SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS WITH LEISURE TOURS

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s impossible to take full advantage of a holiday destination, especially to such a richly diverse country as Sri Lanka without knowing some basic facts. So to help you understand what to expect, below are the answers to frequently asked questions by tourists who have booked a holiday in Sri Lanka. What’s more, there is a complementary list of tourist information.

Where is Sri Lanka situated ?

Sri Lanka was far south, nestled next to India and Madagascar in the middle of the super-continent known as Gondwanaland. India and Sri Lanka drifted northwards until this chunk of land impacted with another chunk, creating the Himalayas. Later the bridge of limestone shoals that linked Sri Lanka with India mostly submerged, leaving a 30km divide. Sri Lanka lies between the northern latitudes 5° 55. and 9° 55. and the eastern longitudes 79° 42. and 81° 52., 650km north of the equator. It comprises 65,610 sq km and has 1,330km of coastline. 1,215km to the west are the Maldives – holidays that combine Sri Lanka and the Maldives are popular – and to the south nothing but thousands of kilometers of ocean until Antarctica.

Sri Lanka is a year round destination as it is fortunate to have two monsoons that occur in different halves of the island at different times. So if you wish to enjoy the western and southern coastal resorts when the weather is best, come between December and April. However, even during the monsoon, sunny, warm days are common, although afternoon or evening showers can be expected.

Whatever type you seek is available in Sri Lanka.s surprisingly wide range of accommodation options. Five-star hotels, resort hotels, boutique properties, guest houses, home stays, and all manner of other establishments can be found, especially along the western and southern coasts and Kandy and the hill country. It is also possible to rent houses. In a category of their own are government-run rest-houses, originally used by British colonists on their travels. As a result many are colonial buildings, and set in peaceful locations.

Yes, Ayurveda, the ancient traditional medicine system of Sri Lanka, is practiced more widely than Western medicine. Many hotels offer Ayurvedic treatment for guests and have qualified practitioners to advise you on how to improve your health, or give various types of baths and massages.

Sri Lanka’s compact size and the accessibility of most major attractions means that even a week will allow you to see a number of different areas. But to experience the island properly, a two-week stay is advisable.

It’s not a must that you need to take travel insurance when you book, however we advice you to take travel insurance to protect against any contingencies.

Sri Lanka’s cultural depth is recognized by UNESCO, which has declared six archaeological World Heritage Sites. The remains of the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa feature enormous dagobas (dome-shaped structures) and statues of the Buddha. Dambulla has an awesome stairway, while Sigiriya is a rock with the remains of a palace on the summit and sensual frescoes. These four World Heritage Sites are situated within a compact area called the Cultural Triangle. In the hill country lies the royal capital of Kandy, home to the Dalada Maligawa, which houses the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. In contrast, experience the colonial heritage of the country by heading south to the mid-17th c. Dutch fort at Galle, the best preserved in Asia. The seventh World Heritage Site is an ecological example, The Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Similar sites include the Knuckles mountain range, Horton Plains and World.s End, where the hill country comes to an abrupt end, dropping 2,000m to the coastal plains. Sri Pada (Adam.s Peak) is a holy mountain climbed by pilgrims, but if you are fit, join them and appreciate the stunning views of the countryside from the peak.

Souvenirs often combine traditional designs such as makara (a mythical animal, lion, swan, elephant and lotus) which are most evident in brass work (boxes, trays, lanterns, vases) and silverware (ornately carved and filigree jewelery, tea-sets). In addition, ritual masks, lacquer ware, batik and hand loom textiles, lace, and wood carvings are popular.More importantly, Sri Lanka has the widest variety of precious stones among the world.s gem producing countries – blue sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, cat.s eye, garnets, moonstones, aquamarines and topazes being just a dazzling handful that can be purchased.