Sri Lanka Land Packages

Posted on by Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Basking in the Southern part of the Indian coast, just off the Indian Ocean, beautiful Tropical Island, Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot for seamless retreats. Many dozens of tourist hotspots, beaches and fascinating history are some of the reasons that make foreign travellers book a Sri Lanka land package, Sri Lanka is an impeccable country to visit for any traveller. What is so special about Sri Lanka land packages? The hundreds of thousands of white sandy coastline, green-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, verdant jungles, untamed wilderness… venturing on a Sri Lanka land package is the best way of getting tough with all these.

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Sigiriya rock fortress is one of the most visited iconic tourist attractions, Which is also a part of most Sri Lanak trips such as 5 days Sri Lanka tour.

How to make stress-free Sri Lanka land packages?

Basking in the Southern part of the Indian coast, just off the Indian Ocean, beautiful Tropical Island, Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot for seamless retreats. Many dozens of tourist hotspots, beaches and fascinating history are some of the reasons that make Sri Lanka an impeccable country to visit for any traveller.

What is so special about Sri Lanka?
Verdant rice fields in Sri Lanka. These rice fields produce hundreds of thousands of kilos of rice, which is the staple diet of Sri Lankan people.

What is so special about Sri Lanka?

What is so special about Sri Lanka? The hundreds of thousands of white sandy coastline, green-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, verdant jungles, alluring backdrops, historical monuments with emblems of “UNESCO world heritage sites”, green tea gardens and friendly people are so inviting and have much to offer. 

Have you ever thought of visiting this beautiful tropical island?  We at Seerendipity tour have listed out the essence Sri Lanka tour and beach holiday for you to explore this charming island in 2020.

Sri Lanka land packages come in many flavours such as adventure trips, rainforest explorations tours, tours to the cultural triangle as well as varying durations such as 1 day Sri Lanka trip, 2 days Sri Lanka land package or 7 days Sri Lanka land package. Here is a list of trending trip packages in Sri Lanka.

colombo sightseeing tour
Colombo

Is It Safe to have a Sri Lanka land package?

Sri Lanka is one of the safest holiday destinations to travel to in the world. The island is one of the most peaceful countries in the world and has no political or ethnic problems. Same time the country is also from volcanoes and earthquakes. Occasional flooding is the only natural disaster reported in some parts of the country during heavy rain but it is restricted only to a few places. Usually, no flooding is reported in the beach resorts and most other places where travellers often go.

Exploring the fascinating history on a Sri Lanka package tour

The history of Sri Lanka spans over 3000 years, the island offers a wide range of interesting historical monuments and many of them carry the emblem of the “UNESCO world heritage site”.

6 important cultural hotspots to visit on a Sri Lanka land tour?

  1. Sigiriya rock fortress
  2. Dambulla golden temple
  3. Anuradhapura ancient city
  4. Polonnaruwa ancient city
  5. Kandy City
  6. Galle Fort

The 5th-century urban city Sigiriya rock fortress,1st century BC Dambulla golden cave temple, the sacred city of Anuradhapura with its roots going back to 3rd century BC, the medieval city of Polonnaruwa, the iconic Buddhist temple of the sacred tooth relic in Kandy and Galle Fort are some of the most important examples of Sri Lanka’s historical wonders, and UNESCO declared world heritage sites. Immerse in a history-rich Sri Lanka travel package to see the marvellous historical past of one of the most historical cultures in the world.

Sri Lanka land packages-go in search of Festivals

Being a cultural melting pot with many ethnic groups, Sri Lankans are very keen on their festivals and rituals and strictly adhere to them as a rule. Esala ceremony of Kandy, Full moon festival in may better be known as Vesak festival, Poson festival in June; Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations are some of the most important events for the Sri Lankan Buddhist community, which makes the biggest portion of Sri Lankan community.  

Hindu festivals

Festival of light better known as Deepavali, Vel festival, Mahasivaratri, Thai Pongal, and an annual festival of Nallur in Jaffna are some of the important celebrations meant for the Hindu society of Sri Lanka. Annual gathering at Madu Church in Jaffna and the Christmas festival is the main special occasions for Christians of Sri Lanka while Eid celebrations are conducted by the Islam community. With so much happening in the festival perspective, isn’t Sri Lanka look like cultural heaven? Indeed, you will be lost in a land filled with vibrant ethos.

