Thailand or Sri Lanka: Which Destination is Better for you?

Thailand and Sri Lanka have much to offer as travel destinations. After spending a few months in each, I can confidently say they are both amazing countries.

The question is: Thailand or Sri Lanka – which one is right for you? 

While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all reply, I´ll walk you through with a detailed comparison. By the end, you’ll have a better idea which destination suits you more: Thailand or Sri Lanka.

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Key Facts: Thailand vs. Sri Lanka

Thailand

Visit for: Beaches, Islands, Buddhist Temples, Street Food

Best time to visit: November – April (dry, cooler season)

Climate: tropical climate, very hot summers

Size: 513,120 km²

Religion: Buddhist

Sri Lanka

Visit for: Wildlife(!!), Surfing, History, Vegetarian Food, Tea

Best time to visit: October – April (dry season in the south)

Climate: tropical equatorial climate

Size: 65,610 km²

Religion: Buddhist / Hindu

Accommodation in Thailand vs. Sri Lanka

Both countries offer a wide variety of hotels to suit every preference and budget. However, if you plan to travel during peak season, it’s highly recommended to book in advance. While last-minute accommodations can often be found, your options may be more limited.

In Thailand, you’ll discover a fantastic selection of upscale hotels and charming beach bungalows, perfect for experiencing the ultimate beach paradise. Whether you prefer a cozy retreat or a larger resort, there’s something for everyone.

Sri Lanka is fantastic in homestays, where you can stay on the same property as a local family, often in a separate house or bungalow. We mostly chose homestays to experience the local lifestyle up close. Plus, hosts often offer to cook for you, and their meals are frequently better than what you’ll find in restaurants.

While you’ll usually find somewhere to stay, accommodations—especially homestays and boutique villas—can sell out quickly during high season. Therefore, book in advance.

Getting Around: Thailand vs. Sri Lanka

Thailand: For covering the huge distances in Thailand, it`s best to travel around by plane, or take overnight trains.

To get around during the day, you can rent a scooter or take a local taxi (such as a Grab).

If you are intimidated by driving a scooter in Thailand, choose a quieter place like Pai or Koh Yao Noi to get used to driving.

Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka, getting around is less time-consuming. There will always be a taxi or tuk-tuk driver everywhere you go.

Public transportation methods, such as the train and bus connections, are extensive and well-connected.

Pro Tip: To experience Sri Lanka the local way, rent a tuk-tuk! We rented one and loved every second of it.

Attractions & Activities: Thailand or Sri Lanka?

Beaches

Thailand has world-renowned beaches, and they are famous for a reason. If you are looking for paradise beaches, Thailand is your best bet.

Some of the best beaches are on Koh Lipe, Koh Kradan, Koh Kood, Koh Hong, Railay Beach, and the Phi Phi islands. (The list is endless.)
Good to know: at the end of the dry season, there can be a lot of jellyfish in the water.

In Sri Lanka, there are some beautiful beaches on the southern coastline. However, most beaches are better for surfing than for swimming.

For a hidden, picture-perfect paradise beach, visit Rekawa Beach.

Winner in Beaches: Thailand

Wildlife

Thailand is known as the land of the elephants. Sadly, their numbers decreased dramatically in the last 100 years. We were lucky to see a wild elephant in the Khao Yai National Park (highly recommended to visit).

Due to massive deforestation, the majority of wildlife disappeared from Thailand. However, there are still hornbills (many of them on Koh Mook), water monitors, monkeys, etc.

Animals to expect in Thailand: hornbills, gibbons, water monitors, whale sharks (near Koh Tao), millipedes, and other kinds of monkeys.

Unlike Thailand, Sri Lanka has the most abundant wildlife. Without exaggeration, everywhere we looked, especially in the South, Sri Lanka was booming with animals.

I was relieved to see that there are huge forests in Sri Lanka, such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Many of the species in Sri Lanka are endemic to the island – only found here.

Animals to expect in Sri Lanka: turtles, monkeys, peacocks, elephants, crocodiles, a large variety of bird species, snakes, monitor lizards, mongoose, Sri Lankan giant squirrels, blue whales (although rare), butterflies, and more.

If your main aim while traveling is to see wildlife: choose Sri Lanka.

Winner in Wildlife: Sri Lanka

Landscape and Scenery

Thailand is a highly diverse country with mountains, waterfalls, and rice fields in the north.

In the south, hundreds of islands await you with world-class beaches, limestone cliffs in the Phang Nga Bay, and unforgettable sunsets.

Sri Lanka rainforest, kilometer-long beaches, huge trees and flowers everywhere you look, tea plantations, waterfalls such as the Diyaluma Falls, and misty mountains.

Winner in Scenery: both Thailand and Sri Lanka

Historical Sites

Thailand has many Buddhist temples, especially in the North. Chiang Mai is the Buddhist capital of Thailand and it is worth visiting it due to its hundreds of temples.

In Sri Lanka, you will find ruins of ancient cities such as Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. Another great historic site is the Lion Rock in Sigiriya. There sites are also Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Winner in Historic Attractions: Sri Lanka

Activities (Surfing, Diving, Wellness, Nightlife)

Thailand offers a great variety of activities. Whether it`s active adventures, wellness, or nightlife, Thailand is top-notch in all these categories.

Try Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand. It is great fun. For diving, the Similan Islands, Koh Tao, and Koh Mook are your best bets.

For your well-being, getting a Thai Massage is compulsory. Around Chiang Mai, visiting the Buddhist temples, talking to the Buddhist monks, or taking meditation classes are a great way to learn about Thai values and what matters in life.

Thailand is also famous for its nightlife – especially the Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan (location of the full-moon parties) areas.

