The Sri Lanka Packing List: What To Pack And Why

Sri Lanka is one of the most underrated travel locations in the world, providing endless adventures around every corner that you have to see to believe. From safari to surfing to hiking all in a matter of miles, Sri Lanka is truly a diverse travel destination. You are reading this right now so it means you are probably traveling to Sri Lanka very soon, so go through this whole article and when you’ve finished, you’ll be prepared for everything and anything that might come your way with this Sri Lanka packing list.

Things to know when packing for Sri Lanka

There are a few key factors that make Sri Lanka different from other countries and therefore make your packing list different are the following:

• Humidity: Sri Lanka can be sticky, sweaty, and a bit awkward at times. Waterproof dry bags, phone covers, insect repellents, and other measures need to be taken into account.
• Rain: Sri Lanka can be boiling hot one minute and pouring with rain the next. You can still have an awesome time but a waterproof jacket that isn’t too thick is key.
• Water: There are a lot of waterfalls and island hopping activities so a GoPro or waterproof camera can be a really fun tech toy to help record your adventures.

Let me begin with a list of must-have items to pack for your trip to Sri Lanka. Not everyone has the same itinerary or the same intentions while traveling, but hopefully, everyone can find some use for this Sri Lanka packing list. I’ll include a comprehensive packing checklist at the end so you don’t forget any essentials for your Sri Lanka adventure.

Power Bank

This is another item I always travel with. Carrying a power bank is especially helpful in places that occasionally experience power outages, or in countries with different power outlets to your own. I sometimes can’t be bothered to find my travel adapter and charge directly from my power bank. However, you can only top up indiscriminately if your power bank has a massive capacity like this one.

Insect Repellent

Prevention is far better than finding a cure, especially in a place like Sri Lanka. The pesky tropical mosquitos love to hang around same places you do, around palm trees, lagoons, villa pools and pretty much anywhere else you’ll find water. They also carry the risk of Dengue fever, which is a great way to ruin your vacation. Pack a DEET-free mosquito repellant to safely prevent bites. If you prefer an option with DEET, this is a great alternative.

Underwater Camera

Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to bring an action camera. Whether you’re learning to surf, visiting the raging waterfalls, having an underwater camera on hand is a great call. For this, the GoPro Hero 12 is my top recommendation. With HyperSmooth available in slow motion and ultra-high definition, dull, shaky footage is a thing of the past.

Water Shoes

You’re probably starting to realize there is a bit of a reoccurring theme here. Water-related adventures can be found all around Sri Lanka and so can a lot of sharp, slippery surfaces too. Water shoes are a great way to explore Sri Lanka without cutting up your feet on the volcanic rock that often accompanies its white sandy beaches. They can also protect your feet against hot, midday sand, provide traction on muddy waterfall trails, and protect your feet from sea urchin stings and accidental coral abrasions. These Xero Water Shoes tick all the boxes, with these NRS Water Shoes offering a slightly more cost-effective option.

Dry Bag

If you’re traveling to Sri Lanka in the rainy season, this could be simple insurance against a waterlogged camera. A sturdy dry bag with backpack straps is also great for keeping your electronics safe on waterfall hikes or boat tours. Meanwhile, this EarthPak dry bag provides a more budget-friendly option and is all most travelers need.

Reusable Water Bottle

Now the Grayl also stores the water you’ve just purified, but if you won’t have access to flowing water for a bit, or just like to keep your cool beverages cold, this vacuum-insulated Hydroflask is a great idea. I like to carry a liter of water with me for most adventures, so the 32oz option is great to pack for Sri Lanka.

Travel Towel

Even if you’re planning to stay at a resort with unlimited beach towels, it’s handy to bring your own travel towel. To start, they take up very little space for how useful they are. They fold much smaller than regular towels, meaning you’re more likely to throw one in your bag for an adventure day.

Also, they’re extremely versatile. Take one to a yoga class, the outdoor gym, or to dry off after a jump in a mountain waterfall. These travel towels come in a handful of colors and prints.

Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Sri Lanka is one of the most ecologically important marine environments in the world, meaning we as tourists should visit as responsibly as possible. This Raw Elements sunblock is reef-safe and non-nano Zinc Oxide, making it safe for you and the coral. It also stays put for up to 80 minutes in the water, making it economical as well.

Sri Lanka Packing List Checklist

In this section, I’ll provide you a complete list you can check off against while packing your bags to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Clothing for your Sri Lanka Packing List

• Quick-dry shorts (1-2 pairs)
• Breathable t-shirts (2-3 pairs)
• 1 pair of full-length pants (natural material)
• 1 hoodie/ warm layer
• Rain jacket
• Activewear for hikes, yoga, and adventures
• Bathing suits/board shorts (always have spares while used pairs dry)
• Beach cover-ups & sundresses for women
• Button-up shirts for men (Resort casual is enough to get you into most places)
• 1 dressier outfit if going out clubbing
• Casual, cute outfits for hanging out
• Underwear
• Sarong for temple visits

Footwear for your Sri Lanka Packing List

• Hiking/walking shoes
• Flip flops
• Water shoes (optional but recommended)
• 1 dressier shoe (optional)
• Socks

