How much money to take to Sri Lanka
Although Sri Lanka is considered a relatively expensive country (compared to its neighbors) in South Asia, with reasonable savings and the right choice of holiday destination and housing, you can easily spend a relatively small amount of money. Answering the question: “How much money should I take to Sri Lanka?”, many travelers advise taking an amount based on $25 per person per day.
The cost of a holiday in Sri Lanka depends not only on the size and popularity of the chosen resort, but also on whether you are vacationing on an all-inclusive basis or saving on a hotel, but spending extra on food, as well as on how much you plan to spend on shopping, active entertainment and excursions.
Approximate prices in Sri Lanka
- A loaf of white bread - 70 lan. rupees (17 rub.)
- Bottled water - 70 lan. rupees (17 rub.)
- Bottle of cola 1.5 l. - 150 lan. rupees (35 rub.)
- Papaya 1 kg. - 50 lan rupees (12 rubles)
- Yellow coconut 1 piece - 30 lan. rupees (7 rub.)
- Bananas 1 kg - 50 lan. rupees (12 rubles)
- Butter 200 g - 170 lan. rupees (42 rub.)
- Milk 1 l. - 150 lan. rupees (35 rub.)
- A cup of coffee in a cafe - 160 lan. rupees (40 rub.)
- Grilled fish - 400 lan. rupees (100 rub.)
- Local beer 0.5 l. - 70 lan. rupees (17 rub.)
- Arak 0.7 l. - 700-1000 lan. rupees (175-200 rub.)
- Rent a scooter (moped) - from 700 LAN. rupees per day (RUB 175)
- Rental housing (small private house) - from 1000 lan. rupees per day (200 rub.) or 20,000 lan. rupees (RUB 5,007) per month
- Ayurvedic treatments or massage - from 300 lan. rupees per hour (RUB 75)
- Lunch at a local cafe - from 300 lan. rupees per person (RUB 75)
In the capital and in popular tourist resorts, prices can be significantly higher (two times or more) than in rural areas of the island that are less popular with tourists.
Tipping in Sri Lanka
Tipping is not mandatory in Sri Lanka. However, service sector workers (waiters, taxi drivers) and hotel staff strongly welcome a small additional remuneration for their work. 1 or 2 dollars left several times a week by the maid will not only contribute to the good image of the tourist, but will also help to keep his personal belongings completely intact.
Tips, in the form of a special GST tax (12.5%), are often already included in the bills of most hotels, restaurants and bars in Sri Lanka.
What currency to take to Sri Lanka
The best option for exchanging Sri Lankan rupees is American dollars. This currency is not only freely accepted at all types of local exchange offices, but can also be used to pay for services in hotels and shops in tourist areas (albeit at a greatly inflated rate).
Using plastic cards to pay for services in Sri Lanka is quite risky, as there is a high percentage of crimes in the field of fraud with bank cards. In view of this, you should notify your bank in advance that you intend to use a plastic card in Sri Lanka. Otherwise, the card risks being instantly blocked when you try to use it.
Exchange money in Sri Lanka
Currency exchange in Sri Lanka is possible at exchange offices at the airport, banks, hotels and private shops. The most favorable currency exchange rate in Sri Lanka is fixed in exchange offices. Foreign currencies (US dollars and euros) are also widely used at major resorts in Sri Lanka, but the exchange rate for this method of payment is extremely unfavorable.
The receipt received when exchanging foreign currency into Sri Lankan rupees should be kept until the end of the trip to ensure that unspent rupees can be exchanged back.
Banks of Sri Lanka
Banks in Sri Lanka are mostly open on weekdays from 09:00 to 15:00. Some commercial banks in Sri Lanka even have 24-hour branches, most of which are concentrated in the capital. Most banks in Sri Lanka are closed on weekends and national holidays.
Major banks in Sri Lanka
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the central bank of Sri Lanka, which determines the state's monetary policy.
- Bank of Ceylon is the largest commercial bank in Sri Lanka, with more than 600 branches throughout the country.
- Peoples Bank of Sri Lanka is another banking giant in Sri Lanka, leading in the number of customer service centers.
- Commercial Bank of Ceylon is one of the leading banks in the country, having repeatedly received the prestigious award “Best Bank in Sri Lanka”.
If you are going on holiday to Sri Lanka, you will be wondering how much money to take to Sri Lanka. Let's look at this issue in more detail, and also learn about the Long Beach 4 Sri Lanka Koggala and Centara Ceysands Sri Lanka hotels. Tourists also find Sri Lanka tips for holidaymakers. But first things first.
