Best time to visit Sri Lanka

The short answer

December to April is the best time for the south and west coasts, Colombo and the hill country. May to September is the season for the east coast. The cultural triangle in the middle is good for most of the year.

By region

• South and west coasts (Bentota, Galle, Mirissa): best December to April. The south-west monsoon brings rain from about May to September.
• Hill country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella): driest January to April; cool all year, and showers are common in the afternoon.
• Cultural triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Anuradhapura): good most of the year, hot from March to May.
• East coast (Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay): best May to September; the north-east monsoon brings rain from about October to January.

Wildlife and festivals

• Yala leopards: good most of the year; the park usually closes for a few weeks around September and October.
• Whales: Mirissa from November to April; Trincomalee from about May to September.
• Kandy Esala Perahera: July or August, depending on the moon. Hotels fill early.

Our advice

If your dates are fixed, tell us. We will move the beach days to the coast that is in season and keep the rest of the route the same.