TRAVEL TO SRI LANKAPLAN YOUR JOURNEY
For many of our guests, celebrating with us will mean travelling a very long way. We want to make planning your journey to Sri Lanka as simple and enjoyable as possible.
International guests should plan to fly into Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), the main international airport serving Colombo.
To join us for the full celebration, we recommend arriving in Sri Lanka by Monday, December 27, 2027. This gives you time to settle in, recover from the journey and enjoy a little of Colombo before our Welcome Dinner the following evening.
THE WEDDING WEEK
MONDAY, DECEMBER 27
Recommended arrival in Colombo
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28
Welcome Dinner
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29
The Wedding at Vinkalé
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30
A day to rest and explore
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31
31st Night at Galle Face
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1
Recommended departure date or later
For guests travelling from North America, we strongly recommend giving yourself at least two nights in Sri Lanka before the wedding. It is a long journey, and having a little extra time to adjust, recover from jet lag and account for any travel delays will make the week much more enjoyable.
OUR RECOMMENDED ROUTESGETTING TO SRI LANKA
There are several ways to reach Colombo, but we recommend beginning your search with Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates.
For many of our guests, these provide some of the most straightforward one stop journeys to Sri Lanka through Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai. Which route works best will depend on where you are travelling from, your preferred connection time and whether you would like to include a stopover along the way.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
VIA SINGAPORE
Singapore Airlines is one of our preferred options, particularly for guests travelling from the West Coast.
A typical journey from Northern California would route:
San Francisco → Singapore → Colombo
Singapore is also a wonderful place to break up the journey. Guests who have the time may wish to spend a night or two there before continuing on to Sri Lanka.
CATHAY PACIFIC
VIA HONG KONG
Cathay Pacific is another route we recommend for guests travelling across the Pacific.
A typical journey from Northern California would route:
San Francisco → Hong Kong → Colombo
Hong Kong can make for a convenient connection or an interesting stopover for guests who would prefer to divide the long journey into two parts.
EMIRATES
VIA DUBAI
Emirates is our preferred option for guests who would like to travel through the Middle East and can work particularly well from both the West Coast and East Coast of the United States.
A typical journey would route:
United States → Dubai → Colombo
Dubai is a major international hub with frequent onward connections and is another good option for anyone wishing to add a short stopover before arriving in Sri Lanka.
OTHER ROUTES
These are simply the airlines we recommend starting with. Colombo is served by a wide range of international carriers, and there are additional routes through cities including Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur and several major cities across India and Asia.
Choose the itinerary that works best for your starting point, schedule and travel plans.
WHEN BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
Whenever possible, we recommend booking your journey all the way through to Colombo (CMB) on a single ticket.
This can make a significant difference if your first flight is delayed, a connection is missed or your checked luggage does not arrive as expected.
We also recommend looking at the total journey time and length of the connection, rather than choosing a flight based on price alone. A slightly more expensive itinerary with a comfortable connection can make a very long journey much easier.
Flight schedules for December 2027 are not yet finalized, so please confirm the latest routes and schedules directly with the airline when you are ready to book.
BEFORE YOU TRAVELPASSPORTS, VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Before booking your trip, please take a moment to check that your passport and travel documents will be valid for your journey to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka currently requires visitors to travel with a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. For guests arriving in late December 2027, we recommend making sure your passport remains valid through at least July 2028. Department of Immigration and Emigration
If your passport expires before then, we recommend renewing it well in advance of the wedding.
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION
Most international visitors are currently required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, before arriving in Sri Lanka.
The ETA is completed online and, for most tourist visits, allows a stay of up to 30 days with double entry. ETA Sri Lanka
As of October 2026, citizens of 40 countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia, are eligible to receive a 30 day tourist ETA free of charge. An ETA is still required even when no application fee applies.
Requirements vary according to the passport you are travelling with, so every guest should check the official Sri Lankan immigration website before applying.
WHEN COMPLETING YOUR ETA
Please make sure that:
Your name appears exactly as it does on your passport.
Your passport number is entered correctly.
Your nationality and date of birth are correct.
You apply using the same passport that you will use to enter Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan immigration specifically advises travellers to carefully check these details before submitting an application.
We also recommend saving a digital copy of your ETA approval and bringing a copy with you when you travel.
ON ARRIVAL
Visitors travelling by air should be prepared to show a return or onward ticket and evidence that they have sufficient funds for their stay if requested by immigration.
Sri Lanka also uses an electronic arrival card for international visitors. This is completed shortly before your journey, so there is no need to fill it out while planning your trip. We will remind everyone about this again closer to the wedding.
PLEASE USE OFFICIAL WEBSITES
When applying for your ETA or completing immigration documents, please use the official websites of the Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration.
There are third party websites offering visa services online. We recommend applying directly through the official Sri Lankan system instead.
A FINAL REMINDER
Travel and entry requirements may change before December 2027.
The information above reflects the requirements in place as of October 2026, but each guest is responsible for confirming the passport, visa and entry requirements that apply to the passport they will be travelling with.
We will review and update this page again closer to the wedding.
A FEW THINGS TO HAVE READYBEFORE YOU FLY
Once your flights are booked and your travel documents are in order, there are a few additional things worth preparing before you leave for Sri Lanka.
A little planning ahead will make the journey much easier, particularly for guests travelling long distances.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance for your trip.