In September we visited the beautiful and mysterious island of Ceylon. Holidays in Sri Lanka, in my opinion, are a little different from holidays in other countries in Southeast Asia. Perhaps this is due to the fact that this amazing region is not yet as oversaturated with tourists as neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. One way or another, this trip was full of exoticism, and it was in Sri Lanka that we saw the real Asia, full of mystery and enigma.
Hotels in Sri Lanka
There are many magnificent resorts on the coast of the island: Bentota, Koggala, Jaffna, Batticaloa and others. Since our vacation fell during the “rainy season,” the best vacation spots were the coast of Bentota and Koggala. These two resorts have fairly good weather conditions at this time of year and the ocean is a little calmer than in the north of the island. During our vacation, we visited two hotels - Long Beach 4 Sri Lanka Koggala and Centara Ceysands Sri Lanka.
Long Beach Resort 4 Sri Lanka Koggala
Long Beach 4 Sri Lanka Koggala- a good four-star hotel in the Koggala resort, located on the Indian Ocean coast. The hotel has two outdoor swimming pools and free wireless Internet. The Long Beach Resort 4 Sri Lanka Koggala hotel is located so that all exits from the buildings lead guests to the ocean. The beach is just great! There are always enough sun loungers! The hotel offers excellent food and a local bar to quench your thirst. At this hotel Long Beach 4 Sri Lanka Koggala only breakfast was included. In the restaurant, all dishes are served on two large tables - on the first European cuisine, and on the second - local cuisine (tasty, but very spicy). Near the Long Beach 4 Sri Lanka Koggala hotel you can have a pretty decent lunch for just $8-10 per person. Most dishes in local restaurants consist of seafood and fish, but for gourmets there are always exotic dishes made from shark and snake meat. Once during our vacation, we bought 1 kilogram of boiled shrimp from the locals for 500 rubles. Very tasty! There is a supermarket a ten-minute walk from Long Beach Resort 4 Sri Lanka Koggala. Be careful when buying fruit there. The fact is that the price tags in this store indicate the cost of the product per 100 grams, and not per kilogram. The average price of mango is about 20 rubles, coconut 10-15 rubles, papaya 35-40 rubles.
Centara Ceysands Sri Lanka
Hotel Centara Sri Lanka- a good “four” at the Bentota resort. I was very pleased with the hotel's number of rooms. This time we chose all-inclusive meals. At the Centara Ceysands Sri Lanka, in addition to the main restaurant, you can dine at the seafood restaurant. The beach at the hotel is simply huge! The only people vacationing on it are hotel guests. There is practically no infrastructure near the hotel. The nearest decent cafe takes about 30 minutes to walk. Therefore, in my opinion, it is more profitable to buy full meals at the Centara Sri Lanka hotel.
1) Advice for vacationers in Sri Lanka: in all hotels, when checking in, it is best to choose a room on at least the second floor. We must not forget that Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, and the fauna here is very rich. Therefore, if you do not need “uninvited guests” in the form of all kinds of lizards, frogs and small snakes, then the advice for tourists in Sri Lanka is to settle on the upper floors.
2) Advice for tourists in Sri Lanka. The Indian Ocean is rarely calm. The waves there are really very strong and it is very difficult to swim through them. Therefore, even if you are a good swimmer, I do not recommend swimming very far from the shore.
Prices in Sri Lanka. How much money to take to Sri Lanka
If you are going on vacation, you will probably be wondering how much money you need in Sri Lanka for a comfortable holiday. Let's look at each expense category separately.
How much money do you need for air tickets to Sri Lanka?
How much money to take to Sri Lanka 2017 for food
We, like any tourist setting off to conquer a new and unexplored region, are always interested in the question of how much money you need to take with you to Sri Lanka for a more or less comfortable holiday. As I wrote above, food on the island of Ceylon is quite cheap. Local fruits can always be freely purchased anywhere on the island for an average of 20-40 rubles, and the average bill for lunch or dinner in a restaurant was 1000-1500 rubles for two. Now you can calculate how much money you need for food in Sri Lanka, based on your requests. But, in principle, you can get by with a slightly smaller amount. Very often, locals on the beach offer freshly caught fish and seafood. As a rule, for a small fee they will immediately prepare them for you.
How much money to borrow in Sri Lanka for cellular communications
Cellular communications on the island are not expensive. An activated SIM card for a phone costs about 300 rubles, and one minute of conversation on average costs about 4-5 rubles.
How much money do you need for transport to Sri Lanka?
To travel short distances, we always used tuk-tuks. Traveling there costs about 50 rubles. But for long distances, I do not recommend using this type of transport - it is not very maneuverable, and in a tropical climate, with a constant temperature of about 30 degrees, it is very difficult to travel without air conditioning.
