Solo Travel in Sri Lanka: My Experience and Tips for a Safe Journey

Before even leaving, Sri Lanka was one of the countries on my list for my world tour.

I had heard very little about it. None of my friends had ever been, but I think what excited me most was the idea that, unlike other destinations like Thailand or Bali, Sri Lanka would be a real discovery, a more "raw," adventurous destination.

However, at the time to book my tickets, I got serious doubts.

As always, I did some online research to check if the country was “safe” for solo women travelers, and the results were very scary as I found several articles warning about traveling as a woman in Sri Lanka...

At the same time, I kept hearing from travelers (both men and women) who had visited and had a very positive experience. So, I wanted to dig deeper, especially since the blog posts I had found were often years old, and usually just advice or recommendations, without much detail on the actual, daily situations a solo woman traveler, especially a tourist, might face in Sri Lanka.

Firslty, what do we mean by "safe"?

Is it about being able to walk down the street alone? Take public transport without fear of assault? during the day? during the night? Walk home alone at night? Sleep at a stranger’s place?

I decided to ask solo female travelers who had been (or were currently) in the country directly, and for that, nothing beats Facebook groups. I particularly recommend the group “We are the Backpackeuses” (for women only), which opens up Messenger conversations by country, allowing you to connect with women traveling in the same place, often at the same time as you.

The feedback immediately calmed my fears. Each traveler I contacted shared a very positive review of their experience in Sri Lanka, while warning me to "be cautious, as everywhere." But what does that really mean?

I bought my ticket and left for 2 months on this island in the Indian Ocean, solo. Here’s my feedback and advice.

Observation

It's true that compared to other Asian countries like Thailand or Indonesia, traveling solo in Sri Lanka may seem less "safe." Why?

Contexte

In the first two countries mentioned, it’s very rare to see a mix between locals and tourists. Unless you eat in a truly local restaurant, it's uncommon for tourists to dine where locals do, or to find locals at the same parties as tourists. As a result, outside of taxi drivers and tour guides, it’s less common to interact with locals in Thailand or Indonesia. Moreover, the language barrier often prevents deep interactions with locals (I'm not saying it's impossible, but it’s rarer).

In contrast, in Sri Lanka, it’s more common to find locals at “tourist/expat” parties, let's say 20% locals and 80% tourists/expats, and the same goes for restaurants. Furthermore, the level of English is often better. Interactions are therefore more frequent, on a friendly or romantic level. And of course, the more interactions you have, the higher is the risk of a unpleasant encounter. The more you leave your home, the more likely you are to be knocked down, that’s a fact. However, this doesn’t mean it’s going to happen to you, and I hope it won’t.

My friend Banuka who was at first my tuktuk driver

Is this potential for a bad encounter higher in Sri Lanka than in France? I didn’t have that impression. I never felt like I had a bad encounter during my all travel.

On the contrary, everyone I met, both men and women, were absolutely lovely and eager to help me, expecting nothing in return.

My Solo Travel Tips

1. No room for ambiguity

   
   

   It’s through my travels that I realized how much our body language, expressions, attitudes, and ultimately our logic are culturally specific, and that their interpretation isn’t necessarily the same as ours. Therefore, it’s important to say aloud what you want, and especially what you don’t want.

   If a man flirts with you, don’t be shy to clearly tell him you’re not interested. There’s no need to make up an excuse, it won’t stop him. Just tell the truth. Or say you're married.

   
   

2. Don’t stay isolated

   
   

In Sri Lanka, as elsewhere, traveling solo doesn’t mean being and staying alone. Even though it sometimes feels nice to have your little solo bubble, it doesn’t stop you from being in contact with others around you, to later exchange or simply have someone to turn to if there’s a problem. Here are my tips to make interactions and meetings easier:

• Facebook groups: post an ad on the Facebook group “Les Français à…” (in the country or even the city you're visiting) to mention your trip, ask a few questions, and see if other travelers will be in the same place at the same time. I also recommend groups like “We are the Backpackeuses.”

• Stay in hostel and initiate interactions (including with the staff). Prefer hostels that offer activities like dinners to socialize more easily

  
  

• Record the contacts of all the friendly people you meet, both travelers and taxis, hostels, etc. It won’t hurt and will give you people to turn to if you have any issues.

  
  

• Always say someone is expecting you somewhere when you feel uncomfortable in a situation.

  
  

My Experience

As a solo woman in Sri Lanka, I never experienced anything worrying (I have been out, walking out during the night in the south, taking public transports ...) I was sometimes flirted with persistently, but when I firmly and clearly said I wasn’t interested, there was absolutely never any problem, not even coldness from the person. A handshake with a smile, and the conversation could continue!

Sri Lanka is an absolutely beautiful island, both for its nature and beaches, and its warm and caring people.

If you're still hesitating to take the leap into solo travel, I can help you build confidence and prepare the trip that suits you through personalized coaching. Find my coaching offers by clicking on this link or contact me on social media  @worldtrippeuse (Instagram et Tiktok)

Prepare your trip

See you soon!

Marine