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

Bradley Williams
Written By:
Bradley Williams
Last Updated:
April 18, 2023
It's important you know what to pack for Sri Lanka so that you have the most incredible time possible! So here's my truly epic Sri Lanka packing list!
our Sri Lanka packing list

Without a doubt, backpacking Sri Lanka is one of the best travel experiences we have ever had!

Almost immediately (after leaving Colombo) we fell in love with the people and the incredible scenery the country offers.

And ever since our visit, it’s nice to see that Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst young backpackers looking to discover a beautiful country, still far from being overcrowded with tourists.

But to make the most of your time here, I wanted to put together an in-depth Sri Lanka packing list that took you through exactly what to pack and why.

There’s certainly a few things that I wish I had packed for Sri Lanka (but didn’t!) and hopefully this epic guide will help you avoid making any of the same mistakes we did.

First up ...

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Our #1 Thing to travel with!
Travel insurance tip
Psst!! ... Do you have travel insurance sorted?

Before traveling anywhere, make sure you have your travel insurance in place. We recommend SafetyWing.

Why?

Here's a few reasons ...

  • They Cover for Covid-19
  • You can pause and restart policies each month
  • They are more affordable than many providers

For more info, check out my in-depth SafetyWing review.

Ultimate Sri Lanka Travel Packing Checklist

Men's Packing List

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Women's Packing List

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Travel essentials

First aid

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Toiletries

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Documents

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Other

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Tech/gadgets

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Health & Safety

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Miscellaneous

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Other items to consider

Backpack
Backpack
Mosquito spray
Mosquito spray
Laptop
Laptop
Digital camera
Digital camera
Drone
Drone
Dresses
Dresses
Action / underwater camera
Action / underwater camera
Memory card hard case
Memory card hard case
Skirts
Skirts
Memory cards
Memory cards
VPN
VPN
Travel pants
Travel pants
DSLR camera
DSLR camera
External hard drive
External hard drive
Water shoes
Water shoes
Flip flops
Flip flops
Unlocked smartphone
Unlocked smartphone
Power bank
Power bank
Sunscreen
Sunscreen
DSLR camera lense
DSLR camera lense
Tripod
Tripod
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
First aid kit
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Bug repellant
Flip flops
Flip flops
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Travel locks
Travel locks
Saree
Saree
Shorts
Shorts
Hiking Socks
Hiking Socks
Light jacket
Light jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
T-shirts
T-shirts
Playsuit
Playsuit
Hat
Hat
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Jeans
Jeans
Travel trainers
Travel trainers
Passport
Passport
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Travel Insurance
Copy Of Vaccinations
Copy Of Vaccinations
Document wallet
Document wallet
Driving license
Driving license
International Driving License
International Driving License
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of passport
Travel Cards
Travel Cards
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Aftershave
Aftershave
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes
Bandages & Tape
Bandages & Tape
Deodorant
Deodorant
Diarrhoea kit
Diarrhoea kit
Disposable razors
Disposable razors
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo
Electric razor
Electric razor
Moleskin Tape
Moleskin Tape
Needles and thread
Needles and thread
Paracetamol
Paracetamol
Perfume
Perfume
Plasters
Plasters
Scissors/nail clippers
Scissors/nail clippers
Shampoo & conditioner
Shampoo & conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothbrush
Toothbrush travel container
Toothbrush travel container
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Travel Sickness Tablets
Travel Sickness Tablets
Tweezers
Tweezers
Wash bag
Wash bag
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Buff
Buff
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Collapsible Coffee Mug
Dry bags
Dry bags
Ear plugs
Ear plugs
Earphones
Earphones
Extension cord
Extension cord
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer
Hoody
Hoody
Jeans
Jeans
Jorts
Jorts
Kindle
Kindle
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight rain jacket
Lightweight Travel Towel
Lightweight Travel Towel
Local travel guidebook
Local travel guidebook
Massage ball
Massage ball
Hiking socks
Hiking socks
Money belt
Money belt
Mosquito net
Mosquito net
Multivitamins
Multivitamins
Packing cubes
Packing cubes
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Phone Sim Tray Opener
Playing cards
Playing cards
Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Selfie stick
Selfie stick
Shirts
Shirts
Snorkel
Snorkel
Socks
Socks
Swim shorts
Swim shorts
T-shirts
T-shirts
Trainer socks
Trainer socks
Cap
Cap
Travel pillow
Travel pillow
Underwater GoPro dome
Underwater GoPro dome
Waist bag
Waist bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof phone case
Worldwide Travel Plug
Worldwide Travel Plug
Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speaker
Binoculars
Binoculars
Tank tops
Tank tops

Choosing the right bag for Sri Lanka

Choosing the right bag to take to Sri Lanka is an important topic, so I figured I would give this it’s own section!

In order to choose the right one, you’ll need to consider a few things,  such as:

  • Whether you are travelling alone or with someone else
  • What you plan to do in Sri Lanka
  • How long you plan on being in Sri Lanka
  • Whether you plan on travelling to other countries after Sri Lanka

Choosing a larger backpack

For us, our visit to Sri Lanka was a part of a longer 3 month journey around India and Nepal as well.

