Weather in Sri Lanka in August
Generally speaking, August is a great time to visit Sri Lanka. The southwestern quarter of Sri Lanka can be slightly rainy in August, but the rest of the country enjoys perfect weather during this month.
If you like to enjoy some sea swimming or snorkelling, choose an east coast beach (Nilaveli, Trincomalee and Pasikuda) for your beach stay in Sri Lanka in August. If surfing is what you are after, visit Arugam Bay, which is a paradise for surfers.
In some years, Kandy Esala Perahera is held in August. It is a colourful procession that features traditional Sri Lankan dancers, drummers, flute players and elephants.
The average daytime temperatures in Sri Lanka in August range from 30°C to 35 °C (86°F to 95°F) in the coastal lowlands. The daytime temperatures in the central highlands range from 19°C to 25°C (66.2°F to 77°F) in this month.
Sri Lanka itineraries for August
As the weather in Sri Lanka in August is wonderful all over the country, there are lots of possibilities for an August Sri Lanka itinerary. Ideally, you need to plan the beach stay of your August Sri Lanka trip in the east coast. However, if sea swimming is not a priority, you may also choose a down south coastal area for your beach stay in August.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is August a good time to visit Sri Lanka?
August is an excellent time to visit Sri Lanka. The best destinations to travel in Sri Lanka in August are Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, Udawalawe, Jaffna, Colombo, and Negombo. The best beaches for beach stays in August in Sri Lanka are Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Passikudah, and Arugam Bay.
2. How are the crowds and costs in Sri Lanka in August?
August is a bit busy month for Sri Lanka. Many travellers visit Sri Lanka from the Northern Hemisphere to spend their summer vacations. It is also a bit expensive month to travel to Sri Lanka as most hotels and airlines charge peak season supplements for this month.
3. How is the weather in Sri Lanka in August compared to adjacent months?
The weather in Sri Lanka in August is similar to July, if not better.
September tends to be a little rainy in the second half of the month. Therefore, August is a better month to travel to Sri Lanka compared to September.
4. What to do in Sri Lanka in August?
From June/July to September is the dry season Minneriya. When the ponds and waterholes dry up in the region, hundreds of elephants start to gather around the Minneriya lake for water and tender grass. If you are visiting Sri Lanka in August, make sure to visit Minneriya national park to enjoy this amazing sight.
As mentioned earlier, August is a great time to enjoy excursions in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, Udawalawe, Jaffna, Colombo, Negombo. You will be able to learn about the excursions in these locations by referring to the above itineraries.
5. Are there any local festivals in Sri Lanka in August?
The earlier mentioned Kandy Esala Perahera is the main festival that takes place in Sri Lanka in August. It is held to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four guardian gods, Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini.
The dates of these traditional festivals are determined according to a Lunar calendar. Therefore, in some years this event falls in July. Check if your tour dates match with the Esala Perahera days. (It takes place for 10 days in Kandy.) If yes, make sure to book a night or two in Kandy to enjoy this colourful procession.
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