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Sigiriya Rock
Sri Lanka your way

Tailor-made Sri Lanka vacations shaped around your passions

Sigiriya Rock

An island of national parks, venerated temples, tea plantations and rose-gold beaches: Sri Lanka packs in plenty of experiences. Our country specialists can help you plan a Sri Lanka vacation that encompasses your interests and shows you lesser-visited corners of the island.

The Cultural Triangle is Sri Lanka’s historic heartland, a concentration of extravagant ancient cities and cave frescoes with the rock fortress of Sigiriya in its middle. To the south is the pilgrimage city of Kandy, built around the Temple of the Tooth. From here you can ride the train up into the cooler climes of the central highlands, where neatly tended tea estates sit between colonial cottages and swathes of forest. The hills drop sharply down to the national parks and rainforest below, which shelter elephants, sloth bears and, more elusively, leopards. Along the coast you find the Dutch fortress of Galle and palm-fringed coves.

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Suggested tours for Sri Lanka

Soft-sand beaches, convivial culture, and wildlife-spotting opportunities: these are just some of the things we can include on your trip to Sri Lanka. We can help you explore the world-famous Cultural Triangle, or combine your time with a stay on a secluded island in the Maldives.

Suggested activities for Sri Lanka

Take in the picturesque railway journey to Nuwara Eliya, search for leopards in Yala National Park , or marvel at the intricate costumes during a traditional Kandyan dance performance. Whatever inspires your trip to Sri Lanka, we can recommend experiences that will show you the country in a new light.

  • Kandyan dance performance & Temple of the Tooth
    Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

    Kandyan dance performance & Temple of the Tooth

    Kandy

    Kandyan dance performance & Temple of the Tooth

    Traditional Kandyan dances include the cobra dance, mask dance, the Ginisisila, showing power over fire. The entire frenetic and colorful spectacle climaxes with the amazing fire-walking act.

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  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress tour
    Sigiriya Rock Fortress

    Sigiriya Rock Fortress tour

    Sigiriya

    Sigiriya Rock Fortress tour

    You will start your day by visiting the mighty Sigiriya Rock Fortress which dominates the surrounding landscape. For many visitors, this is the most impressive site in Sri Lanka with stunning views from the top.

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  • Nuwara Eliya tea estate visit
    Visit to a tea plantation, Hatton

    Nuwara Eliya tea estate visit

    Nuwara Eliya

    Nuwara Eliya tea estate visit

    Driving through the twisting roads of the tea estate, you see the colorful women, mainly of Tamil origin, at work in the plantations.

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Why travel with Audley?

  • 100% tailor-made tours
  • Fully protected travel
  • Established for over 25 years
  • 98% of our clients would recommend us

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Sri Lanka, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Useful information for planning your vacation in Sri Lanka

What languages are spoken in Sri Lanka?

The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. English is widely spoken. Place names and signs are in English and Sinhala, English and Tamil, or sometimes all three.

What's the currency of Sri Lanka?

The currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee (Rs or LKR). ATMs are common and usually offer the best exchange rate if you choose to be charged in rupees. Credit cards are also widely accepted, but you’ll need cash to pay in smaller towns and markets.

Currency should only be changed at banks or at official money changers. Avoid uncertified money traders on the street and try to get cash in smaller denominations as change can be hard to come by. You should re-convert all remaining rupees before leaving Sri Lanka.

What food and drink should I try in Sri Lanka?

Hoppers (bowl-shaped pancakes), kottu (chopped roti with shredded vegetables, meat, and spices), and polos (green jackfruit curry) are popular Sri Lankan dishes. The translation ‘curry’ is a catch-all for a huge variety of sauces popular in Sri Lanka, some fiery, others mild and aromatic.

For example, ambul thial is a sour fish curry typical in the south, while Jaffna curries from the north are rich and robust. Vegans and vegetarians will find plenty of options such as mallung, a dish prepared with grated coconut, shredded kale, red onions, and lime.

You’ll find fresh, tropical fruit in all the markets, including local treats such as wood apple smoothies.

How much should I tip in Sri Lanka?

A 10% tip in restaurants is appreciated, even if a service charge has been added to your total. Drivers, guides, and hotel porters will also expect a tip. Your specialist can advise on appropriate amounts closer to your travel dates. Tips in US dollars and British sterling are particularly welcomed.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for Sri Lanka?

For the latest travel advice for Sri Lanka, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Canadian Government Travel & Tourism website.

What can I experience in Sri Lanka?

