Travel guide
The questions we get asked every week
Written by people who drive this island for a living, not assembled from other articles. If something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
PracticalWhat to pack for Sri Lanka, including the jumper
You are going to a tropical island and you will still be cold one night in three. A short, specific packing list from people who drive this route weekly.
PracticalThe Sri Lanka ETA, without the scam sites
What the electronic travel authorisation costs, where the official site is, and how to avoid the lookalike domains that charge three times the price.
RoutesHow to actually get a seat on the Kandy to Ella train
Reserved observation-class seats sell out 30 days ahead and the online systems are unreliable. Here is how the booking really works, and what to do if you have left it late.
PlanningThe best time to visit Sri Lanka is two different answers
Sri Lanka has two monsoons hitting opposite coasts at opposite times, so there is no single best month — there is a best month for where you are going.