Details
Important
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the program information on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that travelers who review the full trip details are happier with their experiences.
Trip Notes & Expectations
ACCOMMODATION
Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). Our accommodations are chosen to provide a safe, conveniently located place to sleep.
Comfort Considerations: Due to the tropical climate, it is possible to encounter bugs or other critters in hotel rooms. Contact the front desk for help; hotel staff is well equipped to handle the situation. You may also want to bring a top sheet, as some hotels may not provide blankets.
Glamping: Your stay on Day 6 in Yala National Park is a unique "glamping" experience in a permanent tented safari camp. Please be aware that this is a form of outdoor camping, not a standard hotel.
TRANSPORTATION
This tour covers a wide range of climates and landscapes. We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Be prepared for early mornings on active days, especially for safaris.
Mirissa --> Colombo. The tour concludes in Mirissa, which is about 100 miles (2.5hr - 3hr drive) back to Colombo. Travelers are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transport back to Colombo. While G Adventures offers an airport transfer, it is a separate and comparatively expensive option. For a more affordable solution, it is highly recommended to have your tour leader help arrange a shared taxi for the group.
ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE
This trip includes plenty of walking and some light hiking, and requires at least an average level of fitness. On the more active days, expect to walk quite a bit. While it's not physically strenuous, expect to be on the go, exploring the cities and sites on foot, which may involve some uneven surfaces and stairs. You should feel comfortable walking for extended periods and navigating varied terrain. The most strenuous activity is the climb up the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which involves a significant number of steps. We suggest always carrying snacks, as meal times can sometimes be far apart due to the busy schedule.
HEAT & COMFORT
The heat and humidity are the biggest physical challenges. Make sure you stay hydrated! We recommend always carrying snacks with you as meals can sometimes be far apart. On very hot days, air conditioning on transport may not be able to keep up. In some hotels, A/C may be weak, not functioning well, or not available at all. To stay comfortable, plan to dress in light, breathable clothing, drink plenty of water, and consider bringing small items like a travel fan or cooling towel.
DRESS
Be prepared for a variety of climates, from hot and arid to cool mountainous regions. It is highly recommended to bring a generous amount of mosquito repellent.
Standards of dress in Sri Lanka are conservative, especially at religious sites and in rural areas. To show respect for local customs and to stay comfortable in the heat, pack lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. A lightweight, white t-shirt or blouse is a great option for temple visits. Avoid short shorts, mini skirts, and tank tops in these locations, as you may be denied entry or make others uncomfortable.
GROUP LEADER
All GEEO programs are led by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Single Travelers
Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.
Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.
Want a private room? Most trips offer a
“My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the
Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.
My Own Room Exception: Receive private accommodation every night except night 6 at the nature resort homestay.
Emergency Contacts
If you need urgent help during your trip,
call the local G Adventures office first. If no one answers, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information so they can return your call as soon as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
G Adventures South Asia Manager, Sorab Jassawalla (Delhi, India)
>From outside of India: +91 8851806614
>From within Delhi: 8851806614
>From within India, but outside Delhi: 0 8851806614
During Office hours (Weekdays, 9am-5pm Local Time): +66-02-3815574
If you are unable for any reason to contact their local office, they have a toll-free line for North America, which will connect you directly with their Toronto office. In the event that you cannot get through, you can reach a member of their Operations department at the mobile number below.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Packing List
See our blog post of
staff-recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring
one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and
one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.
As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average
weather conditions for your destination.
SuggestedOptionalDocuments
- Clothes for religious sites – knees and shoulders must be covered
- Small towel and swimwear
- Raincoat and/or umbrella
- Personal clothing for hot weather – we recommend packing 8-9 days of outfits and doing laundry mid-way through your trip.
