Best time for a family holiday in Sri Lanka

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Best time for a family holiday in Sri Lanka

We had a tip off that May is gorgeous in Sri Lanka, and turned half term into a ten-day odyssey. It was the most gorgeous gamble ever.

In terms of school holidays, the northern hemisphere summer break is the perfect time to go to northern Sri Lanka. This region is rain free in Jul-Aug, although it’s monsoon season down south. It also means you can get a good long break in. Christmas is gorgeous, as is Easter in the south, with dry, hot weather Dec-Apr, but you need to book well in advance and prices do hike. If you can wangle a ten-day break in May half term, that’s a wonderful option. Flights are cheaper and it is just before the southern monsoon, late May-Jul.

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When to go to Sri Lanka on a family holiday

Christmas holidays are busy in the southwest, booking up months in advance. However, volunteering in elephant conservation during that time will take you well away from the crowds. Even though the Cultural Triangle is in a drier region, it still gets the monsoon November to December. If you are heading to Yala National Park, February until June or July are great, as it is hot and the animals come out to drink. Combine with a Northern beach holiday to avoid southern monsoon. The best time for whale watching in Sri Lanka is during the Christmas holidays or February half term, as they pass through late November to mid march, with as many as ten species enjoying the waters around Mirissa and Galle in the south, or Kalpitya Peninsula in the north. For blue whales, they have a big and beautiful window from February to mid March, so you can take your chances depending on half term dates. May half term holidays, or early summer holidays are great for spotting sloth bears in Wilpattu and Yala National Parks. It is when they have their picnics on the palu tree fruit which comes out at this time. The best time to visit the ‘land of the lakes’, or Wilpattu National Park, is May to early September during the drought, when animals are drawn out to their waterholes.

Galle Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

101

MAR

122

APR

234

MAY

304

JUN

207

JUL

202

AUG

173

SEP

249

OCT

340

NOV

296

DEC

181

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When to go to Sri Lanka

Helene Cooper: “Travellers should listen to the advice about the seasons. They should not go to the northeast coast during the winter because of the monsoon. Seas will be rough and they won’t be able to go in. For anyone who doesn’t like humidity, it isn’t for them. It is really humid all year around, and unless you have been to the tropics yourself, you cannot imagine what it feels like. You just can’t replicate that feeling here or in the rest of Europe.”

John Beswetherick, Managing Director of our partner Tikalanka: “Although November until April is the key season, I feel that May is absolutely superb, all around the country, as it is outside both monsoon seasons. And it is the quietest time of the year too, so you can have a really good holiday, and yet it is still considered low season.”

Liddy Pleasants, Managing Director at our partner Stubborn Mule Travel: "The east coast beaches are starting to open up again since the head of the civil war. The best time to visit these beaches is actually during the European summer, unlike Sri Lanka’s southwest beaches, which are best visited in winter. This is great for families who want to come here during the school summer holidays. And at the moment, because they are undeveloped, the east coast still has those idyllic tropical beaches."

Helene Cooper: “They have lots of local festivals, or poyas. These aren’t like Bank Holidays. They have them at least once a month, maybe more. On those days the whole country goes mad, there is traffic everywhere, fireworks and local festivities. It isn’t that they are to be avoided; I would embrace them, but just be aware that things might not go according to plan on those days.”

Festivals & events

Adam’s Peak Pilgrimage

Definitely one for teenagers – and fit ones, too – the pilgrimage season for climbing to the top of this sacred mountain starts at the full moon (Poya) in December and finishes during the full moon in May. Every year, thousands of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim pilgrims climb up 5,500 steps to 2,243m. During the season it is illuminated, as most want to trek at night to see the sunrise from the summit.

Culture tips

John Beswetherick: “Everyone knows about the Esala Perahera Festival in Kandy, but the Navam Perahera in Colombo at the full moon February is not so touristy. The other one is the big Hindu Kataragama Festival in July and August, near Yala National Park, which is a great experience.”

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Written by Catherine Mack

Best time for a family holiday in Sri Lanka

Best time for a family holiday in Sri Lanka