Colombo to Amman Flights

  About Colombo

Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is one of the holiday destinations that you must add to your travel list. It is also known for its eclectic dining scene and its nightlife. It is also a great place to shop for clothes, wedding invitations and indulge in spa treatments. Sri Lanka is also known for its wildlife and elephant sanctuaries. It is the perfect place to go to if you want to club your luxurious, relaxing holiday plans with adventures. You can either volunteer to help out at an Elephant Sanctuary or sign up for a walking tour. Do try the ayurvedic spas in the city to relieve yourself of all the stress. You can book a hotel in Colombo at an affordable price. While it is not exactly the cheapest holiday destination in Asia, it is worth every money spent. The city is also known for its temples and no matter which religion you follow, you will find a temple of your choice of deity/religion here.

Best Time to Visit Colombo

January to March is ideal for taking off to Colombo on a trip since they are the driest months of the year. The best season to visit, however, is winter from November to March. Winters are quite chilly, and it is the best time to go sightseeing, too. The rainfall does not affect any of your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activities. It is also an ideal time to head to the beaches and indulges in a few water activities. Colombo also has a very vibrant nightlife that is best experienced in winter when there is barely any rainfall. You can book a hotel in Colombo that is either close to the beach or the nightclubs, depending on how you intend to spend your holiday. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degree Celsius. January to March is the high tourist season in Colombo, and a lot of attractions will be filled with tourists. Colombo is also filled with festive spirit during these months as they celebrate festivals like Thai Pongal, Independence Day of Sri Lanka, New Year and Duruthu Perahera Festival. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Colombo well in advance if you are on a budget. If you are planning to go to Colombo on your honeymoon, this is the best time to go.

Colombo experiences summer from May to October, and it is considered as an off-season for tourists. Not only is it unbearably hot in the city, but it is also quite humid, so much that you won't feel like stepping out of your hotel at all. The temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees and will only make you uncomfortable. However, since it is offseason, you will get great flight deals to Colombo online. It also rains during this season and might lead to a hailstorm sometimes. If you are not an outdoorsy person and prefer indoor activities, this might be the best time for you to head to Colombo. You will also get really good hotels at a reasonable price during this time since it is offseason and the demand is low. You can sip cocktails by the pool in your hotel or indulge in relaxing spa treatments. You can also explore the Pettah market during this time without being hassled by the tourist crowd. It starts raining from May to August, and it rains intermittently in September and October. The temperature ranges around 28 degree Celsius during this time.

Places to Visit in Colombo

Galle Face Green is a popular beach park in Colombo that you can visit. You can also indulge in a lot of water activities at the beach. Pettah Market is another popular destination where you can go on a shopping spree and walk away with high-end luxury items at the lowest prices. Fort-Colombo is an important tourist attraction in the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the political and cultural heritage of the country and is also known for its vibrant nightlife. A major part is shut because of the turbulence caused by the Civil War. You will also find a lot of casinos here. The National Museum of Colombo is the largest one in Sri Lanka. It was founded by the British Governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, William Henry Gregory. You will find artwork that dates back to the British Colonial and Portuguese era, along with a lot of artefacts. The Gangaramaya temple is famous for its blend of culture and architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese and India. It was built in the 19th century and is a place of Buddhist worship and learning. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is another Buddhist temple that was built in the 5th century, which holds a lot of historical importance. The temple sees a lot of tourists and devotees during the Duruthu Maha Perehera every January and on full moon days of every month. The paintings and sculptures in the temple will tell you tales from Lord Buddha's life and the Jataka Tales.

Beira Lake is another popular landmark in the city where you can head to if you want to relax and soak in the beautiful views. It is also a highly recommended place for couples to head to in Colombo. Colombo Zoo also called the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka, houses over 300 different species of animals, birds, marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Casino Marina started in 2013 and is usually filled with elite tourists in the evenings. You can gamble away till wee hours of the night or enjoy the view of the sea from here. World Trade Centre is one of the most famous colonial buildings that you will find in the Old Fort area. St Lucia's Cathedral got its name after the saint martyr, St Lucia, who is believed to have protected everyone with eye problems in Colombo. It was built in 1760, and the Gothic style architecture draws tourists to it every year. Panadura and Crow Island Beaches are quite popular in the city and the best spots to indulge in recreational activities. You will find a lot of beach parks and temples in the city that are worth a visit.

