How much does it cost to travel to Sri Lanka?

As an island country in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has many unique natural landscapes. Most people here are hospitable and their living standards are generally not very high. But the population is very large, which is similar to the living habits and customs of India. The following are the expenses and travel strategies for traveling to Sri Lanka.

Every day, someone asks the chick, "Do I need to change RMB into US dollars in China to change US dollars into rupees in Sri Lanka?" Many of the latest travel posts are actually recommended in this way. It was like this a long time ago, but now the situation is completely different! Let's talk about it today

UnionPay debit card can directly withdraw rupees.

The currency of Sri Lanka is the rupee. At present, the exchange rate of US dollar against Sri Lankan rupee is about 144 rupee pair 1 US dollar. There is an exchange counter at the airport, but the exchange rate is slightly lower. There are many money exchange shops in the fortress area of Colombo, and the exchange rate is better than the airport.

From 20 12, all the more than 500 ATMs in Sri Lanka can accept UnionPay cards. Up to now, UnionPay cards can withdraw cash and check the balance at ATMs of commercial banks in Sri Lanka and ATMs marked UnionPay, Standard Chartered, HSBC and Citibank. UnionPay cards can also be used by some well-known brands, which is more convenient to use.

The airport bank has set up an exchange counter. There is an ATM of Sri Lanka Commercial Bank in the departure hall of Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo.

Note: For some time, many people have reported that the difference between magnetic stripe card and chip card may lead to the inability to withdraw money. Now, the banking system has been basically upgraded. But just in case, I suggest you bring more cards.

Even if there is no UnionPay logo on the ATM, you can still have a try.

About cash withdrawal fee

The issuing bank for overseas withdrawals will charge a certain handling fee. Please consult the issuing bank for the specific rate, the number of withdrawals per card per day, the amount of each withdrawal and the accumulated withdrawal amount. Basically, the smaller the bank, the less the handling fee for UnionPay cards. Now people use Huaxia card more (down payment is free every day). Similar to Changsha Bank, Chengdu Bank and so on, it seems that the handling fee is more advantageous.

What is the best deal?

Are you still at a loss after reading the above? That chick just told you a passage:

The National Bank of Sri Lanka has fully supported UnionPay. There is basically no need to exchange foreign exchange. Just take two or three UnionPay cards (some spare ones) and go to Lanka to withdraw money.

According to the real-time exchange rate, withdrawing money from UnionPay cards is much more affordable than any manual exchange point!

However, in case there is no ATM in a small place or UnionPay is not supported, it is recommended to take some US dollars for self-defense (after all, the US dollar is a common currency). In other words, bring some UnionPay cards, debit cards, credit cards and a small amount of dollars, and you'll be done.

Author's Guide: chinese national geography Sri Lanka Travel Guide, Travel Notes: India, Incredible, Translated Works: Brave Journey: Climbing the Seven Peaks, etc.

Signing: Sina Travel, Qunar.com, Tongcheng.com, poor travel to Travel.com, Youpu Travel, Ali Travel, cicada travel guide, etc. Lord of Sri Lanka, Small Earth Alliance. Participate in the shooting of travel channels and Southeast TV programs.

He is also a traveler and hiker. Walk slowly in more than ten countries on three continents.

Sri Lanka travel guide:

Endless beaches, hospitable people, herds of elephants, charming waves, interesting train trips and famous black tea.

Among the monuments of Sinhalese dynasty, the ancient city with long charm and the blue beach set each other off; Shuttle through the beautiful spotless pagodas and temples in full bloom, watching pious and happy people pray. This is the endless Sri Lanka.

If you plan to go to Langkawi and don't have time to make your own strategy, then this article is just what you need!

Silanby experience

The scenic spots in Lancashire are all over the island, but especially the southwest coast, the ancient city in the middle, Kandy and the mountains. The types of these scenic spots are also very diverse: from seashore to mountainous areas, from religious shrines to fresh tea gardens, from ancient world cultural heritage cities to wildlife gathering places, which proves that Sri Lanka is "small in territory and rich in resources".

