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Best Time To Visit Sri Lanka

Despite all the talk about 'off seasons', Sri Lanka is a all year round travel destination. The original term 'Off Season' refers to the end of the fishing season on the South Coast, the first major tourist destination Sri Lanka's in the 1960's. And found its way from there into the guide books...
So, when is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
The best beach conditions in the SUMMER SEASON (May - October) can be found on Sri Lanka's East Coast and on the West/South Coast during the WINTER SEASON (October - May). The ideal time to visit the The Hill Country & Cultural Triangle is December - April.
However, like the rest of Sri Lanka, even during the Monsoon months it rains only few hours a day on average. This means that staying at an 'off-season' location during your holidays can be quite pleasant. Cooler temperatures, an almost constant breeze and no crowds. Swimming in the Indian Ocean is also possible, but for divers and surfers the sea is too rough, with strong currents and the underwater visibility is very limited. The South-West Monsoon is traditionally from May - July and the North-East Monsoon from October - January.
The best time for whale watching in Sri Lanka is usually towards the end of each season, at both, the South- and the East Coast.

annual weather chart for Sri Lanka

This annual weather chart for Sri Lanka is a summarisation of all the provincial weather data and does not reflect the regional seasons described above.

Suggested Seasonal Tour Itineraries for Sri Lanka

Considering the many accommodation and destination options to choose from, it might be a good idea to ask our Sri Lanka experts to suggest a tour itinerary that suits your personal needs and requirements.
We are located in Negombo, next to Sri Lanka's main International Airport and do have expert local knowledge of all the top destinations, hotels and seasonal events in Sri Lanka, as well as the Maldive Islands.
Just contact us (pls. mention your arrival / departure dates, no. of people travelling) and we can start to work together on creating a personal tour itinerary that satisfies all your expectations and requirements.

Sri Lanka Summer Season Itinerary Suggestions
(May - October)

 

Day 1: Airport - Negombo Beach.

Day 2: Negombo Beach - Elephant Orphanage - Dambulla Cave Temple* - Sigiriya Rock Fortress*.

Day 3: Sigiriya - Royal Botanical Garden - Kandy City & Temple of the Tooth* - Airport.

* UNESCO Heritage Site
All our private Sri Lanka Tours include transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver / guide, choice accommodation (budget, standard, premium and custom meal plan (b&b, half-board, full-board). No hidden charges!
Starting at US$ 185 p.p.
Contact us for your personal quotation

 

 

Day 1: Airport - Sigiriya*.

Day 2: Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa* - Trincomalee.

Day 3: Trincomalee - whale watching - snorkeling - beach.

Day 4: Trincomalee sighteeing - snorkeling - beach.

Day 5: Trincomalee - hill country - Nuwara Eliya.

Day 6: Nuwara Eliya - tea plantations - Temple of the Tooth* - Kandy.

Day 7: Kandy - Elephant Orphanage - Airport.

* UNESCO Heritage Site
All our private Sri Lanka Tours include transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver / guide, choice accommodation (budget, standard, premium and custom meal plan (b&b, half-board, full-board). No hidden charges!
Starting at US$ 460 p.p.
Contact us for your personal quotation

 

 

Day 1: Airport - Anuradhapura*.

Day 2: Sigiriya Rock Fortress* - Spice Garden - Polonnaruwa*.

Day 3: Sigiriya - Jaffna (North Coast).

Day 4: Jaffna - Trincomalee.

Day 5: Trincomalee sighteeing - snorkeling - beach.

Day 6: Trincomalee - whale watching - snorkeling - beach.

Day 7: Trincomalee - Passekudha.

Day 8: Passekudha - snorkeling - beach.

Day 9: Passekudha - Baticaloa - Arugam Bay.

Day 10: Arugam Bay - hill country - Nuwara Eliya.

Day 11: Nuwara Eliya - tea plantations - Ella (Sri Lanka's highest village).

Day 12: Nuwara Eliya - Royal Botanical Garden - Temple of the Tooth*.

Day 13: Kandy - Elephant Orphanage - Colombo.

Day 14: Colombo City - Airport.

* UNESCO Heritage Site
All our private Sri Lanka Tours include transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver / guide, choice accommodation (budget, standard, premium and custom meal plan (b&b, half-board, full-board). No hidden charges!
Starting at US$ 920 p.p.
Contact us for your personal quotation

 

Sri Lanka Winter Season Itinerary Suggestions
(October - May)

 

Day 1: Airport - Colombo City - Bentota.

Day 2: Bentota - Ratnapura - Nuwara Eliya.

Day 3: Nuwara Eliya - Kandy City & Temple of the Tooth* - Airport.

* UNESCO Heritage Site
All our private Sri Lanka Tours include transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver / guide, choice accommodation (budget, standard, premium and custom meal plan (b&b, half-board, full-board). No hidden charges!
Starting at US$ 195 p.p.
Contact us for your personal quotation

 

 

Day 1: Airport - - Elephant Orphanage - Sigiriya.

Day 2: Sigiriya Rock Fortress*- Royal Botanical Garden - Temple of the Tooth* - Kandy.

Day 3: Kandy - hill country - Nuwara Eliya.

Day 4: Nuwara Eliya - tea plantations - Yala National Park.

Day 5: Tissahamarana - South Coast - Unawatuna.

Day 6: Unawatuna - Galle Fort* - Bentota.

Day 7: Bentota - Colombo - Airport.

* UNESCO Heritage Site
All our private Sri Lanka Tours include transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver / guide, choice accommodation (budget, standard, premium and custom meal plan (b&b, half-board, full-board). No hidden charges!
Starting at US$ 495 p.p.
Contact us for your personal quotation

 

 

Day 1: Airport - Anuradhapura*.

Day 2: Sigiriya Rock Fortress* - Spice Garden - Polonnaruwa*.

Day 3: Sigiriya - Dambulla Cave Temple* - Royal Botanical Garden - Kandy.

Day 4: Kandy City - Temple of the Tooth*.

Day 5: Kandy - hill country - Nuwara Eliya.

Day 6: Nuwara Eliya City - Horton Plains National Park.

Day 7: Nuwara Eliya City - tea plantations - Ella - Yala National Park.

Day 8: Tissahamarana - wildlife safari - Yala National Park.

Day 9: Tissahamarana - South Coast - Unawatuna.

Day 10: Unawatuna - Galle Fort* - Hikkaduwa

Day 11: Unawatuna - snorkeling - beach.

Day 12: Unawatuna - turtle hatchery - river safari - Bentota.

Day 13: Bentota - snorkeling - beach.

Day 14: Bentota - Kalutara - Colombo City - Airport.

* UNESCO Heritage Site
All our private Sri Lanka Tours include transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver / guide, choice accommodation (budget, standard, premium and custom meal plan (b&b, half-board, full-board). No hidden charges!
Starting at US$ 970 p.p.
Contact us for your personal quotation

 


All Private Sri Lanka Tours listed on this site are carefully selected and are updated on a regular basis.
Additionally we offer complete Sri Lanka holiday packages and special Sri Lanka hotel deals.
For more travel and background information on Sri Lanka, read our Sri Lanka travel guide and tips, helping you to make the most out of your holiday in Sri Lanka.