Beaches in Sri Lanka
The two monsoon winds, providing rain to the two corners of the country at various periods, makes Sri Lanka’s beach holiday a year-round prospect. The north east winds make the south western coast sunny and the sea calm from November to March. The South West winds make the East Coast waters quiet with the constant sunshine,happily in agreement.
There are many areas around the island that you can explore and enjoy various activities while beach holidays in Sri Lanka boast to be the best. The western and southern coastal beaches begin from Negombo, 37 km north of Colombo and curves south along the coastline for 273 km up to Hambantota. The South of Colombo which is also called the” Gold Coast”, is bursting in action, with resorts stretching from Mt. Lavinia (a suburb of Colombo) and continuing along the towns of Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Mirissa, Dondra, Dickwella, Tangalle and finally Hambantota. The southern beaches are sandier than the western ones and do not shelve deeply into the sea.
The eastern and northern coastal beaches stretch north in a gentle arc from Arugam Bay up to Kuchchaveli approximately 275 km along the east coast. Pristine beaches, wide stretches of sand and what seems like miles of clear and shallow water, pretty bays and coves, deep natural harbours, still lagoons and underwater coral gardens will always take your breath away. The best beaches along the east coast include Nilaveli, Kuchchaveli, Marble Bay, Sweat Bay and the Dead Man’s Cove with its magnificent harbour, towards the north of Trincomalee. The southern section of the east coast includes the peaceful and beautiful beaches of Passikudah, Kalkudah and Arugam Bay.
With miles of golden beaches, sun and sea, our little island offers you the convenience of travelling to some of the best locations without wasting much time. You can access the western and southern coastal beaches by road and by train which runs from Negombo to Matara and if you prefer to fly there is an international airport situated at Mattala in southern. The north and east coast beaches can be reached by taking the A4 road and it can also be reached by train.
Accommodation along the coastline is not a problem. There is a wide choice of itineraries for memorable beach holidays in Sri Lanka while the experience comes with picturesque locations. You can also enjoy various water sports such as boarding, canoeing, sailing, boating, deep sea fishing, snorkelling, surfing, deep sea diving, river cruises, water polo, water gymnastics, water and jet-ski racing and Banana Boat riding. Seasonal bathing is available by the sea and river fronts of many hotels and of course there is also the option of a fresh or sea water swimming pool most of the time.
The Southern Coast
Negombo Beach
37 km from Colombo, situated only 6 km from Bandaranaike International Airport. Therefore, it is an excellent option for those on a short trip to the island. Set amidst lush groves of coconut palms, the town breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet paradise with plenty of fresh seafood. Old world fishing crafts like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran bring in seer, skipjack, herring and mullet, while lobsters and prawns are caught in the lagoon. Various water sports activities can also be enjoyed while Negombo spells out a fun-filled beach holiday in Sri Lanka.
Mount Lavinia Beach
A mere 12 km south of the city Centre. Mount Lavinia is an immediate Colombo city suburb and their beaches are one of the better-known locations to relax, since the colonial times. It lies alongside a windswept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sand is the softest while the waves are calm and clear.
Wadduwa beach
35 km from Colombo and is a favourite weekend destination for many Colombo dwellers. The beach features one of the most beautiful hotels on the coast, apart from being well known for its rich coconut plantations and as a major producer of coconut toddy and vinegar.
Kalutara beach
42km from Colombo. Kalutara is a small yet bustling town which is found along the west coast of Sri Lanka and is well known for its iconic Gangatilaka Viharaya, one of the few Buddhist monuments that permit entry and a true highlight worth visiting. Kalutara’s golden beaches are fringed by magnificent palms and it is also excellent for swimming and enjoying the sun and sand to your heart’s content.
Bentota beach
62 km from Colombo. One of the most delightful beach resorts of this coast. Bentota is extremely popular among the international travellers for its top class touristic facilities and services. Bentota Beach is an ideal destination for family vacations mainly due to its protected swimming conditions. It is also a fantastic location for numerous water sports activities such as snorkelling, jet-skiing, diving, body-surfing, windsurfing and parasailing. Deep sea fishing is also a popular activity; however, it depends largely on weather conditions. Another attraction is the Bentota River which is more of a beautiful tropical lagoon where visiting couples can enjoy a romantic river safari. Bentota Beach is one of the finest and most magical beaches along the South West coastline and is also listed among the best in the island.
Hikkaduwa beach
98 km from Colombo and it is one of the most famous beach resort in the island. It is a beautiful beach where you can relax, enjoy the sun and have the option of surfing, snorkelling or scuba diving. Being the site of the famed coral garden, glass bottomed boats are available on hire and visitors can explore the underwater fantasies. It is also an internationally popular destination for board-surfing and surfing.
Unawatuna beach
120 km from Colombo which continues to be a favourite of most visitors to Sri Lanka in search of sun, sea and sand. Unawatuna was voted among the top 12 beaches in the world and boasts excellent diving, a relaxed atmosphere and lively nights. This Beach is one of the safest beaches in Sri Lanka as it is protected by a beautiful coral reef. Ramayanaya epic story says that Unawatuna was created from piece of earth of Himalaya. Sleepy peaceful clear waters of Unawatuna are famous for safe bathing. There are also turtle hatcheries nearby which can be visited throughout the year. It is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a tranquil holiday.
