Plan your trip to Sri Lanka
Good to know
Curated with 
Nemo
Written and checked by hand. Nothing here about visas or entry rules: those change often and depend on your passport, so check an official source.