Home to arguably the finest surf spot on the entire of the Indian subcontinent, the sleepy little centre of Arugam Bay continues to draw huge crowds of travellers during its summertime high-season, most of whom come looking for the rolling beach breaks, or the curling left-turners that dominate the shoreline on this south-eastern section of the Sri Lankan coast.

Naturally, great surf also means plenty of Arugam Bay tour guide companies offering surfing packages, and the beaches are often packed with beginners and intermediates getting to grips with the swells. However, wave riding isn’t the only thing to do here, and many travellers drop by to wallow in the laid back vibe, sun themselves on the less-trodden sands of the country’s eastern coast, take eco tours to the Arugam Lagoon, or survey the wilds of the Lahugala Kitulana National Park, where elephants and macaques roam the verdant evergreen forests.