Sri Lanka · Best time to visit
When to go to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has two monsoons that arrive at different times on different coasts, so part of the island is always dry. December to April suits the west, south and hill country; May to September suits the east.
The seasons
Two monsoons, two coasts
December to April: the west and south coasts, the hill country and the Cultural Triangle are dry and sunny. This is the main season.
May to September: the south-west monsoon brings rain to the west and south coasts and the hill country, while the east coast (Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay) has its season. The Cultural Triangle stays mostly dry.
October and November are the inter-monsoon months, with heavy afternoon storms across much of the island and the north-east monsoon arriving in the north and east.
Month by month
Where to go in each month
| Month | Season | Where to go | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | At its best | West and south coasts, hill country, Cultural Triangle | Rain on the east coast |
| February | At its best | West and south coasts, hill country, Cultural Triangle | Busy on the south coast |
| March | At its best | Everywhere except the east coast; whales off Mirissa | Hot and humid |
| April | Good | Hill country, Cultural Triangle; New Year in mid-April | Afternoon showers |
| May | Good | East coast, Cultural Triangle | Monsoon arrives in the south-west |
| June | Good | East coast, Cultural Triangle | Rain on the west and south coasts |
| July | Good | East coast, Cultural Triangle; Kandy Perahera in July or August | Wettest weeks in the hill country |
| August | Good | East coast; elephants at Minneriya | Rain in the south-west |
| September | Good | East coast; elephants at Minneriya | Yala often closes for part of September and October |
| October | Some regions | Cultural Triangle early in the month | Inter-monsoon storms across the island |
| November | Some regions | West coast late in the month | Rain in the north and east |
| December | Good | West and south coasts, hill country | Rain on the east coast |
Region by region
The best months for each region
- Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura)
- January to September
- Hill country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella)
- January to April
- West and south coasts (Colombo, Galle, Mirissa)
- December to April
- East coast (Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay)
- May to September
- Yala and Udawalawe
- February to July
- Whales off Mirissa
- December to April
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