Got Questions?

Yes, almost all international travellers need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. The easiest option is the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied online at the official site eta.gov.lk. The Tourist ETA allows a 30-day stay with double entry and can be extended in Sri Lanka up to a total of 270 days.

Approval usually arrives within 24 to 72 hours by email. Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, the EU, Japan, India, and most Middle Eastern countries are eligible to apply online. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. We always recommend applying directly through the official ETA site to avoid third-party fees.

Sri Lanka is a year-round destination. The best time depends on which region you visit, because two monsoons affect the island at different times.

December to March is the peak season for the south coast, west coast, hill country, and Cultural Triangle. May to September is best for the east coast, Trincomalee, Pasikuda, and Arugam Bay. April and October are quieter shoulder months with green landscapes and fewer crowds.

Temperatures stay warm year round, between 26°C and 32°C in the lowlands and 10°C to 20°C in the hills. There is always a region in Sri Lanka enjoying fine weather, no matter when you travel.

Yes. Sri Lanka is widely considered one of Asia's friendliest and safest destinations for international travellers. Violent crime against tourists is rare, and the island welcomes over two million visitors a year from around the world.

Like in any country, normal travel precautions apply. Keep your valuables secure, use hotel safes, and avoid leaving belongings unattended in public areas. Tap water is not safe to drink, so stick to bottled or filtered water. Solo travellers, families, and senior travellers all enjoy Sri Lanka comfortably.

When you travel with Glimpse of Lanka, you are accompanied by licensed local drivers and guides who understand the country, the culture, and the safest routes for every region.

The official currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). ATMs are widely available in cities, towns, and tourist areas, and dispense rupees against most international debit and credit cards.

Major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping malls. Smaller eateries, market vendors, tuk-tuks, and rural shops mostly accept cash only. We recommend carrying a mix of cash and one international card.

You can exchange US dollars, euros, pounds sterling, and other major currencies at the airport, banks, and authorised exchange counters. We advise informing your bank before travel to prevent your card from being blocked on the first transaction.

Pack lightweight, breathable clothing suited to a tropical climate. Cotton and linen work best. Sri Lanka is a conservative country, so we recommend modest clothing for towns, villages, and religious sites. Shoulders and knees should be covered when entering temples.

Essentials to pack:

• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide brimmed hat
• Light rain jacket or umbrella
• Mosquito repellent
• Light jumper or jacket for cool evenings in the hills
• Comfortable walking shoes and a pair of sandals
• Adapter for Type D and Type G plugs (230V)

No vaccinations are mandatory for entry into Sri Lanka, except a yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a yellow-fever endemic country.

For your own protection, the World Health Organisation and most national travel health services recommend being up to date on routine vaccinations such as MMR, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. Dengue fever is present in some areas, so good mosquito protection is advised.

We always recommend consulting your doctor or travel clinic at least four to six weeks before your trip to allow time for any required vaccinations. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly advised for all visitors.

Approximate daily budgets per person (excluding flights and visa):

Budget travel: USD 40–70 per day (guesthouses, local food, public transport)

Mid-range: USD 80–150 per day (boutique hotels, private driver, mixed dining)

Luxury: USD 200–500+ per day (5-star resorts, premium safari camps, private guides)

A typical Glimpse of Lanka tailor-made tour falls into the mid-range to luxury bracket, with private transport, hand-picked accommodation, English-speaking driver-guides, and curated experiences. Costs vary depending on season, hotel category, and the number of travellers in your group.

Yes, Sri Lankan food is safe and absolutely delicious. The cuisine is fragrant, spicy, and built on rice, coconut, and fresh seafood. Hygiene standards in hotels, restaurants, and tourist establishments are generally good.

Must-try Sri Lankan dishes:

• Rice and curry — the signature meal, served with five or six small curries
• Hoppers (appa) — bowl-shaped rice flour pancakes, often with an egg
• String hoppers (idiyappa) — fine steamed rice noodle nests
• Kottu roti — chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg, or meat
• Lamprais — rice and curry baked in a banana leaf
• Watalappan — a creamy coconut and jaggery dessert

Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options are widely available across the island. We can arrange specific dietary requirements as part of your itinerary.

