Travel Guides
Sri Lanka Travel Guides
Practical, dated guides to planning a trip to Sri Lanka - when to go, how to get around, what things really cost, and how to get the most from the island's temples, wildlife and food. Every guide shows when it was last updated.
Climbing Adam's Peak (Sri Pada): Season, Routes and the Night Climb
The 2026-27 pilgrimage season opens on 23 December. How the night climb from Nallathanni works, what to bring, and how to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Money in Sri Lanka: Cash, Cards, ATMs and Tipping
How much cash to carry, where cards work, what the ATMs charge, and how much to tip drivers, safari trackers and hotel staff.
Visiting Temples in Sri Lanka: What to Wear and How to Behave
Shoulders, shoes, photographs and Buddha images - the customs that matter at Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, mosques and churches, and the few that can get you into real trouble.
What to Eat in Sri Lanka: 15 Dishes Worth Seeking Out
Hoppers, kottu, lamprais and a proper rice and curry - what to order, when each dish is served, and how to ask for it less spicy.
Sri Lanka Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14-Day Routes That Actually Work
Three routes for a first trip, built around realistic travel times, the current state of the hill-country railway and the coast that is in season.
Sri Lanka Visa in 2026: Free Entry for 40 Countries
Sri Lanka dropped the tourist visa fee for 40 nationalities in May 2026. Who qualifies, what everyone else pays, and how to avoid the copycat websites.
What It Costs to Visit Sri Lanka's Big Sights
Sigiriya, Kandy, Anuradhapura and the national parks - what foreign visitors actually pay in 2026, and which of the best places are free.
Getting Around Sri Lanka: Trains, Buses, Tuk-Tuks and Drivers
The island is small and the roads are slow. How to choose between the train, the bus, a tuk-tuk and a private driver - and what each really costs.
Sri Lanka's East Coast: Where to Go When the South is Raining
Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Pasikudah - the coast that comes alive from May to September, while the south sits under monsoon.
The Ella to Kandy Train: What Is Running in 2026
The hill-country line is still recovering from Cyclone Ditwah. Which section is open, how to book it, and how to cover the part that is not.
Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka: A Month-by-Month Guide
Two monsoons take turns on opposite coasts, so somewhere is always in season. Where the weather is good in each month, and the festivals and wildlife worth timing a trip around.
Sri Lanka on a Budget: What $30 a Day Really Buys
A realistic breakdown of rooms, food, transport and tickets for budget travellers in 2026 - where the money goes, and where it quietly leaks away.
Whale Watching in Mirissa: When to Go and How to Choose a Boat
Blue whales a couple of hours off the south coast from December to April - what a trip is really like, how to avoid seasickness, and how to pick an operator that doesn't chase the whales.
Climbing Sigiriya: Tickets, Timing and What Nobody Tells You
What the $35 ticket covers, when to arrive, how hard the 1,200 steps really are, the hornet warnings - and why Pidurangala belongs in the same day.
A 10-Day Sri Lanka Honeymoon: Route, Stays and Timing
Ancient cities, a tea-country bungalow, a safari and a slow finish by the sea - a realistic ten-day honeymoon route, with where to splurge and where to save.