If you would choose one word to describe Sri Lanka most probably it will be "Diversity". Whether you are on a shoestring budget or are looking for a splurging vacation, Sri Lanka will please you for sure. You can choose to stay in a welcoming hotel or a luxury suite with all the modern equipment. Moreover Sri Lanka is a country with ample of destinations; sacred cultural cities, greeny pastures, blue mountains, sunny beaches, national parks with wildlife adventures to be visited with the budget you all have. So hurry up and reserve your seats. This paradise isle is waiting for you all.
Sri Lanka still has the charm conjured up by its earlier name of Serendib or as its colonial name of Ceylon suggests. It’s an island set in the Indian Ocean, just 30km off the southeast coastal tip of India. Being close to the Equator, Sri Lanka’s seasons are not well defined and there is no cold winter but the temperature can drop to an average low of 12 degrees in the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya or soar to a high of 33 degrees in the east coast town of Trincomalee. While the island has plenty of beaches, the most popular being along the west and south coasts, with the east coast attracting visitors from May to September, it is also a destination for the nature lover with lush vegetation, broad rivers and plunging waterfalls and wild life ranging from elephants, leopards and crocodiles to peacocks and beautiful butterflies. There are ruins over 2,000 years old, modern hotels, and a people delighted to welcome visitors.
Sri Lankan Trips
Within Sri Lanka’s area of 65,525 sq km (25,299 square miles – about half the size of England) there are so many places to explore, guests often return on holiday year after year so they can discover more of Sri Lanka. The island’s length is 435km and it is 240km at its widest point. Most of the island is low-lying and flat but the south central part is mountainous with nine peaks over 2,133m (7,000ft) high. It’s not only the island’s scenic beauty that is so enchanting, there are ancient ruins and religious shrines (the Cultural Triangle), national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, charming traditional buildings, a pastoral way of life contrasting with the hubbub of the towns and cities, brilliant beaches and a salubrious climate.
The best way to explore the island is with a chauffeur-guide either on a standard tour or following an itinerary which Walkers Tours can arrange to include places of special interest and convenient accommodation
Facts on Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a lush, fertile island of many cultures with a history of diversity now blended into a nation in harmony making it a perfect holiday retreat for people from around the world.
Events in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan calendar is full of events throughout the year. There is never a dull moment. The diversity found on our little island ensures that there are events based around different cultures which give you an insight into the various customs of the people of Sri Lanka. There is always a reason to visit Sri Lanka and take part in the various events planned. These events are sure to add excitement and fun to your holiday with some of them being a once in a life time experience. So keep checking with us to find the ideal event you would like to experience and be a part of. Visa Requirements for Sri Lanka All visitors (except those holding Maldivian or Singaporean passports) require a visa to visit Sri Lanka. Obtaining a visa is remarkably simple as it can be done in advance through the official government website: (www.eta.gov.lk) by using a credit card for the required fee. Do not use other websites as they will charge extra. If you haven’t been able to obtain a visit visa in advance, it can be obtained by queuing at a special desk in the immigration arrivals hall.
Dining in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankans eat a version of rice and curry for every meal. For breakfast, it could be a single curry eaten with bread or string hoppers (like vermicelli) or egg or plain hoppers (like a thin pancake). For lunch a large amount of rice is accompanied by any amount of curries, usually a fish or meat curry, vegetable curries and probably dhal (lentils) curry. For dinner, the meal could be another curry with hoppers. There is a multitude of spicy snacks, called “short eats” such as buns and pastries stuffed with fish or vegetable mix, chickpeas with grated coconut, fish cutlets, and a kind of deep fried cookie made with lentil flour. If you get invited to a village home and are lucky enough to be offered rice and curry, the curries will probably have the authentic taste of having been cooked in clay pots over a wood fire. These should be eaten with the fingers of the right hand. Most mainstream hotels serve a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner which, as well as international dishes, will have a curry corner so you can try the local cuisine. In Colombo there is a wide choice of specialty restaurants including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian, Lebanese, French, Italian, German and Swiss. Some of the best restaurants are located in the first-class hotels. The prices for food and beverage in restaurants frequented by locals is lower than equivalent eateries in Europe, although will probably cost more than in India or Asian countries (but not Singapore). In the first-class hotels in Colombo and in tourist hotels and restaurants where the food is especially prepared for visitors from abroad, higher prices are charged, often equivalent to European prices. For imported alcoholic beverages prices in bars and restaurants are similar to those in Europe although wines, because of import duty and taxes, may even be higher in price. Where the menu prices are indicated as ++ , it means that a service charge of 10% plus taxes, usually around 17% will be added to the bill. Where a price is quoted as “nett” it includes the service charge and taxes.