How to plan a Sri Lanka tour and beach holiday?

The secret to planning a perfect Sri Lanka holiday is working around the weather. You really need to align your route with the island’s two monsoon seasons to make sure you’re getting the best sunshine.

If you’re travelling from December to April, stick to the South and West coasts. If you’re going between May and September, head East instead. A solid way to structure your trip is to spend the first half exploring the Cultural Triangle, places like Sigiriya and Kandy are musts, then head into the tea hills of Ella or a safari park like Yala.

Just be smart about the beach; don’t head south during the summer rain, or you’ll miss the best of it. Whether you hire a private driver or decide to brave the trains, try to book your transport as early as you can. It’s the easiest way to connect your inland adventures with your time on the sand without any stress.