Sinhala is the most widely spoken language in Sri Lanka, followed by Tamil. Both of these are the two official languages in the country.

English is fairly widely spoken on the island, but less so in the more remote areas that don't get many tourists.

The main feature of Sri Lankan cuisine is boiled or steamed rice, usually served with curries made from fish, chicken, lamb, vegetables or lentils. Sri Lanka is also known for its freshly caught seafood, and coconut, chilli and other spices are popular ingredients in Sri Lankan cooking.

Sri Lanka is one of the world’s biggest producers of tea, and Pure Ceylon tea is considered to be some of the finest produced anywhere.

The climate in Sri Lanka generally makes it suitable for travel all year round. It is a tropical climate with distinct dry and wet seasons.

There are two monsoon seasons; the south-western monsoon brings rain to the south-west from around May to September and the north-eastern monsoon brings rain to the north-east from around mid-October to February.

The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), which is divided into 100 cents. Banknotes come in denominations of: 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 and 5,000.

There are banks, money changers and ATMs in various locations around the country.

Yes, you can use your Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards at many restaurants and boutiques, although cash is preferred in the more rural areas.

Your flights are an important part of your travel experience, so we only work with reputable international airlines. Your tour will include direct flights to Sri Lanka from London Heathrow with Sri Lankan Airlines. We also offer flights with other airlines such as Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways.

The flight time to Colombo is 10 hours, 45 minutes.

Yes, upgrades to business class are available upon request.

We are able to arrange regional departures from most UK airports.

Emirates offer a comprehensive service via Dubai with many UK regional departures, allowing a free stopover in in the city.

Yes, you need a Tourist Visa which will be valid for double entry for 30 days to travel to Sri Lanka.
Note: For stays between 1st August 2019 and 31st January 2020, the Sri Lankan government has relaxed the visa requirements, meaning you can travel there VISA-FREE!

You can apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) in advance of travel at a fee of US$35 per person, which can be done online, and is a straight-forward process.
Note: For stays between 1st August 2019 and 31st January 2020, the Sri Lankan government has relaxed the visa requirements, meaning you can travel there VISA-FREE!

It is also possible to apply for your visa on arrival in Sri Lanka at a fee of US$40. However, we recommend that you apply in advance for your convenience and in order to have a smooth transit through immigration upon arrival.
Note: For stays between 1st August 2019 and 31st January 2020, the Sri Lankan government has relaxed the visa requirements, meaning you can travel there VISA-FREE!

The NHS Travel Advice for Sri Lanka, is that health risks while travelling vary between individuals. You should consult your GP or Practice Nurse 6-8 weeks before departure. They will assess your particular health needs before suggesting vaccines and or malaria tablets. Immunisations should be up to date as recommended for life in Britain. Tetanus is usually recommended for Sri Lanka and other potential vaccines to consider are: Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies and Typhoid.

Yes, there’s only one thing worse than having to make an insurance claim for some misfortune that may have occurred on holiday – and that’s not being able to make a claim because you’re not properly insured. Travel insurance is a necessity should you become unwell, either before or during your holiday. It not only protects you financially, it ensures the quality of overseas medical care is of a standard you would expect. It also covers emergency repatriation, should it be deemed necessary.

Links Travel & Tours have teamed up with Holiday Extras to offer our customers a bespoke insurance product that is ideal for our holidays. Holiday Extras are fully authorised and regulated by the FSA, and Links Travel & Tours is an Appointed Representative of Holiday Extras, and as such are authorised to provide travel insurance.

When embarking on any holiday, it is important that your insurance cover level is right. The wide range of policies available means that they are sure to have the cover you need for your trip. Single Trip cover is available for a one-off break, while an Annual Multi-Trip policy will cover all your trips throughout the year.

The policy contains restrictions regarding pre-existing medical problems concerning the health of the people travelling and of other people upon whose health the holiday may depend – even if they are not travelling. Holiday Extras can offer specific travel insurance policies for people with pre-existing conditions so please tell us about these in order for us to quote you appropriately.

Please feel free to contact us today to receive a quote for your travel insurance.

While it may not always be expected, tips can go a long way and are a great way to show your appreciation.

We would generally suggest that you should tip your guide/driver and we can advise you on appropriate amounts. It is also considered proper to make a small donation to temples, especially if the monks have shown you around.

Overall, our destinations are safe, but as always when travelling abroad, please exercise common sense especially at the major tourist sites.

The travel and living conditions in some destinations can differ greatly from the UK, so please travel with an open mind.

Many sites across Asia require a fair level of physical activity. The sheer scale of some attractions means walking is involved.

Our local representatives will do their utmost to accommodate any requests, and where possible, suggest alternative routes.

Please advise us of any special needs in advance, and we will do our utmost to provide support, including wheelchair assistance.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), issues advice to all countries, and their advice for Sri Lanka can be found on the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka