Quick answer
For a luxury 7-day Sri Lanka itinerary, pack light cotton and linen for hot days, one outfit covering shoulders and knees for temples, a warm layer and long trousers for the hill country, shoes with grip for Sigiriya, and smart casual clothes for dinner. A few colonial-era hotels and clubs ask men for a collared shirt and long trousers in the evening. Use a soft bag of 15 to 20 kilograms if any transfer is by air. Hotels return laundry within a day.
Key takeaways
- Temperatures on the luxury week range from about 33 degrees Celsius at Sigiriya to 10 to 15 degrees at night in the hills.
- Temples in Sri Lanka require covered shoulders and knees, and shoes and hats removed.
- Domestic flights limit baggage to roughly 15 to 20 kilograms a person in soft bags.
- Luxury hotels return laundry the same day or the next, so a week needs four or five days of clothes.
- Sri Lanka uses 230 volts, with the three-pin square plug the most common socket in newer hotels.
Pack for four climates
What to pack for a luxury 7-day Sri Lanka itinerary is decided by altitude. Sigiriya and the south coast are hot and humid. Kandy is warm. The hill country is cool by day and cold at night, with a chance of rain in any month.
Light, loose, natural fabrics serve three of the four. A single warm layer serves the last. Dark colours hide dust on safari and show sweat less. White and pale shades are traditional for temples and cool in the sun.
- →Lowlands: cotton, linen, a sun hat.
- →Kandy: the same, with a light scarf for the temple.
- →Hills: a jumper or fleece, long trousers, socks.
- →Coast: swimwear and a cover-up for walking to lunch.
Dress codes at dinner
Luxury hotels in Sri Lanka are relaxed. Smart casual is the rule at dinner: a shirt and trousers or tailored shorts for men, a dress or trousers for women. Beachwear belongs at the pool, and bare feet are fine at a villa and not in a hotel restaurant.
A small number of colonial-era hotels and clubs, mainly in Nuwara Eliya and Colombo, keep older standards. Men may be asked for a collared shirt, long trousers and closed shoes after 7pm, and occasionally a jacket and tie, which some will lend. Ask your operator if any property on your route has such a rule.
- →One smart outfit covers every dining room.
- →Men: one pair of long trousers and a collared shirt.
- →Closed shoes for at least one evening.
Temple clothes
Temples have firm rules. Shoulders and knees must be covered, for men and women, at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Dambulla Cave Temple and any other Buddhist or Hindu shrine. Shoes and hats are removed at the entrance.
Keep one temple outfit ready in the car: loose trousers or a long skirt and a top with sleeves. A sarong or large scarf solves most problems. Clothing printed with images of the Buddha is offensive and can lead to trouble with the authorities, as can visible Buddha tattoos.
Shoes and clothes for climbing, safari and sea
Sigiriya needs shoes with grip. Trainers or walking sandals with a back strap are right. The metal staircases are slippery in flip-flops and painful barefoot. Bring a small rucksack for water, and a hat that will not blow off.
On safari, wear neutral colours, long sleeves against sun and dust, and a scarf to cover nose and mouth on dry tracks. For the boat, take a light windproof layer and non-slip shoes. Reef shoes are useful on rocky villa frontages.
- →Sigiriya: trainers, hat, a litre of water each.
- →Safari: neutral colours, scarf, binoculars.
- →Boat: windproof layer, sun cream, hat with a strap.
Luggage, laundry and flights
Pack less than you planned. Luxury hotels launder clothes within 24 hours, and at the two-night stops in Sigiriya and on the coast you can have everything washed. Four or five days of clothes is enough for the week.
If any leg is by helicopter, seaplane or small aircraft, baggage is limited to roughly 15 to 20 kilograms a person in soft-sided bags. Your car carries the rest by road, so pack a day bag with swimwear, medication and a change of clothes.
Small things worth bringing
A few small items earn their space. Insect repellent for dusk, high-factor sun cream, which is expensive locally, a plug adaptor, a torch for estate paths, and any prescription medicine in its original packaging.
Lankan Stays & Trails sends a packing note matched to the season and the hotels booked, including any dress rules. Leave room in the bag. Tea, spices, handloom and perhaps a clay cooking pot tend to come home with most guests.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear in luxury hotels in Sri Lanka?
Light, casual clothing by day and smart casual in the evening. A shirt with trousers or tailored shorts, or a dress, suits almost every restaurant. Swimwear is for the pool and beach only. A few traditional hotels ask for long trousers and a collar at dinner.
Do I need a jacket for dinner in Sri Lanka?
Rarely. One or two colonial-era clubs and hotels in Nuwara Eliya and Colombo ask men for a jacket, and sometimes a tie, in certain dining rooms, and will usually lend them. Everywhere else, smart casual is sufficient.
What should I wear to temples in Sri Lanka?
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees, for both men and women, with shoes and hats removed before entering. White or light colours are traditional. Avoid clothing with images of the Buddha. A sarong or scarf carried in the car is useful.
Is it cold in Sri Lanka's hill country?
In the evenings, yes. Nuwara Eliya and the Hatton estates drop to 10 to 15 degrees Celsius at night, and colder from December to February. Days are 18 to 24 degrees. Bring a jumper or fleece, long trousers, socks and a light rain jacket.
How much luggage can I take on a Sri Lanka tour?
By car, as much as fits, which in a van is plenty. On domestic flights and seaplanes, roughly 15 to 20 kilograms a person in soft bags. A medium suitcase and a day bag each is ideal for a week with laundry available.
What plug adaptor do I need for Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka runs on 230 volts at 50 hertz. The square three-pin plug, as used in the United Kingdom, is the most common in newer hotels, and older round three-pin sockets also exist. A universal adaptor covers both. Most luxury hotels lend adaptors.