The best time to visit Sri Lanka, coast by coast
Two monsoons, two beach seasons. How to match your dates to the south-west coast, the east coast and the hills.
Sri Lanka has two monsoons that arrive at different times on different coasts, so there is almost always somewhere on the island with good weather. The trick is matching your dates to the right side of the island.
South and west coast
Galle, Mirissa, Bentota and Colombo are at their best from roughly December to April, with calm seas and long dry days. This is also whale-watching season off Mirissa.
East coast
Trincomalee and the east are the opposite: the driest months are roughly May to September, when the south-west monsoon is soaking the other side of the island.
Cultural Triangle and the hills
Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa can be visited for most of the year. The hill country around Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella is cooler, and mornings are usually clearest. Bring a light jacket for the evenings.
Not sure which months suit your plans? Send us your dates and we will suggest a route that follows the sun.