Kandy Esala ceremony most beautiful pageant to visit on a Sri Lanka package

Kandy Esala Ceremony is the most beautiful pageant on the island and attracts spectators from all around the world, this is a cultural event that evolved over many thousands of years. The annual event of the Esala ceremony takes place in the city of Kandy, based on tooth relic temple of kandy, which is considered to be one of the most important tourist attractions in Kandy. The annual event started in the 2nd century BC, during the Anuradhapura period, as a Buddhist religious ceremony; however, it has absorbed some Hindu characters to it with the presence of Gods. The event is participated by about half a million people of majority are local spectators representing all major religious groups.

Esala ceremony is Held in the month of Esala (July/August), which is beautified by the elegantly decorated elephants, parades sparkling in gold, dancers, musicians playing traditional instruments and classical performers. The entire festival showcases the essence of Sri Lankan culture. 

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Run wild on your Sri Lanka land packages

Wildlife trips introduce you to the next level of Sri Lanka travel experience. With many dozens of wildlife reserves, bird sanctuaries and rainforests including Sinharaja rainforest, Udawlawawe national park, Minneriya national park, Yala national park, Kaudulla, Kumana, Horton Plains national park and many others not included in this blog.

Catch a glimpse of a herd of wild elephants; watch a majestically moving leopard, birdlife roaming freely, crocodiles basking in the sun and mischievous monkeys leaping from one branch to another in the upper canopy. Most local tour operators such as Seerendipity tours offer Sri Lanka wildlife safari tours to leading national parks such as Yala and Wilpattu, use this opportunity to sight the wild animals through your bare eyes.

budget tours in Sri Lanka

Relaxing on Sri Lanka land packages

The white ribbon that marks the border of Sri Lanka is not a hidden secret to any traveller. Sri Lanka is boasted to be one of the best beach holiday destinations in the world and encompasses multiple beaches that enable sun-seekers to have a first-class holiday experience. Like most other beach holiday destinations, Sri Lanka also offers a wide range of saltwater activities along with serenity such as snorkelling, diving, boating, fishing, surfing and many other salt-water-based activities. With regards to beach holidays Bentota, Hikkaduwa beach, Unawatuna beach, Mirissa beach, Aru gam Bay, Nilaveli beach are some of the best places for Sri Lanka beach holidays.

Beach hopping, balancing on a surfboard and drifting away with the wave, diving, snorkelling, fishing, whale and dolphin watching, visiting coconut island, a palm-fringed beach island, sampling Sri Lanka delicious seafood in a beachfront restaurant, a walk to parrot rock, all night long beach parties, basking in the sun while enjoying the sea breeze are the top things to do in Sri Lanka beaches.

Taking a closer look into the fainting underwater world of Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary, in a glass-bottom boat, swimming with sea turtles, pampering in Ayurveda spa treatments, shopping for handicrafts and dropping into a nightclub are some of the things to do in Hikkaduwa.    

Sri Lankan rural fishermen have developed a unique fining habit known as stilt-fishing, so don’t forget to try it out yourself. Most travellers that head to the south coast of Sri Lanka and make a visit to beaches such as Unawatuna, Ahangama, and Weligama, where this unique fishing habit is a regular practice. Here is the best opportunity to learn the art of balancing; the fishermen are balancing themselves quite skillfully on a wand that rises from the seabed,  which is known as stilt fishing.

water rafting kitulgala
Water rafting Kitulgala

Sri Lanka vacation tours – Boost your adrenaline

The palm-fringed pristine beaches, as well as torque waters of the Sri Lankan maritime region, are not only suitable for relaxing beach vacations but also for a wide range of water sports activities. Bentota, Mirissa, Weligama, Arugam Bay, and Hikkaduwa are some of the well-known beach resorts for water sports in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka water sports

The opportunities are endless fun-filled recreational; activities including swimming, diving, wreck diving, snorkelling, cruising, sailing and surfing. Surfing spots such as Weligama, Mirissa and Arugam Bay are perfect for adrenaline-pumping surfing due to the endless high waves.

Add a bit of adventure to your Sri Lanka package by visiting Kitulgala

Kitulgala better known as the “adventure playground for Sri Lanka” is a perfect spot for many thrilling adventures such as whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, waterfall abseiling, jungle trekking, caving and mountain climbing. Therefore, Kitulgala is part most Sri Lanka adventure tour packages. In terms of whitewater rafting kitulgala is the most popular adventure activity in Kitulgala.

