Quick answer
To combine Sri Lanka and India, check that the fixtures fall within a few weeks of each other, then plan flights between Colombo and Indian cities: about an hour and a half to Chennai, Bengaluru or Thiruvananthapuram, and about three hours to Mumbai or Delhi. Australians need a Sri Lankan ETA and an Indian e-visa. Start in Sri Lanka, where travel is easier, then move to India. Allow rest days and pace yourself.
Key takeaways
- Flights from Colombo to southern India take about an hour and a half.
- Mumbai and Delhi are about three hours from Colombo.
- Australians need a Sri Lankan ETA and an Indian e-visa.
- Starting in Sri Lanka eases you into subcontinent travel.
- Joint ICC events have spread matches across both countries.
When the chance comes
Australia's tours are scheduled separately, but sometimes a series in Sri Lanka and one in India fall within a few weeks of each other. ICC events have also been shared, such as the 2011 men's World Cup, the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup and the 2026 men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Watch the fixtures carefully, as the gap between series decides whether a combined trip is practical or simply too long.
For most fans, a gap of a week or two is ideal, giving time to travel and rest.
- →Separate tours sometimes fall close together.
- →Joint ICC events span both countries.
- →A gap of a week or two is ideal.
Flights and visas
Flights from Colombo to southern Indian cities, such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, take about an hour and a half. Mumbai and Delhi are about three hours. Several airlines fly these routes daily.
Australians need an Electronic Travel Authorisation for Sri Lanka and an e-visa for India, both applied for online. Check the validity of each, especially if you will leave and re-enter either country.
Lankan Stays & Trails can time the Sri Lankan leg so the departure to India fits the next series.
- →Southern India: about an hour and a half.
- →Mumbai and Delhi: about three hours.
- →ETA for Sri Lanka, e-visa for India.
Which order works best
Starting in Sri Lanka usually works best. It is compact, relaxed and easy to travel, which eases you into the heat, the food and the pace of the subcontinent. India, with its bigger crowds, cities and distances, then feels less overwhelming.
If the fixtures dictate India first, plan a few quiet days in Sri Lanka afterwards, on a beach or in the hills, before the next series.
Either way, keep travel days separate from match days.
- →Sri Lanka first eases you in.
- →India first needs a quiet Sri Lankan stretch after.
- →Keep travel off match days.
Splitting the time
A typical combined trip runs four to six weeks. In Sri Lanka, follow the Tests in Galle or the white-ball matches in Colombo and Kandy, with a few days of sightseeing. In India, choose one or two venues rather than chasing every match, as distances are large.
Build in rest days in both countries, and a short break between them.
Between the two countries, a few days in southern India, such as Kerala's backwaters or the temples of Tamil Nadu, make an easy bridge from Colombo, with short flights and a culture that shares much with Sri Lanka's north.
- →Four to six weeks in total.
- →Choose one or two Indian venues.
- →Rest days in both countries.
Staying fresh
A long double tour is tiring. Pace the match days, sleep well, drink plenty of water and be careful with food and drink, especially in India. Keep a few days with no plans at all.
Laundry, phone plans and money need managing across two countries; a local SIM in each is cheapest.
Money also needs a plan. Sri Lankan and Indian rupees are different currencies, so withdraw only what you need before leaving each country, and keep a card with low foreign transaction fees for both.
- →Pace the match days.
- →Be careful with food and water.
- →A SIM in each country.
Frequently asked questions
Can you follow Australia in Sri Lanka and India on one trip?
Yes, if the fixtures fall within a few weeks of each other or an ICC event spans both. Flights between Colombo and Indian cities are short, and a combined trip of four to six weeks is possible. Check visas for both countries.
How long is the flight from Colombo to India?
Flights from Colombo to southern Indian cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram take about an hour and a half. Mumbai and Delhi are about three hours. Several airlines fly these routes daily.
Do Australians need visas for both Sri Lanka and India?
Yes. Australians need an Electronic Travel Authorisation for Sri Lanka and an e-visa for India, both applied for online. Check the validity and entry conditions of each, especially if you will leave and re-enter either country.
Should you start in Sri Lanka or India?
Starting in Sri Lanka usually works best, as it is compact, relaxed and easy to travel, easing you into the subcontinent. If the fixtures put India first, plan a few quiet days in Sri Lanka afterwards before the next series.
Have World Cups been shared between India and Sri Lanka?
Yes. The 2011 men's World Cup, the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup and the 2026 men's T20 World Cup were co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, among others in 2011. Check the venues for each team when planning a tournament trip.
How long should a combined Sri Lanka and India trip be?
Most combined trips run four to six weeks, depending on the fixtures and the gap between series. Choose one or two Indian venues rather than chasing every match, and build rest days into both countries.
How do you stay healthy on a long subcontinent cricket trip?
Pace the match days, sleep well and drink plenty of bottled or filtered water. Be careful with street food and ice, especially in India. Keep a few days with no plans, and see a travel doctor before departure about vaccinations.
Can you use Sri Lankan rupees in India?
No, Sri Lankan and Indian rupees are different currencies. Spend or exchange Sri Lankan rupees before leaving, and withdraw Indian rupees from an ATM on arrival in India. A card with low foreign transaction fees helps across both countries.