Where to go in Sri Lanka in July

July combines the east coast's dry season with some of Sri Lanka's greatest spectacles. Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Pasikuda, and Arugam Bay are at their sunny best, with Arugam Bay's surf season near its peak and a lively traveller scene. In the Cultural Triangle, the dry months concentrate elephants around the reservoirs of Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks, the beginning of the famous 'Gathering', one of Asia's great wildlife events. Kandy begins its build-up to the Esala Perahera, the island's most magnificent festival, a ten-night procession of drummers, dancers, and lavishly costumed elephants that usually straddles late July and early August depending on the lunar calendar. The southwest coast remains in monsoon, with rough seas and passing showers, though rainfall there is generally lower than at the May onset. European summer holidays bring a noticeable bump in visitors, so the east coast and Kandy fill up: book Perahera-period accommodation months in advance.

Where to go in July

Festivals & events

• ◆Kandy Esala Perahera (late July to August, dates vary with the full moon)
• ◆Esala festival at Kataragama

Tips for July

• ✓If the Perahera is your goal, confirm the exact dates for the year and book Kandy rooms and seats months ahead.
• ✓Habarana makes a convenient base for both Minneriya and Kaudulla safaris; ask which park the herds are in.
• ✓Arugam Bay's Main Point gets crowded; surf at dawn or try quieter breaks like Peanut Farm.
• ✓July is high season on the east coast; book beachfront places early.