As such, we had our typical backpacking bags with us, which includes one larger 50-70 litre bag each, as well as 1 smaller daybag each.

We’ve used a lot of bags over the years and also seen all kinds of other bags being used by other travellers.

In that time, we’ve come to the conclusion that Osprey make, not just the best bags for Sri Lanka, but also every other country in the world.

They are great quality and last for years, relatively lightweight, comfortable to wear and often come with added features; like padlockable zips and space to connect a smaller daypack on the outside. They really are the perfect gift for backpackers as they will get used for years.

If you’re travelling for a few weeks, or even a few months, this should be plenty of space for you.

In fact, in our next 3 month backpacking trips after this (we went to Central America and then The Philippines) we only actually took one 70 litre bag between us!

At first we thought this was a crazy idea and we wouldn’t have enough space, but I can honestly say that for 2 people this was absolutely loads of space.

And, I can confidently say that we always have much more stuff than average backpackers, due to Cazzy’s diabetes equipment and all of our tech and gadgets for work.

Here are our 2 recommendations:

Bradley's choice

OSPREY PACKS FARPOINT 70 (FOR MEN)

Cazzy's choice

OSPREY PACKS RENN 65 (FOR WOMEN)

Choosing the perfect day bag

Now, down to day bags, a crucial part of your Sri Lanka packing list.

Once again, the exact one you go for is dependant on a few things, when making your choice consider:

  • Will you be doing a lot of hiking? If so, make sure you get a bag with waist and shoulder straps; you may even need space for a water bag.
  • What do you actually need to fit in a day bag? For example, we like our daybag to be big enough to fit both of our travel laptops when we head to a cafe to work.
  • Do you carry a lot of photography gear? In which case one of these awesome camera backpacks might be best for you.
  • Are you worried about safety? In my review of Loctote, you will see that they are the perfect anti-theft travel bag out there.

Personally, I have used the same day pack now for over 6 years; and I don’t just use it when away, but also when I’m back at home.

It has been thoroughly used and abused and is still going strong.

Can you guess what brand it is?

That’s right, Osprey!

We use that day pack for most of our active days exploring, but Cazzy’s day bag is a bit bigger and better suited to carrying laptops around and lots of other gadgets.

Perfect for our second trip to Bali when we had to pack enough clothes for 3 days on the road with just our moped.

That way, we have the best of both worlds.

Our top recommendations for digital nomad backpacks, which offer space for travel tech as well as lifestyle gear, would be either Solgaard backpacks or Tropicfeel backpacks.

Bradley's choice

OSPREY PACKS STRATOS 24

Cazzy's choice

Tropicfeel Shell backpack
Tropicfeel Shell Backpack

What about roll-on luggage?

Backpacks not really your thing?

I don't blame you!

Roll-on luggage is so much more convenient for shorter holidays, and is much easier when navigating airports.

We have traveled a lot with Horizn Studios luggage and can vouch for their ease-of-use and advanced features. Such as in-built portable chargers in the Smart range.

You can also customise your luggage with initials; so you always know which is yours.

They are more of a luxury carry-on brand, but are great if you are keen to invest in top quality luggage that's built last.

I recommend taking a look at the H5 Smart range as a good starting point for Sri Lanka.

Horizn Studios carry-on

Final thoughts on picking bags for travel to Sri Lanka

My top travel tip when it comes to picking any travel bag is to think carefully about how much space you ACTUALLY need.

Most first-time backpackers (ourselves included) take a bag that is far too big and then end up filling it needlessly with lots of unnecessary stuff.

In turn, this is much more inconvenient because:

  1. You have more weight to lug around with you
  2. You have to pay more to take everything on flights
  3. You have more things to worry about when you are away

Instead, our policy is now to be as minimal as possible.

That’s one of the reasons we made our switch to just taking one big backpack between us and we’ve never looked back.

Now, we only have 3 bags to worry about, instead of 4, and it means that I can carry the bags and Cazzy has her hands free to worry about maps and whatever else needs sorted when we arrive somewhere new.

It’s also incredibly liberating to have only the bare essentials with you when travelling.

It allows you to much better appreciate what you have and to focus more on enjoying your travels.

In case you forget anything, you’ll be able to pick up most of the essentials you need when in Sri Lanka; especially in a city like Colombo.

You might also like: Best Eco Friendly Sustainable Backpacks
walking gear for sri lanka
My trusty Osprey day bag in action in Nuwara Eliya's tea fields!

What to pack for Sri Lanka: Travel Essentials

Great, now we have our bags sorted. It's time to start filling them!

In the name of minimalism and only taking with you what you realistically need, let’s start by looking at Sri Lanka’s travel essentials!

Skip to:

What to wear in Sri Lanka for men

Packing clothes for Sri Lanka is quite a personal thing and will come down to your own tastes. 