Yes. Sri Lanka has a long-established Muslim community, making up about 9.7% of the population. Halal certified food is widely available, especially in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Negombo, and the east coast.

You'll find halal restaurants serving Sri Lankan, Indian, Arabic, and Western cuisine, alongside hotels that mark halal options on their menus. Many large hotels and resorts cater to Muslim guests with halal kitchens, prayer facilities, and Qibla direction in rooms.

In rural areas, halal certified restaurants are fewer, but vegetarian, seafood, and egg-based meals are always plentiful. When you book with Glimpse of Lanka, we can arrange halal friendly hotels and restaurants throughout your itinerary.

Sri Lanka is a deeply spiritual country, and modest dress is required at all Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim religious sites. The rules are simple and apply to everyone:

• Cover your shoulders and knees completely
• Remove shoes and hats before entering the temple grounds
• Avoid posing for photos with your back to a Buddha statue — this is considered a serious offence
• Ask permission before photographing monks or worshippers

Yes. English is widely spoken in Sri Lanka, especially in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and by drivers, guides, and shopkeepers. It is one of the country's three official languages, alongside Sinhala and Tamil.

Most road signs, menus, museum labels, and tourist information are written in English. You will have no trouble communicating with hotel staff, guides, or local businesses. Even in smaller villages, basic English is usually understood.

Yes, Sri Lanka is welcoming for all kinds of travellers.

Families love the variety of experiences: elephant safaris, beach days, train rides through the hills, and gentle cultural visits. Many hotels offer family rooms, kids' menus, and child-friendly activities.

Solo travellers, including women, find Sri Lanka safe and easy. Travelling with a private driver-guide is especially recommended for solo travellers seeking peace of mind.

Senior travellers appreciate Sri Lanka's short driving distances, comfortable hotels, and gentle pace. Most cultural sites are accessible, and we tailor itineraries with the right balance of sightseeing and rest.

Whatever your travel style, our team will design a journey that fits your pace, comfort, and interests.

Booking with us is simple and personal.

Step 1: Contact us through our website, email, or WhatsApp. Tell us your travel dates, group size, interests, and budget.

Step 2: Our team will design a free, no obligation, tailor-made itinerary within 24 to 48 hours.

Step 3: We refine the itinerary together until it perfectly matches your dream journey.

Step 4: Once you confirm, we secure your hotels, vehicles, and experiences with a 50% advance deposit.

Step 5: The remaining 50% is paid before or on arrival. You then enjoy your fully prepared, hand-crafted Sri Lankan holiday.

Every booking is fully personalised, no fixed group tours, no rigid templates. Tailor-made itineraries are our signature product.

We accept payment by secure international bank transfer (telegraphic transfer / SWIFT). Once your itinerary is confirmed, we share our official banking details, and you transfer funds in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, or other major currencies.

Our payment structure:

• 50% deposit to confirm your booking, reserve hotels, and lock in your travel dates
• 50% balance payable before or on arrival in Sri Lanka

We do not currently accept credit card payments through our website, which keeps your tour pricing free of card processing fees and ensures the best possible value. All transfers are sent to our verified company account, registered with Sri Lankan banking authorities.

If you have any questions about international payment, our team will guide you step by step.

Yes, and we encourage it. Tailor-made itineraries are our signature product. Every Glimpse of Lanka tour is built around you.

You can choose:

• Trip length — from 5-day short stays to 21-day grand tours
• Travel pace — relaxed, balanced, or full-on adventure
• Hotel category — boutique, mid-range, luxury, or eco-lodges
• Interests — culture, wildlife, beaches, food, wellness, photography, honeymoon, family
• Special needs — halal, vegetarian, accessibility, dietary requirements

You can add or remove destinations, change hotels, adjust safari days, or build a route around a specific event (like the Esala Perahera or Adam's Peak season). Our local Sri Lankan team designs your itinerary from scratch, never from a fixed template.