Quick answer
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday in the Easter holidays runs the standard family route (Sigiriya three nights, Kandy one, Ella two, Udawalawe one, south coast two) in hot, mostly dry weather. The south coast sea stays calm into April, and the Cultural Triangle reaches 33 to 35 degrees by midday, so sightseeing is finished by 10am. Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 13 and 14 April closes many shops and restaurants for two or three days, and afternoon thunderstorms become common in the hills.
Key takeaways
- April is on average the hottest month in Sri Lanka's lowlands, with daytime highs of 33 to 35 degrees around Sigiriya.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year falls on 13 and 14 April each year, and many businesses close for two to four days around it.
- The south and west coasts usually remain swimmable through April, before the south-west monsoon arrives in May.
- The first inter-monsoon period brings short, heavy afternoon thunderstorms to Kandy and the hill country from late March.
- Nuwara Eliya's holiday season peaks in April, when Sri Lankan families fill the town and prices rise sharply.
Heat, storms and a calm sea
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday in the Easter holidays is a warm one. The sun is directly overhead in early April, humidity climbs and the dry zone bakes. Mornings are clear nearly everywhere, and clouds build after lunch.
Thunderstorms are the pattern from late March. They arrive in the hills and around Kandy between about 2 and 5pm, drop heavy rain for an hour and clear. The south coast sees fewer of them, and the sea remains calm enough for children in sheltered bays until the end of April.
- →Sigiriya: 33 to 35 degrees; storms occasional.
- →Kandy and Ella: warm mornings, wet afternoons.
- →South coast: hot, humid, calm sea.
Pacing the days in the heat
Pacing matters more at Easter than at any other time of year. Start every outdoor activity at 6.30 or 7am and be back by 10am. Sigiriya Rock at opening is pleasant; at 10am it is punishing, and metal handrails become hot to the touch.
The middle of the day belongs to water and shade. A hotel pool is essential at every stop in April, and air conditioning in bedrooms is not a luxury for children. Late afternoons, once the storm has passed, are cool and good for a short outing.
- →Activity: 6.30 to 10am.
- →Pool and rest: 10.30am to 3.30pm.
- →Second outing: 4 to 6pm.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year
Sinhala and Tamil New Year, called Aluth Avurudda and Puthandu, is the island's main family holiday. On 13 and 14 April most Sri Lankans go home to their villages. Shops, many restaurants, banks and some attractions close, and drivers and guides hope to be with their families.
Visiting families can enjoy it. Hotels lay on traditional games such as pillow fights on a pole, tug of war and blindfolded pot-breaking, and serve milk rice and sweetmeats. Children are drawn in at once. Firecrackers mark the auspicious times, sometimes at dawn.
- →Plan to stay put on 13 and 14 April.
- →Eat in the hotel on those days.
- →Agree New Year arrangements with your driver in advance.
Route adjustments for April
The route itself needs little change in the Easter holidays. The elephant safari from Sigiriya is usually at Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park, and Udawalawe is dry, with elephants concentrated at the reservoir. Take the morning train where possible, before the afternoon cloud.
Avoid Nuwara Eliya in the fortnight around New Year unless booked well ahead. The town hosts horse races, flower shows and motor events, hotels triple their rates and the roads jam. Passing through on the way to Nanu Oya is fine; traffic may add an hour.
The south coast at the end of its season
The south coast in April is at the end of its calm season. The water is warm and clear, beaches are less crowded than in January, and hotel rates begin to drop after Easter. Humidity is high, and an afternoon breeze is welcome.
Sea conditions become less predictable in the last week of April, as the south-west monsoon approaches. Whale-watching boats from Mirissa run until around the end of the month. Check each morning's sea with hotel staff before letting children swim.
Booking and costs
Booking for Easter is easier than for Christmas, with one exception: the New Year days, when domestic travellers fill hotels in the hills and at the beach. Reserve rooms for 12 to 15 April early, and expect some hotels to add festive supplements.
Rates otherwise sit at the lower end of high season, and families whose holidays fall after mid-April find good value. Lankan Stays & Trails plans Easter routes so that New Year falls on a two- or three-night stay, with no travel on the day itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is April too hot for Sri Lanka with children?
April is hot in Sri Lanka, with lowland highs of 33 to 35 degrees, but it is manageable with children when sightseeing is done before 10am and afternoons are spent at a pool. The hill country stays comfortable at 20 to 26 degrees.
Is Sri Lanka open during Sinhala and Tamil New Year?
Sri Lanka remains open to visitors during Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and hotels operate normally. Many shops, local restaurants and offices close on 13 and 14 April, and some for longer. Major sites generally stay open, with reduced services.
Can children swim on the south coast at Easter?
Children can usually swim on the south coast at Easter. The sea remains calm in sheltered bays through most of April. Conditions become more changeable towards the end of the month, so check daily and keep to protected spots.
Does it rain in Sri Lanka in April?
It rains in Sri Lanka in April mainly as afternoon thunderstorms, especially in Kandy and the hill country. Mornings are usually sunny. The storms are short and heavy, and seldom spoil a day planned around early starts.
Is Easter a busy time in Sri Lanka?
Easter is moderately busy for international visitors and very busy for Sri Lankan families around 13 and 14 April. Nuwara Eliya and the south coast fill with domestic travellers. Outside those days, crowds are lighter than in December to February.
What can kids do during Sinhala New Year in Sri Lanka?
Kids can join traditional New Year games at their hotel, such as tug of war, climbing a greased pole, sack races and breaking clay pots blindfolded. They can also try sweetmeats like kavum and kokis and watch the lighting of the hearth.