We took one long bus trip from Bentota to the capital, Colombo, which cost us only 40 rubles per person. The buses are comfortable and air conditioned.
How much money should you take to Sri Lanka for hotels?
In order to reduce the cost of staying at a hotel, I advise you to book a hotel directly on the spot. How much money does Sri Lanka need for a comfortable hotel stay? The cost of living in an average hotel on the island ranges from 2,500 to 10,000 rubles per day for double occupancy. It is best to come to the reception yourself and arrange check-in. This simple method can reduce the cost of living by 7-15%.
How much money to take to Sri Lanka in 2017 for excursions
We bought all our excursions from local guys on the beach. Nobody deceived us! Be sure to bargain, as their prices are deliberately inflated.
Excursion to Kandy - one day trip. Its cost is 85 dollars. The excursion program included a sightseeing walk around the city of Kandy, visiting temples, an elephant farm and a botanical garden. My favorite was the orchid garden. The excursion is very tiring and long. We left the hotel around five in the morning and returned back only around midnight.
The second excursion was a walk along the Madi River - we saw mangroves, a large number of fancy birds and enjoyed gorgeous local views. The cost of the trip is 300 rubles.
And our third trip was a boat trip on a large ship - we went to watch whales. The cost of excursions is 3500 rubles for two adults. During the last trip we were actually able to see huge whales, as well as curious dolphins and flying fish.
Now you know not only how much money to take for Sri Lanka 2017, but also about the Long Beach 4 Sri Lanka Koggala and Centara Ceysands Sri Lanka hotels. Tourists also find Sri Lanka tips for holidaymakers.
When going to Sri Lanka, my husband and I were very worried. But, having arrived on this fabulous island, all doubts simply disappeared! Huge, almost deserted beaches, the most beautiful ocean, excellent cuisine! I am convinced that two weeks is certainly not enough to completely unravel this mysterious island. So, as a farewell, I whispered: “Goodbye, Sri Lanka! We will definitely see each other again!”
Spend June 2019 in Sri Lanka and leave your review. - an island state, until 1972 it was known as Ceylon. The name Sri Lanka is translated into Russian as “Blessed Land”. This is a real paradise located in the middle of the ocean - sandy beaches, cozy hotels, an abundance of rapidly growing tropical greenery, fragrant exotic flowers, ancient cities carefully hidden in the greenery of the jungle.
The climate in Sri Lanka is humid, warm, tropical, so you can have an amazing holiday here all year round - year-round summer, what could be more tempting?
Sri Lankans are cheerful and pleasant people, smiling, therefore, tourists themselves involuntarily become softer and more welcoming while on vacation in Sri Lanka. Religion here is characterized by Buddhism and Judaism, which often affects the traditions, customs and rituals of local residents, therefore, tourists should respect religious objects, temples, etc. while on holiday in the island nation.
The national cuisine is very similar to Indian, and this is not surprising, since the island state is divided by a narrow strait. The Sri Lankan diet includes fish, rice, seafood, vegetables and fruits, meat, and poultry. Most dishes are topped with curry and coconut flakes as a savory addition. Fish powder (umbalakada) is often added to curry; it adds a special flavor to the dish. A tourist can enjoy the amazing and at the same time simple cuisine of Sri Lanka throughout the entire holiday.
Sri Lanka is the island of elephants, these animals are everywhere here, living in the wild and serving the locals to transport heavy loads or plow the land. National parks and elephant nurseries are the main attraction of the island nation of Sri Lanka.
Prices for holidays in Sri Lanka
| Month | Hotels 3* | Hotels 4* | 5* hotels |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 180000 - 228000 ₽ | 192000 - 246000 ₽ | 228000 - 324000 ₽ |
| February | 156000 - 228000 ₽ | 192000 - 246000 ₽ | 228000 - 324000 ₽ |
| March | 168000 - 228000 ₽ | 180000 - 264000 ₽ | 210000 - 300000 ₽ |
| April | 168000 - 228000 ₽ | 180000 - 264000 ₽ | 210000 - 300000 ₽ |
| May | 174000 - 228000 ₽ | 186000 - 264000 ₽ | 216000 - 306000 ₽ |
| June | 180000 - 228000 ₽ | 192000 - 270000 ₽ | 228000 - 324000 ₽ |
| July | 192000 - 228000 ₽ | 198000 - 270000 ₽ | 234000 - 324000 ₽ |
| August | 192000 - 228000 ₽ | 198000 - 240000 ₽ | 234000 - 300000 ₽ |
| September | 198000 - 222000 ₽ | 198000 - 222000 ₽ | 252000 - 282000 ₽ |
| October | 198000 - 270000 ₽ | 192000 - 306000 ₽ | 246000 - 330000 ₽ |
| November | 156000 - 240000 ₽ | 180000 - 258000 ₽ | 198000 - 318000 ₽ |
| December | 162000 - 240000 ₽ | 186000 - 264000 ₽ | 198000 - 324000 ₽ |
| Holiday prices for the New Year | 270000 - 390000 ₽ | 318000 - 438000 ₽ | 384000 - 576000 ₽ |
All prices for holidays in 2019 are approximate!
