Sri Lanka

Unwind among the coconut palms on Sri Lanka’s endless tropical beaches

Experience Sri Lankan culture in living colour at one of the many religious festivals

Explore the lush forests, rock-top temples and sacred peaks of the Central Highlands

See majestic palaces, monasteries and the sacred Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura

Visit ancient architecture and Buddhist relics in the sacred city of Kand

Marvel at the lion-shaped palace of Sigiriya, perched atop a colossal rock

Walk among incredible temples, tombs and monuments in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa

Walk through the 2,300-year-old Buddhist cave-temples of Damballa

Enjoy exotic charm and colonial architecture in the fortified city of Galle

See the majestic Sri Lankan elephant in the wild, in one of the country’s lush wilderness areas

Shop for colourful textiles, leatherwork and handicrafts in Sri Lanka’s bustling markets

Try a cooking class or simply sample as many Sri Lankan dishes as you can

Sri Lanka is very much a tropical country, with distinct dry and wet seasons and a generally warm and humid climate. This is caused by the island’s equatorial tropical latitude and the influence of the northeast and southwest monsoons, in which alternating wet/dry periods are caused by the seasonal reversal of prevailing winds.

Elevation and rainfall are the two key factors in Sri Lanka’s daily and seasonal climate variations, and your experience of Sri Lanka’s different seasons will depend largely on your location on the island. It’s never really a bad time weather-wise to visit Sri Lanka; you just need to know which side of the island to head to.

The southwest monsoon brings rain and winds to Sri Lanka’s southwestern regions between May and September, and a dry season between December and March. The northeast monsoon brings a dry season to the northeastern regions between May and September, and rain and winds between October and January. The crossover period from October to mid-November can see rain and thunderstorms across the whole island. Despite the seasons, the humid coastal plains of the southwest (Wet Zone) receive much more reliable rainfall that the more arid plains of the north, east and south (Dry Zone).

The driest and best months to visit are generally Dec-Mar for the southwest and hill country, and Apr-Sep for the northeast and ancient cities.

There is negligible variance is annual temperature ranges in all but the Central Highlands region, where elevation moderates the tropical climate and you will experience milder conditions and wider daily and yearly temperature ranges.

In Colombo, average daily temperatures range from a minimum of 22.3°C (72°F) to a maximum of 30.9°C (88°F) in January, to a minimum of 25.5°C (78°F) to a maximum of 30.4°C (87°F) in June.

In Kandy, average daily temperatures range from a minimum of 18.4°C (65°F) to a maximum of 28.3°C (83°F) in January, to a minimum of 21.4°C (71°F) to a maximum of 28.4°C (83°F) in June.

In Anuradhapura in the central-north, average daily temperatures range from a minimum of 20.9°C (°F) to a maximum of 29.6°C (°F) in January, to a minimum of 24.5°C (°F) to a maximum of 34.3°C (°F) in April.

In Nuwara Eliya in the Central Highlands, average daily temperatures range from a minimum of 9°C (48°F) to a maximum of 20°C (68°F) in January, to a minimum of 11.4°C (53°F) to a maximum of 22.8°C (73°F) in April.

Sri Lanka is +5 and a half hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Sinhala (74%); Tamil (18%); Other (8%)

Sinhala is Sri Lanka’s official language, and both Sinhala and Tamil are national languages

Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language, is the mother tongue of Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority. The low-caste Rodiya community uses a distinct dialect of Sinhala called Rodiya

Tamil, a Dravidian-root language, is spoken by Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Moors, with Moors sometimes using a Tamil dialect that is tinged with Arabic

English is commonly used in government and is referred to in the constitution as the link language between Sinhala and Tamil. Approximately 10% of Sri Lankans speak English

Other languages include Arabic, which is used in religious contexts by Sri Lanka’s Muslim community, Sri Lankan Malay and Sri Lankan Portuguese Creole

Sri Lanka’s indigenous Vedda people had their own tongue, Vedda language, which is now thought to be extinct

Sri Lankan Rupee

We recommend that you take US dollars with you as it is readily changeable.

American Express, VISA and MasterCard are accepted at hotels and in larger stores for retail purchases.

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Electricity in Sri Lanka is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin types are D (3 pin round) and G (UK – 3 prong).

Electricity in Sri Lanka is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin types are D (3 pin round) and G (UK – 3 prong).

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.