For an international journey of this length, it is worth making sure your policy includes coverage for:
Trip cancellation or interruption
Flight delays and missed connections
Lost or delayed luggage
Emergency medical treatment
Medical evacuation
Please review the details of your own policy carefully, as coverage varies between providers.
KEEP COPIES OF YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Before leaving home, save digital copies of your:
Passport
Sri Lanka ETA approval
Flight itinerary
Travel insurance
Hotel reservation
We recommend keeping these somewhere you can access even if your phone or luggage is lost.
It is also a good idea to carry a printed copy of your key travel documents separately from your passport.
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
If you take prescription medication, please make sure you bring enough for your entire trip, along with a little extra in case your return journey is delayed.
Whenever possible, keep medication in its original labelled packaging and carry essential medication in your hand luggage.
Guests travelling with controlled or specialist medication should check any applicable Sri Lankan entry requirements before departure.
YOUR WEDDING ATTIRE
If there are parts of your wedding outfit that would be difficult to replace, we recommend carrying them with you rather than placing everything in checked luggage.
For particularly important pieces, consider packing them in your hand luggage or garment bag.
The full dress code for each celebration will be available on the Dresscode page (Coming Soon).
STAYING CONNECTED
Guests can use international roaming, arrange an eSIM before travelling, or purchase a local Sri Lankan SIM after arrival.
Mobile service is widely available, and local providers operate at Bandaranaike International Airport.
We will add our preferred options closer to the wedding.
MONEY & CARDS
The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at larger hotels, restaurants and shops, but it is useful to carry some cash for smaller businesses, local purchases and tips.
ATMs and currency exchange services are available at the airport and throughout Colombo.
We recommend letting your bank know that you will be travelling internationally if your card provider requires it.
POWER & ADAPTERS
Sri Lanka uses 230 volt electricity at 50 Hz.
Guests travelling from abroad should bring a universal travel adapter suitable for their devices.
If you are bringing hair tools or other high powered appliances, please check that they are compatible with 230 volt electricity before using them.
HEALTH & TRAVEL PREPARATION
We recommend reviewing current travel health guidance before your trip and making sure that any routine vaccinations or medications you may need are arranged well in advance.
Travel health recommendations can change, so please refer to official guidance for the most current information before departure.
ONE LAST CHECK
Before heading to the airport, make sure you have:
Passport
ETA approval
Return or onward ticket
Travel insurance
Hotel confirmation
Essential medication
Wedding attire
Phone charger and travel adapter
A copy of the wedding website saved somewhere easy to access
And then you are ready for Sri Lanka.
WELCOME TO COLOMBOARRIVING IN SRI LANKA
After landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you will proceed through immigration, collect your luggage and pass through customs before entering the arrivals hall.
The airport is located outside central Colombo, so we recommend allowing plenty of time between landing and any plans you make for the rest of your arrival day.
IMMIGRATION & ARRIVAL
Have your passport and travel documents easily accessible when you arrive.
Depending on the requirements in place at the time of travel, you may also be asked to show your:
ETA approval
Return or onward ticket
Hotel reservation
Electronic arrival card
We recommend keeping digital copies of all of these documents somewhere easy to access on your phone.
COLLECTING YOUR LUGGAGE
After immigration, follow the signs to baggage claim and collect all checked luggage before proceeding through customs.
If any luggage is delayed or missing, report it to your airline before leaving the baggage claim area.
For anything particularly important to the wedding, especially formal attire, medication or valuables, we recommend keeping it with you in your hand luggage whenever possible.
MONEY ON ARRIVAL
The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
ATMs and currency exchange services are available at the airport, so there is no need to arrive with a large amount of Sri Lankan currency.
We recommend having a small amount of cash available after arrival for smaller purchases, tips and situations where cards may not be accepted.
MOBILE SERVICE & INTERNET
Local mobile providers operate at Bandaranaike International Airport, making it easy to purchase a Sri Lankan SIM card after you arrive.
Guests may also prefer to arrange an international eSIM before travelling so that their phone is connected as soon as they land.
We will add our preferred mobile and eSIM recommendations closer to the wedding.
GETTING TO COLOMBO
Most guests will be travelling from the airport into central Colombo.
Our preferred wedding hotel, Shangri-La Colombo, is located at One Galle Face in the heart of the city.
Detailed airport transfer recommendations and any wedding-arranged transportation will be added here closer to December 2027.
Until then, guests should plan on using either:
A pre-arranged hotel transfer
A private airport transfer
An approved taxi or ride service
We recommend arranging your transportation before leaving the airport rather than accepting unsolicited rides in the arrivals area.
ARRIVING AT SHANGRI-LA
Guests staying at our Shangri-La Colombo room block will receive separate booking and arrival information once the room block is finalized.
Room block details, booking instructions and any transfer arrangements will be available on the Accommodation page.
YOUR FIRST DAY
If you are arriving after a long international journey, we recommend keeping your first day simple.
Check into your hotel, settle in, have something to eat and give yourself time to adjust before making plans around the city.
Guests arriving by our recommended date of Monday, December 27, 2027 will have time to rest before our Welcome Dinner on December 28.
WEDDING TRANSPORTATION
Transportation to Vinkalé on December 29 and any transportation connected to our other wedding events will be announced once the final schedule has been confirmed.
Please refer to the Events page closer to the wedding for pickup locations, departure times and return transportation.