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Sri Lanka travel guide for Indians (2026)
A free ETA, a three-hour flight, and two coasts with opposite seasons. Here is how to time it.
Visa and entry for Indian passport holders
Free ETA · 30 daysIndian passport holders get a free 30-day, double-entry tourist visa through Sri Lanka's ETA system.
- Apply at the official portal eta.gov.lk before travel. It is free for Indian nationals since 25 May 2026 and usually approved within hours.
- Double entry within the 30 days — you can leave and come back once.
- Passport valid 6 months, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. Extensions beyond 30 days are paid.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka
December to March for the west and south coasts (Colombo, Galle, Bentota) and the hill country. April to September for the east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay).
May–June and October–November are the wettest on the south-west coast, which is where our standard route runs.
What a Sri Lanka trip costs from India
Per person, twin sharing, for our standard 5-night itinerary. The land price is fixed; the rest is an honest estimate so you can plan.
| Item | |
|---|---|
| Land package — 1N Kandy · 1N Nuwara Eliya · 2N Bentota · 1N ColomboHotels, transfers, sightseeing as listed on the package page. Fixed price. | ₹36,900 |
| Return flightsDelhi → Colombo, direct · 3h 25m – 3h 35m · One Kiwi.com search, Delhi departure, return, 1 adult, mid-November 2026 travel, economy. Fares move daily — we quote yours live. Seen 15 September 2026. Checked bag included in the sample. | from ₹33,700* |
| ETA | Free |
| Meals not in the package, small extras, tipsRough per-person figure for 5 days at ₹1,800–₹3,000 a day. Depends entirely on how you eat and shop. | ₹9,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Rough total per personExcluding visa fees where they are not in rupees, travel insurance and shopping. | ₹79,600 – ₹94,025 |
*Flight figure is a single dated sample, not a quote, and the upper end of the range assumes a 25% higher fare. Your quotation shows the land price fixed and the live fare separately, so you can see exactly where the money goes. Nothing is paid on this page.
Getting there
Direct flights to Colombo from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Madurai — Chennai is barely an hour. Colombo airport (CMB) is at Negombo, 35 km north of the city; our package picks you up there.
Airlines on the route: SriLankan Airlines, Air India, IndiGo.
Questions we get asked about Sri Lanka
Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka?
A free ETA (electronic travel authorisation), applied for online before travel. 30 days, double entry, no fee for Indian nationals.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka from India?
December to March for the classic south-west route (Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle). The east coast is best April to September, so Sri Lanka works in almost any month if you pick the right coast.
How much does a Sri Lanka trip cost?
Our 5-night package with a private chauffeur-guide starts at ₹36,900 per person. Flights from Delhi were about ₹33,700 return in a November 2026 sample; from Chennai they are usually far cheaper. Budget ₹75,000–85,000 per person for a week from Delhi.
Is Sri Lanka safe now?
Yes for tourism. The 2022 economic crisis is past; fuel and food are available normally and tourist numbers have recovered. Standard precautions apply, as anywhere.
Can I ride the hill-country train?
Yes — the Kandy to Ella stretch is the famous one and our package includes the tickets. Book early in December–March; reserved seats sell out weeks ahead.