Those who like religious culture and historical sites must go to the cultural delta and the central and northern mountainous areas.

The four world cultural heritages, the holy city of Anula Depreux in the middle, the ancient city of Naruwo in Tsukagoshi Hirotaka, the Lion Rock in Sigiriya and the Temple of Dan Bulighin, form one of the few large-scale sites in the world.

Kandy is an ancient city that best represents Sri Lankan culture. There is not only the Buddha's Tooth Temple that Sri Lankan people are proud of, but also a cultural city that embodies traditional artistic styles such as sculpture, architecture, dance, music and painting.

Jaffna in the north was once a war zone of civil war. Years of war make the development here very late, and few tourists come to visit. It is a gathering place for Tamils who believe in Hinduism and has a style different from the mainstream culture in Sri Lanka. The most beautiful scenery is the sea next to Jaffna Castle. When the weather is fine, it is suitable for watching the sunset.

Cat Tip: In the ancient city of Naruwo in Depreux, anurak Province, Bronn, some local bus drivers will recommend you. They don't have to buy tickets or take you to the ancient city at a low price. In fact, they sneaked into the ancient city by bypassing the ticket inspection. Although it's easy to get in, there are special local patrolmen who can check your ticket at any time. I saw some China people caught red-handed and punished. Don't be greedy and cheap, blindly believe in the evasion strategy and put yourself in an awkward position.

Those who like to relax and be in a daze must go to the southwest coast: Mata matala, Melissa Melissa, Galle, Unawatuna Unawatuna Beach.

Blue sky and rippling sea water are the must-see places for many tourists to come to Sri Lanka.

Both Colombo, the capital, and Galle, the ancient city, have strong exotic feelings. The colonists left behind western-style buildings and streets, adding a different style to these two cities.

Beautiful seascape, recommend Unawatuna to play in the water, recommend Sikadua to surf, and recommend Melissa.

Watching whales and dolphins in the sea is a special tourism product of Merisha, attracting countless tourists. In addition, the figure of stilt fishermen also appears in this sea area, and lucky people can see their style.

Those who like the natural scenery of forest tea gardens and love outdoor hiking, geoparks and wildlife must go to Elie, Nouara, nHaragaForestReserve, HortonPlain and YalaNationalPark in Xi 'an.

Nouara Elie, located on the plateau, is a summer resort developed during the British rule, with a refreshing climate and a strong colonial style.

The New Haraga Forest Reserve is a natural scenic spot that has been rated as a World Heritage Site. There are rich species and vast virgin forests here, which are suitable for outdoor travelers to explore.

Horton Plain is a beautiful, quiet and strange place. It is located at the foot of the second and third peaks in Sri Lanka, covered with primitive grasslands. There are many kinds of wild animals, which are very suitable for hiking. During the journey, the jungle suddenly disappeared, and heaven and earth returned to the empty place. Huangni Road points the destination to "the end of the world", which is an 870-meter-deep cliff, marking the end of the southern end of Horton Plain.

Yala National Park is a paradise for crocodiles, elephants, deer, bears, wild buffaloes, peacocks, wild boars and various birds. It is also recognized as the forest park with the highest leopard density in the world.

Central Sri Lanka is mountainous. The tea garden is represented by ella. You can see green hills and waterfalls, as well as black tea grown on the mountain. The weather is cool and pleasant, and the air is fresh.

People who like the original ecological beaches and local culture can visit Batticaloa and other towns in the east.

Compared with the more developed scenic spots along the southwest coast, it can be regarded as a coastline without any pollution. There are fewer tourists, but the scenery is not inferior at all.

Route recommendation:

D 1: from: Colombo

D2: Colombo Colombo -—Pinnawela (Elephant Orphanage) -DambullaDambra (Rock Temple).

D3: Dan Bladin Bula —— Polonaruwa, Bronn (the capital of Mediaaeval, where Pologama Hu Ba Palace is located).