Included in the price:- departure from Moscow
- round trip flight
- accommodation for 2 people in a double room
- vacation in June for 10 days in Sri Lanka (+-3 days for some countries)
- excursions
- additional food
According to reviews, holidays in Sri Lanka in July and August are much cheaper than tours for the New Year. The cost of such a holiday for the New Year 2019 is 1.5 to 2.5 times more expensive than a regular tour. We also recommend reading the section “How much money to take to Sri Lanka in June”, so as not to sit in a hotel, but to spend your holiday with pleasure.
Attractions
Pinnawala Elephant Nursery. The elephant nursery is a real landmark of Sri Lanka; it is almost the only place where elephants abandoned by their owners have found their home. The nursery has been operating for many years, elephants of various ages live here, many have survived serious illnesses, some have found their mates here, and cubs have appeared. Tourists come on excursions to the nursery for the whole day; some elephants are tame, and vacationers can pet or feed the giants.
The Kandy Valley is one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka. The valley stretches for 116 kilometers and is a picturesque landscape with hills, ancient buildings and untouched spaces. On the territory of the valley is the city of Kandy, which was previously the capital of Sri Lanka, but at the moment the city still remains the cultural capital of the island state, since ancient buildings of historical value have been preserved on its territory.
Fort Trincomalee. The fort, today, is a picturesque remains that can be visited by any interested tourist. This picturesque fort is bordered by numerous bays and the Swami Rock cliff, on which the ruins of the fort are located. After visiting the fort, you can relax in one of the small and picturesque bays, sunbathing on the coast.
Interesting things about the country:
- Excursions
Hotels
After visiting the hotels, do not forget leave feedback, it will help future tourists make the right choice.
Hilton Colombo 5* (Colombo). The hotel is a 19-story building housing rooms, bars, restaurants, fitness centers, spa salons, sauna, billiards - everything you need for a pleasant stay. In the room, guests will find a private bathroom, hairdryer, bathrobes, toiletries, mini-bar, satellite TV, telephone. The hotel accommodates couples with children; if necessary, the hotel provides a cot in the room, a child seat in the restaurant, a children's menu, etc.
Riverina 4*(Beruvala). A wonderful hotel for those who want to spend their honeymoon or celebrate a wedding here. The hotel provides services for organizing wedding ceremonies. In each hotel room, guests will find a private bathroom, hairdryer, everything you need for making tea and coffee, satellite TV, telephone and much more that can make your stay easier and more comfortable.
Amaya Reef 3* (Hikadduwa). A cozy and comfortable hotel offers its guests relaxation by a large swimming pool overlooking palm trees and green groves. In each hotel room, the vacationer will have a bath or shower, air conditioning, a balcony or terrace, and a telephone. On-site activities include playing volleyball, basketball, table tennis or surfing on the coast.
Beach holiday in Sri Lanka in June 2019
Read the reviews and don't miss out on your beach holiday in 2019! The island state of Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean, it is a real pearl that attracts tourists on vacation from all over the world. All year round, hot summer weather, warm ocean water, endless golden sands, fragrant greenery, hiding historical monuments, forts, buildings, ancient temples. There is everything you need to spend your holiday in an exotic country.
Beaches of Negombo. Negombo is one of the most popular resorts in Sri Lanka. The atmosphere and arrangement of the city still retains the imprint of those years when the island was colonized. There are many fishing villages along the coast, thanks to which vacationers can enjoy fresh fish and delicacies. The beaches here are extensive; tourists can find here both luxury hotels and affordable hotels at low cost. On the beaches themselves, tourists can relax by diving, underwater photography, or sunbathe on the purest golden sand.
Beaches of Hikkaduwa. The beaches of this resort town are considered the most beautiful, since here the cleanest sandy shore and turquoise clear water of the ocean create the image of a real paradise. Coral reefs, with their variety of colors, color the clear waters of the Indian Ocean in different shades. Vacationers must remember that breaking and lifting corals from the ocean floor is prohibited; this may result in a large fine.
Trincomalee beaches are beaches for those who choose a “lazy holiday”. Tourists who want to relax away from the hustle and bustle, noise and need an abundance of silence and tranquility will find what they are looking for on the beaches of Trincomalee. Unity with nature, leisurely and measured relaxation are guaranteed!