- Shorts – covering knees is advisable for women; some would say men too
- Long pants
- Sturdy walking shoes
- Sport sandals or flip-flops
- Daypack
- Insect repellent
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Watch or alarm clock (or use your phone)
- Toiletries – your hotels will have soap and shampoo
- Camera (or use your phone)
- First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
- Travel pillow
- Light weight silk sleep sheet
- Flashlight or headlamp (or use your phone)
- Money belt
- Water bottle
- Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
- Chargers for electronics as well as converters/adapters, if needed
- AirTags or Tile trackers
- Packing cubes
- Earplugs
- Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can also buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy
- Ziplock bags
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
- Head scarf for women
- Light fleece top
- Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Travel insurance ID card
- Flight itinerary/boarding pass(es)
- USD/EUR cash
- Credit/debit card
- G Adventures vouchers
- GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent a few days before departure
: Laundry facilities are offered at some of our hotels for a charge, or ask your group leader where the nearest laundromat is located. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Passports and Visas
Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.
PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for
at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps.
Need to apply or renew? Start here.
ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the
U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary.
Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.
Money Exchange
Currency: The local currency in Sri Lanka is the
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). For current exchange rates, visit
www.xe.com.
Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at many hotels, shops, and restaurants, but not everywhere. Some vendors may also charge an international transaction fee, so check with your bank before you travel.
Cash: For small purchases, tipping, or places that don’t take cards, we recommend using ATMs to withdraw local currency while traveling. If you bring U.S. dollars to exchange, the bills must be new, unmarked, and in excellent condition—damaged or older notes are often rejected.
Emergency Funds: Bring
at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling.
See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance.
For more advice, see our post,
Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad
Tipping
Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit:
- Service providers/Waiters:
10% of the bill.
- Local guides and drivers:
$1-2 USD per person per day.
- G Adventures tour leader (CEO):
$20-30 USD per person per week.
(We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group)
Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a
“tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.
Vaccinations
GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting
Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the
CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!
Flights
Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.
This program
begins in Colombo and
ends in Mirissa. Your tour leader can help you arrange a transfer from Mirissa back to Colombo; the ride is approximately 2.5 hours.
Check the itinerary for the required arrival date. Aim to arrive no later than mid-afternoon for the 6 p.m. Day-1 welcome meeting, and consider arriving a day or two early to buffer flight delays and see more of Colombo. You can depart from Mirissa any time on the final day of the program.
Plugs and Converters
Sri Lanka uses
Type D and Type G outlets, and the voltage is
230V (50 Hz). To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider:
1.
Adapter (plug shape)
Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended
all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post.
2.
Converter / transformer (voltage)
Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage.
How to know which you need: Look at the fine print on the plug or power brick. An
“Input 100-240 V” means the device is dual-voltage and works worldwide with only an adapter—phones, laptops, and most camera chargers fall into this category. If the label shows
“Input 120 V” (hair dryers, curling irons, some shavers), it could be damaged on high voltage. Pack both an adapter and a travel voltage converter. Converters are inexpensive and sold online or in the travel aisle of many stores.
Weather
Sri Lanka is tropical with distinct dry and wet seasons. The seasons are slightly complicated by having two monsoons. From May to August, the Yala monsoon brings rain to the island’s southwestern half. We will be in the southwestern half of Sri Lanka, as well as the highlands. Colombo and the low-lying coastal regions have an average temperature of 80°F. At Kandy (altitude 500 m), the temperature should be in the 70’s F, while Nuwara Eliya (at 1,889 m) has a temperatures in the 60’s F.
The weather doesn’t follow strict rules, though – it often seems to be raining where it should be sunny, and sunny where it should be raining. Rainfall tends to be emphatic – streets can become flooded in what seems like only minutes. Out-of-season travel has its advantages: not only do the crowds disappear, it also doesn’t rain all the time.
Advice From Past Participants
"Bring a top sheet for beds since hotels do not provide them."
"I think people might appreciate knowing that the norm for coffee is instant coffee."
"Advise participants to pack fruit and water the night before for the early wake up call"
"Pack more mosquito repellant. I also did not realize how much bug spray was needed. Bring lots!"
"Be prepared for all seasons. The mountains were colder than expected and the arid areas were hotter than expected."
"I would have brought a white short sleeved T-shirt or a white shirt to go into some of the temples if I had known."
