Sri Lanka Travel Guide.

The wildlife here is outstanding and can provide a few unusual sights for any visitor. Car hire is recommended to get the best of your trip here. Offering everything from monuments to a relaxed sunny escape, Sri Lanka will take your breath away.

Sri Lanka Tourist Board: The official website for the Sri Lankan National Tourist Office – a useful resource for planning your trip to Sri Lanka.

Know Before You Go: Travel information from the FCO for Sri Lanka.

Things to see and do

• Sunbathe or swim in the sea at one of Sri Lanka's numerous beaches.
• Go on a diving or snorkelling trip to explore the reef off the coast of Sri Lanka.
• Hike through the rainforest or cloud forest in Sri Lanka's hilly interior.
• Tour the lush tea plantations in the highlands.
• Visit Sri Lanka's best known attraction, the UNESCO listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
• Take a trip to the Dambulla Cave Temples, home to a fantastic collection of Buddhist art and statues.
• Visit the striking remains of the ancient capital of Anuradhapura.
• Go to Yala National Park on the southeast coast. Home to crocodiles, elephants, leopards, and much more, this is a fantastic place to see Sri Lanka’s wildlife.

Festivals and events

• The Galle Literary Festival offers you the chance to enjoy the works of Sri Lankan authors as well as international works. (January)
• Bak, or Full Moon Day celebrates the second visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. (April)
• The Vesak Festival is the largest Buddhist religious celebration in Sri Lanka. (May)
• Take a trip to the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival, which consists of two weeks of festivities honouring the Kataragama God. (July)

Tipping in Sri Lanka

Tipping is commonplace in Sri Lanka. As a tourist you will be expected to tip almost everyone. Unfortunately there’s no set rule for how much to tip so go carefully at first – you don’t want to set expectations too high!

Time difference

GMT + 5.5