Hotels in Sri Lanka

Despite Sri Lanka’s relatively small size, its climate varies hugely. Generally, January–early April are the best months to visit, as rainfall is at its lowest and temperatures are from 20–30+ degrees.If you’re visiting northern or eastern Sri Lanka, plan your visit between May and September, as you’ll avoid the Maha Monsoon. However, this monsoon is less severe, particularly after the months of November and December, so trips with waterproofs can be made at the start of the year.Those heading to southern or western Sri Lanka should go between October and early April to avoid the main Yala monsoon, the most severe on the island.

Hotels in Colombo will give you a great base to explore the island from. The diverse city has plenty of lakes to explore, as well as the imposing National Museum building where you can get a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s history. Visit the Gangaramaya temple, where you’ll find an enormous collection of Buddha statues and the relics of Buddha’s hair (according to legend).Central Sri Lanka is where you’ll find its ‘Cultural Triangle’, which encompasses the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and the cave temples of Dambulla. Explore the three incredible locations, which all contain countless religious and historical sites to visit, including Sigiriya rock formations.Hotels in Kandy will put you within 15 minutes’ walk the world-famous Buddhist Temple of The Tooth and 15 minutes’ drive of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Alternatively, stroll around Kandy Lake or hike the Hanthana Mountain Range to see Sri Lanka’s famous landscape from on high. The road trip from Kandy to Ella might take seven hours, but it’s one of the most highly recommended trips for travellers looking to take in Sri Lanka’s amazing scenery. Once you reach Ella, visit the Nine Arch Bridge or explore the caves and falls at Ravana Cave.Nature lovers should make sure to visit Bundala National Park, just south of Weligatta and the vast Yala National Park in the south east, where they’ll find a huge array of wildlife including elephants, leopards, crocodiles and bird life. Also in the South is Galle, home to Galle Fort and the reminders of the city’s colonial days from its various different occupants.