Sri Lanka travel guides
Everything you need to plan a tour of Sri Lanka, from choosing the dry coast for your month to the latest on the Kandy to Ella train, entrance fees and safaris. We track rule changes and show the date we last checked them.
When to go, at a glance
Sri Lanka's regions have different seasons. Green is the best time, amber is mixed and red is wet or difficult.
Choose your month
January
Peak season on the south and west coasts; the east is still wet.
- West coast (best)Colombo, Negombo, Bentota
- Hill country (best)Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella
- South coast (best)Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa
- Yala (best)south east safari parks
- North (Jaffna) (mixed)
- Cultural Triangle (mixed)Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa
- East coast (wet or difficult)Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South and west coastsGalle, Mirissa, Bentota | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best |
| East coastTrincomalee, Arugam Bay | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
| Cultural TriangleSigiriya, Polonnaruwa | Mixed | Best | Best | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
| Hill countryKandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed |
| NorthJaffna | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
| Yalamain blocks | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best |
When to go
Month by month
Weather, festivals and the best places to go in each month.
Itineraries
Sri Lanka itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days
Seven days covers Sigiriya, Kandy and Ella. Ten adds Yala and the south coast, and fourteen slows the pace with Nuwara Eliya, Galle and more beach time. From May to September, swap the south coast for the east.
Updated 15 October 2026Sri Lanka and the Maldives in one trip
Colombo to Malé is a short flight, so Sri Lanka's culture and wildlife pair easily with a Maldives beach finish. Spend 8 to 10 days in Sri Lanka and 3 to 5 in the Maldives. December to April suits both.
Updated 15 October 2026Sri Lanka trip planner: build a route for your month
Pick your month, trip length and extras. The planner picks the dry coast for that month, swaps safaris around park closures, flags festivals and seasons, and builds a map, day by day plan and rough cost.
Updated 15 October 2026Places and things to do
Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle: what to see and how to plan it
Base yourself near Sigiriya for 2 or 3 nights. Climb Sigiriya Rock or the cheaper Pidurangala for the view of it, add the Dambulla cave temples and Polonnaruwa, and an elephant safari at Minneriya.
Updated 15 October 2026
Best beaches in Sri Lanka by month: south, west or east coast?
From December to April head to the south and west coasts: Mirissa, Unawatuna, Tangalle and Bentota. From May to September the east coast is calm: Nilaveli near Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay.
Updated 15 October 2026
Ella: Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam's Peak and how many days
Ella is a laid back hill town at about 1,000 m, with short hikes to Little Adam's Peak and Ella Rock and the Nine Arches Bridge a short walk away. Two nights is ideal. Arrive by train from Nanu Oya, the most scenic stretch of the line.
Updated 15 October 2026
Kandy and the Esala Perahera: what to see and when to go
Kandy, the last royal capital, is home to the Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine. One or two nights is enough, unless you come for the Esala Perahera, a ten night procession in July or August.
Updated 15 October 2026
Galle Fort and the south coast: Unawatuna, Mirissa and Tangalle
Galle Fort is a walled colonial town by the sea, best explored on foot at sunset. East of it, a string of beaches runs from Unawatuna to Tangalle, each with its own character. December to April is the season.
Updated 15 October 2026
Nuwara Eliya and Sri Lanka's tea country
Nuwara Eliya, at nearly 1,900 m, is the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country: cool, green and dotted with colonial bungalows. One night is enough for most, as a base for Horton Plains and the train to Ella.
Updated 15 October 2026
Jaffna and the north: Tamil culture, islands and how to get there
Jaffna, the heart of Sri Lanka's Tamil culture, feels like a different country: Hindu temples, palmyra palms, island ferries and its own cuisine. The train from Colombo resumed in April 2026. Best from January to September.
Updated 15 October 2026
Trincomalee and the east coast: Nilaveli, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay
When the south coast has its monsoon, the east coast shines. From May to September, Trincomalee and Nilaveli have calm, clear water, Pasikudah suits families and Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka's surf capital.
Updated 15 October 2026Wildlife and safaris
Sri Lanka safaris: Yala vs Wilpattu vs Udawalawe vs Minneriya
Yala has the best chance of leopards but the most jeeps. Wilpattu is quieter with leopards and sloth bears, Udawalawe is the surest bet for elephants, and Minneriya hosts the great elephant gathering from July to October.
Updated 15 October 2026
Whale watching in Sri Lanka: Mirissa or Trincomalee?
Mirissa on the south coast is the place from November to April; Trincomalee on the east coast from about May to October. Blue whales are the star, with sperm whales and dolphins too.
Updated 15 October 2026Treks and routes
Climbing Adam's Peak (Sri Pada): season, routes and tips
Adam's Peak (2,243 m) is climbed at night by pilgrims of four faiths for sunrise from the summit. The season runs from the December full moon to Vesak in May; the Hatton route has about 5,500 steps and takes 3 to 5 hours up.
Updated 15 October 2026
Horton Plains and World's End: how to plan the walk
Horton Plains is a high plateau at about 2,100 m with a 9 km loop walk to World's End, a cliff that drops some 880 m. Arrive at dawn: cloud often hides the view by 10 am.
Updated 15 October 2026Costs and budgets
Sri Lanka entrance fees for 2026 and 2027, with a cost calculator
Entry fees for foreigners add up fast: Sigiriya alone is about US$35, and the Cultural Triangle sites together cost around US$100. Tick the places on your list to see your total.
Updated 15 October 2026
How much does a Sri Lanka tour cost?
A private trip with a car and driver and mid range hotels costs about US$120 to 200 per person per day for two people. Entry fees add US$100 to 200 per person on a classic route.
Updated 15 October 2026Practical tips
Kandy to Ella train: what is running now, tickets and seats
Since Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025 the hill country line has reopened in stages. Nanu Oya to Ella is running again, but trains cannot yet run from Kandy. Here is what is open, and how to still ride the best part.
Updated 15 October 2026
Getting around Sri Lanka: driver, train, bus or tour?
Most visitors hire a car with a driver, which costs about US$50 to 70 a day for a car and covers fuel and the driver's food and lodging. Trains are scenic but slow; buses are cheap and crowded.
Updated 15 October 2026
Sri Lanka visa (free ETA) and travel tips for 2026 and 2027
Since 25 May 2026, citizens of 40 countries, including Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and India, get a free 30 day tourist visa, but must still apply for an ETA online before travelling.
Updated 15 October 2026
Sri Lanka with kids: where to go and how to plan it
Sri Lanka is great with children: elephants and leopards, short train rides, calm beaches and friendly people. Keep drives short, choose a calm beach for the season and use a car with a driver for flexibility.
Updated 15 October 2026Ready to compare tours?
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