Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Sri Lanka

Posted on: Mar 20, 2023 | | Written by:

Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Sri Lanka

Published on March 20, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Sri Lanka Travel Guide – Travel Insurance

The island nation of Sri Lanka is a favourite tourist destination for a fair bit of reasons. From amazing beaches to ruins and temples that are timeless, affordable food and stay, Sri Lanka has a lot going for itself. And to ensure that you have a great trip, opt for travel health insurance.

Sri Lanka offers a wide range of places and things to do. If you are someone who enjoys water sports, the endless beaches will have your favourite water sport. On the other hand, if you are a mountain person, there are a lot of hilly areas to quench your thirst. You will also find a lot of dense forests and tea plantations spread across the island country.

Here is a travel guide for your next trip to Sri Lanka.

Places that you should visit in Sri Lanka

Even though Sri Lanka might look a bit small from the perspective of a map, there are enough things and places for you to explore. Here are all the major places that you can try to visit during your stay.

1. North and East

The city of Trincomalee is a gateway to the eastern part of the country. You will find a lot of amazing beaches in pristine condition, yet to be explored. The eastern side also has Arugam Bay, which is a hub for surfing.

For the explorer in you, Northern Sri Lanka can be quite interesting. After years of civil war, the area is now emerging. You can plan a visit to the city of Jaffna in the North, along with a trip to Mannar.

2. West

A visit to Sri Lanka starts at their international airport, which is just on the outskirts of Colombo. Apart from being the capital city, it is by far the largest as well. You will find a lot of contrasting elements in Colombo, which gives you an introduction to life in Sri Lanka.

There is a myriad of beach resorts on the west coast of Sri Lanka. These majorly contribute to tourism in the country. Some of the more popular resorts include Negombo, Beruwala, Bentota, and Hikkaduwa. The National Parks in the area are home to sloth bears, leopards, and elephants.

3. South

After Hikkaduwa, the south shore is significantly less developed. The ancient Dutch city of Galle is magnificent as Sri Lanka's best colonial town. This also is the region's entry point. Beyond this, there are many other gorgeous beaches. They include the lively capital of the province of Matara. Here you can find Dutch relics, as well as the Unawatuna, which is a growing settlement, and Weligama, which has the quieter sections of the shore, Tangalla, and Mirissa. Located on the eastern side is Tissamaharama. This is a fantastic starting point for seeing the superb Bundala and Yala national parks as well as the fascinating temple village of Kataragama.

Make sure that you opt for travel health insurance before flying out to Sri Lanka, as it is a mandatory visa requirement. And the policy must predominantly cover expenses related to Covid-19.

National Parks

Sri Lanka is blessed with quite a diverse wildlife. There are quite a few national parks in the country, which make for a strong case for eco-tourism. Here are the most prominent ones in the country.

1. Sinharaja Forest Reserve

The forest reserve is a UNESCO world heritage site. The tropical forest is a sight to behold and has some of the finest wildlife.

2. Yala

Yala shares its borders with the Indian ocean. You will find a lot of crocodiles, leopards, and elephants in Yala.

3. Bundala

Bundala is a great alternative if you do not like crowds. And it is a great option if you are someone who enjoys birdwatching. Apart from birds, you can also find elephants, turtles and crocodiles.

4. Minneriya

The forest reserve has a wide range of animals. Elephants remain the biggest attraction since you can easily spot them at specific times. The reserve also has leopards, sloth bears, macaque, and langur monkeys.

Opting for international travel insurance will ensure a hassle-free trip. The plan offers protection in the event of delayed or cancelled flights, covers charges for medical attention, offers protection if you lose any documents, and so on.

Top things to do in Sri Lanka

1. Sunrise over a jungle

Without visiting Sigiriya, a gigantic rock castle with the remains of an ancient palace, water gardens, and frescoes close to the enormous rock Pidurangala, no vacation to Sri Lanka is complete. If you're not a morning person, come here for sunset before the ticket office shuts around 6 pm. Early risers should put on their climbing boots and ascend Pidurangala at 5 am for a glorious sunrise.

2. Have the delicious Kottu roti

Kottu roti is the only dish that truly encapsulates Sri Lanka. Fresh vegetables, leftover roti, eggs, and your choice of meat or seafood are all mixed in this famous street meal, which is heavy on carbs. You can frequently hear the clink of metal on metal from a few hundred feet away when something is thrown together onto a metal griddle and cut into tiny slices using two metal blades.

3. Bird watching in Bundala National Park.

In the country's south is Bundala National Park, a wetland that is home to approximately 200 species of migratory and native birds. The park comes alive with many storks, brahminy kites, lots of whistling wild ducks, dancing peacocks, Asian green bee-eaters, and crocodiles during the 3–4 hour birdwatching trips that begin at 6 am.

Around the Weera, Neem, and Palu trees in the late afternoon, spotted deer, wild Asian elephants, and wild boar can be seen. To attempt and find them, book a 4WD safari with a tour company like Bundala Safari with Srimal, which has a location in Bundala Junction, right outside the park.

4. Take a train ride

A train ride is a necessity if you want to experience Sri Lanka. You can try the Colombo to Ella train trip, which also travels across the famous Nine Arch Bridge, for mountain views combined with tea gardens, British colonial-era railroad stops, and flowing water bodies. There are multiple trains that run this route, but because it's so well-travelled, be sure to buy your tickets in advance.

Take in the vistas of the Indian Ocean and swaying palms by boarding a coastal train from Colombo that is travelling south towards Galle. Next, board a train heading north to Jaffna. When you pass Anuradhapura, you'll see the terrain change as lush rice fields and coconut trees give way to palmyra palms, bushes, and arid ground.

Conclusion

Even though the country measures approximately 400 kilometres from North to South, it has a lot to offer. Above are some of the things that you can try doing during your next trip to Sri Lanka. The list covers some of the places and things that you must try. As a general practice, it is always a good idea to opt for overseas travel insurance. As Sri Lanka, a lot of other countries also make it mandatory to buy overseas travel insurance.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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