Things to do in Colombo

Sign up for a city tour of Colombo and indulge in all the activities that come with your tour package. You can also get a customised tour of places that are of interest to you and activities that you have listed in your itinerary. Sri Lanka is known for its seafood and treating yourself to fresh seafood at Mt Lavinia Beach is highly recommended. While you can always rent a taxi for the entire day to get around the city, you can also enjoy a tuk-tuk ride, which is a popular way for locals to get around the city. Pettah Market, Good Market, Paradise Road are some of the popular places in the city for you to go on a shopping spree. You can also indulge in rejuvenating massage therapies at the spas in Colombo. The city also offers scuba diving at certain locations. If you want to give water sports a try, make sure you try this one. Most beaches also have boating, surfing and other water activities for you to try.

Food and Restaurants in Colombo

Seafood, especially prawns, is popular in Colombo since it is a coastal city. Curry Leaf and Seafood's Cove are some of the popular restaurants for you to binge on seafood or other types of meat. The city also has a lot of Indian restaurants; a lot of them have a vegetarian menu, too. Spice Coast is known for its biryani, Chana's for delicious North Indian cuisine and Shanmugas for its vegetarian menu. While you are trying seafood in the city, make sure you also try the chilli crabs. Paradise Road Gallery Cafe is a lovely cafe that is set in a walled garden and also has rotating exhibitions by local artists. It is considered as one of the most romantic restaurants in Colombo and is popular for its cakes. Rare is a chic and modern restaurant in Colombo with wonderful service. The restaurant uses organic produce to cook their unique, delicious cuisines and also boast of a wine cellar with over 150 labels. The lagoon is one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo, and the fish curries, lobster Thermidor and raw sashimi are their speciality dishes.

How to reach Colombo (Transportation)

Bandaranaike International Airport, also called Colombo International Airport, is about 32 km north of Colombo. The flight connectivity to Colombo from India is excellent. While there are only a few direct flights to Colombo from India, most of the flights have layovers in Chennai or Bangalore. GoAir, Indigo and Spicejet have the maximum number of flights from India. However, Vistara and Srilankan Airlines have direct flights that help you reach the city in 2-3 hours instead of 6 hours. It is also quite easy to get cheap flight tickets to Colombo from India.

  About Amman

Jordan's capital city Amman is a tourist's haven. The holy city is known to have some religious significance dating back to the BC. Amman has some exquisite ancient relics with interesting archaeological sites. Amman is recognised as one of the most modern Arab cities and is touted to be a tourist destination. The city is also recognised for its contribution to the country's economy and the political and cultural significance it holds. Over the years, Amman has adapted to the global culture and is leading in terms of its food scenes.

Best time to visit Amman

Amman has a mix of temperatures and seasons that makes it favourable all-round the year. Depending on what kind of weather you would like to indulge in, you can accordingly visit the place. The city does witness some interesting weather phenomena such as Sirocco. It is basically a hot and dry southerly wind that blows from June to August. This often causes sandstorms and is not very favourable for travelling. If you wish to check out the vast desert of the city, you should definitely avoid going to Amman in these months. As much of the fun attractions in Amman are in the desert region, it would be quite sad to not relish all the action. During these months, the sun is also hotter than usual. The city witnesses close to 13 hours of sunshine and is rather too hot. As a desert, you will need to prepare yourself for the hot and cold climates when you visit the city. The hotel prices in Amman during the summers are also extremely low. As it is an off-season, the city doesn't see a lot of tourists. With the hotel rates in Amman cheap, it does seem like a tempting offer.

