With nearly 1600 km of palm fringed Coastline baked to perfection surrounding the country Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for beach bums worldwide. May it be windsurfing, kayaking, yachting, water skiing, scuba diving or jut lazing around for the perfect tan, Sri Lanka offers it all.
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 sun shine happily in agreement.
The best of the Southern beaches includes Tangalla, Beruwala, Mirissa, Bentota and Unawatuna with varying options including chic boutique hotels, glowing coral reefs, gentle sandbars and undiscovered corners of paradise.
Although Sri Lanka’s southern beaches has been long discovered by the international traveller the east coast is yet to be fully discovered. The most known among the Eastern beaches is the Arugam Bay, the high church of surfing enthusiasts’ in the region. Once a mere rumour, Uppuveli beach is also open to the sun seekers after a three decade long civil war.
On the Western corner of the country to the north of Colombo is the Negambo lagoon. Its beaches, an old favourite with local and foreign visitors and lagoon famed for lobster harvesting. Despite having a ring of sandy beaches surrounding the country, Galle Face Green, a half a kilometre stretch between Galle Road and Indian Ocean is the playground of the Colombians.
East Coast
Sri Lanka’s east coast is unquestionably beautiful. Its major towns, Trincolamee and batticaloa are bursting with life and commercial activities. 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.
Nilaveli
Naiveli beach is one of eastern province’s most spectacular beaches. If you're looking for some serious beach time, then Nilaveli could be just the ticket, for the sands are golden and the ocean inviting. Offshore, Pigeon Island offers fine diving and snorkelling. Nilavali beach is also known to be one of the cleanest and purest white sand beaches of south east Asia.
Marble Bay
Marble beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Trincomalee area. The water is crystal blue and there are hardly any waves making it an excellent bathing spot. The name Marble beach comes from the Marble stones found in the area.
West Coast
Lined by a string of fine beaches, along with tourist amenities of every conceivable standard and style, Sri Lanka’s west coast shows the island at its most developed, its most Westernised, and its most tourist-oriented. A string of fine beaches, backed by hundreds of hotels and guesthouses of all sizes and standards, dot the coast from Negombo in the north to Hikkaduwa in the south.
Negombo
Negombo is a year-round destination boasting lovely golden sandy beaches. it is possible to hire all sorts of water sports equipment and enrol on reasonably priced diving courses. An excellent diving spot where you can see stunning corals, groupers and all sorts of colourful fish, Kudapaduwa is a 40-year-old shipwreck about 75m (246ft) in length.
Mount Lavinia
Famed for its “Golden Mile” of beaches, is now a city bustling with life is well known for its beach activities, vibrant nightlife and chilled out dining locations along the beach. Depending on the season this is one of main sea- bathing spot.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa is one of the most beautiful enchantment city. The beach and the night life and the coral sanctuary makes this place a popular tourist destination. Hikkaduwa is also the second-best surfing spot in Sri Lanka.
South Coast
The south coast is one of Sri Lanka’s most rewarding places to visit. This is the island in a microcosm: gorgeous beaches, colonial townscapes, stilt fishermen, superb wildlife parks and Buddhist shrines and temples aplenty – not to mention the island’s most alluring selection of places to stay, from luxurious beach hotels to atmospheric colonial-era villas. Sri Lanka south coast tour is the ideal choice to relax and unwind in the refreshing sea breeze and enchanting sandy beaches. Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Mirissa, Dondra, Dickwella, Tangalle are some of the best beaches in among the southern coast. The southern beaches are sandier than the western ones and do not shelve deeply into the sea.
Unawatuna
Unawatuna is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and famous for its beautiful beach and corals and a great variety of fish and turtles. The turtles still wade onto the shore to lay their nests and eggs, and at times, as if to lay first claim to the sandy shore.
Mirissa
This small sandy tropical beach boasts some of Sri Lanka’s best and most stunning sunsets and sunrises. Mirissa's beach and night life make it a popular tourist destination. Mirissa and its breath-taking sandy beach pretty much transforms your dreams and visions of a tropical paradise into an everyday reality.
North Coast
The northern coastal beaches stretch, north in a gentle arc from Arugam Bay up to Kuchchaveli approximately 275 km along the east coast. Casuarina, kilaay and Vankalai are some of the northern coastal beaches.
Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is a fishing village 2 1/2 km south of the small town of Pottuvil at the remote south end of the east coast. It has probably the best surf in Sri Lanka off a low promontory a little further south, and had developed into a low-budget travellers centre. Arugam Bay makes a great base for several adventures in the surrounding hinterland. During the low season (November to April) things get very quiet and some places shut up shop altogether, but it can also be a beautiful time to visit, with few tourists and glistening green landscapes.
Casuarina
This is considered to be the best beach in the Jaffna Peninsula with white sand. The beach got its name due the Casuarina Trees along the beach. The sea at Casuarina Beach is so shallow, you can walk a long way in to the sea in the deep blue water with gentle waves moving towards the land.