D4: Naruwo, Ping Naveira, Bronn-Sierra Leone, Bronn.

D5: Naruwa, Tsukagoshi Hirotaka, Naruwo-Batticaloa, Bronn (KachcheriBatticaloa fortress)-Kalkku Da.

D6: Eternal Holy City

D7: Anura Depreux-Buddha's Tooth Temple Kandy Temple

D8: Candy Candy (Royal Virginia Botanical Garden, Pellade)

D9: Kong Di Kong Di-Valle Ariel, Elianu, Nuara-Nanu-Oya Railway Station-Elaera-Tisama Halama-TiSelmo Haram.

D 10:Tissamaharama (Yala National Park Yala National Park -DondraHeadLighthouse Lighthouse, the most beautiful sea temple in Sri Lanka)

D 1 1: Matatara-Mirisami Risako Mamiya (beach).

D 12: Mirisami Risako Mamiya-Ahagama Kanda-Unawatuna Unawatuna (Beach)

D 13: Unawatuna Unawatuna-Galle Galle (ancient city of Galle)

D 14: Galle Galle-Bentota Bentota-Colombo Colombo

D 15: Colombo Colombo

How to get to Sri Lanka

China has direct flights to Colombo from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming and Hongkong, with a flight time of 5-7 hours. Visitors can also choose to transfer to Sri Lanka in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Cat Tip: Taxi is the most convenient way to get from the airport to Colombo. There are two taxi counters at the airport to serve local people and international tourists respectively. Please note that the counter in the arrival hall of the airport only provides services for local people, and international tourists must arrange taxi service through the travel agency counter on the other side of the connecting corridor. Every company clearly marks the price, and the price is similar. It's about 2500 rupees to Colombo, about 1 hour.

How to get to Sri Lanka

The most common modes of intercity transportation in Sri Lanka are trains and intercity buses, while chartered buses are the most comfortable modes of travel, but their prices are much higher than public transportation.

The most convenient means of transportation in the city are taxis and rickshaws with local characteristics.

Caterpillar tip:

The price limit of electric tricycle is rupee. 100/km, and the smaller the place, the lower the charge. Remember to confirm the price with the driver before getting on the bus. It is not recommended to rent an electric tricycle for a long time.

Taxi in Sri Lanka is a relatively small mode of transportation in the local area, and it is basically an appointment system. You need to make an appointment by phone 0.5- 1 hour in advance. The price of most taxis is rupees. 60- 100/ km.

The lanes in Sri Lanka are opposite to those in China. Cars drive on the left, so be careful when crossing the road.

train

The railway network in Sri Lanka is widely distributed, so it is a good choice to travel to Sri Lanka by train. Although the train speed in Sri Lanka is slow and the facilities are outdated, its price is very low, which also provides tourists with an opportunity to go deep into the local people and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. However, it is not uncommon for trains in Sri Lanka to be late, sometimes even half a day late.

Slow train (local train)

Ordinary trains in Sri Lanka are mostly steam locomotives with three kinds of carriages. The first-class seats are air-conditioned and the fare is very expensive. There are three types of seats, sleepers and boxes. The second-class and third-class seats are ordinary seats, so you don't sit according to the ticket number. Third-class cars are usually very crowded.

intercity express

There are also intercity express trains between Colombo and major cities. Although the speed is very fast. But these lines can only go back and forth between the two places, not to the third place.

Luxury sightseeing train

This is a special line for international tourists, which is operated by ExpoRail and RajadhaniExpress. Luxury sightseeing trains have excellent facilities, including air conditioning, LED TV and WIFI, but the price is 2.5-3 times higher than that of ordinary trains.

automobile

Long-distance buses are divided into ordinary buses and air-conditioned buses. The latter is naturally more expensive than the former, and the former is about twice as expensive.

