Best time to visit Sri Lanka

Working out when to go to Sri Lanka? Don’t worry too much about the monsoons. Just pack an umbrella for shelter from sun and showers.![]()

When thinking about the best time to visit Sri Lanka, you need to keep an eye on its two monsoons: the Yala (south-west; April-September) and the Maha (north-east; November-March). With that in mind, the best time to travel to Sri Lanka is usually November-April in the south-west and February-September in the north-east. That said, July and August are popular in the south, with plenty of families embracing the sporadic tropical downpours and hot sunshine, and May is often lovely. Most of the country averages at 25°C year-round. Hill Country is an anomaly, with the central mountains around Nuwara Eliya a cool 19°C – and much chillier at night.
A month by month guide on when to go to Sri Lanka
January in Sri Lanka
January is a great time for a tailor made Sri Lanka adventure
February in Sri Lanka
March in Sri Lanka
March is great for a wildlife and whales tour in Sri Lanka
April in Sri Lanka
May in Sri Lanka
June in Sri Lanka

May is absolutely superb all around the country, as it is outside both monsoon seasons – and it is the quietest time of the year.![]()

– John Beswetherick, co-founder of our partner Tikalanka
July in Sri Lanka
July and August are great for a Sri Lanka family vacation
August in Sri Lanka
September in Sri Lanka
September is a great time for a northern discovery tour of Sri Lanka
October in Sri Lanka
November in Sri Lanka
December in Sri Lanka
December is great for a small group food adventure
Northeast Sri Lanka Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
24
26
160
FEB
24
28
100
MAR
24
30
50
APR
25
32
52
MAY
26
33
50
JUN
26
33
20
JUL
26
33
60
AUG
25
33
90
SEP
25
33
100
OCT
24
31
210
NOV
24
29
340
DEC
24
27
370
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Travel Team
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