The months from September through November are perfect to visit the city. Thanks to the summer temperatures dropping and the city welcoming winters, it brings forth a lovely pleasant air. After all, the hot and dry atmosphere faced by Amman during the summer months, the fall does come with a lot of lovely vibes. Amman's winters are known to be extremely frigid. In fact, the temperatures actually drop down to 5 degree Celsius during the winter months. Hence, it might not be the ideal time to visit Amman, especially if you are not planning on experiencing desert winter. The hotel prices during winters do stand at a reasonable cost in Amman. Owing to the dry and cold winters, many tourists avoid this time of the year. But there are still many who opt for winters in Amman because they wish to experience what dry winters in Amman feel like. The bitter cold does get a little too much to handle though. Hence, the fall months starting in September are perfect. During this time, the hotel rates in Amman do see a tremendous surge along with tourism.

Places to visit in Amman

Amman, in Jordan, is an exquisite place that sees a lot of travellers thanks to some of the tourist attractions. As part of your trip, you can start with Mount Nebo, located a few kilometres away from the city centre. The mount is an elevated ridge of religious scriptures from the Hebrew Bible. The structure is close to 710 meters above sea level. The place has religious significance to be the place where Moses was believed to be granted a view of the Promised Land. From the mount's summit, you can see the River Jordan as well as the city of Jericho. Another landmark in the city is the Amman Citadel. The structure has a historical significance to be a flourishing civilisation. There have been traces of empires from the Babylonian, the Ptolemies, Assyrians, Romans, the Umayyads, the Seleucids and Byzantines heritages as well. You should also check out the St. George's Greek Orthodox Church which has the famous Madaba Map, popularly known as the Madaba Mosaic Map. You should also head to the lovely King Abdullah I Mosque, with its beautiful white and blue hues. The mosaic dome is a major tourist attraction.

Things to do in Amman

One of the fun and goofy activities that you can take up during your trip to Amman would be to visit the Roman Theatre and to put up a cute show for your family. Well, the famed landscape is huge and has an auditorium-like vibe. The theatre has been inspired by Roman-architecture and is a good spot for photography. It would be a crime to miss The Royal Automobile Museum. The place has some of the best vintage and exotic cars in exquisite condition. A museum has been reserved for exhibiting artefacts from excavations in Jordan. The Jordan Archaeological Museum is a perfect place to learn more about the city's history and religious relevance. You can further continue this expedition by visiting the Temple of Hercules and The Jordan Museum. They have some stories that would definitely pique your interest.

Food and restaurants in Amman

Jordan's capital does see a lot of tourist action. The city is known to attract a lot of tourists thanks to the exquisite monuments and rich cultural heritage. Amman also raves an array of culinary delights that would blow your mind. You will find some of the finest steakhouses and a plethora of cuisines to delve into. You can start your expedition from Fakhr el-Din. The Lebanese restaurant is quite popular for its traditional-style decor and authentic mezze. You would be amazed by the extraordinary flavours and food styles that the restaurant makes. World-renowned succulent meat dish, brisket, deserves a restaurant of its own. The internationally-acclaimed meat recipe is unmatched when it comes to bringing forth the smoky flavours of beef and other meat. Brisket is one such place where you can get the best of this dish. Another Middle Eastern delight is Hashem, located in the city of Amman. It is one of the oldest restaurants and also one of the best. The bistro has a pretty simple and quaint vibe which serves the most quality grub.

If you want to enjoy good Jordanian food along with the city's pleasant breeze, you can visit Sufra. The food establishment has a beautiful setting with fancy interiors. Not to mention how the airy rooftop further adds to the experience. You can relish tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner in this restaurant and fall in love with Jordan. As for all the shawarma fans, Reems is a good place to check out. The place makes the most perfect shawarma that you can find in all of Jordan. As the city does rave a plethora of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, the city doesn't fall short of such establishments. Kan Zaman is also a good place where you can savour some of the best mezze. The ambience is unmatched and the Lebanese-style dishes are delectable. Plus, the restaurant also serves traditional music while you enjoy the food. Aside from these lovely places, you can also check out Bab al-Yemen, Rakwet Arab, Ararat and Falafel Al Quds.

