December travel
Sri Lanka in
December.
Peak south-coast season, blue whales returning to Mirissa, Yala at its sharpest — and the festive surge. What British travellers need to know.
Direct from LHR
~10h 45m non-stop
Time difference
GMT + 5h 30m
Visa
ETA online · ~£40
Pricing
Quoted in £ GBP
Plan from your country
December weather, decoded
South and west coasts dry up sharply by mid-month. Cultural triangle warm and dry. Tea country cool (12–18°C in the evening) — pack a layer. East coast in monsoon and not recommended.
Christmas & New Year
Festive hotel supplements apply 22 Dec – 4 Jan. Flagship properties book six to nine months in advance. We hold soft allocations at Cape Weligama, Wild Coast and Ceylon Tea Trails for serious British enquiries from June.
What to book first
South coast hotels and Yala safari lodges sell first. Chauffeur availability tightens over Christmas week. Direct LHR–CMB flights with SriLankan rise sharply in price after mid-November — book by September for fair fares.
Plan with us
A senior planner will reply within 24 hours.
Personalised itinerary, indicative pricing in £, no obligation.
Begin your bespoke journeyCompare at a glance
Which Sri Lankan destination is right for you?
The short answer: pair one cultural stop, one hill-country stop and one coast. This table compares what each place is best for, when to go, how long to stay and how far it is from Colombo.
Cultural Triangle
- Best for
- First-timers, history, the iconic rock climb
- Best months
- Jan–Sep (driest Feb–Aug)
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights
- From Colombo
- 4 hrs by car · 30 mins by helicopter
- Pairs with
- Kandy, Habarana safaris
Central Highlands
- Best for
- Culture, temple ritual, a soft landing before the hills
- Best months
- Jan–Apr, Jul–Sep
- Ideal stay
- 1–2 nights
- From Colombo
- 3–3.5 hrs by car · 2.5 hrs by train
- Pairs with
- Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya
Tea Country
- Best for
- Tea bungalows, cool air, Horton Plains
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 5 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Kandy, Ella
Hill Country
- Best for
- The train ride, walks, relaxed hill romance
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 6 hrs by car · 45 mins by helicopter
- Pairs with
- Nuwara Eliya, Yala
South-east
- Best for
- Leopards and private dawn game drives
- Best months
- Feb–Jul
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights (4 drives)
- From Colombo
- 5 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Ella, Tangalle
South
- Best for
- Guaranteed elephants, families with children
- Best months
- Year-round
- Ideal stay
- 1–2 nights
- From Colombo
- 4 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Yala, the south coast
South-west Coast
- Best for
- Colonial fort, boutiques, villa living
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 1.5 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Mirissa, Ahangama
South Coast
- Best for
- Blue whales, easy beach days
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (whales)
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 2 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Galle, Tangalle
Far South Coast
- Best for
- Privacy, staffed villas, uncrowded sand
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 3–5 nights
- From Colombo
- 3 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Yala, Galle
East Coast
- Best for
- Summer beaches when the south-west is wet
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- From Colombo
- 5.5 hrs by car · 1 hr by seaplane
- Pairs with
- Sigiriya, Pasikuda
Design your Sri Lanka journey
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Answers
Common questions
Is December a good time to visit Sri Lanka?+
December is the start of peak season on the south and west coasts. Expect 28–31°C, calm seas, blue whales off Mirissa from mid-December, and Yala in excellent game-viewing condition.
Does it rain in Sri Lanka in December?+
The south-west is essentially dry from mid-December onwards. The north and east are in their monsoon and best avoided. The cultural triangle and tea country are dry and cool — bring a layer for evenings in Ella.
Is December peak season?+
Yes — second half of December through early January is the highest-demand window of the year. Flagship hotels (Cape Weligama, Wild Coast, Ceylon Tea Trails) sell out six to nine months ahead.
How much does a luxury December trip cost?+
Allow £5,400–£8,000 per person sharing for a 10–14 night luxury private tour over the festive period, excluding international flights. Christmas and New Year carry hotel supplements; we quote in pounds.