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Sri Lanka travel guide

Temples and tea estates, elephants and leopards, and long palm-fringed beaches, a four-hour flight from the UAE.

For travellers from the UAE ยท Checked

Sri Lanka packages from USD 575
Rows of tea bushes on a hillside estate in Sri Lanka Kandy Lake and the white buildings on its shore, Sri Lanka An elephant bathing in the river at Rambukkana, near Pinnawala

Few countries pack as much into a week as Sri Lanka. In a few hours by road you can go from the beach to the cool hill country around Kandy, with its lake, botanical gardens and tea estates, and on to national parks where elephants roam free.

Distances are short but roads are slow, so a private car and driver is the easiest way to travel. The south-west coast, from Bentota to Galle, is at its best from December to April.

Visa and entry

  • Since 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 countries, including the UAE, India and Pakistan, receive a free tourist ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for a 30-day stay, with double entry permitted.

    Source: Khaleej Times (Poojaraj Maniyeri) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan)

  • Even when it is free, the ETA must be applied for before arrival. Staying beyond 30 days needs a paid visa extension.

    Source: Khaleej Times (Poojaraj Maniyeri)

  • Travellers of other nationalities apply for the standard, paid ETA online before they fly.

Entry rules for Sri Lanka can change at short notice. Share your nationality and residence details and our team will confirm what applies to you before you book.

Things to do in Sri Lanka

  1. Kandy

    The lakeside hill capital and home of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya nearby.

  2. Sigiriya

    A fortress built on a sheer rock in the fifth century, climbed past frescoes and the giant lion's paws.

  3. Pinnawala

    The elephant orphanage and the river where its elephants bathe, between Colombo and Kandy.

  4. The tea country

    Estates and factories around Nuwara Eliya, and the famous train ride through the hills to Ella.

  5. Bentota and the south-west coast

    Wide beaches, turtle hatcheries and boat rides on the Madu and Bentota rivers.

  6. Galle Fort

    A walled Dutch-era town on the sea, with ramparts made for an evening walk.

  7. Yala National Park

    Jeep safaris among elephants, crocodiles and one of the world's densest leopard populations.

Dos and don'ts

Do

  • Apply for your ETA before you fly, even though it is free for many nationalities.
  • Remove shoes and hats and cover shoulders and knees at temples.
  • Agree the fare before a tuk-tuk ride, or use the PickMe or Uber apps.
  • Carry small notes in rupees for tips, temples and roadside stalls.
  • Allow plenty of time between towns; a short distance can take hours by road.

Don't

  • Pose for photos with your back to a Buddha statue, and keep Buddha tattoos covered.
  • Swim where red flags fly; the currents are strong during the monsoon.
  • Feed or approach wild elephants, even when they stop by the road.
  • Drink tap water; bottled water is easy to find.

Food to try

Rice and curry
Rice with several small curries of vegetables, fish or chicken, the everyday meal.
Hoppers
Bowl-shaped crispy pancakes of rice flour and coconut, often with an egg cooked inside.
Kottu roti
Chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg and meat on a hot plate.
String hoppers
Steamed nests of rice noodles, eaten with coconut sambol and curry.
Ceylon tea
Tasted at the estate where it is grown.

Practical tips

Getting around
A car and driver is the most comfortable way to tour. Trains are scenic but slow and fill up quickly.
Money
Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants; carry cash in rupees elsewhere.
Halal food
Sri Lanka has a large Muslim community and halal restaurants are easy to find, especially in Colombo and on the coast.
Weather
Tropical and warm on the coast, cooler in the hills. Each coast has its own monsoon, so the west and south are best from December to April.

Sri Lanka holiday packages

Two itineraries in Sri Lanka, built on the places in this guide, with the hotel, tours and transfers in one price.

All holiday packages

Sri Lanka in photographs

Rows of tea bushes on a hillside estate in Sri Lanka Kandy Lake and the white buildings on its shore, Sri Lanka An elephant bathing in the river at Rambukkana, near Pinnawala The wide sandy beach at Bentota on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka A green turtle at a sea turtle hatchery on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka The Lotus Tower above the railway in Colombo Sunset over the sea at Mount Lavinia, Colombo

Questions about travelling to Sri Lanka

Is the Sri Lanka visa free for UAE residents?

For nationals of 40 countries, including the UAE, India and Pakistan, the tourist ETA has been free since 25 May 2026 for a 30-day stay. It must still be applied for before travelling.

How many days do I need in Sri Lanka?

Seven nights allow Kandy, the tea country, a beach and Colombo. With ten or more you can add Sigiriya and a safari.

When is the best time to visit?

December to April for the west and south coasts and the hills; May to September for the east coast.

Is Sri Lanka good for a honeymoon?

Yes. The mix of hill-country hotels, tea estates and beach resorts, with a private driver, makes a varied and relaxed honeymoon.

More travel guides

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Enquiries

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