From spice and tea plantations to national parks thronged with elephants, historic cities, and relaxing coastal resorts, Sri Lanka offers myriad experiences in a relatively small destination. Wherever you go, you’ll find richly historic cities with streets lined with heritage architecture, ancient palaces, gilded temples, and lively markets.

Historical highlights include a sunrise visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and a chance to explore Sri Lankan Buddhism in the Dambulla cave temples. You could escape the heat and take the tea-plantation train through terraced hillsides to the misty highlands, go birdwatching in a biosphere reserve, or take a jeep safari on the trail of leopards or elephants.

If you’d prefer something more active, you can go white-water rafting on the Kelaniya Ganga, go whale watching off the south coast, or hike through the moorlands at Horton Plains. And once you’ve done the sights, golden beaches lapped by gentle seas await.

Where can I stay in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka offers a great range of hotels from historic city hideaways to beach villas, tea planters’ bungalows, and sleek, designer boutique hotels. You’ll find the greatest choice of places to stay in the cities and more established destinations.

In cities such as Galle, there are many historic hotels to choose from, you’ll find indulgent boutique guesthouses on working tea plantations, and everything from suites with private pools and views of the jungle or to simple tented camps in and around the national parks.

If you aim to finish your trip with some time relaxing on the beach, you can choose from luxurious resorts or yoga and spa retreats on the south coast. For more ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Sri Lanka.

Where should I go in Sri Lanka?

Some of Sri Lanka’s most popular destinations include Galle, Kandy, the Cultural Triangle, and the national parks. Most visitors arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s cosmopolitan capital where neo-classical buildings butt up against glittering skyscrapers and traditional markets.

You could see the ruins of a 5th-century palace at Sigiriya, explore the botanical gardens and temples of the former capital Kandy, then make your way into the cooler hills to visit the tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya.

For wildlife, Yala National Park offers the chance to spot the elusive leopard, while you’ll find beautiful beaches on the south coast along with the UNESCO-protected fortified city of Galle where the narrow lanes are steeped in history.

What wildlife can I see in Sri Lanka?

Leopards are the big attraction in Sri Lanka, but you’ll also get the chance to spot herds of elephants, water buffalos, toque monkeys, and a vast array of birdlife. One of Sri Lanka’s most renowned wildlife experiences is ‘The Gathering’ at the Minneriya Tank between July and August, when hundreds of elephants congregate around the permanent water source.

Yala National Park has highest concentration of leopards in the world and is a great place to try spotting this elusive creature, but the park is also home to sloth bears and sambar deer. Elsewhere, you might spot jackals, crocodiles, or purple-faced langurs, and in Bundala National Park almost 200 bird species make their homes in the forests, lagoons, and waterways.

For more information on where to go and what you might see, take a look at our guide to Sri Lankan wildlife.

What should I wear in Sri Lanka?

You’ll need to bring a variety of clothing to Sri Lanka. For example, light, loose, cotton clothing is good for lowland areas that are hot and humid, but you’ll need a fleece and jeans for the cooler nights in the highlands.

When visiting temples, you’ll need to dress respectfully with shoulders and knees covered, and during the monsoons (October to January and May to August), a raincoat or an umbrella is a must. If you’re planning to go trekking or rafting, you’ll need good walking shoes or boots, thick socks, and clothing that covers your legs to your ankles to thwart the local leeches, which are quite common.

How long does it take to fly to Sri Lanka from Canada?

It takes around 20 and a half hours to fly from Toronto in Canada to Sri Lanka, and around 23 hours from Vancouver.

What's the time zone in Sri Lanka?

The time zone in Sri Lanka is UTC+5:30 hours. Daylight Savings Time isn’t observed.

What's the best way of getting around in Sri Lanka?

The best way to get around in Sri Lanka is by car. We can arrange for a private chauffeur-guide to take you between destinations and act as your local expert while there. Along with an insight into Sri Lankan life, your guide can also give you historical context on things you see, offer suggestions on where to find authentic Sri Lankan food, and ensure you’re aware of Sri Lankan customs you should observe.

In places, Sri Lanka’s trains are also worth experiencing, such as the train between Kandy and Ella, which offers a comfortable journey through lush, terraced hills past waterfalls and tea plantations.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Sri Lanka?

Your doctor is best placed to offer immunization advice for Sri Lanka. You can check suggested vaccinations on the  Government of Canada - travel vaccinations website, and should also ensure you’re up to date with routine vaccinations at home.

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