Lonely Planet Sri Lanka

Lonely Planet - Travel Survival Kit

by Bradley Mayhew

Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Sri Lanka.

Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from reef diving and snorkelling around Pigeon Island, to experiencing Sri Lanka's most iconic train ride through scenic tea plantations, and spotting leopards and sloth bears in the crowd-free Kumana National Park.

Build a trip to remember with Lonely Planet's Sri Lanka travel

Our classic guidebook format provides you with the most comprehensive level of information for planning multi-week tripsUpdated with an all new structure and design so you can navigate Sri Lanka and connect experiences together with easeCreate your perfect trip with exciting itineraries for extended journeys combined with suggested day trips, walking tours, and activities to match your passionsGet fresh takes on must-visit sights including Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Beddagana Wetland Park, Sacred City of Kandy, and moreSpecial features on Colombo walking tour; choosing your best surf spot; and Sri Lankan literature guideExpert local recommendations on when to go, eating, drinking, nightlife, shopping, accommodation, adventure activities, festivals, and moreEssential information toolkit containing tips on arriving; transport; making the most of your time and money; LGBTIQ+ travel advice; useful words and phrases; accessibility; and responsible travelConnect with Sri Lankan culture through stories that delve deep into local life, history, and traditionsInspiring full-colour travel photography and mapsCovers: Colombo; The West Coast; The South; The Hill Country; The Ancient Cities; The East; Jaffna and Mannar IslandeBook (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones)

Add notes to personalise your guidebook experienceSeamlessly flip between pagesBookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flashEmbedded links to recommendations' websitesZoom-in on maps and imagesCreate a trip that's uniquely yours and get to the heart of this extraordinary country with Lonely Planet's Sri Lanka.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Brandon Forsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

My full review to come, but I have found this an indispensable resource for planning my trip to Sri Lanka. I’ll see how accurate it is and report back!

[Claire McNicol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, but not as good as for other destinations.

Some useful information like how to travel between different areas and stuff to do in each place, but quite out of date information regarding where to stay at times. Also sometimes oversells how good a place is or how long to spend there e.g. 3-4 hours in Galle Fort which is actually quite small to walk around and would only take that long if you went into every shop.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I'm planning a trip there are certain travel books that are my go-to guides. Turns out that many of my go-to companies do not publish a book on Sri Lanka. Seriously? Been dipping in and out of this guide book, highlighting, planning, dreaming, getting excited. While this is a good overall introduction, it is not of the caliber I expect from Lonely Planet.

[Veronika Pilátová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pri prvom plánovaní dlhšieho výletu po krajine pomohla. Prakticky sme ju počas troch týždňov na Srí Lanke nosili stále so sebou. Ale akosi automaticky sme po nej siahali stále menej a menej.

Kniha je to úslužná, obsahuje mnoho máp, navrhovaných trás podľa času stráveného v krajine, oboznámi vás s históriou aj aktuálnou situáciou, obsahuje tiež základný slovník, veľa fotiek a všetkého možného, čo vie pomôcť.

Treba však filtrovať, pretože tieto guide sú ako články pseudotravel blogeriek - množstvo veci si pri lowcost cestovani nedokážete, či ani nechcete dovoliť.

[Heidi (MinxyD14) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good for a generic weekend guide; however, I found it surprisingly judgmental and overly opinionated about some of the areas. A specific example being Unawatuna. Why it's not necessarily my cup of tea, it does appeal to others and was far from what the author described. I just feel a Lonely Planet guide book should stick to the facts and be some what neutral, taking into account that all types of people travel, not every one is a 20-something backpacker.

[Eservices · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonely Planet’s Sri Lanka guide was my go-to for planning an unforgettable trip—from the beaches of Mirissa to the tea hills of Ella, it covered everything with practical insights and local flavor. One tip that made my journey smoother: applying for the Sri Lanka eVisa online [ https://www.govt.sl/en-us/apply.php ] in advance. It was super easy and saved me from long lines at the airport. If you're heading to this gem of an island, definitely get your eVisa sorted before you fly!

[May Ling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read two guides. I liked this one the second best. Sri Lanka is huge. It's hard to find info on it at the current time. this book was fairly close to what I saw. That said, there is a dire need for more info on this country. It just extremely dense with sites.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information/

[Tina Pegar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at travelling in Sri Lanka. I like the Lonely Planet style of guide book with options in lots of budgets.

[Elliot Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not so lonely here🙄

[Serena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fine for itineraries and country history.
Very commercial otherwise

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great country but I’m a bit over Lonely Planet. No more cartilage crunching alliteration.

Sri Lanka has a lot to offer. The book covers the standard tourist stuff that happens to be on the foreigner lists. But listen to locals and go where they say also. Less touristy, less cost and still amazing.

[PeaceAll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally the Lonely Planet series books are useful and close to the the reality/Truth.

This book completely missed the mark in many ways.

To Authors: Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Stuart Butler and Amy Karafin: PLEASE read the well researched, valuable Huffington Post article and update your kindle version and/or update your next version of the book.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lucy-...

If you understood and really felt about the Holocaust, the different Genocides (Armenian, Rwandan), then it makes sense to do the Ethical Tourism in Sri Lanka:

http://www.srilankacampaign.org/touri...
Sri Lanka is a great place to visit but with Ethical Tourism. I hope this info helps the authors & readers.

[Rea]

I found the bits of information available in here of use when I was in the country and visiting the sites.

However, I'm very surprised that there is no mention of the huge number of dogs that can be found all over the place in the country.

[Maria]

I like the Lonely Planet. Having discussed Sri Lanka with a couple of friends who have been the recommendations seem pretty good. The real proof will be when we go in July !

[Ruth Forbes]

Brilliant writing.

[Martina Zurru · Rating 4 out of 5]

La mia prima Lonely Planet, il mio primo viaggio extraeuropeo 🚀