We've got your itinerary and transport options sorted, you've selected your accommodation options, departure day is nearing and excitement is building. But, wait! there are four essential things to tick on your pre departure list!
Check that you have a minimum of 6 months on your passport and at least one clear page for the Immigration stickers. There will be an issue if this is not the case.
Sri Lanka currently offers two types of tourist visas - a 30 day double entry visa which is useful if you are including a visit to the Maldives in your holiday, and a 180 day single entry visa. Both cost USD 50 and can be obtained online 90 days before your departure. The official website to obtain your visa, known as an ETA ie Electronic Travel Authorisation is www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/
Children under 12 years get a free visa however if they have their own passport an application in their name must be made.
How are you going to carry your money for this trip? Spread some across two places so that if you unfortunately lose some then you have back up money.
AUD can be changed at the banks in the Bandaranaike Arrival Hall. AUD can also be changed at jewellery shops and moneychangers where it's less of a hassle than any banks and better rates too. There are ATMs all around the country, especially in the tourist areas. Keep your receipts in case you want to change any left over LKR at the airport as you depart.
Check that your phone has the roaming facility and the cost for this. One Australian telco has a Sri Lanka roaming rate of AUD10 per day.
Alternatively you can purchase a Sri Lankan sim card from the telecommunication desks at the back of the Arrival Hall. This works well if you have an old phone to use as a travel phone.
Don't lose your Australian sim if you get a Sri Lankan one!
Let's talk about your baggage! With Go Tours Lanka your bags will be safe in the vehicle with us however you need your bags to arrive with you! While missing bags is a problem only occasionally, there are some tips to help you to claim them and to avoid the lookalike issue around the carousel.
Once you have cleared Immigration head directly to the baggage claim area. This area is not actively monitored by authorities so you need to be there when your bag appears on the carousel.
It's advantageous to be able to recognise your bag easily as there are often very similar bags to yours doing the round on the carousel. Brightly coloured ribbons and colour coded tags on all bags for your group is a good idea.
Ensure that all sections of the bag are locked.
Safety advice is to put your identification details on the underside in the bag tag.
Tip One
Under pack your bag to allow space for the souvenirs, presents and other things you may discover and want to take home.
Tip Two
Spread your essential items across bags so that if one doesn't keep up with you then you won't have to endure sad clothes or miss medicines until you and your bags are reunited. [If you do this then your bags are almost certainly going to arrive together but if you don't then the gremlins have their fun.]
Tip Three
Apart from the Hill Country, Sri Lanka is quite hot and humid. It's not as hot as it often gets here in Australia however the humidity is higher. So cotton clothes are comfortable.
Slip on footwear is good for comfort while travelling in the vehicle and easy for when you need to remove your shoes to visit Buddhist sites. Trainers will be needed for any hiking or step climbing in places like Sigiriya and the Dambulla Cave Temples
In the cooler Hill country - Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Kandy, layering clothes is better than carrying thick woollen jumpers and rain wear. For women a lightweight cardigan can be useful and also a shawl to wrap around the shoulders in the evenings. Leggings don't take up too much space in bags and can be useful too.
Men can manage with a long sleeved shirt and a lightweight top.
It's going to get hotter during the day.
A small umbrella could be a good idea.
When visiting Buddhist sites, heads must be clear of hats or caps and shoes must be removed. Some places - Dambulla Cave Temples and Temple of the Tooth in Kandy have designated shoe shelves and attendants while at other sites leaving them at temple entrances with everyone else's is the norm. Old socks are good for protecting the feet from the hot surfaces.
Men must have their shoulders covered - not tank tops or singlets and also their knees. Some sites have a stall where you can rent a sarong to cover your shorts.
Women must also have their shoulders covered and also their chests. A shawl is useful for wrapping around to comply with this. As with men, knees must also be covered.
This dress standard is very important to Sri Lankans and is monitored.
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