How to reach Amman

Amman is a famous tourist destination that sees a throng of tourists during on and off-seasons. Thanks to the city's reputation as a tourist haven, flight connectivity to Amman is also really good. There are no direct nonstop flights to Amman, many airlines with layovers and connecting flights do fly to Amman. The most popular route often chosen by airlines to reach Amman is from Middle Eastern countries. Jordan itself is one of the Middle Eastern countries and hence, sees exemplary flight connectivity from these international cities. Airlines such as Gulf Air, Air Arabia, Emirates, Oman Air, EgyptAir, Saudia, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Royal Jordanian, flydubai, Turkish Airlines, to name a few, have excellent flight connectivity to Amman. International routes from Bahrain, Dubai and Sharjah have many dedicated flights that fly to Amman. Reaching Amman from India is possible from many cities such as Kochi, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and more. The cities do not require a transit visa.

The flight duration to Amman from India stands at a decent eight hours. Depending on the airlines that you choose for your trip, the travel duration alters accordingly. The flight tickets to Amman are also quite cheap and affordable from Indian cities. Airlines such as Gulf Air, Emirates and Air Arabia have the cheapest flights to Amman. Even the travel duration from Indian cities to Amman is not compromised. The ticket price to Amman starts from INR 21,000 and ranges up to INR 30,000, depending on the airlines that you choose. Although the tickets to Amman are reasonable, you can further get amazing flight deals online. In fact, if you make prior bookings of flights to Amman, you will be able to get some more discounts. There is a plethora of deals that are available online. Many airlines even have flights and hotel accommodation deals that can be found in Amman. As a tourist destination, a lot of combo deals are available online. Depending on the season that you choose, the flight tickets and hotel accommodation prices can be booked in Amman.

  About Colombo Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, popularly known as Bandaranaike International Airport is the international hub that serves Sri Lanka. The airport is situated at Negombo and has been named after SWRD Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

About Airport Terminals

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport stretches about 32.5 km at Katunayake. The airport accommodates three passenger terminals with Terminal 1 being reserved for international airlines and flight activity. Terminal 2 also caters to international activities while Terminal 3 is set for domestic airline functions. Terminal 1 is the oldest and largest terminal in the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport with 12 gates. It opened back in 1967. Departure and arrival are also located in the same terminal and separated horizontally. Currently, all the international operations take place from this terminal. The terminal is connected to one concourse which has all the 12 gates. The terminal also has two lounges with Srilankan Airlines' famous Serendib Lounge being installed. Along with this, the Palm Spirit lounge is also located in proximity. Terminal 1 also has a dedicated cafeteria, day-rooms, showers, duty-free shops and a smoking lounge.

Terminal 2 has been constructed and opened much recently. It has eight gates and accommodates departure and arrival areas which are separated vertically. As per expansion plans, the airport plans to build an extension to Terminal 2 which will be built in stages and phases. The new terminal is set to have eight boarding gates along with 14 passenger boarding bridges. The proposed development plan also has bridge accommodations for Airbus A380. Terminal 3 came into existence in 2012 and has since been used for domestic operations. The departure and arrival zones are strategically separated in a horizontal manner. There is a dedicated Cargo Terminal that takes care of all cargo airline activities. The arrival and departure are separated in the same way as terminal 1, horizontally.

About Airport Authority

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka while it is operated by Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL). AASL is a government body that has statutory powers to administer, manage and work on the development of the airport. The statutory body is also known to be a big contributor to Sri Lanka's economy as the civil aviation industry has witnessed tremendous financial revenues from the airport. Other airports that also fall under the AASL umbrella are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport.

The airport has been going through some tremendous expansion plans and developments with a view to accommodating more airlines and flights. A split-level passenger terminal building is being constructed which would be separating both the departures as well as the arrivals vertically. Further on the same, there are constructions for a passenger boarding bridges that would directly connect to the new Airbus A380. Adding to the infrastructure would be a remote apron along with nine parking bays to facilitate air traffic movement. Stage II of the expansion seeks to acquiesce 600 hectares of land for construction of a new runway that can accommodate newer airplanes as well as aircraft maintenance and repair centre.

