The Ultimate Sri Lanka Packing List Of Essentials

Planning a trip to Sri Lanka can be an exciting yet challenging task, especially when it comes to deciding on your Sri Lanka packing list.

Having lived in Sri Lanka for the past 18 months, I’ve had the chance to explore its diverse climates and regions extensively.

This guide will help you navigate the packing process with ease. Whether you’re preparing for the cooler central highlands or the sunny beaches along the coast, this post will provide insights into the essential items you need.

I cover the appropriate clothing for visiting cultural sites, such as temples, to ensure you are respectful and comfortable throughout your journey.

We’ll also discuss those hard-to-find items that you should bring along, as they may not be easily accessible once you’re here.

I also cover additional considerations for families toward the end of this post! Let’s dive into the ultimate Sri Lanka packing list, tailored from firsthand experience and local knowledge.

What To Pack For Sri Lanka

Staying Connected

The internet in Sri Lanka can be hit or miss, even in some nice hotels. If you need to stay connected I advise having an E sim or bring a travel router which you can load with a local sim at the airport in the arrivals hall.

Airolo E Sim is ideal, you can just download the app before visiting and top up data for Sri Lanka and stay connected from the moment you land. It’s one less physical item for your Sri Lanka packing list.

Alternatively, a travel router is a fab addition to your travel gear. I’ve had a Negear Nighthawk for years. They are expensive but my whole family can connect to it when we are on the move.

We’ve even lived in a campervan full time for a year with this device and it was our main source of internet.

You are likely going to spend some time on the road and touring the sites. Make sure to bring a power bank so you don’t miss out on capturing any special moments.

The plug sockets here are the same as the UK and Ireland which is a G plug. If you are coming from another country, make sure to have an adapter to charge your devices and use any of your electric goods.

To pack:

E sim ☐

Phone charger and adapter ☐

Power bank ☐

Sri Lanka’s Climate

Sri Lanka’s coastal regions have notoriously had a distinctive monsoon season. It moves from one side of the island to the other which essentially makes Sri Lanka a year-round destination.

You just need to choose which part you visit and when! The monsoon on the south-west coast starts in May and finishes in November. Whereas the east coast sees monsoon from December to April.

There are also dry and wet zones in Sri Lanka in the central areas. Sigiriya for example tends to be quite dry and hot. Whereas Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy are in the mountains and experience showers and overall cooler temperatures.

You may find you are hiking in the mountains for part of your trip and other days spending time relaxing on the beach. With this in mind, let’s look at what clothing you may need.

Clothing & Weather Specific Packing

Coastal Areas

Even if you are visiting the coastal areas outside of monsoon, there is still a chance of rain that may pour down for a few minutes and then stop.

There is no real need for waterproof clothing for this as you can take cover for a few minutes and it will likely be gone in no time. Enjoy a cooking class or mask painting in Galle Fort on a wet day if needed.

Otherwise, make the most of the glorious Sri Lankan beaches and stunning coastline.

Make sure to pack:

Swimwear ☐

Rash vest if you intend to try surfing ☐

Zinc for face ☐

Flip flops / sandals ☐

Lightweight clothing ☐

A light weight beach towel for day trips ☐

Goggles or a snorkel and mask to see turtles ☐

Sunglasses ☐

Sunhat ☐

Suncream ☐

Insect repellent ☐

Book / games or entertainment ☐

Sri Lanka Packing List For Central Highland Areas

I am from Ireland so I don’t find the central highlands chilly. However, some people feel a chill in the morning and evenings.

With this in mind, you may want slightly different types of clothing, especially if you are going hiking on your Sri Lanka packing list. Pack some light sweaters for a layer of warmth when needed.

Water bottle or bladder for hiking ☐

Day backpack ☐

Leggings to keep your legs covered on hikes ☐

Socks ☐

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Leech socks depending on where you will be hiking ☐

Walking shoes or trainers ☐

Umbrella ☐

Light waterproof jacket ☐

Religious & Cultural Sites

Many temples around Sri Lanka are not strict with dress code. Some of the larger more important religious sites strictly enforce a dress code for all visitors. Men and Women’s shoulders and knees must be covered.

These temples include Temple of The Tooth in Kandy and Dambulla Rock Temple in Dambulla. However many others do enforce this rule also.