Usually, a water rafting package of Kitulgala includes 5 kilometres or a further guided rafting tour, along the Kelaniya River. Overnight jungle camping, rainforest trekking, and bird watching are also included in most tour itineraries of travellers, who visit Kitulgala.   

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Sri Lanka vacation tours with nature trails

Nature holidays are not a new chapter of the Sri Lankan tourism industry, and it is been practised over many decades. However, nature tourism in Sri Lanka has a long way to go and needs some aggressive promotions about the eco-holiday opportunities on the island, because most travellers around the world are not aware of the opportunities that Sri Lanka offers for eco-holiday lovers.  

Sri Lanka mountains for trekking, hiking and mountain climbing

Sri Lanka offers many places for jungle tours and trekking. Places such as Adams peak hike, Ella rock, Knuckles Mountain range, Horton Plains national park, Sinharaja, Kirigalpoththa, pidurangala and Belihuloya are ideal for trekking and hiking tour. If you like to have a trial, then you can go for a hike on a tea plantation in the upcountry of Sri Lanka, which sits above 1000 meters above sea level. Through these trails, travellers will meet the exotic biodiversity and natural exquisiteness of the country.

Sri Lanka package

Sri Lanka vacation tours across the brisk cities

A trip to Sri Lanka will not be completed if you fail to discover the beauty of the urban areas of Sri Lanka. Colombo is the most populated city on the island and the economical hub of the country, the city has a unique blend of colonial presence as well as the characteristics of a modern city. There are many interesting places to visit in Colombo and parks, galleries, museums, zoo, temple, rivers, lakes, local food galore and a first-class shopping experience makes the key ingredients of this tourist hotspot.    

The food can be obtained at a fraction of a dollar from a local restaurant while a big portion of the international meal is a bit expensive in a popular restaurant. One of the fascinating things about Sri Lanka is its diversity from sandy beaches to tropical rainforests, from laid-back remote hamlets to busy modern metropolis such as Colombo. The country has a multi-cultural society and shows a great diversity in culture, festivals and food.

If you make the advance booking, at least 2 months ahead of your tour your Sri Lank land package can be unbelievably cheap. Tour operators such as seerendipity tours help the travellers to organize their Sri Lanka land packages free of charge.

Sri Lanka land package can be a one day Sri Lanka tour, two day Sri Lanka tour, 4 days Sri Lanka tour, one week Sri Lanka tour or trip to Sri Lanka spreads over many weeks, depending on the budget and the time available. Usually,y the most land packages for international travellers start in Colombo, at Colombo harbour or Colombo international airport. Most travellers opt for the first-night stay at Negombo beach resort if they land late evening or night at the airport. Because Negombo is just 10 minutes away from the airport it allows them to relax after a long flight.

How to reduce the budget for Sri Lanka land tour packages?

The food can be obtained at a fraction of a dollar from a local restaurant while a big portion of the international meal is a bit expensive in a popular restaurant. One of the fascinating things about Sri Lanka is its diversity from sandy beaches to tropical rainforests, from laid-back remote hamlets to busy modern metropolis such as Colombo. The country has a multi-cultural society and shows a great diversity in culture, festivals and food.

Sri Lanka land package accommodation

Accommodation for the Sri Lanka tour

Accommodation is the most expensive part of any Sri Lanka land package. Therefore travellers should be fully aware of the prices of accommodation wherever they go. Don’t let accommodation rip off your wallet. Having proper planning, especially on accommodation helps you to cut the budget of your Sri Lanka land packages by around 40%. There are a large number of good budget hotels all around the island and they are cheap, clean and safe too.

Accommodation types such as hostels and dormitories are the best types to save money. rest houses, guest houses, rent rooms or homestay accommodation also is handy when it comes to travelling on a tight budget. The most widely available accommodation types on the island are star categorised hotels and the price increases as the number of stars increases. Meanwhile, the number of luxury boutique hotels and eco-hotels is also increased in the recent past and those properties are more expensive than most star-class hotels.

Travelling around on your Sri Lanka trip

The second most important cost contributor for the Sri Lanka land packages is Transportation. Hiring a vehicle with private local driver/guide is the best way travel in Sri Lanka, it saves time, it is safe and save money. However, selfdrive vehicles cannot be recommended for travellers coming from foregn countries, due to the chaotic traffic in Sri Lanka. Having a private vehicle with a local driver is the best way to travel around Sri Lanka and it is the safest, most time-saving way to travel.

