Quick answer
Two weeks in Sri Lanka in December should follow the standard south-coast route: Sigiriya three nights, Kandy two, Nuwara Eliya one, Ella two, Yala one, Mirissa three and Galle Fort one. The south coast is usually dry and calm, while the Cultural Triangle and the hills can still be showery under the north-east monsoon. Before about 20 December the island is quiet and good value; after that, prices and crowds reach their yearly peak.
Key takeaways
- December suits the standard two-week route finishing at Mirissa and Galle Fort, as the south coast enters its dry season.
- Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and the eastern hills can see north-east monsoon showers in December, mostly in the afternoon.
- The Adam's Peak pilgrimage season usually opens on the Unduvap full moon in December.
- The first three weeks of December are quiet and moderately priced compared with the Christmas and New Year peak.
- From about 20 December, hotels raise rates, apply minimum stays and add compulsory gala dinners.
The two-week route for December
December uses the standard fortnight, with the beach at the end. The south and west coasts are drying out after the inter-monsoon, and by saving them for the last five nights the route gives the weather as long as possible to settle.
- →Sigiriya, three nights: climb the rock on the clearest morning of the three.
- →Kandy, two nights: Dambulla Cave Temple on the way, Peradeniya the next day.
- →Nuwara Eliya, one night: Horton Plains, if the dawn is clear.
- →Ella, two nights: by the scenic train from Ohiya or Nanu Oya.
- →Tissamaharama, one night: Yala, green and full of water.
- →Mirissa, three nights, and Galle Fort, one night.
December weather in Sri Lanka
December weather in Sri Lanka depends on which way the land faces. The north-east monsoon is at its strongest, so the east and north are wet. The Cultural Triangle, which sits in the dry zone but catches this monsoon, has showery spells. The south and west are sheltered and increasingly dry.
There is always a good coast in Sri Lanka, and from December it is the south-western one. Showers on the inland half of the route are usually short, and they are why the three Sigiriya nights are useful: the climb can be moved to the best morning.
- →South and west coasts: mostly dry and calm, improving through the month.
- →Cultural Triangle: warm, green, with showers on some afternoons.
- →Hill country: cool, with misty spells on the eastern side around Ella.
- →East coast: wet and rough; not recommended.
Before and after 20 December
The first three weeks of December are among the best-kept secrets of the Sri Lankan year. The weather on the south coast is already good, the landscape is green, and hotels are still charging pre-peak rates. Sites are quiet and train seats are obtainable.
From about 20 December everything changes. Rates can double, minimum stays of three to five nights are common on the coast, and many hotels add a compulsory gala dinner on 24 or 31 December. Choose early December for value and space. Choose the holiday fortnight only with bookings made many months ahead.
- →Early December: flexible, quiet and moderately priced.
- →20 December to early January: peak prices, full hotels, busy roads.
- →A trip of 6 to 19 December gets most of the benefits with none of the surcharges.
Whales, Yala and Adam's Peak in December
Whale watching from Mirissa is under way in December, with the sea calming as the month goes on. Yala National Park is green and well watered, which spreads the animals out, but birdlife is at its richest with migrants present, and jeep numbers are low before Christmas.
Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) opens its pilgrimage season on the Unduvap full moon, usually in December. The lights along the path are switched on and tea shops open on the steps. Early in the season the climb of roughly 5,500 steps is far less crowded than in February or March.
Adjustments worth making in December
A December fortnight benefits from small adjustments more than a change of route. Keeping one Sigiriya afternoon free allows Polonnaruwa or the rock to be reshuffled around a shower. In the hills, Horton Plains is more reliable later in the month.
If Ella is misty, a tea factory visit and the drive down to the dry south make a good substitute for a ridge walk. Yala and the south coast, the second half of the trip, are the most dependable part of a December route.
Planning two weeks in Sri Lanka in December
Planning two weeks in Sri Lanka in December starts with the dates. If the trip can finish before 20 December, book it as an ordinary high-season fortnight. If it includes Christmas or New Year, fix the coastal hotel first and build the route around its minimum stay.
Lankan Stays & Trails can plan either version, and will set out the festive surcharges before anything is confirmed. The Christmas and New Year version of the 14-day itinerary covers the holiday fortnight in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time for two weeks in Sri Lanka?
Yes. December brings dry weather to the south and west coasts, the start of whale watching and Adam's Peak season. The Cultural Triangle can be showery, and the last ten days of the month are the busiest and most expensive of the year.
Is early or late December better for Sri Lanka?
Early December is better for value and quiet; late December is better for settled weather. The first three weeks have lower prices and few crowds. From about 20 December, hotels are full and rates peak. Weather on the south coast is good in both halves.
Does it rain in Sri Lanka in December?
It rains in parts. The east and north are wet under the north-east monsoon, and the Cultural Triangle and eastern hills see showers. The south and west coasts are mostly dry. A route finishing on the south coast keeps its beach days in the driest region.
Can I climb Adam's Peak in December?
Usually, yes. The Adam's Peak pilgrimage season opens on the Unduvap full moon, which normally falls in December, and runs until Vesak in May. Before that date the path is unlit and tea shops are closed. Dates shift each year with the lunar calendar.
How far ahead should I book Sri Lanka for Christmas?
Book six to nine months ahead for a fortnight that includes Christmas or New Year. Coastal hotels, rooms inside Galle Fort and train seats sell out first. For early December, two to three months is usually enough.
Is the east coast of Sri Lanka good in December?
No. December is the peak of the north-east monsoon on the east coast. Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay have heavy rain and rough seas, and many hotels close. The east coast's season runs roughly from May to September.