State-owned bus SLTB/CTB Volkswagen * * * Automobile Company

State-run coaches are referred to as SLTB. The red main body is a sign printed with the lion pattern and the word "SLTB". Usually there is no air conditioning, the price is very cheap, and there are many lines.

personal trainer

There are two kinds of private long-distance buses: ordinary buses and intercity buses. Ordinary car facilities are average, but they are very cheap. The price is similar to that of state-owned long-distance buses, and so is the big station. However, it is convenient to park anywhere on the road. Intercity buses are air-conditioned and not too crowded, but the price is more expensive, twice that of ordinary buses. Intercity bus runs between two cities and does not stop at will.

High speed bus

At present, the high-speed bus only has Colombo-Galle section, and the price is Rs. 470, 30 minutes. Luxurious facilities and high transportation efficiency, it only takes one hour to reach the destination. More new lines will be opened in the future.

Charter a bus/train/coach.

Chartered car is the most comfortable way to travel, but compared with trains and long-distance buses, the charging standard of chartered car is much more expensive, which is a very high consumption level in the local area. There is a counter at Columbus Airport that provides charter service. You can also contact the hotel through a travel agency. The charter price is 7000-9000 rupees/day. If you think the driver's service is good, you can tip 10%.

Xilan gourmet

The main course in Sri Lanka is "curry", which is a dark sauce with various ingredients, accompanied by staple foods such as rice and cakes. Besides curry, fried snacks are also common here. In addition, as a tropical island country, Sri Lanka also needs cheap seafood and tropical fruits to taste.

Typical Sri Lankan food is: a plate of rice with several Fluttershy dishes, mainly chicken, fish, potatoes, beans, green vegetables and so on. It's rare to see a dish. I often ask for vegetables, but the result is beans. They think it's vegetables.

There are many local marine fish, which are also very cheap. I ate a plate of tuna in a restaurant on the beach by the sea, 750 rupees. Grouper, shrimp and crab are not expensive, so you can have a taste.

Sri lankans love to eat hopper, which is a bowl-shaped pancake made of rice flour and coconut milk. People often stand in the shop waiting for the owner to make a funnel. It was a dozen when I bought it. Hopper's small round pot with pointed bottom, only one foot in diameter, is lined up in front of the store. Rice paste mixed with coconut milk was prepared early in the morning as a funnel. Pour a spoonful, turn the pot, spread the rice paste evenly in the pot, and cover it. After a while, the funnel is ready. One is only Rs. 5-6 Serve with curry or other sauces.

Caterpillar tip:

Naturally, everything is expensive in tourist gathering areas, and the prices of restaurants that local people will go to will be similar to or slightly lower than those of small restaurants in China. One staple food 15-50 yuan RMB.

Sri lankans eat with their hands. If you can't accept this way, it doesn't matter. There are spoons in the restaurant. You can take a spoon. If you want to try grasping with your hands, please remember to grasp the rice with your right hand.

Some restaurants in Sri Lanka give you tap water. If you have a bad stomach, you'd better buy bottled water. Generally, a bottle of one liter is 100 rupees.

In addition, Sri Lanka is a world-famous black tea producing area, and local people like drinking tea very much. Therefore, tourists are advised to experience more tea here.

Cat tip: If black tea is not specified, the black tea here is sugar by default. Pure black tea 10-20s/ cup (about 50 cents-1 yuan) and milk black tea 30-40s/ cup (about 1.5 yuan -2 yuan).

Coconuts and bananas are particularly cheap here. A golden coconut is 30-50 rupees (about two or three yuan). The emperor's bananas cost two yuan, and he can't eat them at all. Pineapple, papaya and watermelon are also very cheap. The coconut juice of golden coconut is sweet and delicious. After drinking, don't forget to ask the boss to help you cut the golden coconut and dig out the coconut meat inside. It's delicious.

Sri Lankan wine is only sold in liquor stores, so you can't buy it in supermarkets or small shops. Even beer must be bought in the hotel. The price is more expensive than that in China. A bottle of canned beer is about 10 RMB.

