TGWhen to go to Sri Lanka: two monsoons, one island
There is a season here all year round — the only question is which coast. The south-west is dry from December to March, the east from May to September.
Sri Lanka is small: from Colombo to the east coast is about six hours by car. But two different monsoons pass over the island, and while one side is soaking the other is in full beach season. So there is no bad time for Sri Lanka — only a bad combination of month and coast.
South-west and south: Colombo, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Mirissa, Unawatuna
Dry from December to March — the high season and the usual choice for a first visit. The sea is calm, the sun is steady and the evenings are warm.
- December and January are the peak: pricier rooms, busy beaches
- May to September brings the south-west monsoon here: waves, wind and rain
- April and November are shoulder season: showers are possible but short, and prices drop
East and north: Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Arugam Bay, Jaffna
The opposite: dry and calm from May to September. This is when surfers move across — Arugam Bay is considered the best surf spot in the country precisely in summer.
- From October to January the north-east monsoon brings rain to the east
- July and August are the most settled: dry, with clear water
- The drive from the south-west to the east takes half a day — following the season is realistic
The centre: Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, the tea plantations
The hills stay cool all year: +18…22 by day and as low as +10 at night. Showers happen in any month but are usually short. January to March and July to September are driest.
Whales, turtles and elephants
- Blue whales off Mirissa — December to April
- Whales off Trincomalee — May to September
- Safari in Yala runs all year, but animals are easier to spot in the dry months
- Turtles come ashore on the south-west beaches from November to April
The short version
- December to March — south-west and south
- May to September — the east
- April is shoulder season on both sides, November on the south-west: showers are possible, but it is cheaper
All Russian citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka — the electronic ETA, arranged online before departure. Children need one too; we arrange them together with the adults.