But for me, here is what I took on our 3 month tour that included 3 weeks in Sri Lanka:

  • 5 t-shirts
  • 2 vest tops
  • 1 evening shirt - For eating out in nicer places
  • 1 pair of jorts - (jean shorts, I’m funny right?)
  • 1 lightweight rain jacket - Doesn’t need to be warm, but it will certainly get used!
  • 2 pairs of swim trunks - Looser fitting ones make it a bit easier if you plan to visit Sri Lanka’s surf spots
  • 1 pair of jeans - For eating out in nicer restaurants and for the odd cold morning and evening; particularly important for the hill country of Sri Lanka
  • 2 pairs of long socks
  • 5 pairs of trainer socks
  • 1 pair of hiking socks
  • 1 hoody - For those times when it’s a bit chilly - you don't need anything too thick, as temperatures rarely drop that low in Sri Lanka
  • 1 cap - Important for Sri Lanka and keeping the sun off your face
  • 1 pair of sunglasses
  • 1 pair of Tropicfeel travel shoes - I use these for everything: hiking, hitting the gym, riding on mopeds, going for dinner ... everything!
  • 1 pair of flip flops - I always recommend Reef; their flip flops are more expensive but last for at least a few years, are incredibly comfortable and well suited to longer bouts of walking

What to wear in Sri Lanka for women (from Cazzy)

When it comes to dressing in Sri Lanka as a woman, you’ll be happy to hear it’s all very relaxed (though you hould still be respectful of their local religion).

The only exception to this is in Arugam Bay which is home to a majority Muslim population.

They ask that you don’t wear swimwear (bikinis etc) whilst on the street, only on the beaches. 

Sri Lanka fashion in general is quite diverse and the most popular item that locals wear is a saree and they’re easy to pick up at a market in the country. 

They are great for beaches, and covering shoulders for temples; so I recommend you invest in one! 

Actually, since markets are quite cheap, it’s easy to pick up all forms of Sri Lanka clothing, shorts, dresses, flip flops etc, so you could pack light and buy a few bits out there. 

Cazzy usually takes more clothes than me and even then I have to persuade her to leave a few things at home (she’s not taken to the whole minimalism thing which is as much love as me).

Here’s what her female Sri Lanka packing list looks like:

  • 1 pair of water shoes - a great investment if you plan on going in the water a lot, especially for snorkelling
  • 1 saree - It’s easy to pick one of these up in Sri Lanka
  • 1 pair of sunglasses
  • 1 pair of hiking socks
  • 5 pairs of trainer socks
  • 1 stylish hat
  • 1 light rain jacket
  • 1 pair of flip flops
  • 4 t-shirts
  • 1 pair of jeans
  • 3 pairs of shorts
  • 2 swimming costumes/bikinis 
  • 3 sun dresses 
  • 1 long skirt 
  • 1 pair of light trousers : Opt for Buddha pants for lightweight trousers in lots of awesome styles.
  • 1 playsuit or jumpsuit 
  • 1 light jacket - for the evenings
  • 1 pair of trainers 

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 when in Thailand and we've 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

If you don’t yet own a travel first aid kit, then here’s a good option to buy.

It contains the majority of what you need and you can then just add in any other items you want to take with you.

Plus, it’s small enough to tuck away in your backpack and not take up much space.

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.

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.

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.

For more information, you can check out our in-depth Revolut review here...

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 SafetyWing 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.

Including the blogging cameras we use, as well as other useful travel tech.

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.

DSLR

If you’re looking to get a little more serious about photography, then it’s best to pick yourself up a DSLR camera, as well as a wide angle lens. 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! For more tips, check out our lens guides for these top cameras: Sony a7 / Sony a7ii / Sony a7iii / Sony a7riii / Sony a6000 / Sony a6300 / Sony a6400 / Sony a6500 / Sony a6600 / Sony z6 / Canon M50 / Canon 80D / Canon 90D / Canon 6D Mark II / Panasonic GH5 / Nikon D750 / Nikon D850 / Nikon D3100 / Nikon D3200 / Nikon D3300 / Nikon D3400 / Nikon D3500 / Nikon D5600

G7 X Mark II
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
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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 Hero 8
GoPro HERO8 Black
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Underwater camera / action camera

We’ve tested a few underwater/action cameras over the years, and I must admit GoPro does a fantastic job. 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! Nowadays, other brands like Yi & Akaso offer great quality action cameras as well, which are often on-par in terms of quality and durability. Check them out in my epic round up of the best GoPro alternatives.

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. Check out our drone-buying guide on the for help picking yours. As well as our list of the best DJI competitor drones currently out there.

Other Gadgets we travel with

unlocked phone
Unlocked Smartphone (with local sim)
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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.

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 - A key part of any travel packing list should be a worldwide travel adaptor. 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 Sri Lanka and need to switch and change your sim card for a local sim. 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.

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.
dressed for sigiriya rock, sri lanka

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
  • Anti-theft bag - Picking up an anti-theft travel bag is smart if you need to carry a lot of tech and other valuables in crowded places.
  • 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

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.

Everyone’s idea of what to pack for Sri Lanka is slightly different, but hopefully this guide has helped give you a thorough idea of what you actually need.

But more importantly …

What you don’t need!

If you have any questions about our list or have any recommendations of what you would take, then let me know in the comments below.

For help planning the rest of your Sri Lanka adventure, here’s some other guides you might find useful:

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