Sri Lanka is small, but it sits between two monsoon systems. When one coast is wet, the other is usually dry, which means you can almost always find good weather if you choose the right region for your month.
December to March: south and west coast, and hill country
This is the classic high season. Seas on the south and west coast are calm, skies are clear, and the hill country around Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella is at its driest, especially January to March. Whale watching off Mirissa is at its best from late November to April.
April: a good shoulder month
April is hot and humid with occasional afternoon showers, but crowds thin out. It is also the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, when many locals travel and some businesses close for a few days.
May to September: east coast and Cultural Triangle
While the south-west monsoon brings rain and rough seas to the south and west coast, the east coast (Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay) has its best weather. The Cultural Triangle around Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa stays dry, and the Minneriya elephant gathering peaks from roughly July to October. Kandy’s Esala Perahera festival takes place in July or August.
October and November: the inter-monsoon
These are the wettest and least predictable months in most places, with afternoon thunderstorms. They are also the quietest and cheapest, and the landscape is at its greenest.
Safari timing
- Yala: best from February to July. The park usually closes for part of September and October.
- Udawalawe: good all year, with the dry months giving the best sightings.
- Minneriya and Kaudulla: elephant gatherings from about July to October.
Not sure which month works for your plans? Use our Best Time to Visit tool, or tell us your dates and we will suggest a route that follows the sun.