Sri Lanka is on the path to recovery after the devastating Cyclone Ditwah a few weeks ago. The country has shown remarkable resilience, coming together to recover and rebuild the island. Beyond the affected areas [listed below], most destinations, particularly in Sri Lanka’s south coast, and the Cultural Triangle stops such as Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Dambulla, are ready to welcome tourists. "Sri Lanka moved quickly to successfully re-establish tourism infrastructure. Support received from India is much appreciated. We are now perfectly placed for a quick Christmas or New Year holiday, with the high season in full swing in all parts of the country," said Malik Fernando of Resplendent Ceylon and Chair of Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance. If you are planning a festive season vacation to Sri Lanka, here’s a guide on where to go and how to travel across the island, so you can enjoy your holidays.
While the cyclone battered most of Sri Lanka, Central, North-Western and Uva provinces, which includes provincial areas surrounding tourist hubs such as Kandy , Hatton , Nuwara Eliya , experienced severe destruction with landslides and flooding , with full or partial damages to housing, roads, railways, schools, hospitals and farms where people’s livelihoods depend on. The South, which includes the stretch from Bentota to Galle to Tangalle, had very little impact from Cyclone Ditwah with little rainfall along the coast, and tourist activities resumed soon after.
Authorities are working to restore the road connectivity across the island, and almost all tourist routes are back open now, including the highways from Colombo to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, and elsewhere on the tourist circuit.
The Southern Expressway remains unaffected and links to Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, making it easier to travel to Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle, and Tissamaharama (the gateway to Yala National Park) and nearby beach towns in a few hours. Consider organising a pick up through your accommodation, opt for airport taxis, or book through ride hailing apps–Uber and homegrown alternatives such as Kangaroo and PickMe are available. Expressway buses to Southern towns run from transport hub Makumbura, a 50min ride from the Katunayake airport, connected by bus or taxi.
Railways suffered massive destruction, with two-thirds of the rail network non-operational after the cyclone. This includes the journey from Kandy to Ella, often touted as one of the world’s most beautiful rail rides. “For many travellers, the Kandy to Ella train journey is the key reason to visit the hill country,” says Malik Perera, tour guide and founder of sustainable tour organisation Eco Love Tours, adding that people may now seek alternative routes or destinations. You can still hop on the Colombo-Galle southbound coastal train for Indian Ocean views.
Parts of central highlands have been experiencing rains recently as authorities have issued new flood and landslide warnings. The Northeast monsoon season brings showers to the island's North and East until February. Expect sunny weather elsewhere, including the South–there’s a chance for brief, scattered showers here and there, but nothing significant enough to spoil your travel plans.
There were cancellations at resorts, which is not unusual, says Henry Fitch, CEO of the Sri Lankan boutique luxury hotel brand Teadrop Hotels. But “the rebound phase brings renewed interest from travellers looking for meaningful, slower journeys,” and they are already seeing a pick-up in enquiries. He says that the emphasis across the industry is on reassurance, transparency, and value rather than heavy discounting. “We focus on adding value instead of lowering rates because ultimately, guests are looking for confidence, care, and credibility.” Perera echoes similar thoughts. “Prices during Christmas remain competitive similar to previous years, with complimentary upgrades, guided experiences, or curated local activities to enhance value,” he says.
Most hotels are open as usual, and those affected have bounced back after temporarily halting operations. Many bars, restaurants and hotels across the island are planning on special Christmas menus and dinners as usual. Ropewalk, an arrack bar within the heritage Galle Fort Hotel, for example, has an extensive holiday menu with Sri Lankan Christmas dishes and cocktails . Specifically, however:
Head South, especially if you are short on time. With little to no impact, South Coast resort towns from Bentota to Tangalle remain excellent for a year-end vacation to Sri Lanka. Clear skies and calmer seas make it perfect for surfing , soaking up the sun on palm-fringed beaches or retreating to the South’s charming hotels, villas and hideaways. It’s peak season in Galle , Ahangama , Weligama , Mirissa , and Hiriketiya , so you’ll never run out of things to do. Think: Galle Fort walks, whale and dolphin watching, dining at some of the island’s best bars and restaurants, and the chance to throw in a rainforest hike or a historic temple visit.
Most national parks, particularly those in Sri Lanka’s deep south, have reopened for tourists. Yala stands out for its elusive Sri Lankan leopards; go to Udawalawe for wild elephants; and Bundala , for migratory birds. Darshana Mohan, wildlife ranger at the luxury safari resort Wild Coast Tented Lodge located on the bounds of Yala National Park, says that there could be occasional route changes and delays inside Yala due to bad weather, bumpy roads, and access to tracks, but with fewer crowds, it makes for a quieter safari experience . Although leopard sightings may be low and harder to spot, birdlife and elephants are abundant. “The landscapes are fresh with dramatic skies, and the temperatures stay cooler compared to dry months,” he adds, having spotted a sloth bear and a leopard in his recent game drive. Mohan, however, advises visitors to be flexible with expectations as the weather can change quickly. If you are heading out on a safari, wear quick-dry clothing and waterproof shoes, and carry lightweight rain jackets and dry bags for cameras and phones.
Culture enthusiasts can still visit the north-central region for Sigiriya , Anuradhapura , and Polonnaruwa , including the climb to UNESCO-listed fortress Lion’s Rock and Dambulla’s impressive cave temples. Ella , a small mountain town popular for its rewarding hikes, tumbling waterfalls, and the stunning Nine Arch Bridge along the railway tracks, is open as usual. The town is easily accessible from the South via Wellawaya (2.3 hrs from Tangalle).
While parts of Colombo were flooded, particularly those near the Kelani River away from the city’s touristy center, things have settled since then. It now feels like life as usual in the capital, with hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars open to visitors. There’s a festive buzz in the air, too, with weekend markets, pop-ups, and Christmas shoppers .
If you don’t mind a few spells of rain, particularly at night, Jaffna at the northern tip is also an option for its heritage boutique hotels, excellent local food and colonial-era forts. Direct flights operate to Jaffna from Chennai daily.
Sri Lanka’s central highlands and surrounding hilly areas were the worst-hit, including settlements of Malaiyaha Tamils, some of the island’s most economically disadvantaged communities who form the backbone of the tea industry. While major tourist hubs and attractions such as Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains National Park are ready to welcome visitors, it’s best to avoid interiors for now, including trekking in Knuckles Mountain Range , for both your safety and to support ongoing restoration efforts. As rains continue to lash parts of the hill country, authorities have issued new landslide and flood warnings in these areas.
For future visitors planning to walk the Pekoe Trail, a 300km trek that wraps through the forested mountains and tea gardens, follow updates on the trail’s official Facebook . Similarly, Sri Lanka Tourism shares updates , with recent videos showing the possibility of road travel from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
As December marks the beginning of the pilgrimage season, travellers are already hiking the 5500-step sunrise climb to the sacred Adam’s Peak, but always check with your guide and hotel before setting out. December to February brings monsoon rains to Sri Lanka’s North and East as dark clouds loom overhead, making it less than ideal for a surf or beach vacation in Arugam Bay or Nilaveli (near Trincomalee).
Currently, Indian travellers can visit Sri Lanka with a free Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Sri Lanka plans to introduce visa-free travel starting January for visitors from 40 countries, including India. And track Sri Lanka Tourism on Instagram , and local news aggregator Newswire for official updates, while the public platform road-lk.org reports road closures.
Connect with Condé Nast Traveller India
© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service (updated April 1, 2021) and Policy and Cookie Statement (updated April 1, 2021). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Loading comments…