The biggest disadvantage of text is the cost, which is higher than many other transport methods. As an alternate travellers can go for public transport such as buses and trains. But it can consume a lot of time while travelling between destinations.

Entrance fees claim a big chunk of your budget for the Sri Lanka land package

Entrance ticket in Sri Lank is expensive compared to most countries in the region. Archaeological sites, national parks, botanical gardens and most other places have different price tag depending on the customer’s country. In most places, local travellers pay a nominal fee at the entrance. In most cultural sites the travellers from SAARC countries pay half the rate for the entrance and all other international travellers should pay the full fee at the entrance.

Sri Lanka land package

Delicious Sri Lankan food: a big scene in the Sri Lanka package tour

Food and drink will make a very negligible impact on the price of any Sri Lanka land package because food and drinks are very affordable in Sri Lanka. Usually, most Sri Lanka road trips are planned with daily 2 meals (breakfast and dinner), while travellers take lunch outside of the hotel as they move around in the vehicle to visit important attractions. However, Sri Lanka land package can also booked on BB basis (only daily breakfast served in the package) or FB basis (all 3 meals included in the package). Most tour operators are willing to customize their tour packages published on the catalogue or website for the convenience of their customers. Therefore, if you need any change for the tour package you choose don’t hesitate to ask your tour opertor for the change.

Sri Lankan restaurants are capable of pleasing the food requirement of every traveller, they are capable of supplying vegan food, Jain food, vegetarian, halal food and many other specialized meal.

When is the Best time for the Sri Lanka land package?

The best time to visit Sri Lanka largely depends on the places you choose for the beach holiday. Beach holidays in Sri Lanka can be either in North-east Sri Lanka or southwest and southern Sri Lanka.

Visiting Sri Lanka during the high season (Winter holiday)

When is the high season in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka’s high season is from November to April.

If you choose west, south-west or southern Sri Lanka beach resorts such as Bentota beach, Hikkaduwa beach, Unawatuna beach or other beaches in southern Sri Lanka, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is from November to April.

The busy travel season in Sri Lanka

The busiest period for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is the winter season (from November to April), the European tourist traffic head into the island during this period. Some time there is a large number of arrivals into the country from America and Asia during this period. Due to the large influx of tourists in the country during the winter, creates an unnecessary rush, especially for the accommodation and creates a bubble in price.

Travelling in Sri Lanka in the Low season (Summer holiday)

When is the low season in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka’s high season is from May to October.

If you wish to go to east coast beach resorts such as Nilaweli, Ppasikudah, and Kalkudah for the beach holiday, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is from April to November, parallel to the southwest monsoon.

Summer holiday in Sri Lanka

When the winter season is approaching, travellers set off for Sri Lanka. But, the island is visited by few tourists during the Sri Lanka summer holiday (From April to November). For travellers, who travel to Sri Lanka during the winter season, the holiday costs nearly two times the cost of the Sri Lanka summer holiday. Due to the high demand, during the winter the rates for air tickets, hotels, transportation and for most other services are higher compared to the rates during summer.

Variation of the cost of Sri Lanka holidays based on the high and low season

Usually, the prices of Sri Lanka land packages hit rock-bottom during the southwest monsoon (from April to November). The prices of accommodation are reduced by around 50%. Since accommodation is the main cost factor of any Sri Lanka land package the best possible price for any Sri Lanka tour can be obtained during this time of the year. Low demand is the main reason for the price reduction.

When is the best time to travel to Sri Lanka? November to April best time to travel to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka dry weather from November to April
The blue line along the west and southern coast is dotted with many hundreds of beach resorts, but most of them completely full in the high season from November to April.

The travellers have the opportunity to evade the crowd at hotels, beaches and places of interest during this time. You will not encounter huge tourist traffic even in highly touristy places such as Pinnawala elephant orphanage and Kandy. The six-month period from April to November is considered to be the off-season for the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

During the off-season, the number of foreign travellers on the island is drastically reduced while most travellers who are heading to Sri Lanka choose east coast beaches for beach holidays. Therefore, only the accommodation cost of east coast beach resorts is considerably increased during the off-season.

Is it difficult to find accommodation during the high holiday season?

