17 things I Wish I Knew BEFORE travelling to SRI LANKA

British guy is surprised that the people his ancestors colonized speak his language.

Going to & Climbing sigiriya is a Totally different experience than looking it from far viewpoint. The experience of Sigiriya is not looking at it but to immerse in climbing it and knowing it's ancient History and lots ancient Ruins to see. A person didn't go and see it from a far viewpoint won't know what it is at all

Where can i get good weed in columbo

This is good information but bit off in some areas. WiFi is good in Sri Lanka (it is almost the same as Dubai), but you should get your own SIM to have it. 4G is available in most parts of the island & 5G is available in some parts of Colombo. If you use hotel/guest house public free WiFi, it is weak & it is similar to any hotel in Europe or USA. I can compare this as I am a Sri Lankan living in Dubai for many years & travel to Europe every year for a month for business.

Sigiriya is expensive compared to any tourist attraction in the world, but it is worth visiting, as it is a unique monument not seen in any part of the world. The closest one to Sigiriya could be Machu Picchu in Peru, but Sigiriya is 1000+ years older than Machu Picchu. Suggestion to replace Sigiriya by Pidurangala is a joke.

It is understood that these tips are for a typical sightseeing tourist who goes to places to say that "I have been there", but not very interested in understanding/appreciating the nature, culture, etc. of the place.

Why is Boy George attacking poor SriLanka?

You are giving wrong information, if you shake your head side to side it’s no as every where in the world, if you shake your head up and down it is yes , as most of the countries in the world,

Hi everyone, I am wondering how much luggage I should bring/is necessary for 3 weeks in Sri Lanka.
Is it better to bring a big suitcase + a smaller backpack or just go with a medium/big sized backpack overall?
We´re a couple and won´t be backpacking exclusively.

I hope other people also talk about the mobile data here. Atleaset then the network providers would show some concern

I would say.. go to Sigiriya, pay the 30 dollars and go to the other two places too.. you can do two climbs in one day.. it is like going to Athens and not visiting the Parthenon.. Visit Colombo . It is a fantastic city melting pot of history and culture.. apparently, horses do not need to be trained 😅.. for my English friends the rest of the world did not drive their animals to near extinction.. please don't lecture and maybe learn a thing or two.

Thank you supporting local Companies - PickMe

Everything is accurate except the
comment about Sigiriya. It is not just a rock to be viewed from some other place. Climbing the Sigiriya rock is a must. It has ancient paintings on the surface of the rock and the ruins of a fortress on the very top. It is well worth the entrance fee.

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to clarify the head shaking thing, its not completely different, its a bit extra.
up and down - yes
left and right - no
notice in the first one your ears act as a axis of rotation. in the second one, your neck.
but if you were to keep your nose as the axis and move your head sideways, that means OK.
like when you are asking someone is it ok if i sit here, the third one means ok

I see a lot of comments in relation to Sigiriya, Sigiriya is a marvel and worth the visit, is it worth $35 (not $30 anymore) p/p to visit, I don't think so. I understand the locals getting cheaper rates in general but it's all about the ratio for me, 120LKR vs 10,320LKR (at current exchange rate) is an absolute joke. Same story for most of the hotels, when comparing the local vs foreign rate it makes me a bit sick in the stomach. As someone born in SL & living overseas that likes to spend several months in Asia working remotely, I'm of the opinion that SL basically shoots itself in the foot by this kind of disproportionate markup, I much rather go to Thailand as a result. I really hope the new Govt can see this and even up the playing field in order to increase the tourism income as a whole into the country.

Good video

Thank you for informing your viewers about riding elephants! Please everyone don't ride elephants!

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Thanks for this I’m thinking of heading to Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 early next year (feb). Just starting to do some research on it so any other recommendations or tips greatly received.

Thanks for the video! Withdrawing money from ATMs, with a UK card do I withdraw local currency or am I best to get hold of USDs?

Is white the majority of tourists in sri lanka? Or is ella the only place jam packed with white ppl?

What is the eSIM company I cannot understand it.

Love your video! If you're ever vist Colombo, definitely stop by Mint Ceylon. It’s run by three sisters who make beautiful, sustainable products from upcycled fabrics. Such a cool spot for unique finds!

Why are you wearing that hat indoors?

Is the food in your video Rainbow Cafe in Ella? I love this place!

I believe the cost of visiting Sigiriya is honestly unreasonable, at $30 per tourist.

However, your recommendation to observe the rock from a neighbouring viewpoint is completely misleading. Sigiriya's ancient and cultural significance may be unparalleled.

You come across as a bit over confident

sri lanka has a massive drinking culture, not a party culture. major difference.

I would not recomend driving in sri lanka. They drive like insane people and you quite honestly will be risking your life. use a driver that is used to it.

Sigiriya is not just a rock..it's an ancient rock fortress

Two things... I am very glad you pointed out the elephant rides. There are plenty of us locals fighting to stop this horrendous habit. Like with the ivory trade, when the buying stops, so will the rides. There is a crackdown on this by the authorities finally, and what you see are the older establishments who continue this with the elephants already tamed and owned by them. If the tourists stop the riding, this too will dry up. Unfortunately, these elephants cannot simply be released back into the wild AND it costs a packet to keep them fed. So there IS a situation with the ones already in captivity. But yes, STOP riding.

Secondly, the point about Sigiriya. Merely gazing at the rock is a bit of sad way to experience the magnificence that is Sigiriya, rated as the "8th Wonder of the World". Take the time to read the history and visit the museum at the base BEFORE climbing the rock. There is a heckuva lot to see and learn from a historical POV.

Thanks for the vid though. Quite a few are actually spot on!

Great message about the elephants

Fast but great info ❤

Liked n subscribed
Off to SL soon
Great information
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What about mosquitos and diseases they transfer? Are there many?

Became a very good fan of you. Thank you for your great video about my country

Thanks for all the info. will be there in March 2025

I am from sri lanka living my life here

FYI
Sigiriya is not a view point. It is a comolete ancient city which was built in 05th century AD. Further, it is a UNESCO world heritage site. People visit sigiriya not only for the fantastic 360 degree view on the top of the rock. It is a place where you can identify the marval of ancient irrigation system in Sri Lanka, architecture, literature , painting , pre historic civilization in Sri Lanka etc...
I think you didn't get enough information about this place. Anyway visit again with more information. You will love it !!


Thank you so much for the video. It really helps to attract more people to Sri Lanka and to develop our tourism industry .

All the best

I felt forced to subscribe, so I dont think ill do that buddy!

would you say it is safe for a 24 year old to travel here alone?

is the food spicy? i cannot eat spicy but want to go there and i am afraid i am gonna be hungry lol

Sigiriya is not a viewpoint. It is History. How much is Eiffel tower? You go to a nearby building instead because Eiffel tower is expensive?

Great stuff mate - you jam in a lot of really useful and clear info in a short space. Much appreciated

TOO MANY RUSSIANS!

Amazing large lsland, the fauna and flora are just incredible, elephants, leopards monkeys of all kinds and much more.

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Colombo is to Sri Lanka what London is to England. Busy but convenient, and a gateway to the rest of the country. Just depends on what you want.

Hey Joel, what would you recommend if you had to choose between Lombok and Sri Lanka? I see you've been to both places. My girlfriend and I (both in our mid-20s) are planning to travel for 2.5 weeks. A mix of relaxing in nice hotels/beaches, experiencing culture, good food, exploring on our own, and a bit of surfing is important to us. We just can't decide. Thanks for your content! :)

Nice video ❤

Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 the fast developing tourists destination ❤