London to Sri Lanka's South Coast (Midigama) | Transport options and visa
I've heard a lot of good things about Sri Lanka, so decided to spend a few months there! I thought it would be useful to make a vlog about the travel options from Colombo (which is where most flights land) to the South Coast of Sri Lanka. I was basing myself in Midigama to start off with, but the timings/costs should give you a general idea of your options even if you're staying in Unawatuna, Ahangama, Midigama, Hikkaduwa or any of the other popular south coast destinations. Why the south coast? During the European winter months, the best surf in Sri Lanka is in the South Coast. Taxi from Colombo to Midigama (2.5 hours) - 8,500 Sri Lanka Rupees (Rs) - Can range between 7,000 Rs and 10,000 Rs. - $42 USD - £31 GBP - €37 EUR Train from Colombo to Midigama (4 hours) - 250 Rs - $1.23 USD - £0.91 GBP - €1.1 EUR Bus from Colombo to Midigama (4-6 hours) - I don't know the exact price for this but it is likely to be the same as the train. If you have surfboards though, prepare to pay for two tickets! Sri Lanka ETA Visa You can get the ETA on arrival visa when you land in Colombo, but it is much easier to just do it online. It takes 1-2 days to get your confirmation back and costs $36 USD. Link:
https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainf... Extending your Sri Lanka ETA Visa This costs $100 USD and you get an extra 2 months. You can use an agent if you need to get it done quicker, but it is relatively easy to apply online. Bear in mind though that you need to register and upload documents. These then need to be approved, they then send you a payment link and your payment needs to be accepted before you get confirmation. As such, it can take up to 5 working days so extend your visa well in advance if you're going to be spending more time in Sri Lanka. Link to register and extend:
https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/... 0:00 - Leaving London
0:48 - Flying London to Colombo, Sri Lanka
1:38 - Taxi from Colombo to South Coast
2:08 - Train from Colombo to Midigama
2:30 - Bus from Colombo to Midigama
2:44 - Buses in Sri Lanka are crazy
3:46 - Sri Lanka ETA Visa
4:27 - Extending Sri Lankan Tourist visa
6:00 - Travel in Sri Lanka