Last minute tours to Sri Lanka from Almaty: prices and upcoming departures

Last minute tours to Sri Lanka from Almaty are most profitable to look for from April to November, when demand on the island drops. The flight takes about 10–12 hours with a connection, the season in the southwest is December–March, in the east — May–September. Packages for 7 nights with breakfast are noticeably cheaper in the off-season, and the best prices are caught midweek.

How much does a holiday in Sri Lanka cost in season and off-season?

Prices on the island depend on the month and the coast, and the difference between peak and lull is noticeable. Such offers are caught precisely in those weeks when demand drops.

What makes up the price of a last minute package

The basis of the cost is the flight with a connection, accommodation and transfer, and the season moves each of these parts. In winter, the southwest of the island receives the maximum number of guests, and hotels keep high rates. Last minute tours to Sri Lanka appear when the tour operator drops seats on already assembled dates. In the off-season, in April and November, prices fall noticeably, although short showers are possible. Cheap options are most often attributed to the east coast in May–September, when the west is wet. If dates are flexible, it is more profitable to look at midweek rather than weekends. The result is simple: the further from December–March, the lower the figure in the bill.

Saving on accommodation and food without losing comfort

A noticeable part of the budget is eaten up by the hotel, and here there is room to cut without harming the holiday. Small guesthouses in Unawatuna or Koggala cost less than large resorts with the same ocean view. Breakfast at a guesthouse is usually included, and lunch at a local market costs several times less than a restaurant at the hotel. Food outside the tourist area — rice and curry, seafood — is fresh and inexpensive. Renting a scooter reduces travel expenses along the coast if you have an international driver's license. Such tours often already include transfer, and this is another reason not to pay twice. The saving comes not at the expense of quality, but at the expense of refusing unnecessary intermediaries.

What to consider when choosing a hotel on the island

Accommodation on the island is different: from rooms in guesthouses to large complexes with a pool. The choice depends on how much time you spend in the room and what you want to see from the window.

Guesthouses versus large resorts

Booking in high season and off-season

In December–March in the southwest, good options in Bentota and Hikkaduwa are taken long before the check-in date. It is worth booking in advance, otherwise only expensive or inconvenient places will remain. In the off-season, in April and November, you can decide on the spot and bargain, but no one has canceled short showers. On the east coast, in Trincomalee, they calmly book closer to the trip — there the season is shifted to May–September. Such packages are convenient in that the accommodation is already selected for the departure dates. If you are going at peak, fix the hotel first, and the flight second.

How to prepare for a trip from Almaty?

Packing from Almaty takes less time than it seems: the main thing is money, communication and a couple of little things in hand luggage. The time difference with Almaty is half an hour all year round: Sri Lanka is on UTC+5:30, Kazakhstan on UTC+5.

Money, cards and currency exchange

The local currency is the Sri Lankan rupee, and cash on the island is needed constantly. It is more profitable to exchange in banks in Colombo or Negombo, and not at the airport, where the rate is noticeably worse. Cards are accepted in large hotels and shops, but in markets, tuk-tuks and guesthouses — only cash. ATMs are found everywhere, however, the withdrawal fee can be noticeable, so a large sum is withdrawn less often. Dollars or euros should be taken with you in a small reserve and changed as needed. Small notes will come in handy for tips: 10% in restaurants and hotels here is part of the local culture. Packages do not cancel these rules, and cash will still be needed.

Communication, internet and useful apps

It is cheapest to buy a local SIM card at the airport from operators, and there they also connect an internet package. Coverage is good even on the beaches of Unawatuna and Tangalle, so communication will not let you down. Among the apps, maps with offline mode, a translator and a service for calling transport will come in handy. Messengers work without restrictions, but calls via regular communication are more expensive. It is worth taking a charger with an adapter — sockets on the island are of a different standard. Short-term trips require issuing a SIM card on the very first day.

What to do on Sri Lankan beaches

The coast of the island gives both waves for a board, and calm water for a mask, and food markets. There is something to do both for those who want to move and for those who came to lie down.

Surfing, diving and active recreation

The southwest of the island is a training base for surfing, and beginners start in Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna. The waves here are soft, instructors work right on the beach, and board rental is inexpensive. Diving is developed near Galle and in the Trincomalee area, where sunken ships and reefs are visible. Snorkeling at Koggala and Kalutara is accessible even without experience, a mask is given on the spot. For the active there are walks along the coast, fishing with locals and scooter trips between towns. Insurance with coverage of active recreation will come in handy if surfing or diving is planned. Such tours are taken both for such a holiday and for a calm beach.

Local cuisine, markets and street food

Sri Lankan cuisine is spicy, and the basis of the diet is rice with curry, which is served in almost every home. Seafood is fresh and inexpensive: shrimp, squid and fish are cooked right at the piers. Street food is cheap, but tap water cannot be drunk even in hotels, so they take bottled. Markets in Negombo and Kalutara let you try fruits, spices and sweets for pennies. It is better to clarify the portion of spiciness in advance, otherwise the dish will turn out too hot. Packages often include breakfasts, but it is more interesting to have dinner in the city.

Safety and health in the tropics

The tropics require attention to the sun, water, and small everyday details. Nothing complicated, but a couple of habits will save your vacation from a spoiled mood.

Sun, mosquitoes, and insurance

The sun on the island is aggressive, and high-SPF cream is needed even on cloudy days. It is better to sunbathe in the morning and after noon, and during peak hours hide in the shade or in the water. Mosquitoes are active at dusk, so repellent is worth taking with you, and at the guesthouse use a net. Insurance with coverage for active recreation will pay off if an injury happens while surfing or diving. The first aid kit is packed in advance: for the stomach, for colds, and for sunburn. Medical expenses are not covered by such trips, and this is worth remembering.

Transport and rules of behavior

A tuk-tuk is the main transport for short distances, and it is better to agree on the price before the trip. Scooter rental is popular, but requires an international driver's license and caution on the roads. Buses and trains run between cities, but traveling in them is long and cramped. Tips of 10% are welcomed in restaurants and hotels; this is part of the local culture. Respect for temples is mandatory: shoulders and knees are covered, shoes are removed before entering. Last minute tour packages to the island give freedom of movement, but the rules of behavior here are the same for everyone.

Briefly

• Cheaper in April, November, and on the east coast in May–September.
• Guesthouses in Unawatuna and Koggala are cheaper than resorts with the same ocean view.
• Cash in Sri Lankan rupees is needed at markets, in tuk-tuks, and in guesthouses.
• A SIM card with internet is bought at the airport; coverage is good even on the beaches.
• High-SPF cream and mosquito repellent are taken with you.