sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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Checklist

̈ Make sure your passport
is valid for at least six months
past your arrival date

̈ Check on the need for
vaccinations

̈ Arrange for appropriate
travel insurance (see p 308 )

̈ Check the airline baggage
restrictions

̈ Inform your debit-/credit-
card company

What to Pack

̈ A good pair of earplugs

̈ Mosquito repellent – hard
to find in Sri Lanka (unlike
mosquitoes)

̈ Sunscreen – another
surprisingly hard-to-find item

̈ Tampons – impossible to
find outside Colombo

Top Tips for Your Trip

̈ Explore the beaches: especially in the south and east there are

vast, deserted and beautiful swaths of sand. If you see a road heading

towards the coast, take it and see what you find.

̈ Ride the trains: you’ll enjoy the scenery, have comfort greater than

buses and you will travel with a cross-section of locals.

̈ Hit the markets: even if you don’t want 100 bananas, you’ll see the

country’s bounty, meet people and get caught up in the bargaining frenzy.

̈ Eat with the locals: a busy cafe in a town centre or near a bus

terminal will serve rice and curry that’s properly spicy, something

impossible to find at any place catering to tourists.

̈ Watch the calendar: poya (full moon) nights are when celebrations

take place across the country.

What to Wear

Shorts and a T-shirt will work most of the time, but bathing

suits and bikinis are never proper off tourist beaches. Bring a

cover-up for shoulders and arms, and a long skirt, sarong or

light pants for visiting temples. Sandals are always fine and

are good for slipping off quickly when visiting temples. Some-

thing slightly dressy is required for the very best restaurants

in Colombo. For the elements, a lightweight waterproof jacket

or poncho is handy in case of sudden downpours, and pack a

warm layer if spending time high in the temperate mountains.

Sleeping

See p304 for more accommodation information.

̈ Guesthouses Family-run guesthouses are found everywhere; they

can provide good value and offer a great way to interact with locals.

̈ Hotels Coming in all flavours, hotels range from modest to grand

and from backroad to beachfront.

̈ Resorts Offering one-stop luxury, the best resorts are found on

the west and south coasts and in the national parks.

̈ Ayurvedic spas Stay at a spa for accommodation and wellness in

a single package.

̈ Rented villas Villas offer some grand accommodation, some even

with their own private beach.

First Time Sri Lanka

For more information, see Survival Guide (p303)

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PLAN YOUR TRIP

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