Sri Lanka, a holiday destination throughout the year, boasts a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. However, like many tropical islands, its weather can be unpredictable.
As summer unfolds in Europe, life along the south coast of Sri Lanka, where our hotel is located, begins to slow down. May marks the onset of the dry period in the north and east regions, drawing surfers and tourists to gather around Arugam Bay on the east coast.
While travel guides often label the period between May and September as the “off-season” on the south coast, we prefer to call it the “green season.” This term better reflects the lush landscape that emerges during this time. Although the South-western Monsoon brings heavy rains to the south and west parts of the country from May to September, there is still plenty of sun. The rains gradually decrease as the season progresses, with fine weather prevailing from July onwards.
In reality, visiting the South-coast of Sri Lanka during the green season can be even more exciting for several reasons: Reduced hotel prices, fewer tourists resulting in uncrowded beaches, and the vibrant greenery brought on by the rains make for a tropical experience. However, for surf enthusiasts, we recommend heading to the East coast, particularly Arugam Bay, between May and October for more consistent waves, although Arugam Bay may experience crowded line-ups. The South coast offers ideal surfing conditions from November to April.
If you are not exposed to surfing, the surf conditions don’t really matter and there are plenty of other things you can enjoy (in a much more relaxed and sometimes even more enjoyable way ) during the green season. Since the rain turns the South-coast into a green belt, flora and fauna start to show a different, magical face. While temperatures remain hot, a tropical rainshow has its magic in itself and provides a different view of the jungle.
Our personal experience traveling to the South coast in July 2021 reaffirmed the beauty and charm of the island during the green season, even considering a long scooter-ride in the midst of a heavy monsoon rain. The ideal time to enjoy popular destinations is during the shoulder seasons, the month before and the month after monsoon season. During these times, there will be fewer tourists but still plenty of sunshine to enjoy! But the start of monsoon season isn’t as predictable as it once was.
With the booming tourism industry on the South coast, many new businesses have emerged after the economic shock in 2022 and remain open during the green season, providing ample opportunities for exploration and relaxation amidst the verdant landscape.
BTW: When we open SOLA we will remain open throughout the entire year.
