Sri Lanka is best in January because…

The temperature at this time is hot but not too humid so you won’t be drenched in sweat all the time. Expect around 30 °C around the coasts and the Cultural Triangle. In the highlands the temperatures are usually cooler (around 20 °C).
The highlands tend to still receive a bit of rain in January but this tends to come in bursts and is followed by clear skies.

Galle, Bentota, Mirissa, Tangalle, Weligama and Colombo.

The north and east parts of the island as they may still be affected by the final days of the northeastern monsoon.

For wildlife, Yala will have dried out after the monsoon by the latter half of January and will be perfect for spotting leopards. As the parks become hot and dry, wildlife spotting becomes easier as animals congregate around watering holes. Uda Walawe and Wilpattu are also fantastic choices during this time as there is a very high chance of seeing lots of different animals. January is also one of the best times to see blue whales in Mirissa.

The highlands tend to still receive a bit of rain in January but this tends to come in bursts and is followed by clear skies. Nevertheless, temperatures are mild in places like Nuwara Eliya and Ella in January – perfect for hiking Adam’s Peak or some of the region’s other mountains.

Duruthu Perahera takes place in January at the sacred temple in Kelaniya. This colourful festival celebrates Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka and is quite the spectacle with drummers, dancers and elephants parading the streets. This is one of the key festivals in Sri Lanka that we recommend you attend .