Holidays to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka travel guide

• When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?

  Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons - both wet and dry, temperatures average 28°C. The best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to April when the weather is warm. May to November brings the monsoon season.
  
  Take a look at our climate a chart below.

• Sri Lanka attractions

  Sri Lanka is a tranquil and friendly island that is the perfect place to not only relax, but marvel at some stunning sights. With a mystical presence that resonates through the island due to its religious nature, you’ll feel in awe as you take a look at the country’s natural wonders and ancient marvels.

  Marvels

  When it comes to jaw-dropping ancient wonders, you may think Egypt has that covered with the pyramids, but Sri Lanka’s Ancient Stupas are every bit as amazing. The ancient wonders are considered some of Sri Lanka’s best architectural creations, and are the biggest brick structures known from the pre-modern world. Traditionally places of worship and a residence for monks, check out the Mirisawetiya Vihara, which was built between 161-137 BC, or the Jetavana, the largest stupa, standing at more than 200 feet - it’s heavier than the largest pyramid!

  Ancient marvels don’t stop at the stupas; the country is filled with them. Sitting between the Thissa Wewa reservoir and the Isurumuniya Rock Temple, you’ll find the Ranmasu Uyana. This forty acre ancient garden was once used by royalty, and is fascinating due to its intricately carved bathing ponds, which use a number of sophisticated hydraulics to fill the pools from the Thissa Wewa; pretty clever for something constructed nearly three thousand years ago.
  
  However there’s something even more interesting than this, which can be found amongst the boulders and caves near the pools. Here you’ll find a map, carved into a wall which is believed by many to be a secret code to access a ‘stargate’, alluding to a time when humans allegedly roamed the universe. The carving has drawn parallels to similar markings in Egypt and Peru, and garnered the interest of archaeologists and pre-historic investigators for many years; who have said it is more likely a carving used for meditation purposes.

  Then there’s the island’s most popular tourist attraction; Sigiriya. This ancient palace and pleasure garden is built on top of a 200 metre rock dating back to the fifth century, whereas the area surrounding it has been inhabited since the 3rd century. With stunning landscaped gardens, ponds and wall murals, this complex and fascinating piece of ancient history is something you won’t forget in a hurry. Although it’s regularly frequented by tourists, it’s something you have to see to believe, so make sure you place it high on your ‘things to do in Sri Lanka’ list.

  UNESCO

  In amongst its beauty and soothing religious vibes, Sri Lanka houses a wide variety of UNESCO recognised World Heritage Sites. There are a total of six Heritage Sites in the country, which just adds to its mystical ancient vibes.

  The UNESCO sites are:

  • The sacred city of Anuradhapura
  • The ancient city of Polonnaruwa
  • The golden temple of Dambulla
  • The ancient city of Sigiriya
  • The old town of Galle and its fortifications

  There is a seventh World Heritage Site located in Sri Lanka, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which is an ecological rather than ancient example, but still makes for a great day out to explore the country’s biodiversity.

• Top 5 things to do in Sri Lanka

  Surf's up!

  Surfing is a definite must in Sri Lanka. A beginner surfers paradise, the south west coast is the perfect place to get started in the water.

  Turtles

  Sri Lankan turtles are under threat, so there are various turtle hatcheries around the island. Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is considered one of the best, and you can even take part in releasing turtles into the ocean.

  Beaches

  What can we say about the beaches? It would be rude not to take some time out and just enjoy lounging on the beautiful soft sand; Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Kosgoda are some of the island’s most popular.

  All aboard!

  The vibe throughout the island feels like you’ve stepped into another world, why not take a train ride for an amazing experience.

  National Parks

  With such stunning places of natural beauty the island has a number of National Parks, Yala National Park being particularly amazing. Filled with wildlife, you can experience crocodiles, snow leopards, peacocks, elephants and much more alongside the beautifully relaxing landscape.

• Sri Lanka food and drink

  In a country that has seen many foreign influences over the decades; the dining opportunities are out of this world.

  An island that loves spice, your pallet will experience delightful curries featuring fish, chicken, eggplant or potato alongside rice, which is a staple on the country’s plate. Seafood lovers will also be in their element as culinary delights like crayfish, crab, squid and fresh fish are all readily available to you. Fresh fruit is also a main part of many people’s diet here, so mango, banana, pineapple and papaya are widely available to keep you refreshed.

  Make sure you try out many of the unique Sri Lankan dishes such as hoppers, cutlets, patties, malu pang and kimbula bunis, which will all help broaden your experience of this delightful and warming country.

• Sri Lanka lifestyle and culture

  Sri Lanka has a wildly diverse and beautiful culture, which spreads to every corner of the country. The island comprises a rich religious culture that can be felt throughout the streets and seen in ancient sights and countless celebrations. This sits alongside stunning natural beauty that contrasts with the beach vibes emitting from the shores.

