What To Pack For Sri Lanka: Epic 63 Piece Packing List!

Full Length Skirt

Light Cotton Travel Pants

Fast Drying Water Shoes

Swimsuit

Traditional Silk Saree

Lightweight Rain Jacket

Sun Hat

Washing clothes in Sri Lanka

I think one of the reasons people take far too many clothes with them travelling is that they are worried they’re going to have to fork out lots of money on getting clothes washed.

In reality, it’s never very expensive to get clothes washed in Sri Lanka.

Cazzy and I have one dry bag with us that serves as a dirty clothes bag.

Once it gets mostly filled, we find somewhere that does washing (most hotels and hostels will do this; and if not there will be a local offering this) and pay them.

It never takes longer than a day and in Sri Lanka I don’t believe we ever paid more than 1,200 LKR to get the majority of our stuff washed.

If you’re running low on pants, socks or t-shirts, you can wash these quickly in the sink or shower, just take a bar of cleaning soap with you or pick one up at a local store.

First aid kit

It’s important that you always take a small first aid kit with you wherever you travel. Most of the time you won't even need it; but it’s always great to have it there for when the occasions arise.

Here’s what our basic travel first aid kit contains:

Travel sickness tablets
Paracetamol
Bandages & tape
Plasters
Antiseptic cream
Scissors/nail clippers
Moleskin tape - Much better than compeeds, and great if you plan on doing a lot of walking/hiking
Diarrhoea kit - This came in vital on our Amazon boat cruise a few years back and never traveled without one!
Needles and thread
Tweezers

To help get you started, I recommend picking up a basic first aid kit that contains 90% of the things you need (you can then add in anything else that you think you’ll need).

Ready-made travel first aid kit

To help make your life a little easier, why not just pick up a ready-made travel first aid kit?

This contains most of the basic equipment you might need for any minor injuries in Sri Lanka.

You can then swap out anything you don't want for other things you do!

Toiletries

Cazzy and I share a toiletry bag and just fill it with all the things we need. This includes:

Wash bag - Again, get one that’s just the right size so that you can fit everything in and it doesn’t waste too much space. Also, make sure it has a strap so you can hang it up in each bathroom.
Shampoo & conditioner 2 in 1
Dry shampoo
2 x toothbrush
2 x toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Disposable razors
Shaving foam
Electric razor
Small perfume
Small aftershave
Men’s deodorant
Women’s deodorant

Travel Banking

I thought it relevant to include a quick section on what travel cards you will need for your visit to Sri Lanka.

As a rule of thumb, we always take 4 different travel cards with us.

2 live in my wallet
1 lives in my big rucksack
1 lives in Cazzy’s big rucksack

Question: Why do we have 4 and why do we spread them out?

Well, to cover any worst case scenarios of our travel gear getting stolen!

If someone stole my wallet (or I lose it) then we have the backup ones in our big bags.

And vice versa, if someone stole (or the aeroplane loses) one or both of our bags, then I have those in my wallet as a backup.

We also try to keep about $50 US dollars in one of the bags as a last minute resort as well.

This is a pretty universal currency and is enough to get us out of a sticky situation if we are stuck somewhere with no other cash and no ATMs.

What are the best banks in Sri Lanka

The two banks that we found didn’t charge for withdrawals were Bank Of Ceylon and People’s Bank.

This is based on us using mastercards for withdrawals.

There are lots of other banks in Sri Lanka, but they always charged us for withdrawals.

Which travel cards do we use?

We each have a Monzo card and a Revolut card.

If you are from the UK, then you shouldn’t have much difficulty getting one of these; in fact it’s very simple for both.

Simply head to the App Store or Play Store (depending on whether you’re Android or Apple) and download the app.

Find Monzo here: Apple / Android
Find Revolut here: Apple / Android

Once you download the app, you simply put in some personal details and then request to have the card sent out to your home address.

It typically arrives within a week and, once you have it, you login to the app again to register it.

