Best Time of Year to Visit Sri Lanka is august. Before we discuss the August weather in Sri Lanka, let’s be clear that while the country is generally pleasant to visit throughout the year, the best months to go are actually December through April, when the country experiences its peak season and its best weather—that is, days with clear skies and sunshine—rather than in August.

Thus, you are traveling to Sri Lanka during off-season and low season by traveling in August, but there are advantages as well! Sri Lanka is known to be an all year-round destinations. Read more about Places to Visit in Sri Lanka by Month.

See: Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

 Best Places to visit in Sri Lanka in August

The East Coast and the North of Sri Lanka are the greatest areas to travel in August, according to even the shortest study, as this is where the country’s South-Western monsoon is weakest and least concentrated. In contrast, certain regions of the nation become extremely wet throughout the winter.

East Coast of Sri Lanka – one of the Best Places to Visit in August

The most frequented destinations on the East Coast are Trincomalee and Arugam Bay, one is fortunate enough if he gets to visit both, and each has its own special appeal.

Since Trincomalee is a city, visitors must go a little farther up the coast to visit Uppuveli and Nilaveli, the city’s two main beaches. I suggest staying at Nilaveli since I had heard that it had a nicer, cleaner beach. Both are rather calm, but Nilaveli is especially so. It consists of a long stretch of beach with the occasional beach bar on it, as well as a few dirt roads lined with eateries and guesthouses.

Trincomalee

It is recommended that you spend at least two days in Trincomalee during August, even if getting there by bus from Sigiriya will take a while (7 hours), and you will be happy you went. While visiting Pigeon Island, one of Sri Lanka’s two marine reserves, you may go snorkeling and have the opportunity to go dolphin watching, where you could even see a whale!

Similar to Mirissa in Sri Lanka’s south, Trincomalee is well-known for whale watching—but only during the appropriate season. The likelihood of spotting whales at Trincomalee is low in August and is probably higher earlier in the year.

Even though Trincomalee is experiencing pleasant weather, there is a potential that one day there could be an intense rainfall lasting for about an hour, demonstrating that this region of Sri Lanka is not immune to the monsoon in August.

Pigeon Island

One of the most recent parks to be added to Sri Lanka’s expanding conservation zones is Pigeon Island National Park. It encompasses Pigeon Island, a tiny island located a kilometer off the coast close to Trincomalee, as well as a sizable chunk of the surrounding water and coral reef.

Though tragically, most of Sri Lanka’s coral reef is still recuperating from the 2004 tsunami, it is home to some of the best preserved coral reefs in the country. Scuba diving and snorkeling are quite popular here since it’s very simple to get there from Nilaveli Beach or Uppuveli Beach, which is located north of Trincomalee.

Even though Nilaveli Beach is theoretically closer, planning a trip from Uppuveli is as simple. It just indicates a little lengthier boat voyage.

Pigeon Island is clearly seen from the shore north of Trincomalee. The island is not very large—it is about 200 meters long—but it is located on Nilaveli Beach, just one kilometer from the coast.

Making reservations for a boat trip from Nilaveli Beach or Uppuveli Beach is the only way to get to the island. This is really easy to set up, as there are many of snorkeling and diving establishments along the beach that rent out equipment and provide excursions. Or your lodging facility can make arrangements for you as well.

The tours follow a fairly typical format. They include transportation by boat to and from the island, all gear needed for diving or snorkeling, plus some food.Although not all excursions include a diving or snorkeling guide, I would advise you to ask for one.

Once you’re there, you can simply book a snorkeling tour on Pigeon Island with any operator. Just to access the island marine park, visitors to Pigeon Island National Park must pay an entrance charge of USD $42. The boat owners then bill for the voyage at about 8000 LKR.

Pigeon Island’s greatest diving and snorkeling conditions are from April through October. In the north of Sri Lanka, during this dry season, bright skies and calmer, clearer water are more likely to be encountered.

The best time to visit is in the middle of the season for the best possibility of clean water because the quality of the water varies with the season. One could naturally think that Pigeon Island would be a great place to dive. I must admit, though, that this is one location where snorkeling might be a better choice. Although I’ve never gone diving, I can tell from my study that snorkeling is actually preferable for Pigeon Island.

Reef sharks, turtles, and an abundance of fish are clearly visible from the shallow reef on the southern portion of the island, which is perfect for snorkeling. Despite the fact that the northern reef is intended to be more colorful.

The deeper north side of the island is where most scuba divers go, although it’s much more difficult to spot sharks and turtles there. Indeed, two of our party chose to dive, and they expressed disappointment upon realizing they would not be able to see anything.

Sharks, turtles, and an abundance of fish may be seen by snorkelers on the southern side. However, I believe that having a guide will be more beneficial because they are familiar with marine life behavior and can show us the exact location where sharks typically enter the water.

Arugam Bay

The ideal months to visit Arugam Bay are June through August when it’s bustling with activity and everything is open. It’s more livelier than Trincomalee. Arugam Bay is the ideal spot to surf in August in Sri Lanka, if you’re wondering where to go! Just be aware that if you reserve a room for two nights, you may find yourself wanting to stay longer since you enjoy it so much!

