Low Season Sri Lanka

Tropical rainforest, sandy beaches, culture and wildlife on this Indian Ocean pearl.

By Claire French

Low Season: May - September

“I honestly cannot understand how it’s even possible”, she said to herself peeking out of her exquisitely decorated luxury en-suite tent set deep within the wild beauty of Udawalawe National Park. “Not only have we seen herds of elephants drinking at a watering hole, wild boar, sambar deer, crocodile and ospreys, we’ve already explored historic caves, picked leaves at a tea plantation, worshipped at the temple of Buddha’s tooth and we still have a week at the beach with a package of Ayurvedic spa treatments and delicious cuisine to look forward to”.

It’s true that Sri Lanka offers an astonishingly diverse range of experiences crammed into one small teardrop shaped island: gorgeous beaches, breathtaking rainforests, tranquil plains, and no fewer than eight (eight!) UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But what truly sets this destination apart is its people. Their warm smiles, curiosity, way of life, and gentle manner makes the journey all the more worthwhile.

Regional monsoons

You can have a wonderful experience here at any time with temperatures fairly constant around 28 degrees on the coast and 18 degrees in the highlands. Low season, when you’ll miss the masses and have real opportunity to connect with the locals, would be May to June and September to October. The crux of the issue is to understand the island’s monsoon pattern. Hot and humid May brings the south-western rains while the north and east remain dry. September can be very hot, and then in October the weather flips with monsoon weather in the north-eastern region.

In fact, October can be wet island-wide. Remember that you can plan your itinerary to make the most of the dry areas and that, even during monsoon, it very rarely rains the whole day and that blue sky days are not infrequent. May is an excellent time to cover the Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Yala and the southern beaches. In June we recommend Colombo, Wilpattu, Jaffna and Knuckes. During September and October, you can focus more on the eastern side of the tea country, Wellawaya and then the beaches of the South, ending up in Colombo.

Cultural Triangle

It’s not all about surf and sea and freshly prepared curry, a trip to the central area is essential to understand Sri Lanka’s long Buddhist history. A roughly triangular shape incorporates several major World Heritage sites including the sacred capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa with their ancient stupas. Climb the 1250 steps of the steep volcanic rock fortress at Sigiriya, once a monastery and later a royal residence. Explore the atmospheric Buddha filled caves of Dambulla and admire the magnificent frescoes inside. Spend time at the magical city of Kandy strolling round Bogambara Lake, botanical gardens and renowned temples. Finally, relax, it’s time to head to the island’s golden shores for some well-deserved down time.

TOP EXPERIENCES

Sri Lankan Cooking

A Sri Lankan cooking class

A fabulous way to spend a rainy day, hone your culinary skills and impress friends back home with your recreation of fragrant dishes.

Jaffna

Off the beaten track on the northern tip of the island, the fascinating Hindu city of Jaffna is rich in its own culture, heritage and history.

Knuckles mountain range

Trek or take a jeep through this UNESCO site in Matale, home to beautiful landscapes, waterfalls and exceptional scenery teeming with biodiversity.

FOOD AND DRINK

Culinary Ceylon, Colombo

This upmarket place offers a fabulous 7 course theatrical dining experience with age old traditional Sri Lankan recipes.

Priyamali Gedara, Polonnaruwa

Perfect lunch spot in a farm setting serving around 15 Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes, overlooking the rice paddies.

The famous Sri Lankan "Hoppers"

Mango’s Vegetarian Restaurant, Jaffna

Even meat-eaters will love Mangos. Serving mouthwatering Sri Lankan South Indian food, specialising in dosas and biryan.

Leopard Spotting in Sri Lanka

INSIDER TIPS

Sri Lanka's Sultry Sunsets

• Each full moon is known as Poya Day which is marked by a National Holiday to allow practising Buddhists to visit their temple.

• Conservative dress is essential for sacred sites; and don’t forget non-slip waterproof sandals for climbing. Feet may overheat in trainers.

• There is a growing trend in wellness, yoga and Ayurvedic retreats, plus properties are focusing on a sustainable approach to tourism.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Sri Lankans eat early. Although tourist restaurants will stay open later, if you explore local areas, expect to eat by 7pm.

• The weather can be unpredictable. Always get a forecast from a local expert and be prepared with sunscreen, hat and poncho.

• Train travel is an amazing way to see the country, especially the trip from Ella to Kandy, but beware, tickets do sell out.