Quick answer
Two weeks in Sri Lanka in April can include both coasts: three nights at Sigiriya, two at Trincomalee or Nilaveli, one in Kandy, two in Ella, one near Yala, three at Mirissa and one inside Galle Fort. April is hot, with short afternoon thunderstorms from mid-month. Sinhala and Tamil New Year usually falls on 13 and 14 April, when many shops and restaurants close and transport is crowded, so plan to be settled in one place on those days.
Key takeaways
- April is the month in which the south coast and the east coast are most likely to be pleasant in the same two weeks.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year usually falls on 13 and 14 April, and many businesses close for several days around it.
- Nuwara Eliya has its busiest and most expensive weeks of the year in April, during the local holiday season.
- Afternoon thunderstorms become common in the hills and the south-west from roughly mid-April.
- The whale watching season off Mirissa usually runs until the end of April, with seas rougher in the final weeks.
The two-week route for April: both coasts
April is the natural month for a both-coasts fortnight. The east coast is calm and warming up, the south coast is still swimmable in the first half of the month, and the drive from Sigiriya to Trincomalee is only roughly two to three hours.
The both-coasts route pays for its two eastern nights by giving up one Kandy night and the night in Nuwara Eliya. In April that second loss is less painful than it sounds, because Nuwara Eliya is crowded and costly during the holiday season.
- →Sigiriya, three nights: the rock at opening, Polonnaruwa, an elephant safari.
- →Trincomalee or Nilaveli, two nights: Pigeon Island and Koneswaram Temple.
- →Kandy, one night: roughly four to four and a half hours from Trincomalee.
- →Ella, two nights: reached by the scenic train.
- →Yala, one night; Mirissa, three nights; Galle Fort, one night.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year on a two-week trip
Sinhala and Tamil New Year, called Aluth Avurudda in Sinhala and Puthandu in Tamil, usually falls on 13 and 14 April. It is a family festival, and most Sri Lankans travel home for it. For visitors, the effect is a quiet two or three days with closed shops, limited restaurants and very full trains and buses on either side.
The practical answer is to be somewhere comfortable and stay put. A beach hotel or a full-service hotel in the Cultural Triangle works well; a day of transfers and ticketed sites does not. Many hotels lay on traditional games, milk rice and sweetmeats, and being invited to join in is one of the pleasures of an April trip.
- →Avoid long drives on 12 to 15 April where possible.
- →Expect drivers and guides to want time with their families; agree the plan in advance.
- →Buy anything essential before the 12th: pharmacies and supermarkets may be shut.
April weather: heat and the first storms
April weather in Sri Lanka is the hottest of the year in many places. The first inter-monsoon period begins around the middle of the month, bringing humid mornings and short, heavy thunderstorms in the late afternoon, mainly over the hills and the south-west.
The storms rarely spoil a day, because they arrive on a timetable. Sightseeing in the morning, travelling at midday and resting through the late afternoon fits April well. There is always a good coast in Sri Lanka, and in April, unusually, there are two.
Standard route, both coasts or east only
A fortnight in April can take one of three shapes, and the dates decide which. The earlier in the month the trip falls, the more the south deserves; the later, the more the east does.
- →Choose the standard route if the trip ends before about 15 April and whales are a priority.
- →Choose the both-coasts route if the trip straddles the middle of the month.
- →Choose the east-coast version if the trip runs into May, when the south-west monsoon is approaching.
- →Skip Nuwara Eliya in any version unless rooms were booked months ahead.
Wildlife in April
Yala National Park is hot and dry in April, which keeps animals near water and sightings good. The whale boats still run from Mirissa, although the sea grows choppier as the month goes on. On the east coast, snorkelling at Pigeon Island improves through April as the water clears.
April is also the last full month of the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season, which usually ends with the Vesak poya in May. The climb is crowded around New Year itself.
Planning two weeks in Sri Lanka in April
Planning two weeks in Sri Lanka in April starts with the calendar. Mark 13 and 14 April, check when Easter falls, and place the longest stay of the trip across the holiday. Then choose the route that matches the half of the month you are travelling in.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange April trips so the New Year days fall at a hotel with its own kitchen and celebrations. The standard 14-day route and the both-coasts version give the day-by-day detail.
Frequently asked questions
Is April a good time for two weeks in Sri Lanka?
Yes, with planning. April is hot, and the New Year holiday around 13 and 14 April closes many businesses, but it is also the one month when both the south and east coasts can be enjoyed in a single fortnight. Afternoon thunderstorms become common from mid-month.
What happens in Sri Lanka during Sinhala and Tamil New Year?
Sinhala and Tamil New Year usually falls on 13 and 14 April. Families gather at home, shops and many restaurants close for several days, and trains and buses are packed. Hotels stay open and often hold traditional games and meals, so visitors are best settled in one place.
Can I visit both coasts of Sri Lanka in April?
Yes. April is the best month for it. Trincomalee and Nilaveli are calm and coming into season, while Mirissa and Galle are still pleasant in the first half of the month. Two nights in the east fit by dropping Nuwara Eliya and one Kandy night.
Is Nuwara Eliya worth visiting in April?
Only if booked well ahead. April is Nuwara Eliya's local holiday season, with horse racing, flower shows and many domestic visitors, so rooms are scarce and prices are at their highest. Horton Plains can be reached from Ella or Haputale instead, without staying in the town.
Does it rain a lot in Sri Lanka in April?
Not a lot, but more than in February or March. From roughly mid-April, short thunderstorms build over the hills and the south-west in the late afternoon. Mornings are usually clear, and the east coast and the Cultural Triangle stay mostly dry.
Is whale watching still possible in April?
Usually, yes. The whale watching season off Mirissa runs roughly from December to April. Sightings remain good in early April, but the sea becomes rougher towards the end of the month as the south-west monsoon approaches, and some trips are cancelled.