Sri lankans like yogurt, which is sold everywhere in the street. A cup of 25 rupees (about 65438 yuan +0.2 yuan). Yogurt in Sri Lanka is delicious, but it should be noted that many yogurts are pure yogurts without added sugar. Some pure yogurts will come with a bag of syrup, which can be poured into yogurt and eaten by yourself. Some yoghurts are sweetened.

Cat tip: Sri Lankans never like bargaining when shopping.

About accommodation

Most hotels are 50- 150 RMB, and the beach area is much more expensive than the non-beach area. Non-beach area is about 50- 100 RMB, and beach area 100 RMB or more.

If you are traveling in poverty, you can consider going to religious accommodation, which will be much cheaper than hotels. Many places have YWCA or YMCA, namely YWCA and YMCA; And YMBA Buddhist Youth Association all provide cheap accommodation from 20 yuan to 30 yuan. YMBA, a Buddhist YMBA, is open to both men and women. YMCA is usually limited to women, and YMCA is usually limited to men.

Most cheap accommodation places do not provide hot showers, only cold showers. Sri Lanka is very hot, and most Sri Lankans are used to taking cold showers. Because cold water is enough. Hotels with better conditions will have hot showers.

There are several essential things in the luggage for traveling to Sri Lanka, such as towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, slippers, shampoo, shower gel and soap for washing clothes, which are not available in many small hotels and inns. In addition, be sure to bring anti-mosquito spray. Mosquitoes here are very powerful.

Caterpillar tip:

Please pay attention to the check-out time when you check in. Many hotels will unexpectedly check out early, such as 9 am or 10, which is very common in Sri Lanka. Please pay attention to avoid disputes when checking out.

The items that must be checked are: mosquito nets. It is a tropical island in Sri Lanka. It is hot all year round, and there are many mosquitoes. If there is no mosquito net in your bed, you won't have to sleep tonight.

What you need to know before you leave

visa

You need to apply for an Electronic Visa (ETA) for travel and transit to Sri Lanka. The previous landing visa was cancelled on 20 12. The electronic signature is valid for 6 months and stays for 30 days. You can also apply to the Sri Lankan Immigration Bureau for an extension to 90 days.

To apply for an e-visa, you need to apply at the official website Sri Lanka Visa Center. Fill in the form first, then pay online, and finally receive the visa by mail.

language

Sri Lanka has its own language and writing, but English is very popular. It is enough to walk in Sri Lanka in English. Sri Lankan English has an accent. Don't blame yourself if you don't understand. Smile, pen, paper and body language.

Equation of time; Equation of time; equation?of?time;?time?difference

Sri Lanka belongs to East Zone 5.5 (GMT 5.5), 2.5 hours away from China. For example: 8:00 Beijing time, 6:30 Sri Lanka time. You can change the mobile phone time to the network time and automatically change the time difference.

money

The currency of Sri Lanka is called the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR), which is usually abbreviated as "Rs".

There are eight denominations of banknotes in circulation in Sri Lanka. They are rupees. They are 2,5,10,20,50,100,500,1000,2000 respectively. However, small notes of 2 or 5 rupees are no longer used. In addition, there are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1 rupee circulating at the same time. Recently, 2, 5 and 10 rupees have been added, and 10 rupees is equal to 100 cents.

Cat tip: 20 16 latest exchange rate.

Rmb 12 1.6 Sri Lankan rupees

1 rupee 0.04 RMB

1 USD 140.9 Sri Lankan rupees.

Rupee 10.006 USD

convert

In Sri Lanka, there are few opportunities for the rupee to be directly converted into RMB, and it is not cost-effective for the RMB to be directly converted into rupee. Therefore, it is suggested to exchange US dollars in China first, and then exchange US dollars into local currency at Colombo Airport or local exchange office. I suggest you change more small change.

The exchange rate of Sri Lanka airport is not much different from that of the urban area, so you can exchange enough cash at the airport. Jewelry shops, hotels or casinos, and some large shopping malls also have private money changers, and their exchange rates will be higher than those of banks.

bank card

It is recommended to bring MasterCard, Visa, American Express and other credit cards with international payment function. Credit cards can be used in high-end hotels and restaurants.

