Heat and humidity on arrival
The moment you step out of the well-air conditioned airport, prepare for Sri Lanka's warm and humid climate with an average temperature of 24^oC. Put your jacket away and drink lots of water. The average temperature is 24^oC.

Airport clearance process
Being a small Airport, the clearance process is not too complicated. You will be able to get your disembarkation form from a flight attendant before you land, or from the desks in the immigration area. Make sure you have them filled out before you get in line at immigration.

When you have your bags, if you have any goods to declare, make sure you fill out a customs form before you get into the exit line. These forms can be found at the desks near the luggage carousels.

The porters will be more than happy to assist you with your bags, and are usually paid Rs. 100 ($1) per bag to help you move your bags and push your trolley.

Transport on arrival
If Airport Transfer arrangements have been made through srilanka.com we will have one of our friendly chauffeurs waiting with a name card in the arrivals lobby, ready to escort you to your first destination in Sri Lanka.

If no prior transfer arrangements have been made, arrangements for an Airport taxi can be made at the service desk in the lobby. If you don't already have Sri Lankan Rupees, there are authorized moneychangers within the lobby area of the airport.

Click here to organise srilanka.com's chauffer driven luxury vehicle

Customs Regulations - Leaving the Country
PERMITTED: You are allowed to take out what you have declared and brought into the country, and whatever you have purchased in Sri Lanka like gems, jewellery and Sri Lankan products. Make sure you keep the receipts of all your purchases in Sri Lanka, in case you are asked.

NOT PERMITTED: You are not allowed to take out goods for commercial purposes, gold (crude, bullion or coins) firearms, explosives and dangerous weapons, Antique, statues, treasures, animals, birds or reptiles (dead or alive) and their parts, tea, rubber and coconut plants or any dangerous drugs.

• Vaccinations are recommended for Polio, Tetanus and Hepatitis A & B. Also, the Typhus vaccination is recommended if you plan to venture outside of tourist areas, especially in the wet season
• Dengue fever is common on the island, especially during the rainy season when mosquitoes are in abundance as they transmit dengue. Use mosquito repellent whenever you are outdoors or visiting rural areas
• Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, and Nuwara Eliya districts are considered malaria free, as well as the city of Kandy. In the dry season, use mosquito repellent whenever you are outdoors or in rural areas. Especially after sunset when the mosquitoes are in abundance. Malaria pills are warranted for trips to the north but are not available locally
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas

• Plastic bags are a real curse in Sri Lanka, so it helps a little if you decline plastic bags while shopping. You'll go through many plastic bottles of drinking water - try to dispose of them responsibly
• If you're by the beach, refrain from disposing of your trash in the sea
• When you're diving or snorkelling, don't break coral or brush against it. Coral consists of a colony of living organisms and contact can kill them. All of Sri Lanka's five species of turtle are endangered. So boycott the purchase of turtle eggs or any craft made of turtle shell

Roads are narrow, and in poor condition. However, many "A" Class roads are being upgraded to a smoother bitumen surface, as well as being widened with road markings.

Public Transport

Self-Driven Car
If you like blazing your own trail in new places, or have visited the island before and have a good idea of where you're going, a self-driven car is a great option.

Srilanka.com partners with a few rental car companies that have a great selection of cars for you to choose from, at reasonable prices. We would be glad to arrange a suitable car for your travel plans around Sri Lanka. However, you will have to have an internationally valid licence to legally drive in Sri Lanka.

Click here to organise a self-driven rental vehicle

Chauffeur Driven Car
If you're travelling with a healthy budget and desire privacy and comfort with your transportation arrangements, why not rent a car that comes with its own driver? Not only is it cheaper than a self-drive car rental, it's a hundred times less scary than trying to brave Sri Lankan traffic. Chauffeur-driven cars are a particularly good option if you're planning long trips around the island. Srilanka.com partners with several companies that specialise in chauffeur-driven cars, and we would be happy to arrange this for you. Most chauffeurs are English speaking and thouroughly knowledgeable about the country.

Click here to organise a srilanka.com chauffer driven luxury vehicle

Taxi
There are quite a few reliable taxi companies within the city limits of Colombo that are ideal for shorter trips. All these taxis are metered and, depending on the company, most taxis are in very good condition.

