Tea hills, ancient rock fortresses and empty beaches, just as the dry season starts.
Air Arabia flies from London Gatwick to Colombo from £458 return, with one stop in Sharjah. There are dates in November 2026 and in January and February 2027, the start of the best season on Sri Lanka's west and south coasts.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London, United Kingdom
- To: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Airline: Air Arabia
- Stops: 1 stop in Sharjah
- Price: £458 return
- When: November 2026 - February 2027
Example dates:
17/11/2026 - 02/12/2026
21/01/2027 - 04/02/2027
Claim up to £520 for your delayed or cancelled flight →
The flight leaves Gatwick at 08:45, stops for 2h40 in Sharjah and lands in Colombo at 04:30 the next morning. The return stops for 3-5h40 in Sharjah. Air Arabia is a low-cost airline: the price includes a cabin bag, but a checked bag and meals cost extra. Late February and March dates cost £547 or more.
💰 How far does your money go?
A pint in London now costs £6-7. In Sri Lanka, a plate of kottu roti costs about £2.50, a rice and curry lunch with five or six dishes £2, and a cold Lion lager in a beach bar £2.50-4. A tuk-tuk ride across town is about £1.30, and the famous train from Kandy to Ella costs less than £5 in second class.
☀️ The Weather
Colombo is hot all year, with highs of 30-31°C. November still has some heavy showers on the west coast, but from December to March the west and south coasts are dry and sunny, with a calm sea at about 28°C. The hill country around Kandy and Ella is cooler, around 20-24°C.
🏨 Where to Stay
Spend a night or two in Colombo before heading to the hills or the beaches.
Marine Bay Colombo · 9.1/10 · From £25/night
A simple, well-run guesthouse close to the sea and the Galle Road buses.
Cinnamon Grand Colombo · 9.1/10 · From £101/night
A big city hotel with a large pool and some of Colombo's best restaurants.
Galle Face Hotel · 9.2/10 · From £143/night
A colonial landmark from 1864 on the seafront, with sunset drinks on the veranda.
🎯 What to Do
Colombo is the gateway to the whole island.
Lotus Tower: The tallest tower in South Asia, with a buffet meal and views over the city and the ocean.
Sigiriya and Dambulla: Climb the 5th-century Lion Rock fortress and visit the painted Dambulla cave temples.
Kandy and the tea country: The Temple of the Tooth, a spice garden and a working tea factory in a full day from Colombo.
Colombo by tuk-tuk: Galle Face Green, Pettah market, Gangaramaya Temple and the colonial Fort district.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
From Colombo, the rest of Sri Lanka and the Maldives are close.
Galle: The Dutch fort town on the south coast, about 2 hours by train or road.
Ella: Green hills and the Nine Arch Bridge, reached by one of the world's most scenic train rides.
Maldives: Overwater villas and coral reefs, about 1h20 by air. Search flights
From £458 return, London to Sri Lanka. Tea, temples and beaches in one trip.
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