Sri Lanka National Kite Festival in June
Each year the Sri Lankan sky is awash with colour as the annual Sri Lanka National Kite Festival commences. Taking place at various locations across the island, the Kite Festival is a fun event that celebrates the artistic abilities of the participants and Sri Lankan national unity more widely.
The day is a great occasion for all the family as the sky is filled with the colourful creations of the many people who take part. There are various kite competitions held over the course of the festival, including the longest kite, the best kite made solely from national resources, most innovative kite and the number one fighting kite!
With various kite workshops also held, the day is fun packed and perfect for the entire family.
The Arugam Bay Beach Festival in Sri Lanka
Routinely ranked as one of the best spots in the world for surfing, Arugam Bay is a magnet for surfers and water sport enthusiasts. The bay particularly attracts visitors during June time for the annual Arugam Bay Beach Festival.
Situated on the east coast of the island Arugam Bay is unique. Its position and relief generates plenty of high waves during the summer months and, compared to other coastal regions, doesn’t get affected by the annual monsoons.
During the peak summer season (between April and October) there is an influx of visitors, both from across Sri Lanka and from around the world who are drawn to the large waves. A testament to this is the large number of international surfing competitions that occur at Arugam Bay, including the very popular Red Bull Ride My Wave contest.
Visiting Arugam Bay during these festival months is highly recommended for avid surfers. Although the guest houses are fairly basic, the bay area itself is well looked after and preserved making it a great spot to enjoy the stunning Indian Ocean.
For families looking to surf in Sri Lanka we usually recommend Weligama beach on the south coast. Although the waves are not as large as those at Arugam Bay it is generally a much better option for those looking to learn to surf with a selection of great surf schools along the beach making for a fun family trip when visiting during your Sri Lanka family holiday.
If you’re looking to visit Sri Lanka this summer, please get in touch. We have a popular selection of Sri Lankan tours and specialise in tailor-made holidays to Sri Lanka!
Sri Lankan Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2017
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a significant national holiday in Sri Lanka and is celebrated across the island with great grandeur. The marking of the event as a national festival is unique to the island and is not to be missed if your Sri Lankan tour coincides with the celebrations. In 2017 the Sinhalese New Year falls on the 14th of April.
The New Year is known as Aluth Avurudu in Sinhala and Puthandu in Tamil and celebrates the moving of the sun from the House of Pisces to the House of Aries. The event typically takes place on the 14th of April each year and the joyous mood that sweeps the island running up to the celebrations is palpable.
Sri Lanka’s wildlife calendar
If you’re looking to go on a wildlife adventure of a lifetime, you can’t go much wrong with picking Sri Lanka as your destination. Not only is it packed with 26 world renowned national parks filled with big game, it is also arguably the best place in the world to see the largest creature of them all – the blue whale! If you’re looking for the best time to visit Sri Lanka for spotting wildlife, check out our wildlife calendar which shows when in the year is the best time for seeing the various exotic creatures that call Sri Lanka home
January
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe) Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
- Migrant birds
Sea life
- Blue Whale (Mirissa)
- Spinner Dolphin
February
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
- Migrant birds
Sea life
- Blue Whale (Mirissa)
- Spinner Dolphin
March
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
- Migrant birds
Sea life
- Blue Whale (Mirissa)
- Spinner Dolphin
- Green Turtle
April
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
Sea life
- Blue Whale (Mirissa)
- Spinner Dolphin
- Green Turtle
May
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
Sea life
- Green Turtle
June
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
Sea life
- Green Turtle
July
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- The Elephant Gathering at Minneriya
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Mugger Crocodile (Yala)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
Sea life
- Green Turtle
August
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- The Elephant Gathering at Minneriya
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Mugger Crocodile (Yala)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
September
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- The Elephant Gathering at Minneriya
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Mugger Crocodile (Yala)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
October
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
November
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
- Migrant birds
Sea life
- Blue Whale (Mirissa)
- Spinner Dolphin
December
Land animals and birds
- Leopard (Yala and Wilpattu National Parks)
- Elephants (Udawalawe)
- Primates (Cultural Triangle)
- Large Reptiles
- Dragonflies and Butterflies
- Sinharaja bird wave
- Migrant birds
Sea life
- Blue Whale (Mirissa)
- Spinner Dolphin
Book your Sri Lanka wildlife holiday
We specialise in the customised tours to Sri Lanka and regularly create exciting wildlife holidays to the island that specifically suit our traveller’s wants and needs. Whether you’re interested in big game, a bird watching enthusiast, want to catch a glimpse at the majestic blue whale, or you’re looking for an experience that takes in a bit of everything, get in touch today!