Getting a tattoo in a developing country is always an interesting experience. In Sri Lanka, there are plenty of different tattoo studios to choose from. I was in Unawatuna in the south of the country and found a tattoo artist called Sajee in the nearby city of Galle.
I visited the studio to meet Sajee and check out some of his work. The studio wasn’t spotless but it was fairly clean and the photos of his previous work filled me with confidence.
I took in a few images of tigers that I liked and together with Sajee’s help we combined several of the images into an original sketch. Sajee quoted me $320 USD. I don’t like bartering when it comes to travel tattoos as I always feel like it may affect the quality of effort that goes into the final product.
One of my local friends laughed at me and suggested I could have gotten the same tattoo in Sri Lanka with his friend for a third of the price. That is the type of decision you will be faced with when looking to get a tattoo. It is a risk that may or may not pay off.
I felt comfortable with Sajee Tattoo studio and decided to go ahead with his design and quote.
As always nothing happens fast in Sri Lanka. I arrived at the agreed time of 10 in the morning hoping to begin straight away but the tattoo was only just being sketched. After a couple of small revisions, the actual tattooing only began at 1:30. The entire process took a few hours and I ended up leaving the studio just before 4 pm in the afternoon.
Sajee was incredibly friendly and patient throughout the process and made the experience comfortable and as enjoyable as possible when you are being needled for a few hours.
There are definitely lots of studios across the country more than capable of producing a quality tattoo. The question is if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of security for a lower cost or not. There is no right or wrong. I chose the safest option I found because as cliche as it sounds it is going to be on you for life. I have now been tattooed in Santa Monica in California, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Boracay in the Philippines, Koh Tao in Thailand and Galle in Sri Lanka.
Comment below if you had an interesting tattoo experience while abroad.
MY TOP PLACES TO STAY IN SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is a huge region so it depends on where you are and which of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka are on your list as to which accommodation will be the best. For example, when you are visiting Sigiriya Rock, Hotel Sigiriya is clearly the best choice!
- Top pick: A stunning estate in the Tea Country: Thotalagala
- Best overall experience -(with Sigiriya Rock): Hotel Sigiriya
- Best for heritage in Galle: Galle Fort Hotel
- Best for elephant safaris: Cinnamon Lodge Habarana
- Best for beachfront bliss in Tangalle: Buckingham Place
- Best for exploring Colombo: The Kingsbury or the Movenpick
- Best for home-cooked food in Kandy: Green View Boutique
THREE TOURS I RECOMMEND IN SRI LANKA
Before we get into the list of the top things to do in Sri Lanka, I wanted to share with you three of my favorite tours in Sri Lanka.
Golden Hour Safari: The most popular safari tour is the Golden Hour Safari Experience in Yala National Park
Whale Watching: The Morning Whale Watching Tour from Mirissa Beach is one of the most popular activities in the entire country. See a variety of animals including blue whales, sperm whales, and dolphins from the observation deck.
Sigiriya Rock Tour: Discover the Sigirya rock fortress on a 2-3-hour walking trip which will provide an insight into the art, tradition, and history of Sri Lanka. Book your tour: Sigiriya Rock Climb Guided Tour
READ MORE SRI LANKA BLOG POSTS
- Ultimate Guide: 15 BEST THINGS TO DO IN SRI LANKA
- Hiking in Ella: LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK HIKE IN ELLA
- Riding the Train: Kandy to Ella by Train
- The famous Sri Lanka rope swing: THE PALM TREE ROPE SWING AT DALAWELLA
- The famous bridge: NINE ARCH BRIDGE IN ELLA
- Getting a tattoo in Sri Lanka: MY EXPERIENCE GETTING A TATTOO IN SRI LANKA
- Where to stay: 20 BEST ECO LODGES IN SRI LANKA
- Sri Lanka Packing List: THE ULTIMATE SRI LANKA PACKING LIST: WHAT TO PACK AND WHY
Have you got travel Insurance?
- Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is SafetyWing which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me in the photo below with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali
- I’ve made several successful claims with SafetyWing and find their customer service very quick and helpful.
- SafetyWing’s Essential plan covers travel and medical emergencies with options for adventure sports and electronics theft. Their Complete plan offers comprehensive health coverage with routine healthcare, mental health support, and maternity.
simone
Tuesday 5th of December 2023
You should have tried traditional tattoo in the Philippines. Search Whang-od, you'll understand what I mean. 😊 And you're sure it's hundred percent safe cause they use charcoal for tint and thorn from citrus plant, one time use needle. I'm here in Sri Lanka right now and I'll definitely get a tattoo before I leave. Thanks for the info.
Cathy Fulton
Sunday 11th of April 2021
So funny that I came across this post randomly...I also got a tattoo in Sri Lanka--in Hikkaduwa. And it was my FIRST tattoo--at the age of 65! I wrote a blog post about it as well! CathleensOdyssey.com/tattooed-like-an-old-salt/
Jackson
Saturday 17th of April 2021
at 65 that's impressive!
Friday 29th of November 2019
thanks my brother
Ryan - Panumart Tattoo Chiang Mai
Thursday 3rd of October 2019
Glad you decided to go with Sajee Tattoo studio instead of going for the cheaper option. Your body isn't the place to skimp on price. And your tattoo came out looking really good.
Sara
Saturday 10th of August 2019
where in Siem Reap did you get a tattoo? And would you recommend that place?