From there, you are good to go and use it all around the world.

You simply top up in GBP and then when you withdraw money abroad or use a card to pay for something, you do so in Sri Lankan rupee (LKR), and Revolut/Monzo automatically converts it to the best possible exchange rate.

We have used both of these all around the world in every country we have travelled together, which as of writing is almost 3 dozen (see them all here).

If you’re from outside the UK, then I’m not sure if you can use them, but you can likely find an alternative.

We also always take our local bank card as well which, though they charge ridiculous fees, means we can hopefully get cash out in an emergency if for some reason Monzo and Revolut don’t work.

Read Also: Monzo vs Revolut: Which Is Best For Travel?

Important Documents

As standard, here’s some important documents you’ll need to include in your Sri Lankan packing list.

Passport - duh
Wallet to hold important documents - Keeps everything together in one place, so nothing gets misplaced
Driving license and international driving license - In England you can pick an international license up at your local Post Office. This is essential for renting mopeds anywhere in Asia and for hiring a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka
Copy of your passport and travel insurance - It’s useful to photocopy your passport in case you need to share the details but don’t want to get the actual passport out
Copy of your vaccinations - I always have this on me, because some countries may randomly ask you to prove what you have had at border crossings, including Sri Lanka. It’s also useful to have when you arrive at hospital if there is an emergency and you need some sort of treatment. On that topic … Do you need any injections for Sri Lanka? Yes! Here’s a useful guide to start, but I advise speaking to your travel doctor before you leave.
Print out of your travel insurance - Always, always, ALWAYS get travel insurance! And print out a copy of the policy documents in case you need them in an emergency at the hospital
Travel insurance - ensure it covers you, especially if your trip to Sri Lanka will end up lasting more than 30 days. If you’re from America, then World Nomads is usually a competitive option. If you’re from the UK or other countries you can still get a quote, though from my experience they tend to be much more expensive. In the UK, I always find Compare The Market offers the best options.

Cameras & other tech

Sri Lanka is easily one of the most beautiful and picturesque countries we have ever been to!

It’s the first country we went to where we started taking our travel photography a little more seriously and the first country we took our drone.

Here’s a look at all the gear we now take with us travelling, not just to Sri Lanka, but all countries.

Obviously if you’re only going for a short trip and aren’t fussed on professional photography, then a smartphone will handle most of your needs.

Nikon D780

DSLR

If you’re looking to get a little more serious about photography, then it’s best to pick yourself up a DSLR camera. From here, you can then go ahead and buy new lenses that connect to the front and allow you to take much higher quality shots. We’ve been starting to take travel photography a lot more seriously in recent years, and buying yourself a DSLR is a good starting point. Plus, there’s no better country to hone your camera skills than in Sri Lanka!

Tokina at-X PRO

Wide angle lense

One thing you’ll soon realise is that Sri Lanka has incredible vistas literally everywhere! And I’m a big fan of wide angle lenses, as these allow you to capture a lot more of the landscape in really high quality.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

Handheld video camera

We use this to capture high quality handheld footage, to then be used for editing videos together at a later stage. If you get the right one, this can often double as a fantastic photography camera, meaning there’s not as much need to bring a bigger DSLR as well.

GoPro HERO8 Black

Check Price on Amazon Check Price on DJI

Underwater camera / action camera

We’ve tested a few underwater/action cameras over the years, and I must admit GoPro does a fantastic job. Sure, you can save a couple hundred quid by getting a cheap one from Amazon, but it simply doesn’t deliver the same results. The way I see it is, if you’ve already spent a lot of money on a trip to Sri Lanka, you may as well spend a little more and be able to capture some truly epic footage and photos from your time there. Especially if you plan to make the most of surfing, snorkelling and diving in Sri Lanka, which you should!

DJI Mavic Pro

Drone

Sri Lanka is the first country we took our drone, and immediately knew the investment had been worthwhile! Having a drone allows you to capture some truly epic shots that would be impossible otherwise. Best of all, they really aren’t that hard to get used to, which is why there are so many drone hobbyists now wherever you go in the world.

Samsung Galaxy S10

Unlocked smartphone

Nowadays, a smartphone does so much more than allow you to make phone calls and texts. I’d say we use about ours for maybe 10-20 major tasks every single day; like managing social media, taking photos/videos, navigation, Skyping friends and family … The list is endless! Well, in Sri Lanka it’s really cheap to pick up a local sim card with data. So, before you leave, head to your phone store and check that your smartphone is unlocked so that it will work when you put foreign sim cards in it.

Asus ZenBook Ultra-Slim 13.3”

Laptop

For us, laptops are a must have! When in Sri Lanka, one of ours even broke down and we were unable to find the parts to fix it (largely because Sri Lanka is VERY VERY behind when it comes to modern tech); so we actually had to buy a laptop from America through Amazon US and pay almost $USD100 in customs charges in order to get it delivered to Sri Lanka. All I will say is that when choosing a travel laptop, you should get one that’s maximum 15 inches (ideally 13) screen size and is as light as possible so it’s convenient to carry around.

External hard drive

With so many photos and videos taken in Sri Lanka, it’s a good idea to have a small, external hard drive in order to back it all up. Once every couple days, we transfer things from each device’s memory card, organise them and then create a copy of them on our hard drive. This makes our lives 100 x easier when it comes to the end of a trip and we need to put together new travel videos and blog posts.

Memory cards

A must have for all manner of devices. Just check what quality the footage you will be recording is. For example, if you're shooting 4K drone footage with 60fps, then you need a memory card that is capable of recording this. Also, how much footage will you be recording? If you’re shooting at such high resolution, then an 8GB or even 16GB memory card is going to fill up very quickly.

Memory card Hard Case

We bought one of these just before our trip to Sri Lanka and it was such a good buy! It allowed us to organise our dozen or so memory cards, to save us ever misplacing one (which has happened). Ours has a hard reinforced case, strong latch and is waterproof.

Solar-powered power bank

When you’re out and about for long days in Sri Lanka, having a power bank can literally be a life saver. Especially if you get lost, are out longer than you thought and your phone is about to die. I recommend getting a solar powered one, which you can clip onto your bag so that it recharges throughout the day.

Tripod

If you want to step up your photography game, then a tripod is a must have. Perfect for capturing those Instagram-worthy Sri Lanka sunset shots that you’ve seen everywhere!

ibVPN

Get A Free Trial Here

VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is actually a software programme we downloaded onto our laptops, allowing you to maintain access to all the websites that we use frequently back home. It can even be used, with mixed success, to access your home version of Netflix.

coconut trees sri lanka — A great camera is essential for those epic Sri Lanka photography moments ...

Health & Safety

It’s important you know what to pack for Sri Lanka in order to stay safe!

Well, in Sri Lanka, you have two natural enemies to contend with on a daily basis; these are mosquitos and the sun.

So, beyond the first aid kit I ran through above, here’s a few health and safety must haves in your Sri Lanka packing list.

Mosquito repellant spray - In Sri Lanka, gnats and mosquitos are much more frequent in coastal areas (like Unawatuna), and tend to become particularly pesky around sunset time. Get a good quality mosquito spray before you go; sure it’s stinky but it could save you a lot of grief down the road.
Plug in mosquito deterrant - We bought one of these before our trip to Sri Lanka and used it a few times when our hotel room failed to have proper precautions in place. For example, some rooms have holes under the doors which allow bugs to get in and many have mosquito nets with dozens of holes in them. This device plugs into the wall and either emits a high frequency sound or releases small amounts of deet throughout the night in order to help keep mosquitoes & other bugs away.
Sunscreen - With Cazzy’s extra white skin, we always have plenty of this with us! Buying sunscreen in Sri Lanka can also be relatively expensive, so it’s best to pick up enough for your whole trip before you leave.
Antimalarials - Typically, the risk of malaria in Sri Lanka is very low, though it can increase slightly in the northern parts of the country (such as Mullaitivu). It’s best to consult with your travel doctor before you leave in order to see whether antimalarials are necessary.
Padlock - We have one small padlock for all of our bags; and though we never really felt uneasy about our belongings in Sri Lanka, you never know; so it’s handy to have one in your bag. Especially if you're boarding a public bus or train and need to put your bags in the hold compartment.