Visa
If you are planning a holiday in Sri Lanka, then you should hurry up, since visa-free entry for citizens of Russia and the CIS will be valid until December 31, 2011. From January 1, 2012, tourists will have to apply for a visa to visit Sri Lanka.
For visa-free entry, a tourist will need a foreign passport (which would be valid for another 6 months from the date of departure from Sri Lanka), plane tickets with a fixed departure date from Sri Lanka, a tourist voucher that can be issued at the country’s airport, as well as sufficient vacation amount of money with the calculation of $25 per day per person.
From January 1, 2012, all tourists must obtain a visa to enter Sri Lanka. This can be done independently by obtaining a visa before departure using the website www.eta.gov.lk. To obtain a visa on your own, a tourist must pay $50. If you are on the “A list” - CIS countries and Russia included, then you can get a visa upon arrival at the airport. But, you will be issued a visa only if the purpose of your visit is tourism.
So, if you arrived in Sri Lanka as a tourist and do not plan to stay in this country for more than 30 days, then you are required to provide a foreign passport (validity must be at least 6 months from the date of departure from Sri Lanka) . The tourist must have a return plane ticket, a voucher confirming hotel accommodation, and cash at the rate of $25 per day per person.
How much money to take to Sri Lanka in June
Without money there is nothing to do on vacation, and the point is not that you come to an exotic country solely for relaxation and do not need luxury, but banal food, the desire to go on an excursion or visit local discos or take a photo with an elephant requires money. As useful information: tourists are not recommended to stay in 2* hotels since the price of accommodation in a 2* and 3* hotel does not differ significantly, but in hotels with three stars the service will be much higher and of better quality than in hotels with two stars.
Here is an approximate list of prices for products, services and excursions in Sri Lanka:
Prices in a roadside cafe are very low, so lunch will cost $4-6; in a more civilized cafe, lunch will cost $15-35. If a vacationer visits restaurants, the bill per person will vary from 20 to 40 dollars, excluding alcohol and drinks.
Alcohol prices are as follows: local beer under the Lion brand costs $0.8 per bottle, red wine per 0.7 liter bottle costs $7-10, red rum $9, gin $8.
The clothes are quite cheap, a tank top or T-shirt costs from $4 to $6, good jeans can be bought for $10. Leather sandals sell for $20; clothing stores also sell items from Italy, but they are much more expensive.
As for transport, a motorcycle taxi costs $2-3 per 10 kilometers, an air-conditioned taxi costs $4-5 per 10 kilometers.
The cost of excursions is quite cheap, a visit to the elephant nursery will cost $10, a two-hour walk along the river costs $15, a jeep trip to the national park costs $20-25, a visit to the botanical garden costs $10.
Vacation with children
Sri Lanka is an exotic resort, like Thailand and Turkey, but if your choice falls on Sri Lanka, then you should think through the route in advance and choose the island on which you and your child will feel as comfortable as possible. Tourists should know that from January 1, 2012, everyone who enters the territory of the island state is required to obtain a visa, therefore, if your child is over 14 years old, he must present a passport, and the child must be included in the parents’ documents, even if he has his own identity document.
A large number of hotels in Sri Lanka offer accommodation with children, as well as a number of services that facilitate a comfortable stay with children: a cot in the parents' room, a children's chair in the restaurant, a children's menu, children's mini clubs, as well as a special swimming pool for children with a small depth.
The resort towns of Sri Lanka are well suited for families with children; moreover, you can go here at any time of the year, it is always warm and sunny here. Each hotel has its own beach, with equipped recreation areas; on the territory of hotels and hotels you can engage in active recreation: table tennis, volleyball, basketball, children can fly kites, build sand castles on the beach or go on excursions with their parents.
The only downside is the rather long flight; as a rule, children have a very hard time with airplane flights, pressure, sitting in one position for a long time, you can’t make noise, run, or jump, so your vacation can only be overshadowed by the fact that your child gets very tired on the road. . Don't forget to take unforgettable photos of June 2019 with your children!
Costs for a trip to Sri Lanka are not always final, since travelers often spend a lot of money directly on the island. No one can tell you exactly how much money to take to Sri Lanka, because for a more or less specific answer you need to know the following things: how many people are going on vacation in your group, what food is included in the trip, what excursions you plan to visit, how many souvenirs you plan to buy. These are just some of the factors that influence costs in Sri Lanka.
You must find the answer to the question of how much money to take to Sri Lanka on your own, and we can only help you find this answer.
