Beaches
There are a great variety of wonderful beaches in Sri Lanka, many relatively undeveloped, with some fabulous places to stay in too ranging from Geoffrey Bawa inspired resorts to intimate boutique hotels. Although some of the areas are bustling and popular, there are still numerous peaceful spots for secluded holidays. The perfect end to a busy tour exploring this amazing country.
South Coast Highlights
Sri Lanka’s south and south west coast is the most popular coastline in the island, boasting spectacular scenic beaches that are among the finest in the world. The range of breathtaking beaches and resorts available here deliver everything required for your perfect beach holiday. Stroll along the soft golden sand beach, take a dip in sheltered bays in the Indian Ocean, experience thrilling water sports and sea excursions, watch the glorious colours of sunset streak on the water, sip refreshing cocktails and feast on mouth watering seafood. From November to April, head to Mirissa which is one of the top spots in the world for Sperm and Blue whales sightings. Pods of dolphins can also be spotted, particularly during January and April.
The best time to visit these beaches is between October and April, when the seas are suitable for swimming and water sports.
Mirissa
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Mirissa has a gorgeous crescent shaped, sandy beach which is surrounded by palm trees and coves. It is also the best location in the island for whale watching. The best time to spot whales in Mirissa is during November to April, when these majestic creatures cross the southern tip of Sri Lanka. The peak season is from December to March, when the water of the coast is warm and calm, and perfect for migrating whales.
Unawatuna
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Unawatuna is the first bay after passing the major city of Galle, and is one of the prettiest spots in the island that is perfect for diving, snorkelling, wave surfing, fishing and swimming.
Weligama
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The quieter town of Weligama is to the east of Unawatuna – here you can see the iconic stilt fishermen on the beautiful bay. Other popular spots here are Mirissa, which is perfect for whale watching and Tangalle, which enjoys calm seas with its sheltered cove.West Coast Highlights
Towards the north of Colombo just minutes away from the airport, is the bustling city of Negombo, which is well known for its old world fishing village atmosphere and sandy beaches. This is an ideal place to start or end your Sri Lanka tour as Negombo is very convenient for the airport. A short distance north of Negombo is Maravila beach, which is more suited for secluded beach holidays. Even further north is the delightful Kalpitiya beach, which is located on a stunning peninsula, with both lagoon and ocean activities on offer. Kalpitiya is famous for kite surfing, dolphin watching and even whale watching.
Heading south of Colombo, Balapitiya remains relatively untouched by mass tourism before the start of the main tourist beach resort area. Bentota and Beruwela beach resorts are popular beach resorts whilst further down the coastline is Hikkaduwa – one of the liveliest resorts, famed for its surf, corals and vibrant nightlife.
The best time to visit these beaches is between October and April.
Balapitiya
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Around 80 km south of Colombo is the coastal town of Balapitiya. The area remains untouched by mass tourism and traditional small fishing hamlets still border the golden soft beaches. It is also close to the Maduganga River from where interesting wetlands boat excursions depart.
Bentota
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Bentota and Beruwela beach resorts are the first encountered towards the southern portion of the west coast of the island; they have been developed as Sri Lanka’s chief package tour resort zone with a long string of hotels and activities available along its fine beach.
Hikkaduwa
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The seaside town of Hikkaduwa is a lively beach resort with shops, beach bars & restaurants along a 4 km stretch of beautiful beach. Its coral reef has been declared a sanctuary and snorkelling and diving around the reef is a great experience.
Kalpitiya
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Further north is the delightful Kalpitiya beach, which is located on a stunning peninsula, with both lagoon and ocean activities on offer. Kalpitiya is famous for kite surfing, dolphin watching and even whale watching
Maravila
A short distance above Negombo is Maravila beach, which is more suited for secluded beach holidays..
Negombo
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Towards the north of Colombo just minutes away from the airport, is the bustling city of Negombo, which is well known for its old world fishing village atmosphere and sandy beaches.North & East Coast Highlights
The north east coast of Sri Lanka provides an opportunity for incredible beach holidays in relatively uncrowded and undeveloped surroundings. The area is a tropical heaven between April and October, which is when the monsoon season affects the south-western beaches, with miles of unspoiled tropical beaches and natural jungles.
Passikudah Beach
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Passikudah is an idyllic coastal village situated on the east coast of Sri Lanka, famous for its undisturbed pristine coastline, clear blue waters and golden sands, The crescent shaped bay has protected waters making it ideal for swimming. The reef has exquisite coral formations and schools of colourful tropical reef fish, which are easily accessible while snorkelling. From Passikudah you can visit various attractions in the area, including the historic Dutch Fort and the gorgeous Batticaloa Lagoon.
Trincomalee Beach
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Trinco is also famous for its picturesque golden beaches protected by a sheltered bay. You can walk out over a hundred meters into the shallow sea. The beaches provide a wide range of recreational activities such as swimming, bathing surfing, scuba diving, fishing and even whale watching. Trincomalee is also the gateway to other amazing beaches on the east coast such as Uppuveli and Nilaveli, and stunning corals at Pigeon Island, which is a marine national park situated on an island.Hotels
From stunning beachfront resorts to culture filled boutique hotels, Sri Lanka offers a large range of hotels to suit everyone’s needs. Whether thats a search for relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion.
Tours
Below are a selection of our favourite sample itineraries that we have created based on our experiences of travelling extensively throughout Sri Lanka. As with all our tours, every aspect can be tailor-made to your individual requirements.