Some temples provide sarongs and covers, however these have often been used by hundreds of people and aren’t so clean, so you defintiely want to put something modest on your Sri Lanka packing list.

Women can wear a 3/4 length dress with mid-arm sleeves and maybe a shawl. Or an outfit that simply covers knees and shoulders appropriately.

Men should wear trousers and a mid ar sleeved shirt.

To pack:

Modest outfit which covers knees and shoulders ☐

Sarong or scarf ☐

General Essentials For A Sri Lanka Packing List

Now we’ve discussed staying connected, weather clothing, visiting and religious sites. Let’s have a look at some more generic items you will need.

First of all, make sure to get your visa if required. Here is the official website for application.

Travel insurance is a necessity if you are visiting Sri Lanka. You may also want to discuss your visit with your travel health Dr to decide on any vaccines required.

Make sure to print out the details of your policy for your Sri Lanka packing list. You never know when you may need it and sometimes phones cannot be reliable if your battery dies.

I use the Fit For Travel NHS website when researching new destinations. Here is the page on Sri Lanka which is regularly kept up to date.

I highly recommend bringing a first aid kit. The few I have had the pleasure of using around different hotels have not been suffice.

If you are the type to get motion sick, you may want to bring motion sickness bands with you! Especially if you are going to be tripping through the highlands by car.

To pack:

Passports ☐

Visas ☐

Travel insurance ☐

Travel vaccination information ☐

Itinerary and reservations ☐

First aid kit ☐

Motion sickness bands or medication ☐

Cash and Credit Cards

Many people ask if USD is widely used here in Sri Lanka and it is not. Although of course some places will accept it as a form of payment, it is better to have the local currency in cash which is LKR.

Make sure to add cash to your Sri Lanka packing list. Many hotels and restaurants accept debit and credit cards. However many add a surcharge of around 3%.

With this in mind, it is better to have LKR with you. There are plenty of ATMs and exchange offices in tourist hubs.

To pack:

Cash / credit cards ☐

Personal Products For Your Sri Lanka Packing List

Sri Lanka has an ongoing import ban on many items, so you will not find recognisable brands of toiletries and personal products.

I highly recommend bringing everything you need with you. Do not rely on picking things up here; you may be disappointed.

To pack:

Personal products / toilitries ☐

Sri Lanka Packing List For Families

If you are visiting Sri Lanka with kids, I have some specific tips for you too! The above items are recommended in addition to the below family-specific list.

Sri Lanka is not necessarily a destination which suits a stroller. Whenever we have gone on mini staycation around Sri Lanka, we rarely bring our stroller unless we are staying at a resort.

The pavements make it super difficult to navigate with a stroller, so I highly recommend bringing a baby or toddler carrier instead.

Diapers and wipes are widely available here. The brand is called Cuddles and can be found in most places. There is no need to bring your own.

As for baby food pouches which are handy on the go, they are not as easy to access and are quite expensive as they are usually imported so this is something worth bringing.

The high chairs in Sri Lankan restaurants are hard to come by. A few higher-end restaurants have them. However, my experience is they are quite big and don’t have straps so they are quite unsafe for babies and toddlers. It is better to bring a travel version with you.

Baby / toddler carrier ☐

Travel feeding chair ☐

Travel sized games ☐

Kids journal book about Sri Lanka ☐

Snacks ☐

Guide Book

Whether you prefer a Kindle E-book or a good old Lonely Planet, make sure to have a guidebook on your Sri Lanka packing list. There are plenty of options out there. Make sure to get something to guide you through your trip to Sri Lanka with ease.

Guidebook ☐

Travel Tips & Local insights

When it comes to getting around Sri Lanka I always advise getting a driver for the duration of your trip. If you need a recommendation feel free to reach out to me. However, if you are planning to get around with local transport, buses are quite dangerous here.

The trains are pretty good but can be crowded and certain trips such as the famous one between Ella and Kandy is often booked up months in advance so I recommend booking way ahead of time.

If you need a short trip, Uber and the local app Pick Me are great options in more built-up areas such as Kandy, Colombo and the South West Coast.

Pick Me is more widely available than Uber and is generally preferred by drivers due to the commission split.

I hope you found this post useful, any questions feel free to message me on Instagram.

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Last update on 2025-03-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API