Health & Safety must-haves

Insect Repellent

Reef Friendly Sunscreen

Ultrasonic Bug Repeller

TSA Approved Travel Lock

Miscellaneous things to pack for Sri Lanka

Here’s a few other things we included in our Sri Lanka packing list.

Collapsible coffee mug - Helps us to cut down on our use of disposable coffee cups whilst also fueling Cazzy’s caffeine addiction. Fold down ones are great as they take up less room in your bag, which is a plus!
Worldwide travel plug - We take at least 2 of these wherever we go; and it’s much more convenient having a worldwide one as we know that, no matter where we go, we will have the right adaptor for the job.
Pin to open sim card hole on phone - A small device that comes in massively handy when you’re travelling to multiple countries and need to switch and change your sim cards. I have a metal one that lives in my wallet and is there for the dozen or so occasions throughout the year when we need it.
Dry bag - As well as a small dry bag for dirty clothes, we also take a heavy duty one with us to countries like Sri Lanka where you can expect to spend a lot of time in or around the water. If you’re doing tours in Sri Lanka, such as diving, snorkelling or whale watching, then a good quality dry bag is a must have!
Quick drying towel - I love a big fluffy towel, and it’s one of the few home comforts that I really do miss when away! However, it’s just not practical when travelling whereas a lightweight, quick drying towel takes up very little space and is always dry and ready to use. That being said, all of the hostels and hostels that we stayed at in Sri Lanka provided towels anyway, so our own ones were only really for beach use.
Playing cards - I couldn’t imagine travelling without a deck of cards, we use these basically every day!
Earphones - I see some travellers carrying around big head phones; but they’re just not that convenient when you’re travelling a lot; instead small earphones do the trick.
Hand sanitiser - We keep a tube of this in one or both of our daypacks for when we are out and about and ready to have dinner. It’s a quick and easy way to help ward off any unwanted bugs and germs you pick up.

Miscellaneous Items

Collapsible Coffee Mug

Worldwide Travel Plug

Dry Bag

Lightweight Travel Towel

Earphones

Playing Cards

Hand Sanitizer

Phone Sim Tray Opener

What NOT to pack for Sri Lanka!

Here’s a few items that a lot of people pack for Sri Lanka and I think are completely unnecessary ...

An umbrella - Yes you will get sudden bouts of rain in Sri Lanka but, if you’re backpacking around then an umbrella is just inconvenient to have. We found that any half decent hotel in the hill country of Sri Lanka, where it rains more often, have these for you to borrow. Other than that, just slip on your light raincoat/poncho or just enjoy the downpour.
A stupidly big bag - I talked about the right backpack for Sri Lanka above. But I just wanted to reiterate a common mistake that travellers make, which is taking a bag that is far too big. If you have a big bag, then you will naturally fill it with all kinds of junk you don’t actually need.
A sleeping bag - Unless you plan on wild camping in Sri Lanka, then you don’t need to worry about this. If you’re staying in cheap hostels and you're worried about bed bugs, then a silk sleeping bag liner will do the job of keeping any unwanted intruders out and takes up virtually no space.
Portable WiFi - Local sims are dead cheap so pick one up when you arrive; either at the airport or at a local phone store.

Other items to add to your Sri Lanka packing list

When packing for Sri Lanka, everyone will want to take different things; and sure there’s probably a few things we didn’t take that would come in really useful for you.

So here’s a quick rundown of other items you may want to pack for a Sri Lanka vacation.