Best activities in Thailand: Muay Thai, Island Hopping, Jungle Trekking, Diving, Meditation and Cooking Classes, Thai Massage, Kayaking between the Islands, Mae Hong Son Loop by Scooter, and more.

As mentioned earlier, Sri Lanka is the best place to see wildlife. It is also a paradise for surf enthusiasts. It has so many surf towns on the South and the East Coast (Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Arugam Bay). For diving, Sri Lanka is not the best as all corals disappeared when the 2004 tsunami hit the island. Around Mirissa, there are occasional blue whale sightings. Sri Lanka is one of the few places where it`s possible to see blue whales.

As for nightlife, there are some bars in towns like Ella or Unawatuna. However, in general, Sri Lanka is not that famous for its nightlife.

Best activities in Sri Lanka: Wildlife Watching, Surfing, Hiking, Jungle Trekking, Driving a Tuk Tuk, Watching Turtle Hatchlings, Kandy-Ella Train, Kitesurfing, and more.

Winner in activities: Both Thailand and Sri Lanka

Food & Drinks: Thailand and Sri Lanka

I strongly believe that Thailand has one of the best cuisines in the world. We loved the street food scene: literally in every corner, a lovely lady was cooking the most delicious food in the world!

Must-try Thai Dishes: Pad Thai, Cashew Nut Chicken, Mango Sticky Rice, Morning Glory, Soups, Fruits

The Sri Lankan cuisine is equally great, too. When we first ate there, I was convinced that this cuisine was as good as the Thai. Especially if you are vegetarian or vegan, Sri Lanka is great. We loved the dahl curry, the pancakes, and the Sri Lankan bread.

Must-try Sri Lankan Dishes: Dahl Curry, Sri Lankan Pancakes, Coconut Roti, Egg Hoppers

Winner in Cuisine: Both Thailand + Sri Lanka

Costs: Is Thailand or Sri Lanka Cheaper?

Both Thailand and Sri Lanka are quite affordable as travel destinations. Let`s see how much you are expected to pay for food, accommodation, and organized tours.

Food: At the local places of Thailand and Sri Lanka, you can have a delicious meal for as little as 1-2 EUR/USD. Dishes tend to cost less in Northern Thailand. At the highly frequented places, an average meal averages around 4-6 EUR/USD.

Accommodation: Both countries offer a large variety of accommodations. Thailand, due to being more touristy, offers a much larger number of luxury hotels. In terms of accommodation costs, a mid-range hotel costs around 20-45 EUR/USD.

Scooter/Tuk Tuk Rental: daily scooter rental 4-6 EUR/USD in both countries, tuk tuk rental 18-20 EUR/USD in Sri Lanka

Organized excursions: Pricing depends on the activity. In Thailand, island hopping day trips cost around 30-45 EUR/USD. In Sri Lanka, wildlife watching activities such as whale watching or safaris can be more expensive, around 40-60 EUR/USD.

Shopping in Thailand and Sri Lanka

In the busy city of Bangkok, Thailand, you will find all the luxury and western shops you are used to in Europe or the US. As for buying souvenirs, I did not find many good things in Thailand. You can buy the iconic elephant pants and some T-shirts, though.

Comparably, Sri Lanka is strong in local products: there are many antics shops, you can buy cinnamon, tea, and muesli bowls made out of a coconut shell. Around the Sigiriya region, there are many woodworkers selling their art. I bought a beautiful, hand-carved little table there (and somehow I made it fit into my backpack).

Safety (Local People, Scams)

Thailand is an extremely safe country. We haven`t heard of a single case of someone being robbed or feeling unsafe. If you are kind to the locals, you can make sure that they will treat you the best they can. In Sri Lanka, I felt completely, too. I would judge Sri Lanka that it is just as safe as Thailand. Yet, due to some political unrest in the past, Sri Lanka is sometimes still regarded as a risky country.

Don`t travel without insurance: Over the years, I’ve tried several, but only Heymondo stood out. When I was robbed in the Dominican Republic, Heymondo reimbursed me without hesitation.
In contrast, another company barely covered my medical costs when I had dengue fever in Borneo. Since then, I only trust Heymondo.
>> I asked Heymondo for a discount for my readers, and they said yes! Get 5% off at Heymondo.

Local people are very kind both in Thailand and in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, most people speak great English. In Thailand, not so often, however, it was never a problem. They are all extremely kind and would help you should anything go wrong.

Stray dogs: Both countries have (some) stray dogs, and they are usually very friendly and sweet. In Sri Lanka, there is a bigger problem with the number of stray dogs. Some of them were in poor shape. It broke my heart every time I saw them.

Tourist Scams: Surprisingly, in Thailand, we might have been once or twice overcharged for taxis. Overall, we experienced very few tourist scams. On the other hand, during our first days in Sri Lanka, we felt that everyone wanted to sell us tours, sometimes for 10x the normal price.

How to avoid tourist scams: check online how much a particular activity or taxi ride should cost, and negotiate accordingly.

Fazit: Is Thailand or Sri Lanka Better as a Destination?

Thailand and Sri Lanka are among the best travel destinations in the world. I plan to revisit both of them soon.
Personally, my main reasons for going back to Thailand are the food, the religion, and the culture. It was the best that delicious food was always available in every corner.

As for Sri Lanka, seeing wild animals everywhere you look (they are not only in the national parks, they are everywhere) is the number one reason to revisit this beautiful country. Another reason for me to go back is the local people: during our one-month stay, we made friendships with the locals with whom we are still in contact. I loved how open and welcoming Sri Lankans are.

If you choose Sri Lanka, here’s how to plan a perfect 10-day Itinerary in Sri Lanka.

Now it`s your turn to choose whether Thailand or Sri Lanka is a better destination for you. 🙂
Happy Travelling! As always, I am here to help you with any concerns or questions.