best time to visit
sri lanka

january is sri lanka at its absolute best, and we can see why!! the south-west monsoon is long gone, the west and south coast are dry and sunny, and whale watching off mirissa is at its peak. the sea is calm, the sunsets over galle fort are glorious, and the train from kandy towards ella is as dreamy as everyone says. it's peak season, so grab your spot early, then get ready for beach days, fresh seafood and long dinners with your new favourite travel gals.

february keeps january's magic going. it's dry and sunny, and it's one of the most comfortable months to be on the south-west coast before the heat really builds. the sea is calm, the days are warm without being sticky, and it's a good moment to swim at unawatuna, wander galle fort and look out for blue whales off mirissa. if you're wondering when to book, this is a pretty perfect time to visit.

march is a gorgeous time to explore sri lanka's south coast, with plenty of sunshine, warm seas and temperatures starting to climb. around weligama and mirissa, the surf is picking up, making it a great time for beach days and catching a few waves. meanwhile, galle fort is looking extra dreamy in the golden sunshine - definitely one for the group photo album!! rain is still relatively rare, but things can get pretty hot and humid towards the end of the month. our advice? get out exploring in the morning, then spend your afternoons soaking up the sunshine by the sea!!

april brings sinhala and tamil new year on 13 and 14 april, one of the biggest celebrations in sri lanka, so it's a really special time to experience the island's culture and festivities!! it's also one of the hottest months, with humidity rising and inter-monsoon thunderstorms starting to roll in. expect a mix of sunny spells and afternoon showers, so make the most of those clearer mornings for beach days and exploring. if you're visiting in april, embrace the celebrations, pack for a few downpours and keep your plans flexible, gals!!

may is a great month for the east coast, so think trincomalee, nilaveli and arugam bay, which are dry, sunny and calm right now. on the west and south coast (negombo to unawatuna), the south-west monsoon arrives, bringing heavy rain and a building swell, so that stretch isn't the one for beach days. if your heart is set on the south-west beaches, we'd recommend choosing a different month. if you're up for the east, you'll find sunny, calm beaches with space to spare

june is great for the east coast and the cultural triangle. trincomalee, nilaveli and arugam bay are in their dry season, and sigiriya and dambulla are mostly dry and sunny too. the west and south coast (negombo to unawatuna) is deep in the south-west monsoon, with rain, wind and rougher seas, so it's not the month for that beach route. head east for the weather, and expect lush, green scenery and lower prices.

july is a brilliant month to explore sri lanka's east coast, where trincomalee, nilaveli and arugam bay are in their dry season, with calmer seas, plenty of sunshine and great surf conditions. sigiriya and the cultural triangle are also generally warm and dry, making it a lovely time for exploring inland. the west and south coasts are in monsoon season, so you can expect more rain and rougher seas around places like negombo and unawatuna. we still run departures in july, so you'll get to experience sri lanka at this time of year — just be prepared for a few tropical showers and some changeable weather along the way!!

august is a brilliant month to explore sri lanka's east coast, with trincomalee, nilaveli and arugam bay enjoying their dry season, plenty of sunshine and gorgeous beach conditions. sigiriya and the cultural triangle are also generally warm and dry, making it a great time to explore inland too. over on the west and south coasts, the south-west monsoon is still in full swing, bringing more rain and rougher seas around places like negombo and unawatuna. we don't schedule departures on our negombo to unawatuna route this month, so if you're planning a trip in august, the east coast is definitely where it's at, gals!!

september is towards the end of the east coast's drier season, so trincomalee and nilaveli can still enjoy plenty of sunshine and lovely beach weather. arugam bay's surf season is also starting to wind down. meanwhile, the west and south coasts are still affected by the south-west monsoon, so expect more unsettled weather and rougher seas in places. if you're joining the gals who travel trip, we'll be travelling across the island, from the north and east to the south and inland, giving us plenty of different places to explore — and hopefully some sunshine along the way!!

october is one of the trickier months for weather in sri lanka, as the island moves into its second inter-monsoon season. this can bring heavy showers and thunderstorms across different parts of the island, often in the afternoons and evenings, so there's no one coast that's guaranteed to stay dry. the upside? everything is beautifully green, there are fewer crowds and you can often find some great value. if you're joining the gals who travel trip, we'll still be exploring different corners of the island, so there's plenty to see and do between the showers. just pack a rain jacket and come ready for a little adventure!!

november is a bit of a transition month in sri lanka. the first half can still bring plenty of rain and thunderstorms as the second inter-monsoon continues, but conditions generally start improving towards the end of the month, particularly along the west and south coasts. whale-watching season off mirissa also gets underway, although sightings and sea conditions can be variable early on. it's generally quieter than the peak christmas period, so if you don't mind a little unpredictability, it can be a lovely time to visit. and with the gals who travel trip taking us across the island, we'll have plenty of places to explore along the way!!

december is when the south and west coasts really start to come into their own, with the north-east monsoon bringing rain to the north and east while conditions generally become drier and sunnier around galle, unawatuna and mirissa. christmas and new year bring a real buzz to the coast, with beach parties, twinkling lights and a brilliant holiday atmosphere. you might still catch the odd shower, particularly earlier in the month, but it's generally a gorgeous time for beach days, calmer seas and whale watching. it's also one of the busiest and most expensive times to visit, so get those dates booked early, gals!!