Sri Lanka Travel Weather

December - March

This is the peak tourist season in Sri Lanka because the weather is warm and dry. The temperatures are ranging from 81°F to 90°F making it an ideal time for sightseeing and relaxing in the southern or the western coasts of Sri Lanka. Even the sea waves are very calm making it the perfect time to try surfing or snorkeling.

You can visit the beaches like Unawatuna or Tangalle for relaxation, and Bentota if you are a water sports enthusiast. The best beaches for surfing on the southern coast are Mirissa, Hiriketiya, Weligama and Hikkaduwa. However, you should not visit the eastern coast beaches like Arugam Bay during this season because there are heavy rainfalls and surfing/sunbathing is not recommended.

Another interesting activity you can do on the southern coast is whale watching and dolphin watching. Mirissa is a great place to spot sperm whales, blue whales and Bryde's whales while Kalpitiya is well-known for dolphin sightings. The Udawalawe National Park is a great destination to see hundreds of elephants in the wild.

If you are planning to visit the upcountry regions, you can start your trip from the cultural capital of Sri Lanka which is Kandy. The temperature ranges from 59°F to 68°F. You can stroll along the paved paths near Kandy Lake enjoying the cool breezes, have a walk in the beautiful Peradeniya Botanical Garden and visit the Temple of Tooth.

To experience that ultimate holiday feeling, head to Nuwara Eliya or Ella. You can snuggle up in a cozy bed watching TV shows or be adventurous by hiking in the Horton Plains National Park, Little Adam's Peak or Ella Rock. The views from these three places are equally breathtaking, and if you want to see the iconic blue train of Ella make sure to visit the Demodara Nine Arches Bridge.

Some of the events and festivals during this season are the Duruthu Maha Perahera, Thai Pongal Festival and the Galle Literary Festival.

April

This month ends the dry season and marks the beginning of the monsoonal seasons. The weather is dry and humid with temperatures ranging from 81°F to 86°F. You can still visit the southern coastal areas for surfing or sea bathing activities but you must be careful because the sea waves can be rough with unpredictable rainfalls. Whales and dolphins can be spotted sometimes during this season.

Crowds still visit the upcountry regions such as Nuwara Eliya because the temperature ranges from 59°F to 75°F, and the Hakkagala Botanical Gardens are in full bloom with a variety of roses and other flowers. It is better to enjoy some outdoor activities like boat riding in Gregory Lake, pony/horse riding and cycling in Nuwara Eliya when the weather gets warmer.

Yala National Park is a great place to spot leopards and you will have a great chance of seeing one since they come out in search of water in these warmer months. You can also see elephants, crocodiles, deer, birds and wild bears.

If experiencing traditional festivals sounds fun to you, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Avurudu Season) usually falls on the 13th and the 14th of April each year. You can see the local people participating in Avurudu games like eyeing the elephant, needling the threads, eating buns, and you can even taste Avurudu delicacies like oil cakes, kokis and milk rice with lunu miris (spicy sauce).

May - September

This is the off-season for most areas of the country, as rainfall increases with the onset of the southwest monsoon season. The temperature ranges from 73°F to 86°F. It will be impossible to visit the southern and the western coasts during this time so it's best to avoid going to beaches like Weligama, Unawatuna, Galle and Mirissa among the others.

However, the eastern coast of Sri Lanka will have favorable weather for anyone to go surfing, snorkeling or swimming. Arugam Bay is one of the top surfing spots in the world and hosts some of the greatest surf competitions! It is more suitable for pro and intermediate surfers.

You can also visit the beaches like Pasikudah and Trincomalee's Nilaveli. The Pigeon Island National Park is another favorite place in Trincomalee for snorkeling and scuba diving, in which you can swim along with the blacktip reef sharks and colorful fish. Whale watching also can be done in Trincomalee, and you will be able to spot blue whales and sperm whales.

But if you are not in a mood to have a sun and a sand time after visiting Sri Lanka in May-September, you can head to see the Cultural Triangle. The air will be warm and hot in Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla areas. The most visited attraction is the Sigiriya Lion Rock which is a rock fortress built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century BC. In Polonnaruwa, you can go on sightseeing by bicycle, and it will be a nice experience to cycle in the warm weather looking at all those palace ruins and historical monuments.

Minneriya National Park is another place that you should visit if you are in Sri Lanka during the months July-September. It is home to hundreds of elephants and they all migrate in search of water during the dry season. Therefore, it is known as the largest elephant gathering that is happening in Asia annually.

Some of the events and festivals in this season are: the Vesak Festival which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Lord Buddha (you can see colorful Vesak lanterns, oil lamps hung in front of the houses), the Esala Maha Perehera which is a religious festival of the Buddhists with a parade roaming the streets of Kandy with elephants, dancers, drummers and musicians, and the Kataragama Festival which is again a religious festival of Hindu devotees performing various stunts like firewalking, fire breathing and piercing their skins with metal hooks.

October - November

This is the peak off-season in Sri Lanka because these months fall in between the southwest monsoonal rains and the northeast monsoonal rains. The weather is very unpredictable because of the transition from the rainy season to the dry season. So, there can be sunshine and a little rain depending on the area of the country where you are staying. The temperature ranges from 79°F to 86°F in the southern/eastern coastal areas while it might get a little cooler in the upcountry regions with temperatures ranging from 63°F to 68°F.

Therefore, you can still visit Sri Lanka as these weather conditions do not prevent you from sightseeing, especially if you are someone who likes to spend your vacation in isolation away from the crowds. The prices of accommodation also tend to drop a bit making it a favorable season for those who are looking for a cheaper yet tropical vacation.

The events and festivals during this season are Deepavali Festival or the "Festival of Lights" that commemorates Rama's exile (you can see colorful decorations, oil lamps in Hindu houses, massive crowds in the Hindu Kovils), and the World Spice Food Festival which is a food festival held in renowned venues around Colombo for ten days.