How to calculate your estimated costs in Sri Lanka? You just need to decide in advance what you will spend money on during your vacation, and after that calculate how much money you will need. In this article we will only give examples of how much money you can spend for two during a 10-day holiday in Sri Lanka. According to statistics, Russian tourists spend on average just 10 days on this island, so we took a tour with an average duration as a basis.
How much money do you need for food?
Food costs in Sri Lanka for 10 days can range from $0 to $2,000 for two people, although you can spend more. What do these costs depend on? Mainly on the type of food on the trip and on the desires and capabilities of the tourist. If you purchase a ticket to a hotel with all-inclusive meals, then theoretically you can avoid the cost of food altogether, but if your package includes only breakfast or does not include meals at all, then you will not be able to avoid the cost of food. You are not going to Sri Lanka to starve...
There are different ways to eat in Sri Lanka. For example, someone buys a sandwich for lunch at a store for $1, while someone goes to a restaurant and leaves at least $30 per person there. For dinner, you can either go to a local cafe and order one dish with a drink for $5, or you can go to your hotel restaurant and have dinner for $50 or more per person.
It is difficult to guess your desires and capabilities, so we will simply present the prices of dishes in one of the cafes in the popular resort of Hikkaduwa, and you can already draw certain conclusions about how much lunch or dinner in this cafe would cost you.
Below are the food prices at Cool Spot Cafe in Hikkaduwa. This is not the most expensive, but not the cheapest cafe, so its prices give an idea of the average prices throughout Hikkaduwa and Sri Lanka. Prices are given in rupees, but you can quickly convert them to dollars using the current exchange rates.
Menu at Cool Spot Cafe:
Toasts - 50-100
Sandwiches with cheese or chicken - 400
Two egg omelette - 200
Omelet with shrimp or bacon - 350
Set breakfast - 600 rupees
Tomato or chicken soup - 400 rupees
Soups Tom Yum and Tom Ka Gai - 750 rupees
Salads - 400-650 rupees
Spaghetti with shrimp or bolognese - 900-950 rupees
Rice with egg - 400 rupees
Rice with chicken, shrimp, squid - 600-650 rupees
Noodles with meat or seafood - 600-750 rupees
Fruit juices - 250-300 rupees
Shakes - 300-350 rupees
Soft drinks - 100-150 rupees
A cheap breakfast in Sri Lanka will cost about $8 for two, a cheap lunch/dinner of salad or soup and one dish and drink is $15-20 for two. So for three meals a day it will cost you around $40-50 for two, but some tourists dilute their meals with food from the store or snacks from street stalls, and spend noticeably less money. But in most cases, tourists book a hotel with at least breakfast, so you can spend even less on food.
To summarize, we can say that usually for a 10-day holiday in Sri Lanka, tourists spend on food from $200 to $1000 for two, depending on the food included in the price and preferences.
How much money do you need for excursions?
To more or less accurately calculate your costs in Sri Lanka, you also need to decide in advance what excursions you want to go on. After this, you can find out the cost of these excursions and understand how much money you will need for them. Often excursions in Sri Lanka are conducted individually, although there are also group excursions. Generally, one-day excursions cost between $30 and $110 per person, while two-day excursions can cost between $100 and $300 per person. There are also excursions with longer durations.
Below you will see approximate prices for some excursions per person:
Sightseeing tour of Bentota - $35
Sightseeing tour of Kalutara - $30
"Rice and curry" - $40
Colombo - $80
Kandy and Pinnawela - $110
Whale watching - $100
Udawalawa National Park - $110
Sinharaya Forest - $80
Sigiriya - $150
Climbing Adam's Peak - $80
Galle - $60
Kandy (2 days) - $200
The costs of excursions in Sri Lanka are easy to calculate in advance, so simply select the places you want to visit and find out the prices for excursions to these places.
Transport and entertainment costs
These costs, of course, are not mandatory, especially for those tourists who have chosen a good all-inclusive hotel for their holiday. However, if you want to go somewhere by bus, train, tuk-tuk or taxi, then you will have to shell out some money. Trains and buses in Sri Lanka are quite cheap, so travel costs are generally only a few dollars. Travel by tuk-tuk will cost more, and the most expensive transport is a taxi. On average, the cost of a taxi ride is approximately $0.7-1 per kilometer. The cost of travel by tuk-tuk will be approximately 2 times lower.
You can also rent a car (from $30 per day) or a scooter (from $6 per day) and get around on it.
As for entertainment, costs may vary. Of course, Sri Lanka is not the UAE with a lot of very expensive entertainment, so it is difficult to spend a lot of money on entertainment on this island. The most expensive activities are: hot air ballooning, fishing, diving and surfing. In general, you just need to think carefully about what kind of entertainment you are interested in, and then find out the prices for these entertainments.
Costs for souvenirs and gifts
Even those tourists who go to Sri Lanka for the third or fourth time often buy a lot of souvenirs and gifts. What then can we say about people who are planning to go to this island for the first time? You need to allocate at least $100 for various small items such as magnets, bracelets and other trinkets to give something to your friends and family and keep something for yourself as a souvenir. But it seems to me that tourists in Sri Lanka rarely spend less than $200 on souvenirs and gifts. In general, local souvenirs are inexpensive in Sri Lanka, since tea, spices, ceramics, coconut oil and various trinkets, by definition, cannot be expensive. However, often during a holiday in Sri Lanka there is a desire to buy some jewelry made from precious or semi-precious stones, which, although they are relatively cheap on this island, can seriously lighten your wallet.
In general, I advise you to budget $200-300 for souvenirs and small items if you do not plan to buy jewelry, fashionable clothes and other expensive goods.
Don't forget about your visa
When planning the cost of a holiday in Sri Lanka, tourists often forget that they will have to pay the first money at the airport upon arrival on the island. At the same time, the cost of obtaining a visa on arrival is not so low - it is $35 per person.You can also apply for this visa online. In this case, firstly, you will spend a little less money, and, secondly, you will know the decision about whether you are allowed to enter Sri Lanka or not in advance.
So how much money do you need for everything?
If you have read this article to the end, then you probably already have a rough idea of how much money to take to Sri Lanka. It is clear that in some cases you can do without spending at all, but still most tourists spend a decent amount of money in Sri Lanka.
Instead of the total, we will present to you the approximate costs in Sri Lanka of a poor couple who went to a hotel with breakfast for 10 days, who wants to go on 3 excursions (a sightseeing tour of Bentota, an excursion to Colombo and an excursion to Kandy) and buy some souvenirs.
The costs of such a pair will be as follows:
Visas - 70$
Meals - 400$
Excursions - $530
Shopping - $200
Total - 1200$
Theoretically, of course, you can spend less money, but it is unlikely that you will be able to save much, since you definitely need to go on excursions, and it is also advisable to buy at least some souvenirs. If you want to eat well, go on frequent excursions, and plan to buy a lot of souvenirs, including jewelry, then your costs will be significantly higher than this $1,200.
Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located next to India. Before gaining independence from the British “friends” in 1972, everyone called this territory the island of Ceylon. A wonderful place: endless beaches, amazing nature and hospitable hosts.
The alternation of beach holidays with various excursions is what attracts tourists from all over the world to the country. Some travel on their own, others through a tour company. What's better?
If you have very limited time, it is better to use the help of tour operators. They will take care of all the organization of the trip. And if you have more time, then it is more interesting to travel on your own. In any case, you need to be well prepared for it.
Which resort should I go to? How to apply for a visa?
How long does the flight take? How to spend money more rationally? Where to stay and what to see? The best beaches in Sri Lanka. Things to do? How much does it cost to rent a house, villa, room? What to bring from the island of Ceylon? Attractions. Price of excursions? Cost of food in Sri Lanka? How much money should you take with you? We tried to answer these and many other questions that arise when planning such a trip.
Calculating the budget for a trip to Sri Lanka for two people
The cost of plane tickets from Moscow to Sri Lanka round-trip depends mainly on the date of purchase of the tickets and class. The earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will be. The best time to purchase is 60-90 days. Its cost also depends slightly on the time of departure and arrival, the duration of transfers: the more convenient the flight for the passenger, the more expensive it is. Tickets are cheaper from Tuesday to Thursday.
We bought a ticket to Sri Lanka three months before the trip. Route: Moscow (Russia) - Doha (Qatar) - Colombo (Sri Lanka). The cost of a two-way economy class ticket for one person was $460 in our case. Estimated travel time: 5.20 to Qatar from Moscow, about 5 hours to Colombo airport. The time difference from the Kremlin chimes is +2 hours 30 minutes.
Or, in the old-fashioned way, you applied for a visa yourself - online. Cost: US$30.
Before arriving, we booked a house through booking for the first three days of our stay on the island in order to look around and find accommodation to suit our taste and budget. A nice house (Villa Aloha) with two bedrooms for four people with a traditional one air conditioner cost $30 per night for rent.
To save time, effort and increase mobility, we rented a fast scooter on the first day. With his help, the search for a home ended successfully.
We rented a wonderful house for $420 per month.
Relying on intuition in choosing a house, we drew the winning ticket. It was distinguished from most rental houses by a well-thought-out ventilation system, which is very important in a tropical climate.
The cost of renting housing is influenced by many factors: season, rental period, room size, comfort, location, etc. Most of these important points are covered in the article about our rented house in Sri Lanka.
