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When to visit Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, nestled in the enchanting Indian Ocean, offers a continuous embrace of warmth and abundant sunshine. As a year-round destination, the best time to explore Sri Lanka depends on the experiences you're seeking. Despite varying weather systems that drastically influence the climate from coast to coast, you can usually find a cozy nook or an exciting adventure throughout the year. Specifically, the months from December to mid-April are the prime period to visit. While this time marks the peak tourist season across the country, it's advisable to secure accommodations well in advance, although last-minute options are available throughout the year. Families can also consider the traditional summer holiday months, particularly favorable for the east coast, which shines brightest from May to September.

December to April

Sri Lanka’s high season coincides with the coming of the best weather in the south and west of the country. December to April provides the best time to visit the most popular beach destinations on the west and southern coast, wildlife spotting such as seeing leopards in Yala National park, and cultural attractions in the centre of the island. At this time of the year all the big parks are open and dry conditions mean that animals gather around watering holes, making them easier toJuly and August emerge as ideal months to visit the east coast beaches and witness the renowned elephant gathering in Minneriya National Park. This period also coincides with the Yala monsoon, or southwest monsoons. While the main tourist regions generally remain rain-free, expect hot and humid temperatures in most parts of the country. spot.

July to August

July and August emerge as ideal months to visit the east coast beaches and witness the renowned elephant gathering in Minneriya National Park. This period also coincides with the Yala monsoon, or southwest monsoons. While the main tourist regions generally remain rain-free, expect hot and humid temperatures in most parts of the country.For an extraordinary experience exclusive to Natural World Safaris, plan your trip between February and April to enjoy the best conditions for snorkeling with blue whales.

February to April

February through to April provide the best times to visit for snorkelling with blue whales, a unique trip that is almost exclusively accessible to Natural World Safaris.

If you're drawn to the Golden Triangle

The region known as the Cultural Triangle lies to the northern side of the island, home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This area is rich with temples and ruins. The sacred city of Anuradhapura, nestled in the jungle, is renowned for its colossal dagobas, architectural marvels rivaled only by Egypt's Giza pyramids. The prime time for visiting the Cultural Triangle is from June to September, boasting minimal rainfall, though the captivating sights here are enjoyable year-round.

If you're longing to see whales

Off the deep south coast in Mirissa and Dondra Point, as well as Kalpitiya in the northwest, you can spot blue whales and sperm whales between November and April. Meanwhile, off the east coast near Trincomalee, the best time for whale watching is from May to August.

Heart set on observing Leopards?

For many, the thrill of encountering leopards in the wild at Yala National Park is an ultimate wildlife adventure. The optimal time for a leopard safari falls between March and October.

Eager to witness elephants?

The elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park stands as a remarkable wildlife spectacle, taking place in August and September. During this time, the dry season compels the elephants to migrate in search of food and water across the lowlands.

Sri Lanka South Coast Boat In The Ocean Richard Denyer
St Sri Lanka Sigiriya Lion Rock Shutterstock Sylvainb

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The Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

January is a great time to travel, especially to start the new year off with some sunshine. Expect temperatures of around 30 ‘C along the southern and western coast and minimal rainfall, ideal for beach relaxation. Yala National Park and Wilpattu National Park will be beginning to dry up post monsoon season and will be fairly hot, therefore we advise to avoid them during the first few weeks of the month. Uda Walawe is excellent at this time for bird watching as they follow their migratory routes.

February is one of the best months to visit Sri Lanka. Although the country is a year-round destination, February provides excellent chances of fantastic weather and great wildlife sightings. Wilpattu is great for birding and Yala is excellent for leopards as they bask in the sun.

March sees some of the best weather in Sri Lanka. In the South, Tea Country, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains are at their most spectacular, with little rain and temperatures that average 25C.

April is a great month to travel if you want to experience Sri Lanka in more of an ‘all-round’ sense. Yala is still incredible for leopards at this time and camping in the park is an option, ensuring you experience an authentic wildlife experience.

May sees the beginning of a monsoon season, making this the beginning of the low season. This monsoon brings rains to the south and west coasts as well as the hill country. May is still a good month to track leopards and elephants in Yala National Park.

The south-west monsoon still blows through June, affecting the south-west quarter of the country. This weather is fairly gentle and should not make you avoid areas hit, such as Galle and the tea country. For beach relaxation, we recommend you head to the north-east coast for more guaranteed sun and calmer waters.


July is the first month of the inter-monsoon season and the weather begins to pick up again, becoming much drier. At this time, the east coast is dry and the beaches sunny. The south west will be subject to the odd shower but average temperatures across the whole islands are a perfect 29°C.



