Quick answer
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday in the Christmas holidays follows the standard family route (Sigiriya three nights, Kandy one, Ella two, Udawalawe one, south coast two) in the best season for the south coast, with calm seas and the start of the whale season. The Cultural Triangle can see showers from the north-east monsoon, and the hills are cool. Hotels charge peak rates from about 20 December to 5 January, many add compulsory gala dinners, and rooms and train seats should be booked four to six months ahead.
Key takeaways
- Peak rates in Sri Lankan hotels typically run from about 20 December to 5 January, often 30 to 60 per cent above ordinary high-season prices.
- Many hotels add a compulsory gala dinner supplement on 24 and 31 December, charged per person including children.
- The north-east monsoon can bring rain to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa in December, usually in bursts and not all day.
- The south coast between Galle and Tangalle is dry and calm in late December, with sea temperatures around 28 degrees.
- Reserved seats on the Nanu Oya to Ella train for late December often sell out within hours of release, about 30 days ahead.
The weather, region by region
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday in the Christmas holidays meets three kinds of weather. The south and west coasts are in their dry season: blue mornings, an occasional evening shower and a sea calm enough for children at sheltered beaches such as Unawatuna.
The Cultural Triangle sits on the edge of the north-east monsoon, which peaks from November to January. Expect green landscapes, full reservoirs and some rain, more often in the afternoon. Kandy is mild, and Ella and Nuwara Eliya are cool, with nights of 10 to 15 degrees.
- →South coast: dry, calm, around 30 degrees.
- →Sigiriya: warm, showery, 28 to 30 degrees.
- →Ella: 18 to 24 degrees by day; bring fleeces.
The route, with two small changes
The route in the Christmas holidays is the standard family one, with two adjustments. Put Sigiriya Rock on the first clear morning of the three nights there, keeping the other days flexible. And expect the elephant safari to be at Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park, since Minneriya is often flooded.
The order matters for the two big dates. Most families prefer to be at the beach for either Christmas Day or New Year's Eve. A trip starting on about 22 December puts Christmas at Sigiriya and New Year at the coast; one starting on 27 December does the reverse.
Prices, supplements and minimum stays
Prices are the hard fact of a Christmas family holiday in Sri Lanka. Beach hotels charge their highest rates of the year, and many impose minimum stays of three to five nights over 25 December or 31 December, which can clash with a touring route.
Gala dinners are the other surprise. Hotels commonly charge a compulsory supplement for dinner on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, sometimes US$50 to US$150 for each adult and half for children. Ask for every supplement in writing before paying a deposit.
- →Book beach hotels first; they sell out earliest.
- →Check minimum-stay rules against your dates.
- →Ask whether child rates apply to gala dinners.
Crowds and what sells out
Crowds over Christmas are noticeable at Sigiriya Rock, on the Ella train and at Mirissa. Climb Sigiriya at opening to stay ahead of the queues on the staircases, and visit the Nine Arch Bridge before 8am. Udawalawe stays calmer than Yala.
Train seats, private drivers with good vehicles, family rooms and whale-watching places are all limited. Reserved train seats go on sale about 30 days ahead and can vanish the same morning. Have the road alternative from Nuwara Eliya to Ella in mind.
- →Family and connecting rooms: four to six months ahead.
- →Train seats: the day they are released.
- →Whale watching and surf lessons: a week or two ahead.
Christmas itself with children
Christmas in Sri Lanka is celebrated more than visitors expect. About seven per cent of Sri Lankans are Christian, concentrated on the west coast, and hotels everywhere put up trees and lights. Father Christmas tends to arrive by tuk-tuk or by boat.
Children who worry about presents can be reassured: small gifts travel easily, and hotel staff will help hide them. New Year's Eve brings fireworks on the beaches at Unawatuna and Mirissa at midnight, loud enough to wake small children, so ask for a room away from the sand.
Booking timeline and alternatives
Booking for late December should start by June or July. Flights rise in price first, then beach hotels, then everything else. Families who decide in October can still travel, but will choose from what is left and should be flexible about the beach.
Shifting the dates saves money. A trip beginning on 3 or 4 January, where school terms allow, has the same weather at lower rates. Lankan Stays & Trails holds family rooms for the festive weeks well in advance and lists every supplement in the first quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas a good time to visit Sri Lanka with kids?
Christmas is a good time to visit Sri Lanka with kids for weather on the south coast, which is dry and calm. It is also the most expensive and crowded fortnight of the year. Early booking and realistic budgets make it work.
What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in late December?
In late December the south and west coasts of Sri Lanka are dry and sunny at around 30 degrees. The Cultural Triangle and east coast have showers from the north-east monsoon. The hill country is cool, with clear mornings.
How far ahead should we book Sri Lanka for Christmas?
Book Sri Lanka for Christmas four to six months ahead, and earlier for villas and connecting rooms. Flights and beach hotels fill first. Train seats cannot be reserved until about 30 days before travel, whatever else is booked.
Are gala dinners compulsory in Sri Lankan hotels at Christmas?
Gala dinners are compulsory at many Sri Lankan hotels on 24 and 31 December, with a supplement added to the room rate for every guest. Smaller guesthouses and villas usually have none. Always ask before booking.
Can children swim in the sea in Sri Lanka in December?
Children can swim in the sea on the south and west coasts in December, at sheltered beaches such as Unawatuna and the western end of Mirissa. The east coast is rough at this time. Always check conditions on the day.
Is it too busy at Sigiriya over Christmas?
Sigiriya is busy over Christmas, with queues on the upper staircases from about 8.30am. Starting the climb at opening, around 7am or earlier, avoids most of it. The descent is then finished before the heat and the crowds peak.