Sri Lanka is indeed a beautiful country where many natural wonders are waiting for you to explore. Once you have got ready with your visa and tickets, there are a number of important things to consider. If this is your first trip to Sri Lanka, planning your backpack according to the Sri Lankan climate is essential. Arranging a light backpack with all the necessary packing items is very important to enjoy your trip conveniently. Therefore, the packing list for Sri Lanka is one of the most important things you need to plan well ahead.
Some parts of Sri Lanka are quite hot and humid, while the central hill country has milder weather than other areas. Therefore, you may need different clothes according to the areas you are going to visit. Moreover, you need to pack several essential things for visiting cultural landmarks and sacred areas of the country. If you miss some important items from your packing list, it may lead to feeling uncomfortable during your travel.
Plan well ahead and arrange your packing list including these essential packing items to Sri Lanka. We hope this post will help you to enjoy the Sri Lankan tour safely and conveniently with your handy backpack.
1. Clothes to keep you cool
Being located close to the equator, Sri Lanka has a hot, tropical climate which can give travelers a bit of a challenge. The temperature stays consistent throughout the year at 27-30 °C with an average humidity of 80 %. When planning what to wear in Sri Lanka, it’s important to remember that most areas of the country have a hot and humid climate. Therefore, wearing a comfortable dress will be more convenient to face the hot daytime during your journey.
Most of the cities in Sri Lanka including the capital Colombo, Galle, and also Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa have a year-round hot climate. When you are going to visit the cultural triangle or on wild safaris, clothes to keep you cool are necessary. Mostly loose-fitting cotton clothes are the best to avoid sweating in warm weather. Therefore, you should pack enough cotton clothes that help you to stay cool, as you move around in the strong sun in Sri Lanka.
2. Clothes to keep you warm
Although most areas of Sri Lanka are hot and humid, the central part of the country has cold and mild temperatures. Nuwara Eliya nicknamed Little England, Matale, Ella, and Haputale are the major touristic cities with a cold climate in the hill country. In these areas, the daytime temperature is around 24 °C, but it decreases at night, where the temperature can drop down to 10-15°C.
During the coldest months in December and January, it may go down to low as 10 °C at night. Therefore, a sweater or pullover is essential to keep you warm at night. Some days in the hill country are cold and windy, where you’ll need a cardigan or pullover to protect yourself from chilling weather even in the daytime. Thus, don’t forget to include at least one warm clothes on your packing list for Sri Lanka.
3. Clothes to enter sacred places
Sri Lanka is a prominent Buddhist country in South Asia. Since Lord Buddha is a deeply revered religious figure in Sri Lanka, travelers are expected to honor and respect the Buddhist culture. Therefore, if you are visiting sacred places or cultural landmarks in the country, you need to select an appropriate dress. A white or light-colored dress is the best for visiting Buddhist temples.
When you are visiting a temple, always remember to select a dress that covers your shoulders and knees. Wearing too short skirts or pants to visit the temples is something you should avoid in Sri Lanka. If you are wearing sleeveless tops, use a shawl to cover your shoulders. Therefore, a shawl and long pants or skirt are necessary items to keep in your backpack. Otherwise, you may need to buy a sarong to cover up, before you are entering to the sacred temples.
4. Beach wares
The prime target of many Sri Lankan visitors is enjoying the stunning beaches of the island. If you plan on spending time at the beaches, it’s a good idea to select the best beach wares. Most of the Sri Lankan beaches allow bikinis, but some have notices to cover up while walking in public areas such as beach cafes and nearby private properties.
It is better to learn about the beach culture in Sri Lanka before you choose your beach wear. Many travelers use beautiful batik wares or sarongs for beach vacations, which are readily available in beachside boutiques.
5. Toiletries
Although many visitors may not carry toiletries in their backpacks, it is an essential thing not to miss in your backpack. It’s wise to carry your own roll of toilet paper as you’re making your way around the country. Many roadside toilets, as well as low-budget hotels and restaurants, don’t supply tissues.
It will be important to carry a hand sanitizer or hand wipes, so you can whip them out to maintain your hygiene. Carrying these few sanitary items is one of the most essential things on your packing list for Sri Lanka.
6. Sunscreen
Sunscreen is something that many travelers to Sri Lanka may forget, but it’s an incredibly important item to keep in your backpack. The sunlight is so strong and UV rays in Sri Lanka are often fierce than in cold countries. So, it’s important to act accordingly to protect yourself and prevent damage to your skin. If you are going to spend time on the beach having fun in the sun, the use of sunscreen is a must to protect the skin from sunburn. A water-resistant sunscreen, with a broad-spectrum SPF over 50 is the ideal item to keep in your backpack.
7. Sun Glasses
When you are gearing up for your Sri Lankan beach trip, sunglasses are an indispensable item to protect your eyes. The best pairs should provide adequate UV protection. Sunglasses with an anti-reflective lens and polarized sunglasses are the best for a beach vacation under the hot sunlight. They are very useful during your beach vacation, as well as during wild safaris to protect your eyes. Thus, remember to include a good pair of sunglasses in your packing list for Sri Lanka.
8. Refilled Water Bottle
Rather than buying PET water bottles, the use of a reusable water bottle is very important to save the environment. Always fill your bottle with filtered water or boiled water from your accommodation. Normal tap water is perfectly safe to drink, but drinking filtered or boiled water will be the best choice. This refillable water bottle is a good option to keep you hydrated throughout your journey. As well, it will help to reduce plastic waste and decrease environmental pollution.
9. Mosquito Repellent
Mosquito repellent is a good idea if you’re traveling in hot areas of the country. This menace becomes most prevalent during the rainy season in Sri Lanka. You may need to minimize the chances of being bitten by them. In order to avoid mosquito bites, keep a good repellent cream or spray with you to apply on your body to distract them.
There are several types of repellents are available. You can use repellent lotions containing Citronella oil. The direct application of this aromatic natural oil to your body heavily deters mosquitoes. As for the kids, you can use mosquito patch stickers, one of the best insect patches with Citronella oil. These precautions are very important to avoid mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever.
10. Rain Coat
Sudden downpours aren’t an uncommon thing in Sri Lanka, even in the dry months. As well as frequent rains are something you may have to experience while touring the hill country of the island. Since frequent showers in mountainous areas aren’t a rare thing, keeping a rain jacket with you is very important. The use of a packable raincoat is the best idea to save space in your backpack. It will help you to continue your journey safely, without your travel plans getting wet.
Here we have bought the 10 most essential items to include in your backpack while touring in Sri Lanka. Even if you forget any of these things, you can easily buy most of what you need in major tourist cities on the island. We hope to bring you a detailed packing guide for Sri Lanka in another post. Have fun exploring the beaches, food, temples, ruins, and many other wonderful places with your handy backpack filled with all the necessary items. Happy traveling in Sri Lanka to everybody!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Unsplash, and Amazon. All copyrights reserved by original authors.