August is an inter-monsoon month, so you can expect the odd short shower but the weather is generally wonderful all round. Across the whole of Sri Lanka, the weather is nice and hot, sticking to an average of about 29°C, not dissimilar to July. When it comes to wildlife, leopard tracking in Yala National Park is wonderful at this time, and with such beautiful weather it is a great excuse to try camping out in the national park.


September offers great odds on fabulous weather throughout the country, it is an inter-monsoon month so the odd showers can be expected, but they are short and sweet. It is mainly dry and warm across Sri Lanka, with an average temperature of about 29°C. As the north-east monsoon starts to creep in towards the end of the month, you can start to expect a bit more rain.

October marks the arrival of the north-east monsoon, this is known to be heavier than the south-west monsoon earlier in the year and often brings with it heavy rain and strong winds. This monsoon can affect the whole country or it can not appear at all, resulting in quite unpredictable weather for the coming months. We’d often still favour the east, but a lot is about luck at this time of year. Swimming in many of the beaches is not recommended with choppy waters.


In November the north-east monsoon usually continues through, with most of Sri Lanka seeing some rain and wind. This monsoon is generally heavier than the monsoon earlier in the year, however it is unpredictable and changes year on year, with nice weather breaking through at times and cyclones at others. Some beach time is possible; the southern and western coasts generally see less rain than the rest of the country, and towards the end of the month, there is usually a significant improvement in the weather throughout. Heading to areas such as Galle where there is more than a beach to explore is a good idea.


December can be a fantastic time to travel. The monsoon often has ceased or calmed by the start of December, leaving behind lush green landscapes begging to be explored. The Tea Country, Horton Plains and other rural areas are exceptionally beautiful after the rains have calmed. This does, however, mean that it is a popular time to visit these areas and beds can be in demand, resulting in peak prices.


December to April

Sri Lanka’s high season coincides with the coming of the best weather in the south and west of the country. December to April provides the best time to visit the most popular beach destinations on the west and southern coast, wildlife spotting such as seeing leopards in Yala National park, and cultural attractions in the centre of the island. At this time of the year all the big parks are open and dry conditions mean that animals gather around watering holes, making them easier toJuly and August emerge as ideal months to visit the east coast beaches and witness the renowned elephant gathering in Minneriya National Park. This period also coincides with the Yala monsoon, or southwest monsoons. While the main tourist regions generally remain rain-free, expect hot and humid temperatures in most parts of the country. spot.

July to August

July and August emerge as ideal months to visit the east coast beaches and witness the renowned elephant gathering in Minneriya National Park. This period also coincides with the Yala monsoon, or southwest monsoons. While the main tourist regions generally remain rain-free, expect hot and humid temperatures in most parts of the country.For an extraordinary experience exclusive to Natural World Safaris, plan your trip between February and April to enjoy the best conditions for snorkeling with blue whales.

February to April

February through to April provide the best times to visit for snorkelling with blue whales, a unique trip that is almost exclusively accessible to Natural World Safaris.

Safaris & Planning


SRI St Asian Elephants Sri Lanka

Minneriya National Park

Set in the heart of the popular cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, Minneriya National Park is mostly known for its incredible elephant migration, which is one of Asia’s finest wildlife experiences. During the drier months of June to September, as many as 300 elephants congregate in the Minneriya National Park around the ancient Minneriya water tank (which dates back to 3rd Century AD), taking advantage of the receding waters that provide an important water source. As it is so close to some of the other cultural attractions of Sri Lanka, it can be a great alternative to Yala and some of the other parks in the south.


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Things to do in Sri Lanka

If you're drawn to the Golden Triangle

The region known as the Cultural Triangle lies to the northern side of the island, home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This area is rich with temples and ruins. The sacred city of Anuradhapura, nestled in the jungle, is renowned for its colossal dagobas, architectural marvels rivaled only by Egypt's Giza pyramids. The prime time for visiting the Cultural Triangle is from June to September, boasting minimal rainfall, though the captivating sights here are enjoyable year-round.

If you're longing to see whales

Off the deep south coast in Mirissa and Dondra Point, as well as Kalpitiya in the northwest, you can spot blue whales and sperm whales between November and April. Meanwhile, off the east coast near Trincomalee, the best time for whale watching is from May to August.

Heart set on observing Leopards?

For many, the thrill of encountering leopards in the wild at Yala National Park is an ultimate wildlife adventure. The optimal time for a leopard safari falls between March and October.

Eager to witness elephants?

The elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park stands as a remarkable wildlife spectacle, taking place in August and September. During this time, the dry season compels the elephants to migrate in search of food and water across the lowlands.

What to expect from a trip to Sri Lanka

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