In addition, in Sri Lanka, you can directly withdraw Sri Lankan rupees from ATMs marked with UnionPay by using China bank cards, and you can withdraw China UnionPay cards from ATMs of HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and Ceylon Commercial Bank. Almost all towns and tourist attractions can find this bank's ATM, but there will be a handling fee.

Cat tip: Huaxia bank card can be used to realize overseas cash withdrawal: RMB can be deposited in China and rupee can be withdrawn locally, and there is no handling fee for the first cash withdrawal every day. Cost-effective.

Dress guide

Sri Lanka is located in the tropics, and it is very hot all year round. You can wear summer clothes. But in the mountains, you need to bring long sleeves, trousers and wool clothes to keep warm.

Affected by the monsoon, you must bring rain gear when traveling in the rainy season; If you travel on a sunny day, the ultraviolet rays are very strong, and sunscreen products are essential. Please prepare an umbrella, sunscreen, sunglasses and sun protection clothes.

When visiting temples, you should respect local customs and don't wear sleeveless clothes barefoot.

Remember to bring mosquito repellent. There are quite a few mosquitoes almost everywhere. No mosquito repellent, just a bite.

Mobile phone SIM card

Colombo airport can handle mobile phone cards and the counter is open 24 hours a day. Visitors can choose different operators and packages, such as some dialogue packages used by tourists, and the price is rs. 1300, including 5GB3G network traffic, 50 minutes for domestic calls in Sri Lanka and 50 minutes for international calls (call back to China), which can meet the travel communication needs of about 10 days. The staff will provide card cutting service.

WIFI in Sri Lanka is not very popular. You can buy a wireless network card, or you can use your mobile phone to drive your laptop to the Internet.

Cat tip: China's non-contract machines, China Mobile and China Unicom's contract machines all support Dialgo's Sim card, and telecom contract machines cannot match. Check the call charges and traffic: call *#456#.

Power?Supply?

The voltage in Sri Lanka is 230 volts -240 volts, 50 hertz. Please check the allowable voltage range of electronic products before going out, otherwise you need to bring transformers and adapters.

plug

There are many kinds of plugs in Sri Lanka, including British standard plugs and small South African plugs. There are also American standard and British standard plugs. You can buy adapters in local supermarkets and airports. You can use a three-pin square plug and a two-pin round plug.

Drugs and chemical reagents

Diarrhea, mosquito bites and heatstroke are the biggest health risks when traveling in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is recommended to take berberine, mosquito repellent, toilet water, grass oil, Huoxiang Zhengqi and other drugs. In addition, malaria, cholera, tetanus and dengue fever are infectious diseases worthy of prevention in tropical areas. Sri Lanka has strong sunshine, so it is recommended to use sunscreen with SPF50 or above, and use repair drugs after sun exposure.

taboo

Sri Lanka is a strictly religious country. Here are some taboos to pay attention to:

In Ceylon, the locals shook their heads in agreement and nodded their heads in opposition. This is just the opposite of our habit.

Don't shake hands with your left hand, just grab food with your right hand, and take what others hand you with both hands.

Take off your shoes and don't show your shoulders, arms or legs when you enter a religious holy place.

Before taking pictures of religious shrines and statues, it is best to ask local people if they can take pictures.

Don't take pictures with Buddha, and don't take pictures with your back to Buddha.

Couples should not be too close in public.

Don't overexpose on the beach.

The full moon every month is Boye Festival, on which local people do not work or sell alcoholic products.

You can't use flash when shooting monuments such as Danbule and Lion Rock.

Dams, airports and other places belong to military places, and photos are not allowed.

Ask permission before shooting at local people. Some stilt fishermen and elephant observers in elephant orphanages may pay for filming.

Finally, I wish you a happy smile when you cross the ocean and come to Langka.