  With the diverse scenery comes an equally diverse wildlife collective, which all work together to create the island’s vibrant and colourful culture. Finally let’s not forget the delicious food on offer here; with multiple Asian influences converging on one island, you’ll be in store for culinary treats beyond belief.

  Poya

  Religion is a huge part of Sri Lankan culture, with Buddhism and Hinduism being the main religious influences. However, according to Islamic folklore this is the island where Adam and Eve were given refuge, following their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

  Due to the large population of those practising Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the Buddhist holiday of Uposatha is celebrated regularly. Also known as Poya, it’s a civil and bank holiday that occurs every full moon. There are 12 or 13 Poya days each year, which see celebrations across the island, alongside temple worship and thought on these extremely religious days. At this time shops and businesses tend to close, and alcohol and meat sales are forbidden. Experiencing one of the varying Poya days is a great way to truly immerse yourself in Sri Lankan culture.

  Wildlife and natural beauty

  With 13% of Sri Lanka being conserved as national parks, sanctuaries, reserves and jungle corridors, it’s no wonder it’s known as having one the world’s best degrees of biodiversity. In fact the island has been named one of the top 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world by Conservation International.

  With this comes a wide range of wildlife ranging from elephants, leopards, giant squirrels and monkeys, to snakes, crocodiles and an ever growing amphibian population, plus many many more - you’ll be lost for words. You can observe many of these great species throughout the country, with a safari being available in one of the national parks; giving you the chance get even closer than normal.

  Next to this you can observe and enjoy the delightful scenery, which is more diverse than many places across the globe. Enjoy long walks, lounge on the soft sandy beaches, or explore the rocky coves, lagoons, wetlands, rivers and jungles. You name it, Sri Lanka has it all.

  With mist shrouded mountains, tree plantations and rolling hillside to contrast all this, visiting Sri Lanka is like visiting several different holiday landscapes in one.

• Sri Lanka events - what's on when?

  January - Thai Pongal

  Every January, around the 14th or 15th, the island celebrates harvest with a spectacular array of singing and dancing throughout the night, alongside fireworks and fun-filled activities for all to partake in.

  February - National Day

  February welcomes even more celebrations, this time steering away from religion. This month sees the island celebrate its independence with a hoard of fun-filled parades, national dances and games across every city in Sri Lanka.

  March - Sri Lankan Balloon Festival

  With over 100 participants, this family event has been running since 2003. Although it’s not been around very long the event is now one of the island’s most popular, as the sky is filled with colourful hot air balloons, and the ground has a number of fun-filled celebrations.

  April - New Year

  During the month of April the Sinhalese and Tamil cultures celebrate New Year, making it an excellent time to visit. With an array of unique events such as elephant races and coconut games taking place, this is a great time of year to fully experience the island’s culture.

  May - Vesak

  Taking place on the full moon, the entire island comes together to light up the night skies with colourful light displays and bamboo lanterns. This is to honour the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. It is a great opportunity to celebrate one of the island’s many religious traditions.

  June - Poson Festival

  Another religiously inspired event, the Poson Festival is used to commemorate the birth of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. On this day you’ll see the entire country come together to celebrate, where many will reflect at a temple with meditation, and many celebrate at Mihintale; where Buddhism is said to have been declared the state religion.

  July - Kataragama Festival

  During the full moon of July, the mesmerising Kataragama Festival takes place, and it’s a spectacle that shouldn’t be missed by anyone. During the festival the sacred jungle shrine of Kataragama explodes with fascinating sounds and colours, along with dancing and displays like fire walking, as the Esala Perahara is held for two weeks to celebrate the God Skandha.

  August - Elephant Gathering in Minneriya National Park

  As water is scarce between the months of July and October, around 300 Asian elephants migrate to the Minneriya National Park; which is the largest elephant gathering in the world at this time. This is a great opportunity to see the stunning animals in the wild; the event has been declared the ‘sixth greatest wildlife spectacle in the world’ by Lonely Planet.

  September - Bingra Full Moon Poya Day

  Although there are many Poya days in this culturally religious country, September’s is one of the most important. On this national holiday Buddhists remember the basic tenets of the Buddhist faith and the struggle of Queen Mahapajapati and the first Bhikkhunis. Celebrations take place throughout the island, giving travellers ample opportunity to witness traditional Sri Lankan values.

  October – November – The Hindu Festival Deepavali

  To celebrate the triumph of good over evil, the Hindu Festival of Lights is a religious and communal festival, which sees prayers offered to the goddess Lakshmi for renewed health, wealth and prosperity. The festival sees delicious sweets distributed, illuminations, the making of figurines, visiting families and burning firecrackers, which is open to all.

  December - Unduvap

  Just before Christmas you’ll find the final Buddhist festival of the year; the Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day. The whole island celebrates once again, as this day honouring the Buddha see many take part in rituals and ceremonies in various temples, which occurs alongside colourful pageants throughout the event.