When to visit Sri Lanka: a season-by-season guide

If anywhere deserves to be called a year-round destination, it’s Sri Lanka.

Microclimates are the order of the day in this teardrop-shaped island country. When it’s raining on one stretch of coast, for example, the weather is perfect for surfing, sunning and sightseeing on another.

Since Sri Lanka lies just over 500 miles (900km) north of the equator, daytime temperatures hover at around 30°C (86°F) all year – meaning you won’t have to bring many layers (unless you’re heading up into the hills). Still, despite such year-round tropical bliss, it’s key to consider how the country’s two monsoon seasons affect different parts of the island before planning a trip. Remember that even if you end up in sustained downpours, it’s easy to escape to a more clement part of the island (those microclimates again).

On most trips, people mix up time on the country’s blissful beaches with detours to national parks, and jaunts to the cooler highlands and ancient cities in the middle of the island. So count on a mix of hot coastal spots and cool higher-altitude getaways on every trip.

Since the Sri Lankan calendar is chock-full of festivals and holidays, unique cultural highlights lie in store for visitors almost every month. Whether you’re looking to lie out in the sun, spot wild elephants, hike to the summit of Adam’s Peak or go further afield to less-touristed corners, here are the best times to visit Sri Lanka.

December to March is the best time to hit the beach

Sri Lanka’s high season coincides with the driest weather in the south and west of the country. Popular beach resorts such as Hikkaduwa and Mirissa are at their most idyllic – but also busiest, since the season also brings excellent surfing conditions on the south and west coasts. Do keep in mind, though, that the Maha monsoon season (October to January) keeps the East, the North and the Ancient Cities humid and rainy at this time of year.

Sri Lanka is a year-round wildlife-watching destination. The best time to spot elephants, leopards and buffalo is during the main November-to-April tourist season: all the big parks are open and animals start to gather around water holes, making them easier to spot. 

The pilgrimage season on Adam’s Peak, when seekers of all faiths climb the sacred summit, starts in December and lasts until mid-April. Other winter events to note on your calendar include Duruthu Perahera in Colombo, a lavish festival of lights, dances and parades to celebrate the first visit to Sri Lanka by the Buddha. On the south coast, Galle’s more sedate annual literary festival takes over the city's UNESCO-protected fort.

The festival of Maha Shivaratri in early March (or late February) brings another flurry of activity, with Hindus commemorating the marriage of Shiva to Parvati with all-night vigils and ceremonies. It’s the most important festival for Shaivite Tamils, who comprise the majority of Sri Lanka’s Hindus.

The Muslim festival of Ramadan moves forward 11 days each year relative to the Gregorian calendar – in 2024 and 2025, the month of fasting begins in March and February respectively, with some Muslim-owned businesses closing during daylight hours.

September to October and April are the best times for exploring the entire country

Squeezed between the two monsoon seasons, Sri Lanka’s twin shoulder seasons see agreeable weather all across the country, with fewer crowds and lower prices, to boot.

This is a good time for trekking in the Hill Country or climbing Sigiriya, as the weather is mostly dry but not as hot as in the height of summer. From August to September, hundreds of elephants group together for several weeks in Minneriya National Park during the annual “Gathering.” It's one of Asia’s great wildlife spectacles, and you have a good chance of seeing baby elephants.

October can be a bit unpredictable, with the summertime Yala monsoon fading and conditions building towards the Maha monsoon. Rain is common, with thunderstorms usually arriving in the afternoons – but there’s still good surfing on the east coast. Just add a raincoat to your list of things to pack.

After the busy winter season, April is warm and dry across the majority of the country, and prices fall as the peak season crowds depart. A more significant event in April is Avurudu, the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are official holidays, and over the days before and after, buses and trains are jammed as people flee from big cities to their home villages.

May to August is the best time to avoid the crowds

The low season in Sri Lanka starts with the arrival of the Yala monsoon in May, which pounds the west and south coasts as well as the Hill Country until August. Accommodation prices during this period are generally lower and crowds are thinner.

This is the best time for trips to Jaffna in the North and the chilled-out resorts along the east coast – such as Arugam Bay, known for its consistent point breaks and laid-back surf scene.

Despite the rain, many must-see festivals take place during this period, including Vesak Poya, a two-day festival in May when colored lights adorn every Buddhist home, shop and temple. There’s also the vibrant Esala Perahera in July and August – especially legendary in Kandy (thousands of dancers and drummers form a giant procession through the town), but celebrated on a smaller scale all over, with dancers, drummers and stilt walkers practicing all year for the occasion.

Another major Buddhist event, the Poson Poya, gets underway in June, celebrating the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Major festivities take place in the temples of Anuradhapura, and thousands of white-clad pilgrims ascend the 1843 calf-busting steps to Mihintale’s sacred stupa.

Another large-scale procession takes place in Colombo as part of the Hindu festival of Aadi Vel, which sees the gilded chariot of Murugan (Skanda), the Hindu god of war, ceremonially hauled through the city’s streets.

August marks the last month of low season, with the Yala monsoon slowly beginning to ease. To maximize the chance of avoiding the rain, head north to Jaffna, where the famous Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil hosts the spectacular Nallur Festival (sometimes starting in July). The event climaxes with parades of juggernaut floats and gruesome displays of self-mortification by entranced devotees.

Poya (full moon) days

It is worth noting that every poya (full moon) day is a holiday in Sri Lanka. White-clad pilgrims gather at Buddhist shrines and buses, and trains and accommodations fill up – especially if the full moon falls on a Friday or Monday. No alcohol is supposed to be sold on poya days and many bars close (though some hotels will discreetly sell guests cold beer). This is a particularly atmospheric time to visit the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura, grown from a cutting taken from the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.