Colombo to Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a popular city in Utah, and while it is a place of faith, you will also come across a lot of stories of monsters and giants in the Great Salt Lake. In the 19th century, a lot of people believed that giants and monsters occupied the Great Salt Lake. However, presently it is an excellent place and also turning into a thriving cultural hub. It is a great place to head to if you want to indulge in hiking and skiing. A lot of tourists also use this opportunity to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tourists also spend time visiting religious sites and temples in the city. However, it is not a place for religious tourists alone. You can also visit the city for magnificent views and mountain ranges. You can hike to the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges or even go skiing here. It offers a breathtaking view of the city's skyline, and you will be in awe of the spectacular view of the Great Salt Lake. It is not exactly a place with a happening, vibrant nightlife, but if you are looking for a relaxing vacation with only a few things to do, this is the perfect place for you.

Best Time to Visit Salt Lake City

No matter what season you visit Salt Lake City in, you will find something to do all the time. However, winter is the peak season for tourists who want to go skiing. Summer is also a great time if you want to give hiking and lake activities a try. November to March is the winter season in Salt Lake City, and it is the perfect time for you to indulge in outdoor activities. The temperature ranges from -6 to 11 degree Celsius. You might want to book your hotel in Salt Lake City well in advance to avoid a surge in prices. The good thing is that a lot of hotels offer discounts and lift tickets, too. Make sure you also book your flight tickets to Salt Lake City in advance. There are quite a lot of events that you can attend, like the Christkindlmarkt in November and December that offer a unique Christmas shopping experience. German Christmas markets inspire it, and you will enjoy the food here during this time. You can also attend the Festival of Trees, Last Hurrah SLC and the Sundance Film Festival.

Salt Lake City experiences the spring season in April and May. The temperature ranges from - 4 to 21 degree Celsius. While it does snow at the beginning of spring, the snowcaps begin to melt by the end of spring, so the city is ready to welcome summer. You might want to pack your warm clothes and some waterproof shoes, too, since the snow begins to melt. While it doesn't entirely put a damper on your plans to try outdoor activities, the precipitation levels do increase during this time. You will find great deals on hotels if you don't have a problem with a little sogginess. You can attend events like Salt Lake City Marathon, Living Traditions Festival and Great Salt Lake Bird Festival.

June to August is summer in Salt Lake City, and it is the best time to give the hiking trails in the city a chance. The temperature ranges from 13 to 32 degree Celsius. It can get pretty hot in summer, so you might want to pack some extra sunblock and ensure that you are well-hydrated. You can also visit the Wasatch National Forest, which is a relief from the otherwise warm summer. This is not the most popular season to visit Salt Lake City, but you can attend events like Utah Pride, Utah Arts Festival and Days of '47. You will get a great deal on hotels and might even get cheap flight tickets to Salt Lake City since it is a low tourist season in the city.

September and October is also an ideal time to visit Salt Lake City. While the autumn season does not attract a lot of tourists, the hotel rates are quite low. The temperature ranges from - 5 to 25 degree Celsius with the city experiencing snowfall towards the end of the autumn season. If you are not fond of holidaying at crowded places, you can head to Salt Lake City during spring or autumn. You can attend events like Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City Jazz Festival and Utah Humanities Book Festival.

Places to Visit in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has some beautiful tourist spots that are a sight for sore eyes. It is a popular spot for a lot of nature lovers, honeymooners and families. Solitude Nordic Center is the place to go to if you want to see snow in other seasons except winter. You might have to pay a certain entry fee to enter the centre, but it is worth every penny spent. There are quite a few recreational activities at the centre that you can try. Not to mention, there aren't a lot of tourists visiting the place which makes it perfect for you to enjoy it by yourself. Willow Heights is a palace in Salt Lake City that offers you a scenic view of the meadows, swamps, hills, lakes and pine trees. You will also find a lot of horses, dogs, bison and birds here. This is also one of the best places to sit and meditate or take loads of pictures. You can also visit the Millcreek Canyon, and it is the perfect place to go hiking, though it is not advisable to head to this place during winters when it snows. If you want to spend some peaceful time with your family or friends, you can head to Liberty Park.

The Salt Lake Temple is a religious site for everyone who follows The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church is about 126-years old and still good as new. You will learn a lot about the inception of the church and its religious significance. You can also visit the Natural History Museum of Utah to see dinosaur exhibits and special exhibitions. Utah Olympic Park is about 28 miles from the city. It has been transformed into a park and sport-training centre. You can also zip line here or head to the ski museum. The Olympus Hills is the place you can head to if you want to indulge in a lot of shopping and recreational activities in the park. Hogle Zoo is one of the best places to go to with your family. You will find about 800 animals of 24 species in the zoo. If you plan on making your ski trips adventurous, you can head to the Powder Mountain. It is about 55 miles away from the city.

Things to do in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is one of the best places to head to if you want to treat the adventurous side of you. Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is a popular place to head to if you want to go skiing. During summer, you can go hiking, fishing, biking or ziplining, too, at the resort. You can also head to Park City for skiing and hiking. A lot of festivals are also hosted at the park. You can sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city or explore it on your own. You can also visit the Bryce Canyon National Park and Utah's Mountains if you love mountains. The city also has a lot of museums that you can visit. The Great Salt Lake and Salt Lake Temple are also tourist spots worth visiting while you are here. You can also go on a food tour in the city.

Foods and Restaurants in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has a very diverse food culture, and you will find an eclectic mix of cuisines here. You will find a lot of Mexican and Italian cuisines here. Red Iguana serves traditional Mexican food and has been doing so since 1985. Crown Burgers is another popular place for burgers and has been in the business since 1978. If you want to have American cuisine, you can head to HSL. If you are craving sushi, you can head over to Takashi. You can also try other Japanese cuisines or Asian food while you are there. You will get delicious Indian food at Bombay House.

How to reach Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City International Airport is about 6 km away from Downtown Salt Lake City. The flight connectivity to Salt Lake City from India is quite good. Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa and American Airlines have frequent flights to Salt Lake City with layovers at Singapore, Denver, Newark, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Dallas and London. If you book your tickets in advance, there are chances you might get cheap flight tickets to Salt Lake City. It might be a long journey, so brace yourself. It might take 25 to 40 hours until you reach the city. It is also pretty easy to get a taxi or car rental service from the airport.

  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.