Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean, attracts more and more tourists every year. You yourself have planned to spend your next holiday in Sri Lanka. But you know that you can't plan your trip at the last minute. So how do you prepare for your trip to Sri Lanka? What are the essentials not to forget?
Book your flight
From France, there are no airlines offering direct flights to Sri Lanka. There is usually at least one stopover. As a general rule, the stopover is in the Middle East (often in Saudi Arabia or Dubai) or Asia (in Bangkok, for example). It is possible to make a stopover in Europe (such as London or Istanbul), but this is rarer.
Remember to book your flight, based on your holiday dates of course, but also well in advance to make sure you get the flight you want, on the airline you choose and in the row you want (handy if you're travelling with the family and need space).
Is it compulsory to apply for a visa?
You now need an e-visa to travel to Sri Lanka. You need to obtain this e-Visa online, which will replace the travel authorisation in 2024. Nothing too complicated. Just go to the official website or go through a private agency and let us guide you through the application process. You can also pay online. It costs around 75 US dollars (69 €) consular fee for a 60-day Sri Lanka e-Visa, valid for 6 months.
Once you have received it, you can enter the country within 6 months or a maximum of 1 year, depending on the document.. Once you are in the country, it is not possible to extend your tourist visa without going directly to the Colombo immigration office before your visa expires in order to convert it, or to leave the country.
There are specialist agencies that will apply for your e-visa for you. This is particularly useful if you have any doubts about your ability to understand all the subtleties of the form, or if you think you don't have enough time to complete the application. Once your application has been accepted, the agency will send you the visa by e-mail. You must then print it out and present it on arrival in Sri Lanka.
To be vaccinated or not?
No vaccinations are required for travel to Sri Lanka. For added peace of mind, however, some vaccinations are strongly recommended, such as MMR, hepatitis A and B and DTP. It's always best to keep your vaccinations up to date when travelling abroad.
When to travel to Sri Lanka
The best time to visit Sri Lanka is between December to March. This is the peak tourist season (as are July and August). If you're heading for the east coast of the country, you'd be better off between May and September.
An agency service 