Best time to visit Sri Lanka
The monsoon transforms villages into a whole other way of being, and our guests love that. We just do yoga by candlelight instead when electricity goes![]()
Just to confuse those of you working out the best time to visit Sri Lanka, there are two monsoons. Heading to the southwest beaches? Stay clear of the southwest monsoon from May to July with sunbathing at its best December to April. Although with climate change 'n' all, May is often lovely. The northeast, however, which is just opening up to tourism, has a monsoon October to January so perfect during European summer. And the rest of the year? Showers happen. It’s the tropics.
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
Our Sri Lanka Vacations
Sri Lanka vacations, tailor made
Independent tailor made vacations to Sri Lanka
From
£2145
15 days
inc UK flights
Sri Lanka family vacation
A fabulous family vacation including the best of Sri Lanka
From
US $2100 to US $3000
15 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka highlights vacation
An exciting mix of culture, nature, wildlife and beaches
From
£1695
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacation, island explorer
Sri Lanka; wildlife, landscapes, culture and history
From
US $1975
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka tour & beach vacation
Tropical island paradise with cultural tour
From
£2245
15 days
inc UK flights
Beach vacation & tour in Sri Lanka
Beach vacation and wildlife tour of Sri Lanka
From
£2595
15 days
inc UK flights
Wildlife vacation in Sri Lanka, private departure
Wildlife vacation to see Sri Lanka's 'Big Four'
From
£2345
15 days
inc UK flights
Sri Lanka small group tour, a food adventure
A delicious adventure through this provocative country.
From
US $1908 to US $2380
12 days
ex flights
Small group vacation to Sri Lanka
Explore Sri Lanka's natural paradise
From
US $2249 to US $2749
15 days
ex flights
Adventure vacation to Sri Lanka
Now is the time to discover this magical land
From
US $2129 to US $2730
15 days
ex flights
Family vacation to Sri Lanka
Explore Sri Lanka with the family
From
US $2099 to US $2479
13 days
ex flights
Tailor made wildlife tour of Sri Lanka
Wildlife tour around Sri Lanka - see blue whales!
From
£2490
13 days
inc UK flights
Sri Lanka hill country tour
An active 2-week Vacation in Sri Lanka's cooler hill country!
From
£3142 to £4151
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacation, culture & relaxation
For couples & friends who want to relax with minimal travel!
From
£3616 to £4123
13 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacation, small group
Hidden temples, sacred Buddhist sites and Hindu shrines
From
US $675 to US $1399
9 days
ex flights
Yala wildlife tour in Sri Lanka
Alternative Yala safari package based at wild forest camp
From
US $788
4 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka luxury camping & wildlife vacation
Exclusive Wildlife Vacation with mobile tented camps
From
£2317 to £2996
11 days
ex flights
Family tour to Sri Lanka
A 2-week tour of the magnificent island of Sri Lanka
From
US $1825
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacation including the north
Discover the very north to the very south of this island
From
US $2799 to US $3099
17 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacation with boutique hotels
Boutique Sri Lanka – a superb value tailor-made vacation
From
£2095
16 days
inc UK flights
Family volunteering with elephants in Sri Lanka
Family volunteering with elephants in Sri Lanka
From
£745
7 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka Family vacations
A superb 2-week family adventure to Sri Lanka
From
US $1825
15 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka tailor made tours
An Island odyssey of ancient culture, unique natural beauty
From
£2850 to £4032
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka 21 day tour
21 day bespoke customised Sri Lanka Vacation
From
US $3999 to US $4299
21 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka & Maldives tour
Highlights of Sri Lanka and a beach break in the Maldives
From
£2565
16 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka coast to coast cycling vacation
Sri Lanka Coast to Coast cycling ride
From
US $1750
13 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka, month by month
Our top Sri Lanka Vacation
Sri Lanka vacations, tailor made
Independent tailor made vacations to Sri Lanka
From
£2145
15 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made:
Our tailor made Sri Lanka vacations can be arranged at any time to suit you, and adapted to your requirements as necessary although we do not offer trips for under 10 days.
Our tailor made Sri Lanka vacations can be arranged at any time to suit you, and adapted to your requirements as necessary although we do not offer trips for under 10 days.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Sri Lanka or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
What happens when
John Beswetherick, Managing Director of our supplier Tikalanka (UK) Limited:
"Although November until April is the key season, I still feel that May is absolutely superb, all around the country, as it is outside both monsoon seasons. And it is the quietest time of the year too, so you can have a really good vacation then, and yet it is still considered low season.”
