Sri Lanka has an amazing diversity of holiday choices for such a relatively small island. There are long sandy beaches on the south coast, a lush interior, a rich wildlife as well as cultural treasures that include sites that are well over two thousand years old. With its tea plantations and tropical forests, its elephants, temples and mosques, seven World Heritage sites and golden beaches, holidays in Sri Lanka are never boring. The island is not without its political problems but visitors can’t fail to be impressed by the genuine warmth and friendlinessof everyone they meet.
Beach holidays
Magnificent hill country
Water sports
Impressive local colour
Bogus ‘gem dealers’ offering surprising bargains
Conversations about local politics and the civil war
EU passport holders require a visa for stays of up to 30 days. You can get one when you arrive. Visas cannot be extended and there are fines and detention if yo! u stay longer. It’s recommended you travel with a passport that is valid for at least six months from the end of your holiday. There are severe penalties for drug offences You’ll need to take off your shoes when you visit a holy site and you should cover your head, shoulders and legs Holidaymakers should not visit the north and north east of Sri Lanka because of the civil unrest. Check out the latest advice for holidaymakers from the British Foreign Office on www.fco.gov.uk
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination and December to March is the main season with average temperatures of 30°C/86°F. From May to September the south westerly monsoon brings rain to the west and south coasts.
Flights to Sri Lanka from the UK take around eleven hours.
Car hire is widely available and inexpensive. However many cars are without tail and brake lights and speeding buses are a problem. If you do hire a car you need to drive defensively.