Travel Guides

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

This beautiful island nation can be summarized in three simple words: “India for beginners.” Sure, there are still cows in the roads here, and the wardrobe, cuisine, and architecture are all similar, but the country is much less crowded and the culture way more relaxed. If you are planning to visit India then definitely schedule a week or three in Sri Lanka beforehand — otherwise India will eat you alive.

 

  Never been? Check out my first impressions of Sri Lanka for an idea of what to expect plus advice for first time visitors.

 

Our bus to Jaffna had to stop while a large herd of cows slowly crossed the street
Our bus to Jaffna had to stop while a large herd of cows slowly crossed the street

  There are two ways to explore Sri Lanka: luxury travel with fancy resorts, private beaches, chartered flights and scheduled tours, or budget travel using hostels and public buses, making friends with locals along the way.

 

I highly recommend doing a mixture of both. All luxury travel and you won’t experience the real culture. Focus too much on a budget and you will miss out on the true Sri Lankan hospitality. Regardless of what you do and where in the country you visit, spend your money at small family-owned restaurants and shops, rather than internationally-owned chains, hotel restaurants and airport gift shops. Local families need that money more than the fancy places and foreign brands.

Featured Sri Lanka Travel Guides

Strange, unique and offbeat things to do in Sri Lanka #travel #travelguide #srilanka #offbeat #holidaze #traveltips
10 unique and interesting things that you do not know about Sri Lanka #travel #inspiration #unique #travelguide #srilanka #offbeat #holidaze

 

  Colombo   Jaffna   Trincomalee

The Best Things To Do In Sri Lanka

Unique & Offbeat Things To Do In Sri Lanka

Pristine beaches. Lush jungles. Delicious food. Spectacular weather. Endless adventures and possibilities. This is Sri Lanka, one of the most ...
Read More

How To Become A Dictator In 8 Easy Steps

Ever wondered how to become a dictator? Turns out that one thing travel teaches you is that not all democracies ...
Read More

Best Things To See And Do In Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Swimming with Blacktip Reef sharks. Learning how to cook crab curry. Drinking toddy fresh from the palm tree. Pristine beaches ...
Read More

10 Things You Don’t Know About Sri Lanka

One of the best things about visiting a new country is learning new things. No matter how much research you ...
Read More

Top Culinary Achievements Of 2014 + Photos & Videos

2014 has been a fun-filled and food-filled year but not one without it’s share of trials and tribulations (case in ...
Read More

How To Visit Jaffna, Sri Lanka

The quickest way to make people want to visit somewhere is to tell them that they cannot. So when I ...
Read More

Girihadu Seya: Oldest Buddhist Temple In Sri Lanka

Up in the northeastern corner of Sri Lanka lies an amazing place named Trincomalee but often referred to as heaven. ...
Read More

First Impressions: Sri Lanka (And Advice For Other First-Timers)

First time visitors to Sri Lanka tend to assume that the country and the culture are very similar to India ...
Read More

The Cool Highlands Of Sri Lanka

The cool highlands of Sri Lanka occupy the only part of the rain forests that remains in the entire country. ...
Read More
Aerial view of Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Unique & Offbeat Things To Do In Sri Lanka

Pristine beaches. Lush jungles. Delicious food. Spectacular weather. Endless adventures and possibilities. This is Sri Lanka, one of the most amazing island nations I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. Every year more and more tourists visit Sri Lanka but they always tend to do the same few things. Yala National Park. Temple of the … Read more

The HoliDaze Ultimate Trincomalee, Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Best Things To See And Do In Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Swimming with Blacktip Reef sharks. Learning how to cook crab curry. Drinking toddy fresh from the palm tree. Pristine beaches and beautiful temples and friendly people. Yes, these are just some of the things to see and do in Trincomalee, one of my favorite cities in all of Sri Lanka. Located in the northeast corner … Read more

10 things you don't know about Sri Lanka

10 Things You Don’t Know About Sri Lanka

One of the best things about visiting a new country is learning new things. No matter how much research you do or how many people you ask, there are always things about the country that surprise or even bewilder you. Here’s a quick gift for all you Pinners Last November I had the honor of … Read more

Aerial View of Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka

The Cool Highlands Of Sri Lanka

The cool highlands of Sri Lanka occupy the only part of the rain forests that remains in the entire country. It is the natural home of the highly threatened fauna and flora species, endemic Sri Lankan leopard, and the purple-faced languor. This region consists of three protected areas: Horton Plains National Park, Knuckles Range, and … Read more