Cloud-wreathed mountains and palm-lined beaches. Ancient temples and fortresses. National parks where leopards prowl and elephants swim. With so many wonders to see, who wouldn’t want to visit Sri Lanka?

Tourism has only recently returned to this tropical island off the southeastern tip of India. It ceased after 2019, when Easter Sunday bombings in luxury hotels and churches killed more than 250 people. Today, Sri Lanka is much safer, increasingly popular, and still affordable. 

Here’s one valuable trip for planning your Sri Lanka travel: Most tourists travel around the southwest of Sri Lanka in a clockwise direction from Colombo, hitting key sites as they go. If you plan your journey in the opposite direction, you’ll encounter fewer crowds on public transportation, especially on the scenic train between Kandy and Ella.¹ Get a few more tips and ideas in our Sri Lanka travel guide.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Sri Lanka

1. Trip cancellation/interruption protection is essential. The cost of meals and accommodations in Sri Lanka is relatively low, but it can cost a lot to fly there and arrange a tour. If you must cancel your trip because of a last-minute emergency, will you lose all the money you spent? Not if you have travel insurance. Plan your trip with peace of mind, knowing that you can be reimbursed for covered trip cancellations and trip interruptions.
2. Travel insurance can pay for pricey medical evacuations. While there are modern hospitals in the capital Colombo, “serious medical conditions do require evacuation to the United States or to a nearby country with more advanced medical facilities, such as Thailand or Singapore,” the U.S. Department of State cautions.²The cost of a medevac flight could be as much as your annual salary—or more! Emergency transportation benefits can cover it.
3. 24-hour assistance empowers you to travel with confidence. While tourism is rebounding, Sri Lanka remains a developing nation where getting around can be a challenge (or an adventure, depending on your perspective.) All Allianz Travel Insurance plans include 24-hour assistance, accessible by phone or with the Allianz TravelSmart® app, to help you solve sticky travel problems and get help fast in an emergency.
   
   

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Sri Lanka

1. OneTrip Basic is a great choice for budget travelers. This plan gives you up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation/interruption benefits, and more.
2. OneTrip Prime includes a wide array of benefits for international travel and also covers kids 17 and under for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent.
3. AllTrips Premier protects every trip you take in 365 days—perfect for anyone with a wandering soul! Customize your coverage with tiered benefit levels for trip cancellation/interruption.
   
   

3 of the best things to do in Sri Lanka

1. Visit Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple. “A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka,” according to UNESCO.³One note: Posing for a photograph with your back to a statue of Buddha is a serious offense in Sri Lanka, and you may be fined or even arrested.
2. Ride the Kandy-Ella train. Some people call this the world’s most beautiful train journey: a 9-hour trip that winds through lush jungles and tea plantations. Expect to be jostled by tourists who are trying to hang out of the open doors and take Instagram pics… but even so, it’s an unforgettable ride.
3. Walk the newly created Pekoe Trail. If you want to experience the real Sri Lanka instead of just hitting tourist sites, lace up your boots and walk all or part of this 186-mile trail through the central highlands. Encounter birds and other wildlife, visit remote villages, see brightly painted Hindu kovils and Buddhist temples, and enjoy some of the world’s best tea.
   
   

3 of the best resorts in Sri Lanka

Dream Cliff Mountain Resort is well named. This luxury resort in Beragala offers 12 chalets, each with balconies that provide sweeping views. Watch the clouds roll over the mountains and the setting sun set fire to the horizon. During the day, you can hike or bike nature trails, zipline across the treetops, or pick your own tea.

Named one of the best hotels in Sri Lanka by Conde Nast Traveller, Kurulu Bay is a boutique resort on the island’s largest natural lake, Koggala Lake. Book one of the 14 suites and cottages and enjoy daily yoga and meditation classes and holistic spa treatments. When you get restless, head to the nearby town of Ahangama for sunbathing and surfing.

Here’s the wonderful thing about Sri Lanka: You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to experience a wonderful stay. The Hilltop Cabanas on Lighthouse Beach start at just $20 per night. Enjoy sleeping in the open air (mosquito nets are provided) as the sound of the waves lulls you. Snag a snack from the beach bar, grab your surfboard, and hang ten.

3 of the best places to eat in Colombo

Is Sri Lankan food the same as southern Indian food? Many travelers assume that it is… and then are surprised to find that the island has its own distinctive cuisine. Sri Lankan dishes are characterized by “wholesome red rice, plenty of chili heat, curry leaves, lots of coconut milk and shredded coconut, a bit of pungent dried Maldive fish in many dishes, and usually a bit of tang (from tomato, vinegar, tamarind, or lime),” explains Sri Lankan American cookbook author Mary Anne Mohanraj.⁴

Nuga Gama is one popular and unusual Sri Lankan restaurant in Colombo. It’s an oasis in the city: a recreation of a traditional Sri Lankan village, nestled under the branches of a 200-year-old banyan tree. Enjoy live music and a sumptuous (though spicy) buffet, with hoppers made to order.

Upali’s by Nawaloca is located on the edge of Viharamaha Devi Park, in the former family home of founder Upali Dharmadasa. Diners enjoy the lush setting and chef’s signature dishes, including Jaffna crab curry, hathmaluwa (seven-in-one vegetable curry, made from a 2,000-year-old recipe), and Upali's Baduma, a mixture of fried banana flower, peanuts, noodles, onions, chilli, garlic and curry leaves.

If you want to sample Colombo’s famous street food, head to the lively Pettah Market area. There you’ll find vendors selling samosas, achcharu (spicy-sweet chopped fruit mixtures), vade (crispy lentil crackers, often flavored with shrimp or crab), and crunchy cassava chips.

Hungry to explore? Book your trip, get your travel insurance, and you’re good to go. See the best plan options for international travel from Allianz Travel Insurance.

What do I need to travel to Sri Lanka?

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