The Indian ocean nation bounded by the tremendous viewpoints and ancient masterpieces. You can visit beaches, visit the peaks for camping, explore frescos and Buddhist culture during your tour to this gorgeous island.
Lonely Planet has named Sri Lanka as the top destination to travel in 2019. After 30 years’ old war in the country, Sri Lanka has developed a better transportation system, hotels, and accommodation sector to reinforce business activities. After the 2019 Easter Sunday Bombings targeting innocent civilians, Sri Lanka shed their attention to the safety of the tourists too.
Sri Lanka is indeed a must-see stop for all travelers at least once in their lifetime. Sri Lankan people are one of the most hospitable folks you will ever come across. Even the UN has recognized Sri Lanka as the most generous country in the world during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This is a revisit of 5 top tips for Solo Travelers to Sri Lanka.
Tip #1
Keep Documents And Money Safely
You should hold your documents in a secure place and carry those documents with you when you are traveling. Keep your cash or travelers’ cheque with you all the time as Sri Lanka is a cash-intensive society.
Especially small stalls and Tuk Tuks are prevalent in Sri Lanka and they most probably would not accept card payments. However, if you travel within Colombo District, there are Tuk-Tuk drivers who accept card payments.
If you travel by train or by bus, please make sure the safety of your bags and wallets.
Tip #2
Research Your Destination
Sri Lanka has 5 tourist areas with unique attractions. Those are West Coast, East Coast, Southern Coast, North Coast, and Central Sri Lanka. Each of these areas provides unique experiences.
It is always better to research beforehand. You can use guidebooks or resources like srilankatourpics.com. Learning about the demographics and environment will give an extra edge when visiting those places.
Places such as Sigiriya and Ella are tourists hotspots and it could draw vast crowds in peak times. Therefore, it is better to learn about the seasonality of the destinations too.
Tip #3
Travel Light
Seasoned travelers prefer to travel light. Traveling light gives you much-needed flexibility. It provides the safety aspect of you and the things in the bags too.
When you are traveling heavy and use public transportation, you better coordinate with the bus conductors to reserve a place to keep your bags securely. You also can use Tuk-Tuk to carry your bags. However, it is better to agree on a price before taking the ride.
Sri Lanka is a tropical country, and humidity is high. The average temperature is between 27C-34C in most parts of the country. Hence, traveling light makes your journey a more enjoyable one.
Tip #4
Dress Conservatively And Wear Comfortable Shoes
Sri Lankan society is a traditional society. However, the mindset of the people has been changing and they are open to the world.
Tip number 4 for you is to wear conservatively to religious attractions such as the temple of the sacred tooth relic and Dambulla cave temple.
Wearing comfortable shoes also key as most of these sacred places have a guideline to remove your shoes before entering the place. Another best practice is to bring a pair of socks with you because of this reason.
Tip #5
Health And Medication
Sri Lanka is a highly humid place. So, the conditions could be challenging. If you have any health condition or you are pregnant, it is better to check your health before traveling.
If you take prescription medication, buy those from the cities before traveling to your destination as some destination has limited pharmacies.
Sri Lanka provides free health care for all. So, in case you faced an emergency, you can attend a government hospital by calling the 1990 ambulance service.
Bonus Tip
Use Simple Language
Most of the Sri Lankans have a basic understanding of English. However, make sure you use simple English with locals. You may need to use hand gestures alongside language to get things done.