List of Taxi Numbers will be available at all hotels & resorts.

Tuk Tuk
The most common mode of transport in Sri Lanka is a three-wheeled automobile, commonly called a "three-wheeler" or a "tuk-tuk". Taking a three-wheeler is the best way to see the local sights, have some fun and make friends with the locals. They are always available, and in the brightest of colours so you couldn't miss them. However, as they're not metered, some bartering is in order and you should make sure you agree on a fare before you start your journey, but they are definitely one of the cheaper modes of transportation.

Bus
For those on budget, buses are everywhere. Although they are ridiculously over-crowded within the city, and tempting haunts with all pick-pockets, buses can be a good option for long journeys. They are unbelievably cheap and a few dollars can get you halfway across the island. Inter-City buses are a little bit more expensive but they offer A/C and guarantee you a seat, and are the better option for longer journeys. For timetables, call the main Bus Stand in Colombo on Tel: (Sri Lanka +94) 0112329604/5 or local bus station office for private timetables.

Train
Taking the train, you will be promised a slower and more comfortable ride than a bus, although slightly more expensive. The rail network is quite comprehensive and criss-crosses much of the island. Travelling first class is definitely the way to go as it is affordable, and the only way to be comfortable on Sri Lanka's older trains. The main city links from Colombo, Galle and Kandy offer great observation and night carriages and the coast line South from Colombo, up through the Hill Country and the northern line through the Cultural triangle, all offer scenic journeys. Taking the train is a cost-effective option for long journeys, if you're on a budget. However, you will need to book in advance.

For timetables, contact the Railway office in Colombo, Tel (+94) 0112435838 or visit the Tourist Board schedules.

Air Taxi/ Sea Plane
Sri Lankan Airlines introduced an Air taxi service around the island, which gives you a unique way to enjoy Sri Lanka's rich, scenic views.

The small 8-seater Caravan planes use waterways, lakes and domestic airstrips to land and take-off. Flights run conveniently to many tourist destinations like Kandy, Bentota, Galle, Tangalle. Planes can also be chartered privately, as long as there is a suitable landing area.

Although there are some scheduled flights each day, flights are mostly chartered according to demand. The costs are reasonable, especially when you are a group of 4 or more people. Travelling by Air Taxi is a great way to avoid the unpredictable traffic and Sri Lanka's sometimes problematic road conditions.

Click here to organise a Hop on Hop Off AirTaxi Tour

Helicopter
Travelling by Helicopter is an even more luxurious and adventurous means of transport across the island.

The cost of chartering a helicopter to your desired location starts at around $1000+ but you have the flexibility of landing pad and time of departure. Many hotels have their own landing pad or one within 10 mins drive. www.Srilanka.com will be happy to arrange this for you.

Click here to organise a Helicopter Tour

Countries Exempt from Visas
(All the countries in the SAARC region are exempt from visa)

A	Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
B	Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria
C	Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D	Denmark
E	Estonia
F	Finland, France
G	Georgia, Germany, Greece
H	Hong Kong (China), Hungary
I	India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy
J	Japan
K	Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
L	Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M	Malaysia, Maldives
N	Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway
O	Oman
P	Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal
Q	Qatar
R	Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation
S	Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
T	Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan
U	United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

As at 1/11/06 (http://www.immigration.gov.lk/)

Footwear
If you plan to spend most of your time on the beach, bring comfortable sandals. If you intend to hike or do most of your sightseeing on foot, then bring comfortable walking shoes that are easy to pack and clean. Also, if you plan to visit some of the nicer restaurants or nightspots in the city of Colombo, you will need to bring shoes with you as most of these places have "no sandals" policies.

Temple Etiquette
When visiting a Buddhist or Hindu temple you should remove your footwear and headgear. Your legs and shoulders should be covered as a sign of respect. Some Hindu temples even ask men to go shirtless in order to enter the inner sanctum. In most temples, you will be asked for a donation. However, the traditional practice is that you make a donation only if you wish to. Any money you decide to donate should be placed in the donation box.

Public Nudity
Public Nudity, including females being topless, is not only unacceptable but also illegal in Sri Lanka, although a few German-owned hotels may make an exception in designated areas. Ask your hotel on their policy about this.