August weather at Arugam Bay was mainly hot and sunny with only a single torrent of rain. It was quite windy on the beach, which is probably why the surf is so fantastic.

Highlands of Sri Lanka

August is a great month to visit the Highlands of Sri Lanka, which include Ella, Nuwara Eliya, and Kandy. These places are also highly recommended on everyone’s bucket list. These places receive rain all year round because of their high elevation, particularly Nuwara Eliya, which is sometimes compared to Britain and may turn rather cold and damp.

When you visit Ella in August, you’ll discover that the weather is fantastic—dry, bright, and pleasant. In Kandy, you could get up to three heavy downpours a day during the end of August in Sri Lanka, but they’ll pass swiftly.

North of Sri Lanka

Even though it’s unlikely, the northern region of Sri Lanka, along with the east coast, is a fantastic destination to visit in the summer when the South Western Monsoon arrives.

In August, Jaffna experiences mostly sunny and dry weather. It’s also less frequented by visitors, so if you’re visiting Sri Lanka in August, it’s a good idea to go up north to Jaffna for a more sedate and genuine experience.

South Coast of Sri Lanka

Lastly, the beaches of Mirissa, Unawatuna, and Tangalle are what many people think of when they think of Sri Lanka, making the South Coast of the country arguably the most well-known region in the country. The South Western Monsoon is in full swing on Sri Lanka’s south coast in August.

You may have thought that I would take a chance by traveling to Mirissa from Arugam Bay to see what it’s really like. Well, I won’t lie to you; you’ll be delighted by how gorgeous and wet it is. You’ll be happy I made the trip and enjoy your days in Mirissa relaxing in cafes and taking care of business. You may also be surprised by the sheer number of tourists that visit the area.The wonderful thing about surfing the South Coast of Sri Lanka is that it’s possible to do it in the rain!

But when early September drew near, it’s likely that you noticed on Instagram how much these beaches lightened up and were more pleasant to visit; I suppose I was simply unlucky to be in Southern Sri Lanka in August.

How Much Does it Rain in Sri Lanka in August?

You should definitely pack for rain if you plan to visit Sri Lanka in August—it will definitely rain wherever you go!

August may bring very heavy rains, even if you are on the East Coast, which is in high season from May to September! I truly experienced this monsoon season when it truly poured on the East Coast!

In relation to monsoon rain, you should expect overcast days and monsoon rain if you want to visit Sri Lanka’s West or South Coast in August.

Oh, and due to the weather, there were a lot of mosquitoes in August on the South Coast, but fortunately not many on the East Coast!

What to Pack for Sri Lanka in August?

I advise bringing the following waterproof things with you to Sri Lanka in August to make sure that rain doesn’t ruin your plans:

  • Compact Lightweight Raincoat Travel Umbrella
  • To safely keep your phone and other electronics, use a dry bag.
  • Rain cover for your bag—I really believe that traveling to Sri Lanka with a backpack is preferable to a suitcase!

7 Day Customized Sri Lanka Itinerary August

Day 1:

  • Enter Sri Lanka via China Bay Airport
  • Take a ride to reach your hotel in trincomalee
  • Unpack your stuff and go for a stroll on the beach side
  • Take lunch in any local restaurant
  • Enjoy the views
  • Check-in back to your hotel and sleep

Day 2:

  • Order your breakfast
  • Book a ride and book a guide for scuba diving in pigeon island
  • Make the most of your day in the marine life of blue water
  • Take your lunch and dinner
  • Have a sound sleep

Day 3:

  • Order your breakfast and get freshen up
  • Book a ride to Arugam bay, enjoy sunbathing
  • Move to Sigiriya for hot air balloon ride
  • Take your lunch and dinner in any local restaurant
  • Move back to your hotel in trincomalee

Day 4:

  • Start your day by taking train
  • Go to Ella by train
  • Enjoy the beauty of nature
  • Take fresh tea at tea plantation
  • Reach back to your hotel timely
  • Take dinner in any local restaurant

Day 5:

  • Take breakfast before 10:00 am
  • After taking bath, go for shopping
  • Take photos with locals and make memories
  • Enjoy local street food
  • Buy gifts for family and friends
  • Take dinner

Day 6:

  • Go to fort Jaffana
  • Learn the history of this fort
  • Acknowledge its architecture
  • Take lunch in a nearby restaurant
  • Make sure to move back to your hotel timely

Day 7:

  • Go for whale watching in Mirissa
  • Take photos and enjoy local cuisines
  • Make new friends
  • Take lunch and book your ride for departure

Conclusion

You will feel extremely fortunate to be able to visit the East Coast because I really enjoyed Arugam Bay, which is such a treasure and, for instance, in January Arugam Bay is totally dead because it’s low season then. In summary, I can assure you that you are going to enjoy your time in Sri Lanka in August. I had a nice distinctive experience from many people who visit Sri Lanka and stay mainly to the South Coast beaches like Mirissa, Weligama, Tangalle, and Unawatuna during the months of winter when it’s peak season and extremely sunny there.

If you can only visit Sri Lanka in August, September, June, or July, then by all means do so; but, be ready to be flexible about where you travel, pack for rain, and bring along some waterproof clothing.