Beruwala beach
Beruwala is located in the south west cost of Sri Lanka about 60 km from Colombo. Beach is a 130 km stretch of beach in a small tranquil fishing village and it is treated as the starting point of the southern cost beach resorts. The sea is excellent for swimming all year around, and there is always a breeze, making even a mid-day stroll to the markets enjoyable. One of the major tourist attractions here is seeing the fresh catch brought by the colourful fishing boats early in the morning and a turtle hatchery is located nearby.
Koggala beach
The Koggala beach is located about 12 km south of Galle while it also belongs to one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. Stilt-Fishermen are a familiar sight here.
The Deep South
Weligama bay
143 km from Colombo and Weligama which literally means ‘sandy village’ is a picturesque bay located along the southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. There is also an offshore islet where a French Count built his dream house. Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt fishermen while the area is also well known for Beeralu lace making which had been introduced by the Portuguese.
Mirissa beach
This is located 155 km from Colombo. Mirissa beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, calm, deserted and hot. Beach is set in a small fishing village with beautiful scenery. It is a peaceful sandy beach with crystal clear waters ideal for snorkelling. It is also a well-known area for whale and dolphin watching. This beach boasts some of Sri Lanka’s best and most stunning sunrises which creep up from the horizon to greet you and back again on the other side to form a breath-taking and memorable sunset.
Tangalle beach
This is away from 195 km from Colombo, located on the south east coast near Yala National park and are popular locations for snorkelling and diving. The soft golden beaches and clear water attract many tourists with views of beautiful coral reefs and jewel hued fish. Sea turtles are commonly spotted along the reef and even visit the shore at night to lay their eggs.
The East Coast
Nialveli and Uppuveli beach
Nilaveli Located in east of the country 120 km from Colombo and 14 km from Trincomalee. The natural harbour and beach is one of finest in world. However, it is once again becoming a spot for utmost relaxation on wide serene stretches of white sandy beaches which slope gently into the clear blue sea. The beaches are ideal for sunbathing, surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching. Pigeon Island, floating a few kilometres away from the coast is a very small island, covered completely with pure-white coral, which offers breath-taking underwater scenes and is a perfect place to snorkel and relax.
Kalkudah beach and Passekudah bay
Located 346 km away from Colombo, the Kalkudah Bay is a 2 km long wide stretch of beach, located 32 km north of Batticaloa. Kalkudah & Passikudah are two very fine beaches in the East Coast of Sri Lanka. One of the best and unspoiled stretches of beaches in Sri Lanka is the East Coast which runs for more than 300 kilometres. Most of the beach areas are well protected from the monsoon by offshore reefs. Passikudah Bay is another wide beach, 4 km long and located just south of Kalkudah. The combined beaches of Kalkudah and Passikudah are ideal for safe bathing as the sea is clear, calm and reef-protected. It is a favourite among beach lovers and for those looking for some exciting water sport activity. The Kalkudah beach provides the perfect setting for sun bathing, windsurfing, and skiing. The waters that surround the Kalkudah beach also house a varied number of tropical fish and exotic coral reefs making it the perfect destination for snorkelling in the East coast of Sri Lanka.
Arugam bay
Arugam Bay 116 km from Colombo it is another fishing village. Identified as the best surfing beach in Sri Lanka and the 4th best beach in South-East Asia and is also among the 10 best surfing beaches in the world. Beach is set with a serene palm-rimmed village of simple restaurants and cabanas. Often referred to as a surfer’s paradise, this beach has some of the best conditions for a variety of water sports including swimming and wind sailing. It provides utmost relaxation and tranquillity with white sandy beaches and the possibility of spotting Sri Lankan wildlife The Bird Sanctuary is also at close proximity to it, so bird-watchers / surf fanatics can spend a great time at the beach.
Batticaloa beach
Batticaloa beach is situated on the east coast of Sri Lanka next to one of the largest lagoons in the country and is the heart of a very fascinating culture. The Dutch invaders made their first footstep in here in 1602 and they built a fort in 1665 which is still visible near the lagoon. The area is famous for the musical sounds of the singing fish which can be heard in the lagoons when the light of a full moon shines on it. The sea is shallow and safe enough for tourists to swim and wade in 150 – 200 meters from the shore and the beach is dotted with beautiful rock pools inhabited by a variety of interesting sea creatures.
The North Coast
Casuarina beach Jaffna
Is in Karainagar, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka, about 20 kilometres from Jaffna. This is,considered to be the best beach in the Jaffna Peninsula, complete with white sand. The beach got its name due the Casuarina Trees along the beach. The beach lies about 20km off Jaffna and may take about 45 minutes to travel by a vehicle.
Manalkadu beach
A small dirt road runs for 3.1km off the B371 to this lovely beach. There are a few fishing boats, some palm trees and not much else on the sand. The views extend up and down the sand as far as you can see. Back from the shore, the small St Anthony's Church sits in isolation and features a 6m-tall statue of Jesus.
Kalpitiya beach
Kalpitiya is 150 km from Colombo. Beach is bestowed with natural beauty; however, it is fairly untouched by tourism, surrounded by a close-knit fishing community. The beach is a famous spot for whale and dolphin watching along with snorkelling amongst beautiful corals. The warm, golden sand is an ideal location to relax, sunbathe and forget about your worries. Boat rides around the lagoons are perfect ways to explore the hidden wonders around the beach and visitors can even canoe down the river. This is also the only place where guests can enjoy a 4WD jeep ride along the deserted sand dunes between the ocean and inland, offering a unique way to enjoy the evening sunsets.