Peak season:
You’ll need to assess where you’ll be travelling to in Sri Lanka once you’ve landed in Colombo as the weather and the peak season varies depending on where you go. Generally you’ll find reasonably priced flight tickets between the rainy seasons. The south-west coast is driest between November to April whereas the east coast is best visited between May to September. If you visit the south-west coast then you must pay a visit to the beaches around Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Unawatuna as they are simply stunning. You’ll need to make sure you secure your flights to Sri Lanka in advance during the peak season as you’ll find the cost of flight tickets increase a lot as the dates approach.
Off season:
You’ll find the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka during the Monsoon season which can be from October time to December or January. It’s still worth planning and booking your flights to Sri Lanka in advance to secure cheaper flight tickets and despite the Monsoon season it can still be very busy in places. Once you’ve decided where in Sri Lanka you’ll be visiting you should do a bit of research on any festivals or events as these will drive the costs up and make cheap flights to Sri Lanka harder to find. On the other hand, they will provide you with amazing memories and experiences.
Aim to book your flights to Sri Lanka at least two or three months in advance, although, if you want to find a bargain you should try even earlier than that. Despite the fact that the Monsoon season will offer the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka, it also leaves the island completely soaked so avoid this time if you don’t want to get wet. The peak of summer can also be unbearably hot and humid but on the whole the warmer weather can be enjoyed for most of the season. If you can be flexible with when you travel then you’ll find the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka.
Flights from London to Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka: 10 hours 45 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka: 12 hours 30 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka: 12 hours 55 minutes.
Flights from Glasgow to Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka: 13 hours 55 minutes.
Sri Lankan and Qatar Airways are the major airlines that provide reasonably cheap flights to Sri Lanka. On occasion you’ll find Emirates and British Airways also offering flight tickets but they aren’t as regular. Deciding which airline to use comes down primarily to the price and your own preference. Emirates and Qatar Airways for example provide very high standards for comfort and service while British Airways offer complimentary food and drinks onboard. Plan ahead and decide which airline offers the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka and then consider other options such as inflight entertainment.
Once your flights to Sri Lanka arrive, you can get an airport shuttle to the main bus terminal. From here you can jump on several different buses depending on where you are going but bus 187 leaves every 30 minutes and goes to Central Colombo. Once you’ve secured your flight tickets to Sri Lanka it’s worth checking which hotels provide airport transfers. Finding one that does will give you less to worry about once you land. Lastly, you can opt for a taxi. Taxis are more expensive than the bus but they are a good option if you don’t want to wait around for a bus to arrive. Make sure you agree on a fee before getting in though to avoid being ripped off.