Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka from the Philippines: What to do, weather, visas, and more
Sri Lanka is known for amazing wildlife, stunning historical sites , great beaches and unique food. It’s not the easiest place in the world to get to, but you’ll be rewarded if you manage to make the trip. If you’re planning your visit to Sri Lanka you’ll want to think about what to do there based on your interests and the time of year you’ll travel.
The best time to visit Sri Lanka from the Philippines depends on what you’re looking for - the varied weather and climate means there’s always somewhere to enjoy. This guide looks at great Sri Lanka places to visit in different seasons, and for different interests. We’ll also share more about the Wise card, a handy way to spend internationally.
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When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka from the Philippines
The best time to visit Sri Lanka from the Philippines is from December to March. This period aligns with the Philippines' cool, dry season, making it an excellent time for an overseas trip. You'll arrive in Sri Lanka to find sunny skies and perfect beach weather on its famous south and west coasts.
That being said, the best time to travel to the Philippines depends on what you plan to do. There are distinct seasonal differences which can mean that the Philippine weather is more or less conducive to your specific plans. While the Philippines temperature year round is fairly warm, the risk of monsoon rains or typhoons means it’s important to plan your visit based on the activities you want to get involved with.
March - May
This is a great time to visit Sri Lanka’s cultural sites, just as the Philippines enters its hottest months before the rainy season begins.
March: The Southwest coast is a great place for a visit to Sri Lanka in March, with pleasant temperatures and little rain. Consider combining your trip to the coast with a trip to Udawalawe National Park which is a good year-round option for safaris, allowing you to pretty much guarantee sightings.
April: If you’re heading to Sri Lanka for history, the month of April is a good time to pick. The main historic sites of the Cultural Triangle - Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy - have reliable weather, and you can also combine your visit with some wildlife or bird spotting if you’d like to.
May: The monsoon starts in Southwest Sri Lanka in May, which means this isn’t the best time of year for a visit, but you can still enjoy the central regions and the east of the country. If you’re thinking of a beach trip, Trincomalee - commonly referred to as Trinco - is a fabulous pick, with options for whale watching, and a great range of accommodation options.
June - August
While this is the middle of the rainy season in the Philippines, it's a fantastic time to visit Sri Lanka's east coast for a unique getaway.
June: June is a good time to head to the tea plantations and higher mountains in the center of the country. There are still some showers, but the reduced heat can be a welcome relief if you’ve been down at the coast where temperatures can be far hotter. Take a tea factory tour and join in a tasting, or get a high tea at one of the old colonial hotels such as the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
July: July is often the month of the Kandy Esala Perahera¹ - a large parade and procession through the town of Kandy. This event has long roots back in history and takes place annually - a very colourful and captivating opportunity to learn about the local culture if you’re in town. Book accommodation well in advance - the procession combined with school holidays can mean demand is high.
August: Elephant spotting is a big feature of many visitors’ itineraries, and August is an excellent time to take a trip to Minneriya National Park for ‘the gathering’ which can see hundreds of elephants congregating in one place. This is an amazing spectacle, but can get pretty crowded with jeeps viewing the elephants - talk to your tour guides about the best time of day to head over, to avoid the worst of the crowd.
September - November
This period in Sri Lanka sees some quite different weather in different areas, so you’ll need to think about your itinerary carefully. The country is pretty small, allowing you to take in several destinations on one trip, but bear in mind travel times can be long due to narrow roads.
September: The east of the country is relatively cool and pleasant throughout this season, offering a great opportunity for a visit. If you’re thinking of a beach break you could check out Arugam Bay for world-renowned surfing, or if you’re looking for culture the area around Batticaloa is also fascinating.
October: Frequent and disruptive rain can hit the central areas, where there are mountainous regions - these areas are best avoided in October and November to avoid rain interfering with your trip.
November: November is a great time to visit coastal destinations in the south and west of the country, where you can join a boat trip to view flying fish and other marine life. Try Galle for high end hotel choices and history in a compact city you can explore at leisure.
December - February
This season is perfect for travel, as the weather is great in both the Philippines and Sri Lanka's southern regions. Bear in mind that Christmas and New Year can see an influx of travellers from around the world.
December: There’s a sharp increase in the number of visitors to certain parts of Sri Lanka over Christmas, which means it’s essential to book ahead to secure your preferred accommodation. Colombo is a great place to base yourself for some of your trip, with vibrant street food markets, friendly people and interesting neighbourhoods to wander around.
January: Head to the historic city of Galle, where the weather is sunny and mild in January. This Southwestern region also offers nice beaches and the chance to spot wildlife, including whale watching opportunities.
February: If you’re interested in spotting leopards and a whole host of other wildlife, February marks a good time to consider a visit to Yala National Park. As the area is experiencing a drier time, animals can be easier to spot as they tend to stay close to watering holes.
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What to do in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is compact but extremely varied, with mountains, national parks, beaches and historic cities all in fairly easy reach of each other. You can easily spend several weeks touring the whole area, or split your trips into more focused visits, depending on your preferred activities. Here are a few ideas.
Hit the beach
Most travellers in Sri Lanka spend at least some time at the beach. There are plenty of lovely choices to consider, depending on whether you want luxury, a local feel, or great surf. Remember to look into cultural considerations, as in some areas modest dress is preferred.
Spot wildlife
There are some amazing wildlife opportunities in Sri Lanka. While Yala and Udawalawe National Parks are the most commonly visited, other options have their own draws, including amazing birdlife and large mammals like elephants and sloth bears.
Visit the UNESCO sites of the Cultural Triangle
History buffs won’t find better places than Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy, which are in the Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle and all easily reachable on a multi-day tour. Get a guide to help you interpret the sites, or simply stroll and take in the atmosphere - watch out for the large colonies of monkeys which are fascinating to observe.
Learn about Sri Lankan cuisine
Sri Lanka has a very interesting cuisine which isn’t commonly exported. Look out for popular local streetside stalls selling hoppers and kottu roti, or coconut rich curries and breads.
Planning a trip to Sri Lanka from the Philippines
If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, you’ll need to book your flights and get your visa paperwork sorted well in advance. It’s also worth figuring out what you’ll do for Sri Lankan currency to make spending simple on arrival. Here are a few things to think about.
Sri Lanka Visa Requirements
If you have a Philippine passport, you will need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) online before your trip¹. This is a mandatory requirement for tourists. The process is done entirely online through the official Sri Lanka ETA website and it's recommended to apply well in advance of your travel dates.
Flights to Sri Lanka
There are no direct flights from the Philippines to Sri Lanka. Most flights from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Colombo (CMB) include at least one stopover. The total travel time, including the layover, is typically 8 hours or more².
Common connecting airports are Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL), with carriers like Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines offering convenient routes.
Get the most out of your PHP to LKR conversions on your holiday with Wise
The Wise account is an easy way to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including PHP, USD, CNY, and more. All you need to do is create a free account to get started.
With Wise, you can exchange currencies at the mid-market rate each time, with low, transparent conversion fees from 0.57% and absolutely no markups. Plus, you can order a Wise card for convenient spending at the same great rate, without any foreign transaction fees. At times you need cash, you can also make up to 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP when you're overseas. You'll even get 8+ local account details to get paid conveniently to your Wise account in PHP and a selection of other major global currencies.
Sending money or making payments abroad? Wise also offers fast, low cost transfers to 140+ countries - you can track your transfer in your account and your recipient will also be notified when a transfer reaches them.
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