Sri Lanka packing list

Sri Lanka is an amazing country! Despite the fact that it is relatively small, the country has so much to offer for even the sophisticated or picky traveller. Besides amazing activities like going to the beach, surfing, going on safaris, whale watching and cultural exploring, you will most likely spend a few days in big cities like Colombo and Galle or smaller towns like Kandy (the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka) and Nuwara Eliya (“Little England”).

Colombo, as the capital, and Galle, a former fort city (and Unesco World Heritage Site), will give you the unique chance to explore Dutch-colonial architecture, enjoy beautiful museums and gardens, jump into crazy, traffic-filled streets and maybe get lost a bit among countless rows of spices and local crafts in the market, try incredibly delicious exotic dishes and, finally, end up at the quay (seafront) for a gorgeous sunset!

Sri Lanka is famous for its long, wild and astonishingly beautiful beaches! You can simply chill out at the beach and enjoy the view, but if you want to swim, it can be a bit tricky. Most of the beaches have big waves, and some of them are truly gigantic! For example, the beach in Tangalla has one of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen. To swim there, however, we had to meet up with a local man (we lived in his guesthouse) who showed us how to get over the wavepoint and reach the so called quiet zone before the places where the waves form. However, even in the Tangalla area you can enjoy a small bay, Goyamboka, with a very quiet beach. Another beautiful beach with a quiet sealine is located in Mirissa, a small town where you can try surfing and go whale watching. Anyway, Sri Lanka has a really scorching sun, so be prepared to protect your skin from sun burns! This is especially necessary if you are planning to spend time enjoying some beach activities.

Sri Lanka is probably one of the best places in the world to learn to surf. It has long and wide beaches, so there are plenty of different types of waves - ranging from small ones for beginners to huge ones for advanced surfers. If you simply want to try surfing, you might need a few days. Mirissa has a great opportunity to learn this sport. Right at the beach you can find a surf instructor and within next few hours you will be standing on the board! Then, you only need to practice staying on the board longer than a few seconds. To make your life as a surfer easier you might need some items.

Though it is a relatively small country, Sri Lanka has 22 national parks! If you enjoy watching wild animals among truly pristine landscapes, you should definitely visit at least one of them. The biggest and most popular ones are Yala and Udawalawe national parks. If you’re keen on bird-watching, you shouldn't miss Bundala national park. To visit a park you need either half of the day (early morning or afternoon, as during the heat of the day animals prefer to hide in the shadow) or a full day. For example, in Yala you can book a 12-hour tour starting at 6 am and going until 6 pm. This is quite exhausting, but definitely worth it!

The vehicle you’ll be provided is a typical open (without doors but with a top) safari jeep which means that all the dust from the roads and all the sun rays will find their way to you. Most likely, you’ll be provided with some meals by your safari operator, but there are a few items we recommend having with you to make your safari more comfortable!

In Sri Lanka you have a great chance to see amazing whales, however this is only possible in Mirissa. Usually, the hotel you stay at can offer you tickets. Alternatively, you can go directly to the pier and organise it on your own right there, which might be a bit cheaper. The tour starts early in the morning. The boat is a typical fisherman’s boat, so be prepared for real motion sickness, even if you’re pretty good at sea. Having a proper breakfast beforehand will make you feel much better on the boat, though it also makes sense to grab some snacks and bring water with you. And don’t forget about that brutal sun! On the ship there will be some shade, but it won’t be enough and sometimes it will move in such a way that you’ll end up being right in the sun, so sunblock is extremely important if you don’t want to get burnt.

Sri Lanka has many hills covered with tea plantations, which makes it very a picturesque place for taking photos and walking around enjoying the scenic views. If you want to challenge yourself a little bit, you should try to hike Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada, 2243 m) or Sigiriya (200 m high rock).

Hiking Adam’s Peak will be an unforgettable experience, not only because it will test your physical endurance but also because you can meet many interesting local people. This mountain is basically a rock that is believed to be the footprint of Buddha by Buddhists, Shiva by Hindus and Adam by Muslims and Christians. Hundreds of local people come from every part of Sri Lanka to visit the sacred Sri Pada and climb it barefoot each year. Old and young, they also carry their kids on their backs. When they reach the top by sunrise, they sing. It’s an amazing experience to follow this crowd and find yourself singing along with them under a sky filled with brilliant stars! You should start climbing at about 2 am to see sunrise on the peak by 6 am. On top there is a small platform where you must take off your shoes, otherwise it’s disrespectful and the police - yes, there is a policeman there - will call you out and make you shed your shoes.

Sigiriya is another beautiful spot you shouldn’t miss visiting Sri Lanka. It’s a rock formation consisting of 1200 steps, about 200 meters. Not only does it have a very interesting historical and cultural significance, but it is a great opportunity to admire unique Sri Lankan-style frescoes.

Another fascinating hiking experience is possible in the neighborhood of Nuwara Eliya, “Little England”, in Hortons Plains National Park. Surrounded by various tea plantations and waterfalls, it offers remarkable Sri Lankan landscapes you won’t want to miss. To make hiking easier, I would suggest bringing a few items along with you.

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. The following vaccination recommendations are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage.

Of course, Sri Lanka is a country where you can have some qualified help. However, in some remote areas it will take a while to get proper treatment. Sometimes, not you but some of your traveling buddies might need help. Make sure you have something in advance against the following symptoms: