We've compiled useful information for pre- and post-booking the Sri Lanka tour! Find everything to know below.
Try a different word, or send us a message and we’ll answer it directly.
Of course! We encourage everyone to talk over our social networks. You can find a list of them at the bottom of this page. If you’ve joined a tour, we will send you an invite to a dedicated Facebook group made for your tour a few weeks before it starts. Your tour guide and a tour manager will also be in the group to answer any questions you may have. You can also join the General Discussion Board on Facebook!
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all! While our target age is 20-45, what matters most is mindset. If you’re looking for a backpacking-style experience, with hostel-style stays, local transport, and optional evening activities - you’re welcome to join us.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof of your policy to your group leader upon arrival (on your phone or printed). You can get a quote and purchase your travel insurance here.
Not at all. Plenty of travellers arrive a few days early to get over the flight, and you just need to be at the starting point on day 1.
Tell us your plans and we can usually arrange extra nights before your start date, including your pick-up from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), or send you directions if you would rather book your own place nearby.
You may do, depending on your health, your vaccination history and where else you are travelling. Book an appointment with your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you go and tell them your plans, so there is time for any course of jabs.
TravelHealthPro, run by the UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre, has up-to-date advice for Sri Lanka, including whether you need proof of any vaccination to enter. Our article on vaccines for Sri Lanka covers the basics too.
Yes, many travellers, both male and female, travel alone throughout Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Most group members on our trips will be solo travellers and we absolutely love it. Upon arrival, we will pick you up from the airport, you will meet your travel mates and the adventure begins.
We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.
We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.
Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.
Call your group leader using the number sent in your welcome email. They will assist you.
We are a licensed tour operator based in Bangkok (TAT Licence No. 11/12642), and our team plans and supports every trip we sell.
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so there is always a dry side of the island. December to March is the classic season for the south and west coasts and the hill country, with sunny beach days and clearer views from the tea country. The southwest monsoon brings rain to those areas from around May to September, when the east coast is at its best, and October to November can be wet island-wide.
Showers rarely last all day. See our Sri Lanka weather guide for month-by-month detail.
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Rupees are hard to get before you travel, so most people withdraw them from an ATM at the airport or in town. Cards are accepted in most hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets, but you will need cash for tuk tuks, markets, street food and small shops.
Keep an eye on ATMs for anything attached to the card slot, and let your bank know you are travelling so your card is not blocked.
Tipping is not compulsory, but it is appreciated and many people in tourism rely on it. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill; where they do not, leaving around 10% for good service is generous. Small tips for porters and hotel staff are welcome.
Drivers and guides are usually tipped at the end of the trip, and we can suggest an amount if you are unsure.
Your phone will work, but roaming can be expensive, so most travellers get a tourist SIM or an eSIM. SIMs from Dialog and SLT-Mobitel are sold at desks in the arrivals hall at the airport; bring your passport. Data is cheap and 4G covers most of the country.
Most hotels and guesthouses have Wi-Fi, though it can be slow in rural areas and up in the hills.
Sri Lanka is a friendly, welcoming country and most visits are trouble-free. The main risks are everyday ones: bag snatching and pickpocketing in busy areas, card fraud at ATMs, erratic driving, and strong rip currents on some beaches at certain times of year, so always ask locally before you swim. Women sometimes report unwanted comments in crowded places.
Read the FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka before you go, and see our guide to travelling safely in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka takes this seriously, and disrespecting Buddhist images is an offence that can lead to arrest. Never pose for a photo with your back to a Buddha statue, and do not touch or climb on statues. Visible Buddha tattoos have led to visitors being refused entry or deported, so keep any covered.
At temples, take off your shoes and hat, cover your shoulders and knees, and do not point your feet at monks or Buddha images. Your guide will tell you anything specific to each site.
Sinhala and Tamil are the national languages, and English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and anywhere used to visitors, so you will get by easily. A couple of Sinhala words go a long way: "ayubowan" is hello (literally "may you live long") and "istuti" is thank you.
You will get to sample the best of Sri Lankan food... and it is so, so tasty. Breakfasts are typically Western dishes that you would expect to find back home. Sometimes you will have a buffet-style breakfast, and in other locations, you will have simple eggs on toast with fruit. We get that if you just need to satisfy that craving for a pizza or burger! Western food is usually available everywhere on the tour. As the tour explores different areas of Sri Lanka, you will have the opportunity to taste the various cuisine styles from around the country. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options will also be provided.
Vegetarians will be happy to know that Sri Lanka is very accommodating for vegetarians. Your tour guide can instruct any kitchen to create a local dish without meat. The meals will always have a vegetarian option. Please note vegan diets may not be available for some included meals.
Yes and so delicious! If you see Sri Lankan locals eating it then that’s the best indication that the food is safe. Tip: Eat where the locals eat; the longer the queue the more delicious you can assume the food will be. But as with anything, use caution. If something looks or smells suspect, better to leave it alone. And never drink from the tap! We thought we had to mention this in case the idea ever crosses your mind!
We only sell our tour directly to you through our website, not through a travel agency, which cuts out a major expense incurred by other tour companies (and for you)! That's a win-win all around.
Please arrange your flights to and from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). We request that you arrive before 16:00 on day 1 and depart any time on day 15. Please note that your accommodation may not be ready until 2 PM. Airport transfer is only available on days 1 and 15. You can also book extra accommodation from your account, this includes airport transfer and breakfast.
After you have booked your tour and received confirmation from us, you can begin searching for flights. When you have booked your flight, please login to your account and enter the flight details under Flight Details. Please note that airport transfer is included in the cost of the tour and is available from 4 am - midnight on day 1 of your tour in Negombo (Bandaranaike International Airport) and from 5 am - 10 pm on day 15 of your tour also in Negombo. If you would like to come a few days early or extend your stay to get the most of your 30 day visa, then you can book extra days accommodation through our Additional Trips page located on the My Account page. This price includes airport transfer, whereas if you decide to book separate accommodation then airport transfer is restricted to days 1 and 15 of your trip.
We recommend arriving before 4pm on day 1 of your tour. Check in at the hotel on day 1 is at 2 pm with early check in available subject to hotel vacancy. You are free to use the hotel facilities - including the pool - and leave your bags in a secure place if you arrive early before checking in. On departure, we suggest leaving after 12pm in order to enjoy a final breakfast with everyone but if you can find a cheaper flight early in the day, that's no problem at all! Just let us know your flight details in the ‘Login’ area. If your flight arrives before the starting date, we can arrange extra accommodation which includes hotel transfer and breakfast. Please let us know if you want us to arrange this for you.
Yes, but for most of our travellers it is now free. Everyone needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), Sri Lanka's online tourist visa, before they fly, and since 25 May 2026 it is issued free of charge to citizens of 40 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries. It gives you 30 days with double entry, and your passport needs at least six months' validity from the day you arrive.
Apply only on the official site, eta.gov.lk: copycat sites charge for an ETA that is free there. Some passports, including Irish and Portuguese, still pay the standard fee.
Rules do change, so check what applies to your passport here, or read our full Sri Lanka visa guide. Any questions, just ask.
Please wait for your booking confirmation email, which tells you when we recommend arriving and departing. You can search and book flights on our flights page.
We will send you your airport transfer information one week before the tour or programme begins.
International flights are not included in the price of any tour and will need to be booked separately. You’re free to book your own flights or book here.
Once you've booked your flights, log in to My Account on our website and enter your flight arrival details. That is how your group leader knows when you are landing.
Arriving before the tour starts, or staying on at the end? Let us know as early as you can so we can check availability and pricing on extra nights.
Please let us know as soon as possible. If you are already en route and a connecting flight changes, contact your group leader or email us so we can still meet you at the airport.
Your deposit ensures your reservation for the tour or program. It guarantees your spot until 60 days prior to the scheduled commencement date, at which time the outstanding balance must be settled in full. Failure to complete payment by the specified deadline will result in the cancellation of your reservation, and the vacancy may be offered to another prospective participant. The remaining balance can be found in your account, and multiple reminders will be sent in advance of the due date to ensure timely payment.
For group tours, your place is confirmed once enough travellers have booked, and always at least four weeks (28 days) before your tour starts. Most group tours are confirmed around six months before departure.
For volunteer or private bookings, please allow 2-3 working days.
If a tour does not run, you get a full refund.
Yes! After placing your deposit, you can pay off the tour in instalments of your choosing, whenever suits you. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your tour starts, and you can see it at any time in your account.
Yes, as long as you give us at least 60 days' notice before your original departure date, so another traveller can take your place. A £30 administration fee applies to a date change.
We recommend packing:
And of course the usual: passport, spending money, adventurous curiosity, positive attitude. Try to keep your bag under 20kg, as you carry your own luggage between destinations.
Backpacks are preferred and will be more convenient for you but suitcases work, too. You’ll never have to carry your luggage for too long at any one time. Try to find something that’s easily accessible and waterproof if possible. And please bring a smaller daypack for short trips throughout the tour.
Yes, please! Most of our accommodation offers laundry at very reasonable prices, so there is no need to pack for every single day of the trip.
Yes, the dress code is seen as a show of respect to the culture, temple and monks that often live in the temples. Men should wear long pants and no cut-off sleeves. Women should wear trousers, a long skirt, or dress that extends fully below the knees and covers their shoulders - the knees should be fully covered. Tank tops and low cut shirts should also be avoided by both genders.
Sri Lanka runs on 230 volts. Newer buildings mostly have UK-style three square-pin sockets (Type G), but many older hotels and guesthouses still have round-pin Type D and M sockets, so pack a universal adapter.
Power cuts are occasional, so a power bank is useful.
The tour finishes after breakfast on the last day, and your drop-off at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is included. Add your flight details in your account and we will time the transfer around your flight.
Flying later in the day? You are welcome to use the hotel's luggage storage and explore a little more first. Staying on in Sri Lanka or heading somewhere new? Just ask and we will suggest where to go next.
Not at all! The deposit confirms your place on the tour. We kindly ask that you provide the remaining balance no less than 60 days before your tour begins.
Yes! This is your own time to explore Sri Lanka as you please. If you want to stay back at the hotel to relax or want to explore a bit on your own, just let your tour guide know.
The trip starts and finishes in Colombo.
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