Seasons in Trincomalee & the east
The rain runs October to January
Which part of the country
It is rainy season in Trincomalee & the east right now, and it runs October to January. The rain tends to come hard and short rather than all day, and it stays warm through it — so the thing to bring is a shell you can fold into a day bag, not a coat.
Going in August
Dry and settled while the southwest coast is under its monsoon. This is the whole point of knowing the two coasts apart: one island, opposite answers in the same month.
What this means for your bag
Real sun protection
High-factor sunscreen, a hat with a brim and sunglasses. Reef-safe sunscreen is worth buying before you go — it is expensive and hard to find at the beach.
See the Beach & Pool Kit packA bottle you will actually refill
Heat like this needs far more water than you think. A filter bottle also spares you buying a plastic bottle every two hours.
See the Health & Wellness packQuick-dry fabrics
Cotton takes two days to dry in this air and starts to smell before it does. Synthetics and merino wash in a sink and are wearable by morning.
See the Summer Sun Kit pack
The hottest stretch, with afternoons around 34°C and very little cloud.
What this means for your bag
Loose, covering clothes
Long and loose beats short and tight in serious heat: it keeps the sun off skin and moves air. Linen and light cotton in pale colours.
See the Summer Sun Kit packA bottle you will actually refill
Heat like this needs far more water than you think. A filter bottle also spares you buying a plastic bottle every two hours.
See the Health & Wellness packReal sun protection
High-factor sunscreen, a hat with a brim and sunglasses. Reef-safe sunscreen is worth buying before you go — it is expensive and hard to find at the beach.
See the Beach & Pool Kit pack
Build a packing plan around the season you are actually travelling in.