Packing cubes - We don’t actually use these, but we really should start! Many backpackers swear by them as the only real way to keep all your belongings properly organised.
Money belt - Just reminds me of Will in Inbetweeners 2
Kindle - Personally, I like to download books to the Kindle reader app on my phone; but if you’re a massive bookworm and intend to read a lot in Sri Lanka, then this could be a very worthwhile investment.
Hiking boots - Do you need hiking boots for Sri Lanka? Yes, if you plan on doing a lot of the bigger walks such as Adam’s Peak. Aside from that, if you don’t plan on doing anything too strenuous then you can save a lot of space in your bag by using a decent pair of trainers for everything (which is what we do).
Physical books/travel guides - I agree, there’s nothing better than having a proper book to read, instead of doing so on a device. You’ll find Sri Lanka travel guides and other books in almost every hostel and hotel, so feel free to pick up books as you move around Sri Lanka.
Buff
Ear plugs - Luckily, I am a very deep sleeper, but if you're not then these are a must have!
Waist bag - This formed a key part of my Camino packing list when I was hiking all day and needed quick access to my money and passport all day. But for general backpacking destinations I just don’t see the need.
Multivitamins - I actually did pack these for Sri Lanka, but afterwards haven’t really bothered taking them on a regular basis. I’m really not convinced how much they do, I just try to eat a varied diet and hope that’s enough!
Massage ball - I discovered these after a recommendation from the legendary Tim Ferris! I take a small one if I’m on a trip where I do a lot of hiking.
Waterproof phone case - Personally, I’d rather just take a GoPro in the water; and leave my phone on dry land.
Selfie stick - Soooooooo 2015.
Underwater dome for GoPro - We really want to try one of these! We didn’t take one to Sri Lanka but wish we had!
Extension cord - We didn’t take this to Sri Lanka, but we do have started taking one of these with us on other adventures. It’s really handy for couples like us who each have two or 3 devices that always need to be charged.
Bluetooth speaker
Snorkel - If you are going to Sri Lanka to do a lot of snorkelling, then it would be a good idea to get your own rather than relying on questionable local equipment.
Binoculars - If you’re going to be doing a lot of safaris in Sri Lanka, then these could be a good bet.
Travel pillow
Mosquito net

Other items

Packing Cubes

Kindle E Reader

Money Belt

Buff

Ear Plugs

Wash Bag

Waterproof Phone Case

Selfie Stick

Underwater GoPro Dome

Bluetooth Speaker

Snorkel

Binoculars

Travel Pillow

Hiking Boots

Massage Ball

Top tips when packing for Sri Lanka

Ask yourself … “Do I really need everything in my bag?”

Use your time in Sri Lanka to cut back on most of the luxuries you use back home. It’s so liberating when you can cut stuff out and leave it at home.

Plan your route around Sri Lanka first, before finishing packing

What you pack for Sri Lanka is largely dependent on where and when you are visiting. As mentioned at the top, Sri Lanka has such a varied geography and climate; so by planning your Sri Lanka itinerary carefully before you leave you can be more sure of exactly what clothes for Sri Lanka are actually necessary.

Make the most of the beauty of Sri Lanka

I went into pretty good detail above about all of the photography gear we packed for Sri Lanka. That’s because Sri Lanka truly is one of the most beautiful countries we have ever been to, and it’s a shame not to make the most of your time there by taking home as many memories as possible. As standard, a decent smartphone and an action/underwater camera is the way to go.

Remember, almost everything can be bought in Sri Lanka

Don’t panic and pack your whole house when trying to decide what to take to Sri Lanka.

Most things can actually be bought out there in major towns and cities.

That being said, it’s best to pick up any expensive electronic equipment before you go.

Ultimate Sri Lanka Travel Packing Checklist

Men's Packing List

Women's Packing List

Travel essentials

First aid

Toiletries

Documents

Other

Tech/gadgets

Health & Safety

Miscellaneous

Other items to consider