Must-Visit Destinations in Sri Lanka During the Winter Season

Rich in beaches, cultural spots and wildlife, Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful and amazing places to visit on Earth. Although a small size country, Sri Lanka has one of the most varied biodiversity in the world.

A really good thing about Sri Lanka, besides the fact that there are so many interesting things to do and places to see, is that Sri Lanka is an all-year-round destination.

Which are the best places to visit in winter in Sri Lanka?

When I said winter don’t you think about snow, extreme temperatures and ice.
Winter months in Sri Lanka are December, January and February. In this period of the year, the average temperature in Sri Lanka is between 22 to 30 degrees Celsius and the precipitation level is between 82 to 165 mm.

The best part of Sri Lanka to visit in winter is the south part, the hillside and the cultural triangle.

Here is a top with the best place to see during winter in Sri Lanka!

Yala National Park

Yala National Park is one of the best places to visit during winter. Inside the park, there are many wild creatures representative for local wildlife: monkeys, elephants, buffalo, leopards, crocodiles and many species of birds.

The park is ideal for wild safaris. The access in the park is possible just with authorised jeeps. There are 2 game drives per day, one in the morning and another one in the afternoon. A game drive lasts for about 3 hours and is a good opportunity to observe local wildlife.

The entrance fee in the park for adults is about 15 USD per person and for a child is about 8 USD per person.

Book your overnight stay at Laya Safari , because it is close to being park entrance, has beautiful rooms and tasty food. Wake up at 4 a.m. and try the morning safari. The animals are more active early in the morning than in the afternoon!

Don’t forget to have your camera with you because you will have lots of opportunities to take beautiful shots.

Nuwara Eliya

Other best places to visit in winter in Sri Lanka are Nuwara Eliya and its surroundings. Nuwara Eliya is located in Sri Lanka hillside region nested between tea plantations

 

Don’t miss the opportunity and visit a tea factory! It is the best place to go and see with your own eyes the tea making process. You will see the whole process from leaf harvesting to the finished product. You will be shocked by the amount of work necessary to process the leaves and obtain the final product.

Nuwara Eliya is the right place to take the train up in the mountains between tea plantations; it is one of the most emblematic and awesome train rides in the world. Because this train ride is so famous and epic, the train tickets are sold very quickly, so book in advance if you want to be sure you get a seat.

Because there are so many beautiful things to do in the area, book at least 3 night in a hotel from the hillside area. The perfect and most beautiful accommodation is somewhere in the middle of nature from where you can admire the landscape.

98acres was named as one of the most beautiful mountain resort in the world a few years ago and it is indeed incredible! The view from the rooms, the location, the facilities, everything is absolutely incredible! You have a beautiful view over Little Adam’s Peak and a huge tea plantation. Very nice resort!

Kandy

Kandy is one of the best places to visit in winter in Sri Lanka. This is an important tourist destination famous for its temples and spiritual charm.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Hulu River Waterfall, Royal Botanical Garden, Kandy Lake are the most important things to be seen in the Kandy area.

Here, in Kandy, we saw a traditional show with national dances and all sort of traditions. It was a good opportunity to get in touch with the local culture.

After getting in touch with local traditions at the evening show from Kandy, book a night at Ozo Kandi and after a good night, sleep continues your journey throw Kandy area. Ozo hotel has nice rooms with a view over the Kandy city and the mountains from the area. A tasty breakfast is served each morning with traditional and international specialities. Ozo hotel offers the best ratio of quality price from the area.

Mirissa surf, one of the best places to visit in winter in Sri Lanka

Mirissa is a small town located in the south part of the island with beautiful beaches and incredible waves, ideal for surf.

This beach resort is famous for its nice hotels, vibrant nightlife and fancy cafes.
Mirissa beach is one of the best places for sunset and sunrise from the south coast of Sri Lanka, offering amazing views over the ocean and the coast.

Wow! There are so many things to do and places to visit even if you visit Sri Lanka in winter! It is very easy to understand why Sri Lanka is an all-year destination!