"Although November until April is the key season, I still feel that May is absolutely superb, all around the country, as it is outside both monsoon seasons. And it is the quietest time of the year too, so you can have a really good vacation then, and yet it is still considered low season.”
Liddy Pleasants is Managing Director at our supplier Stubborn Mule Travel:
"The east coast beaches are starting to open up again since the head of the civil war. The best time to visit these beaches is actually during the European summer, unlike Sri Lanka’s southwest beaches, which are best visited in winter. Which is great for families who want to come here during the school summer vacations. And at the moment, because they are undeveloped, the east coast still has those idyllic tropical beaches. "
"The east coast beaches are starting to open up again since the head of the civil war. The best time to visit these beaches is actually during the European summer, unlike Sri Lanka’s southwest beaches, which are best visited in winter. Which is great for families who want to come here during the school summer vacations. And at the moment, because they are undeveloped, the east coast still has those idyllic tropical beaches. "
Festivals & events in Sri Lanka
Did you know about...?
Rice is considered the giver of life in Sri Lanka and
harvesting the paddy fields happens twice a year and is a wonderful community happening. The villagers all come together to work as a team, celebrating the harvest with rituals and ceremonies to bless the paddy. Some of the first crop is donated to the temple traditionally, and harvesting happens end August or beginning September and then again in February.
More about Sri Lanka
Whether you are following in the footsteps of Paul Theroux and traveling by train, discovering the former colonial world of the tea plantations, wildlife watching in rainforests, or just blissing out at the beach, Sri Lanka has something for everyone. And as for the food – that just ticks everyone’s boxes.
The most glimmering Sri Lanka highlights are the ancient archaeological and sacred wonders of the Golden Triangle. But this teardrop island has so many other glittering gems too.
You can’t really go to Sri Lanka and not touch one of the points on the Golden Triangle. But with beaches, wildlife and Ayurvedic spas, there are endless activities.
White sands, swaying palms and all year round heat in the high 20s makes Sri Lanka beach bliss. There are, in fact, 1,600km of beaches here.
As if Sri Lanka didn’t ooze magic from every pore already, blue whales are jumping out of the ocean to upstage the other natural wonders for a few weeks between February and mid March.
Buddhism is at the heart of cultural vacations in Sri Lanka, whether you are visiting the ancient sites, a contemporary temple or just just meeting local people.
From the Sri Lanka blue magpie to the Sri Lanka leopard, the great Asian elephant to the ginormous blue whale, Sri Lanka has stupendous wildlife.
Sri Lanka is a culinary paradise, where fresh local ingredients, sizzling spices and recipes bequeathed by a history of colonisation create a diverse and delicious culinary scene.
Sri Lanka translates as ‘resplendent island’ in Sanskrit and after years of conflict both north and south are now united and gloriously resplendent.
The British introduced tea to Sri Lanka in 19th century and visiting plantations today is like returning to a slightly archaic genteel age. Where everything is solved with a cuppa.
Not for those with vertigo, Sigiriya is a 200m-tall rock fortress that sprouts out of the plains of northeast Sri Lanka.
Yala National Park steals the show on many a Sri Lanka vacation.
Yala National Park is the key destination that big cat safaris in Sri Lanka focus on, as it's home to a higher concentration of leopards per square kilometre than anywhere else on the planet.
If you want a trip to the tropics that combines culture, history, nature and incredible Indian Ocean vistas then look no further – Sri Lanka and the Maldives are your perfect twosome.
Traveling in Sri Lanka with kids is not only a journey through ancient culture, wildlife central and beach bliss, it is also a wonderful island of wonderfully welcoming families.
Our experts give great where, when, who and why Sri Lanka travel advice. Where to cycle, when to go, whom to meet and guide you and safari wisdom too.
There are many issues to take into account, sadly, when it comes to responsible tourism in Sri Lanka, and we encourage you to read on for more details.
Find all of our Sri Lanka guides in one place, for particular types of vacation we offer such as culture, cycling, wildlife or more. Choose from all our Sri Lanka guides
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: chuvipro] [Temp chart: Vitalii Tkachenko]
[Festivals & events - Rice harvesting: NH53]
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