How to Get Around in Sri Lanka – Travel with Ease

 A tropical island on the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a number one tourist destination. The tiny island is favoured for its bio-diverse environs and ethnic variations, which makes travel across Sri Lanka a treat. Exploring the land will treat you to cultural differences, changing scenery, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and views of the exotic wildlife.Dive into this article to discover how you can get around in Sri Lanka.

Travelling from the International Airport in Sri Lanka

                                        Bandaranaike International Airport| Img via Wikimedia Commons    

Your international flight will arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport. From there, you have many options for heading out to the commercial capital Colombo, or any other area on the island. There is a shuttle service running from the airport to the main bus stand, just five minutes away. From there, you can catch buses plying to various destinations in the country. Heading to Colombo is the favoured option while many passengers choose to stay at hotels near Bandaranaike International Airport. Many choose this option to not only relax after a long-haul flight but to experience the popular seaside resort town of Negombo. Hotels close to the Bandaranaike Airport, like Amagi Hotels, offer accommodation in the quaint town of Negombo, which is famous for its beautiful beaches, huge lagoon, fresh seafood, and colonial artefacts. Rest a day or two in this lovely resort town before heading out to explore the rest of the island.

Travelling by Bus in Sri Lanka

While relaxing at hotels near Negombo, you can map out your schedule and choose your travel options in Sri Lanka. Buses are the most favoured mode of public transport, offering a wide network of routes across the island. From Negombo, you can catch a bus to Colombo; from there, you can head out to any part of the island by hopping aboard a bus from the Pettah Main Bus Station. There are various options for bus travel. Choose the air-conditioned intercity service or the cheaper Central Transport Board (CTB) buses. While the private-run, air-conditioned, or non-air-conditioned buses are more comfortable than the state-run CTB buses, their reach is not as widespread. Still, they do offer services to all the main tourist areas in Sri Lanka. There is also the southern expressway, serviced by modern air-conditioned coaches plying from Colombo to Galle.

Travelling by Train in Sri Lanka

Similar to buses, trains ply to many parts of the island. Train routes to the highlands are extremely popular for their scenic views. It is an excellent choice of travel when heading out to the hills, especially towns like Ella and Bandrawela. You can check out the Sri Lanka Railways website for train schedules and available classes of travel. Options vary from air-conditioned first-class tickets to sleeping berths and the very crowded third-class, which is the cheapest option.

Car Hire in Sri Lanka

You can choose to hire a car and drive around Sri Lanka. Plenty of reputable car-hire agencies are located on the island for hiring reliable vehicles. However, you must be savvy with road rules in Sri Lanka and be able to tackle the tough conditions of driving in a typical Asian environment. In other words, you must be able to handle the chaos, especially during rush hour when tuk-tuks and motorbikes are on the roads, creeping in between traffic and filling even the tiniest gap.

The Main Highways of Sri Lanka

The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway makes travel from Bandaranaike International Airport to the commercial capital a breeze; this journey will only take about 30-40 minutes. If you're heading out to the airport from Colombo, do make sure to leave your hotel well ahead of time in anticipation of potential traffic congestion.
The Outer-Circular Expressway links Katunayake to Galle. Thus, the unusually long, almost 4-hour journey from the western coast of Sri Lanka to the south coast will only take over 2 hours.
The Southern Expressway is a huge time-saver. With entrance points from Katunayake, Kaduwela, and Kottawa, this expressway stretches a distance of 161kms from Colombo to Matara in the south.

Domestic Air Travel in Sri Lanka

You can catch a domestic flight from the Bandaranaike Airport to limited points across the island. Domestic flights do not offer extensive routes but do cut down travel time by huge margins. Hence, opting to stay at a hotel near Bandaranaike international airport and catching a domestic flight to the eastern coast or central highlands will be a huge time-saver.

Getting Around in Tuk-Tuks

Tuk-tuks are everywhere and are a lovely mode of travelling short distances in Sri Lanka – from your resort to the beach, the nearest restaurant, or even to an attraction in the next town; tuk-tuks are easily hailed from the curb. Make sure to hop into one with a meter so you won't have to haggle on the fare.

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