April to November is the peak holiday season in Sri Lanka with the highest number of tourist arrivals of the year. The hotels also record high occupancy during this period and it will not be possible to find a vacant room without an advance booking due to the high demand for accommodation. The highest room rates on the island are recorded during this time of the year. Except on the east coast, Only the rates of east coast hotels are reduced from November to April due to the low demand.

Places to include in the Sri Lanka land package

best travel time travel in sri lanka

It will not be so easy to decide on the travel route, itinerary and where to go in Sri Lanka, due to the vast and wonderful diversity of the island. Even though there is no real defined route for a Sri Lanka land package there are several places that should be considered to visit during a Sri Lanka tour. Places such as the Cultural triangle, wildlife reserves, beaches, rainforests, botanical gardens, adventure sites and mountains can be highly recommended for a Sri Lanka land package. The travellers can include some of activities or sites in the itinerary depending on the time allocated for the Sri Lanka land package.

Depending on the time you decide to visit Sri Lanka, your beach stay either should be on the east coast or southwest coast. The west coast has the best weather for beach holidays from November to April. You can experience the dry weather condition during this time of the year on the west and southern beaches.  East coast has the best climate conditions for beach holidays from April to November.

Sri Lanka weather west coast

Sri Lanka Land Package in Summer

Sri Lanka is a popular long-haul holiday destination in the world and attracts nearly 2 million visitors a year. Sri Lanka’s winter holiday is more popular than Sri Lanka’s summer holiday, hence the majority of tourist traffic head into Sri Lanka during the winter season.

Most numbers of tourists arrived from Europe in Sri Lanka until 2015 but as the number of tourists arriving from Europe dropped during the last several years and the number of Chinese travellers increased, China has replaced Europe as the most important tourist-generating country for Sri Lanka.

Benefits of travelling in Sri Lanka in the Summer

Travelling in Sri Lanka during the summer is the most rewarding for your pocket. During this period the rates are at rock bottom for flights and accommodation. Tourist resorts with only a few tourists meaning you have peace of mind during the holiday. Following are some of the good reasons to plan your holiday to Sri Lanka between April and November.

Bargains

The travellers can enjoy bargain prices with regard to the facilities during the summer holiday in Sri Lanka. Airfares drop nearly to half the price of regular peak season (from November to April).  Try to avoid the school holidays; there are increases in airfares during the summer school holidays. In some instances, the airfares increase even higher than the peak season airfares. But generally, November to April during the summer is the best period to fly from and to Colombo for a bargain price. However, due to the low demand, there will be very few charter flights operating to Sri Lanka during this period.

While saving on airfares, this is also the best period to save on accommodation in Sri Lanka. Hotels are rarely half-filled during the period and most hotels are maintaining very special bargain rates, in order to encourage people to stay in their properties.

The weather during the Sri Lanka summer

The climate is greatly varied across the island of Sri Lanka. The West coast of Sri Lanka experiences the most rainy days from April to November. This is the monsoon period on the West coast means more rain and less sunshine. But, the East coast is having a sunny and warm climate during the same period. The sea on the east coast is very calm and clear while the sea is very shallow. This is the best time to travel to the east coast, for sun worshippers. The sea is at its best for sea bath, diving, snorkelling and other water sports. Climate is dry, warm and sunny, this is the best time for outdoor activities on the east coast.

Fewer travellers

Another reward for your choice to travel during the off-season is the freedom of the sights and attractions. These places have hordes of the crowd during the peak season and making you contend with other travellers. Even though there are fewer visitors during this period, all the sights and activities are operating as usual.

Kandy esala ceremony, Festivals of Sri Lanka
Eala ceremony is the most beautiful and important cultural event in Kandy and attracts a large number of tourists to the city

Exposure to the local cultural events

Fewer foreigners mean more opportunities to interact with the local people and their culture. Sri Lanka is a country with one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Try to understand the way the local community think and act. They are also a very helpful and friendly community and love sharing their experiences with you.

Beautiful Scenery

April and May are considered to be the most beautiful months of the year. Most of the trees and plants are shining with tender leaves, flowers and fruits. Most seasonal fruits are producing their fruits during this period. April is the festival month of Sri Lanka and the whole country is filled with the festival spirit. Local customs, traditions, foods, sports and sweetmeats appear in April when the Sinhalese New Year is celebrated.