Toiletries for your Sri Lanka Packing List:

• Reef-Safe Sunscreen
• Lip balm (SPF)
• First-aid kit
• Prescription medication
• Insect repellent
• Anti-histamine
• Imodium
• Feminine hygiene products
• Condoms
• Toothbrush
• Floss
• Travel-sized versions of your favorite toiletries:
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo & conditioner (optional if hotel/local products suffice for you)

Electronics for your Sri Lanka Packing List:

• Phone
• Camera(s)
• Headphones
• Tablet/Kindle
• Power bank
• Travel Adapter
• Charging cables
• Memory cards
• Spare batteries
• Camera accessories

Miscellaneous items for your Sri Lanka Packing List:

• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Backpack or bag for daily adventures
• Reusable water bottle/water filter
• Packing cubes
• Dry bag
• Money belt
• Passport wallet
• A good book

There it is, the most extensive Sri Lanka Packing List. Have a blast, enjoy the raging waterfalls and be sure to send it off a few wild cliff jumps for me. 

P.S Don’t forget to wear a helmet on the moped.

I thought I would also add the camera gear I travel with to this post for all photographers out there who want to capture their epic adventures in Sri Lanka. 

Sony A7ii Mirrorless Camera

I wanted a light camera, one that I would be able to carry on hikes and all of my travel adventures. The Sony A7 series does a great job at competing and often outperforming Canon and Nikon but in a smaller camera. Mirrorless is the way of the future for cameras and for travel bloggers it is a no-brainer to go for a mirrorless camera as they are sometimes half the size. A great part about the Sony A7II is being able to use the Sony PlayMemories Apps. There are lots of free apps you can install on the camera such as the Time Lapse app and Sky HDR app. The Sony A7iii is now available, which means the Sony A7ii has been reduced dramatically in price to less than $1000.

16-35 f4 Sony Landscape Photography Lens

The Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar F4 Lens is on my camera 90% of the time. It is my go-to lens for my Instagram, blog and just about everything. The focal length of 35mm is equivalent to what you see with a naked eye. A focal length of 16mm is much wider and enabled me to capture an entire scene, a vast range of mountains or an entire beach in one shot. The Sony 16-35mm is my primary lens and It enabled me to shoot some portraits but also the flexibility to fit an entire landscape into my frame. It’s perfect for travel photography, especially if you are in nature a lot.

55mm f1.8 Sony- Zeiss Portrait Lens

A prime lens has a fixed focal length and a much wider aperture, which enables low light shooting and a much smaller depth of field. I purchased the Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA Prime Lens. I ended up doing a few paid jobs and paying off this lens quickly. My favorite time with this lens was in Indonesia where I tried my hand at travel portrait photography for the first time, which turned out to be really fun especially with the small depth of field the Sony 55m F1.8 delivered. Taking portraits is something I do now in every country I visit and it is because of this lens.

Hoya Polarizer Filter

All of my landscape photos involved the sun and often the ocean. The harsh light from the sun often blows out the water with awful reflections. I bought a Hoya 72mm HRT Circular PL Polarizer and with a small twist before taking a photo I was now able to reduce or eliminate the reflections on the ocean. All of a sudden I could see the reef below the water and bring out the turquoise color of the Pacific Ocean. Even on hikes the polarizer really brings out the greens of the trees and is so handy when shooting a waterfall. My polarizer is on my camera 90% of the time and is one of my favorite accessories. It also protects your expensive lens glass from scratches.

Dji Mavic 2 Drone

Buying a drone is the single best thing I’ve done during my travels. I absolutely love flying my drone at all of the amazing places I get to visit. The Dji Mavic Pro 2 is super compact and fits in my backpack quite easily. I love the idea that I get to have an aerial tour of each location I visit. It is like a free helicopter experience all around the world. The drone allows me to really show the landscape of a location to my blog readers in a way that a regular camera just can’t capture. I love getting to the top of a mountain on a solo hike, chilling out for a bit and then sending the drone up for an aerial view.

Hoya ND Filter

I began looking the work of many talented landscape photographers and decided I wanted to try my hand at long exposures. I did hours of research and finally decided to get a Hoya Pro 72mm 1000x Neutral Density Filter, which is a 10 stop ND filter. This allowed me to smooth oceans, waterfalls and show motion in the water. It also helped to show motion in the sky especially with cloud movement and during sunset/sunrise.

GorillaPod

I quickly figured out that carrying a tripod everywhere was not fun at all. In fact, I often left it at the hostel because I didn’t want to hike with it. So when I did need a tripod I didn’t even have one. I decided to buy myself a GorillaPod, which is super small, lightweight and fits inside my backpack easily. It is bendable and you can attach it to almost anything. Unlike the tripod, which has a maximum height, you can attach the camera to poles, tree branches or street signs to grab a steady shot. It’s perfect for vlogging and setting up photos of yourself if no-one else is around.

Memory Cards

I have two SanDisk Extreme PRO SD cards, which has worked perfectly for me. They come in different storage amounts but the 64gb or 128gb means you will literally never run out unless you are shooting insane amounts of video.

THREE TOURS I RECOMMEND IN SRI LANKA