Jetwing Surf, Arugam Bay
Sigiriya From Pidurangala Rock
Planning A Holiday To Sri Lanka
The Issues That Need To Be Considered When Travelling To Sri Lanka Are As Follows:
- What time of the year are you willing or able to travel?
- Are you expecting to base yourself at a beach resort only or are you prepared to travel inland at least a few nights on a ‘mini tour’ or a ‘full island tour’ in order to experience its must-see attractions?
- What are the must-see sights and experiences that may interest you along the way?
- How are you going to travel around the island?
- What type of hotels are you looking to stay at during your visit to Sri Lanka?
Leela Wallawa, Bentota
When To Go? The Weather
Year Round Travel Is Possible
Sri Lanka is truly a year-round destination with fine weather alternating between the South West and Deep South Coast (Nov-Apr) and the East Coast (May-Oct).
However, the simple truth is that weather patterns have all but changed due to climate change, so there are no longer distinct rainy or dry seasons and the monsoon periods have scattered. It can be sunny or rainy on any given month.
The interior of the island however can be explored at any time of year.
Generally speaking, the South West Coast and Deep South Coast can be visited all year round but has choppy seas from May-October and calm seas and low rainfall from November-April.
The East Coast Beaches are very calm from May-October and are pretty much deserted from Nov-April.
Therefore the important choices that have to be made regarding the weather when planning a holiday to Sri Lanka would be as follows:
NOVEMBER – APRIL
If you wish to tour the island, it Is logistically better to embark on a ‘clockwise’ tour that ends up at the South Western and Deep South Beach resorts. If you wish to stay at a beach resort only with or without local exploration you need to choose a stay at a resort on the South West or Deep South of the island. The sea is generally calm and historically this is the period with the least amount of rainfall during these months.
MAY – OCTOBER
If you wish to tour the island, it is logistically better to embark on an ‘anti-clockwise’ tour that ends up at the East Coast resorts. The sea is generally calm and historically this is the period with the least amount of rainfall during these months. If you wish to stay at a beach resort only with or without local exploration the choice is not so clear cut as explained in our Beach Stay With Local Exploration section.
Beach At Weligama
Beach Stay With Local Exploration
THE SOUTH AND THE DEEP SOUTH
By basing yourself at a beach resort or villa in the South West or Deep South of the island you can experience much of Sri Lanka’s tropical beauty without the travel-hassle. This area of the island features the lush landscapes and picture perfect coconut lined beaches that draw visitors to Sri Lanka from all over the world.
THE EAST COAST
Not many travellers base themselves on the East Coast for the entirety of a holiday because frankly there’s not much to do! That is unless you absolutely require calm seas, no rainfall and love sea-bathing and are really not interested in local excursions at all. The landscapes are dry and arid with Palmyra trees taking the place of coconut groves giving the coastline and interior a strangely Arabic appearance, which is still very unique and interesting in its own way.
Leopard At Waterhole, Yala
Mini Island Tour With Beach Stay
If you are prepared to take on some amount of travel and want to see as much as possible with a short 2 or 3 night tour thrown in before you head for a relaxed beach stay, there are some great options.
Southern island mini-tours that feature Galle are the most popular as are wildlife safaris combined with Sri Lanka’s beaches as well as the option of exploring the Hill Country followed by a beach stay.
During the Summer Season it is also possible to combine a short tour of the Cultural Triangle with an East Coast beach stay. There are also options for a 2 Centre holiday, the ideal combination being a few days at Kandy in the centre of the island, followed by either a South Coast or an East Coast beach stay.
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Full Island Tour With Beach Stay
The difference between a 5 night island tour and a 7, 8 or 9 night extended tour would be that you stay more than one night at several destinations for a more relaxed tour itinerary. These longer tours also include stays at Yala for wildlife safaris and the historic old town of Galle.
Depending on your beach stay location it may however be possible to visit both Yala and Galle as day tours from your beach resort.
A minimum 8 nights of touring will enable you to immerse yourself in all the experiences that Sri Lanka has to offer – You can say yes, I have seen the whole of Sri Lanka!
Usually, travelers will have around 2 weeks of holiday time in Sri Lanka so will go for either a 5 night tour of the island followed by a 5 night beach stay or a 7-9 night island tour with a 3 night beach stay added on at the end.
Famous 18 Hair Pin Bends On The Kandy – Mahiyangane Road
Dealing With Long Journey Times
Where Are The Expressways!
The biggest question you need to ask yourselves when you are thinking of a travel schedule in Sri Lanka is how you will cope with the time it takes to travel between the main sightseeing locations.
Unfortunately You Do Need To Travel Quite A Bit To See All The Sights.
Sri Lanka is about the size of Wales so it is not the actual distances themselves but a combination of the hilly terrain, the fact that the must-see sights are evenly spread out throughout the island and the woeful lack of expressways that will lead visitors to carefully evaluate travelling times.
If you really want to keep travel to a minimum, then focus your holiday only on a couple of places in the south of the island. The country’s main expressway (E01) straddles the coastal interior from Colombo Airport through all of the southern beach resorts ending up near the famous wildlife parks around Yala.
Kandy Railway Station
Getting Around The Island?
In Sri Lanka, like India, there is a long established tradition of ‘touring’ using vehicles with dedicated English-speaking driver guides. This is still the best way to experience the island as a traveller. If you connect with a ‘compatible’ driver-guide it really takes the quality of your tour up to another level.
Usually saloon cars are provided up to 2 persons and spacious high-roof vans are provided for 3 persons onwards. If luxurious and comfortable travel between destinations is a priority on your list, we can provide you with top of the range Mercedes, BMW and Lexus vehicles.
Uga Jungle Beach, Kuchchaveli
Sri Lanka - The Home Of The Luxury Boutique Hotel
The island has some exceptional luxury boutique hotels that are considered the very best in Asia, if not the entire world! You should consider staying in at least one or two boutique hotels during an island tour.
Options include its world famous tea planter’s bungalows, colonial mansions and tented camps with many located amongst stunning scenery.
There are no large resort type hotels in Sri Lanka. The two biggest are Hotel RIU with 500 rooms and Cinnamon Life in Colombo with 800 rooms.
Tea Trails Bathroom
Luxury Themed Experiences
Scenic journeys by hot air balloon, helicopter and seaplane are highly recommended
Ayurveda, yoga and well-being treatments are famous in the island. Luxury hotels have a plethora of massage treatments and intensive day-packages. There are also dedicated holistic resorts.
Private sailing charters along the sublime tropical coastline of the island include day as well as multi-day cruises in luxury catamarans and yachts.
Sri Lanka now has deluxe safari resort experiences that are on a par with the best in Africa.
Taru Villas Maia, Habarana