Top airlines flying from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport accommodates various airlines as it is recognized to be one of the best tourist destinations. With its proximity to India, the airport sees a good amount of flights flying to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from the Indian cities. Some of the biggest Indian airlines operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. These airlines have dedicated direct flights to Sri Lanka. Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, to name a few, have provisions of direct flight connections to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.

Similarly, various international airlines are also linked to Sri Lanka. In fact, some of the international airlines that operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and SCAT Airlines. A majority of the flight activities come from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. A handful of cargo carriers also fly in and out of the airport. These include Cathay Pacific Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Etihad Cargo.

Facilities at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

ATM, banks and currency exchange - The airport has a bunch of local banks and ATM services available. If you need to make the currency exchange for travelling within Sri Lanka or if you need some cash in hand for your destination outside the country, it can be arranged at the airport's premise.

Communication services - If you are in need of a local SIM service for your trip, you can get hold of the same at the airport itself. There are booths at the arrivals where they have telecommunication services. With necessary identification documents, you can get hold of the SIM.

Free WiFI - There are free WiFi services available at the airport. You will need to go to the website of Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport to avail the same. Or you can visit the information desk to learn more about how to work around it.

Medical services - To ensure that medical emergencies at the airport are resolved quickly, the airport has also installed designated medical rooms and services. You can find them as well as pharmacies also at the airport. In case you are unable to find them, you can visit the nearest information desk and get more details. The airport paramedic services are known to be of good quality.

Baggage - With respect to baggage services, the airport offers a slew of facilities that would be beneficial. You can get hold of services ranging from wrapping plastic on the luggage, trolleys, storage facilities for the luggage, delivering luggage to the specified destination and more.

Pet assistance - There is room for pet services at the airport too. In case you are travelling with pets, there are professional staff who can take care of your pets as well as their needs. They would require authorized papers and documents from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Porter service - You can avail porter services at the airport. Basically, you will have to inform your airlines well in advance to book a porter service. The airport staff will escort you through the terminals and take care of your luggage. This would include a security check of the bags, wrapping services, etc.

Airport lounge - There are three lounges at the airport, namely, Lotus, Araliya and Executive. The lounges have been designed in a way to enhance tranquillity and excellent hospitality. You can relax in the lounge, and at the same time, you can avail their services too. These include rich culinary delights, good resting space and complimentary showers and spa.

Restaurants and cafe - Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport has many restaurants and cafes available. The departures and arrivals have good food establishments located perfectly to cater to passengers. Along with restaurants, the airport also as dedicated food courts that is in proximity to the lounge area.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Sri Lanka. Hence, the airport has also reserved a space for a smoking lounge. You can make purchases for cigarette boxes at nearby shops within the airport premise.

Transit Hotel - The airport's transit hotel is named Serendiva and offers world-class contemporary decor, aesthetic construction, modern amenities and top-notch hospitality. The interiors are known to bring about the rich culture of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the main pier of the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport's arrival/departure zone. The hotel is also surrounded by duty-free shops, lounges, immigration counters, cafes and more.

How to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

The airport offers exemplary transport services and is well-connected to the main city. Although you would be required to travel a little depending on your itinerary and which part of the country you'll be visiting. But you will be able to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from different parts of the country. There are public buses, transport services and taxicabs available.

Buses

Express public buses are available within the city that can reach you to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. It would only take about 25 mins to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from Colombo (Pettah) bus stand. From here, you can traverse through all parts of the country without any hassle. You will need to get used to the crowd because the buses are always packed.

Taxicab services

The city is well-connected by taxicab services that can be availed to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. In fact, the airport also sees counters and lanes with taxi services outside the airport's arrival section. The arrival porch allows a fleet of 600 vehicles with fixed rates. With the taxicab, you can reach any part of the country, but it might get expensive depending on the distance from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.