The room will cost much less. One day, a passer-by offered me a room for rent for 10,000 rupees (~$70) per month. I didn’t specify what it was, but I remembered the number. I present it for comparison.
There is a lot of available housing, both in Hikkaduwa and other resorts. In principle, it is not necessary to book something in advance, even temporarily.
Keep in mind that it always gets dark early on the island, around 18:00, and in the light of the Sun it is more fun to do all this.
From morning until 21:00 it is easy to rent accommodation everywhere. Later, the choice is limited: either hotels open around the clock or you will have to use the help of the nearest “assistant”. He will approach you himself in the most unexpected place.
Having extended our visa to Colombo, we were once returning on the last train to Hikkaduwa and met a family from Saratov. They had just arrived and were going on vacation to Bentota. Who helped them find housing at this late hour will probably surprise you.
Minimum vocabulary required to search for a room: hello, hava u, room rent, tou people, seven day, tou price, know gut price, expansive, nex time, may price - gut price - van southern fife handret rupees, okay, senk yu, gut bay. Smile and shake hands.
The inconspicuous phrase “next time” makes life a lot easier.
Tickets for a round trip flight for two people are $920 ($460+$460=$920). Visa on arrival at the airport for two people - $70 ($35+$35).
The road to the selected resort. For example, from the capital of Sri Lanka to Hikkaduwa, bus travel does not cost more than 230 rupees per person.
The cost depends on the distance and transport. From the airport to Colombo, an air-conditioned bus ticket costs 230 rupees (~ $1.5). From Colombo to Galle - travel on such a bus will cost 270 rupees (~$2), to Matara a little more expensive, about 3$. The city of Matara is the southernmost point of the island of Sri Lanka; there is almost no further land. Only . From its top, in good weather, you can see the equator.
When traveling by train in a 3rd class carriage, transport costs can be half as much.
We traveled a lot around the island, visited the most famous beaches, 23 excursions helped us form our own opinion about many of the sights of Sri Lanka, rented accommodation on two coasts, traveled through the inland cities of the country and concluded that, if desired, you can easily find a decent overnight stay for two people with a toilet and shower, although without air conditioning for 1,500 rupees or a little more.
We ourselves quickly adapted and air conditioning became irrelevant for us.
We will calculate the rent of a room for two with a reserve - 2000 rupees for 1 day. For 7 days - 14,000 rupees ($100).
The cost of excursions, routes and travel are described in detail in our articles. Let's sum up the cost of entrance tickets for 5 excursions: we'll take to Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, a sea safari in Mirissa, a visit to a tea factory, the Royal Botanical Garden, the Temple of the Tooth Relic and an extreme climb to Adam's Peak. We get no more than 10,000 rupees for one person or 20,000 for two. There is no time left to shop if you spend so much on excursions.
I would plan it like this: the first day - the day of arrival, check-in, try some water; Day 2 - acquaintance with the resort - lobster beach, the next 2-3 days on excursions, the sixth day in reserve. Day 7 - departure day: beach, renting accommodation, wiping away tears.
Seven days are very little to get to know Sri Lanka, at least 2 weeks, or better yet a month.
Food costs are about the same as at home. Of course, if you haven’t set a goal to prepare for the sumo championship on the island.
For our calculation, let’s take the cost of a reinforced tourist ration, also with a large margin - 2,000 rupees for two and no standing at the stove. For seven days - 14,000 rupees (~$100)
Transport on the island is plentiful and very accessible. If two tourists travel from Hikkaduwa to Colombo and back by bus every day, then in 7 days you can only spend 5,000 rupees.
To become a real tropical "night wolf" you definitely need a scooter. This is about 5,000 more rupees to the vacation budget. This is, of course, optional. In Sri Lanka, those who are larger have the advantage on the road. Remember this and take care of yourself.
The island has excellent conditions for shopping.
It is especially good to do it in Colombo, Matara, Galle and other “big” cities. If you want, you can find quality items at low prices. Personally, we liked the retail chain of men's, women's and children's clothing "Fashion Bug". We put 10,000 rupees for shopping for two.
Total: $1550.
Conclusion: for a full 7-day trip to Sri Lanka, two tourists need about $1,550 US. If you subtract from the amount everything that you think is unnecessary, the result will be even more attractive.
As can be seen from the cost analysis, the lion's share is consumed by flight tickets. That’s why it’s advantageous to stay there longer when you fly to Sri Lanka.
The materials in the article will help you accurately predict costs on this increasingly popular tourist route. What do tour operators offer? Compare their offers and make your choice. Each type of recreation is unforgettably good in its own way.
The truth is in numbers. Good luck.