Do you dream of sun, sea and sand, but are not sure where to spend your next holiday?
Sri Lanka is one of the best beach getaway destinations in the world. The most famous beach resort areas are on the southwest, south and south eastern shores. You can find from 400-room resorts to one-villa islands, there is something for everyone.
Part of what makes this island destination so popular with tourists is the endless number of world-class beaches located along the entire coastlines. Forget the well-worn backpacker routes of south-east Asia- Sri Lanka’s beaches are some of the best in the world – and the most beautiful.
If you’re looking for quality surf, pristine water, white sand, tall palm trees, and gorgeous sunsets, you’re guaranteed to find exactly what you’re searching for on these beaches in Sri Lanka!
Whether you love relaxing on white sand, getting stuck into some high-octane water sports or snorkeling in turquoise water, there’s and beach to suit everyone. You are guaranteed to find out pristine water, white sand, tall palm trees, gorgeous sunsets and quality surfing in Sri Lanka.
So, which beach should you pick?
Wondering which of these sun-kissed sandy stretches to visit?
West coast beaches - Sri Lanka's west coast is a long-standing tourist region serving a mix of tour packages and independent traveller. West coast of Sri Lanka is one of the first areas to be developed when tourism hit Sri Lanka, a number of famous resort towns and hotels grace the sands of the west coast beaches. Popular tourist towns in West coast are Negombo, Kalpitiya, Mountlavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala, Aluthgama and Benthota.
South coast beaches -The main tourist towns in south Sri Lanka are Weligama, Mirissa, Galle, Unawatuna and Tangalle. But the beauty of the coast is that there are a plethora of smaller towns and quiet bays for you to stay in, away from the rest of the tourist crowds.
East coast beaches - Searching for somewhere in Sri Lanka a little less developed a coastline that retains an earthier local feel. Or maybe you just want the best beach of your life. Well, the East might just offer that place and that beach. Some of the popular beaches in east coast are, Nilaveli, Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Kalkudah and Arugam Bay.
There’s no denying it, fine long beaches, rolling waves, serene views and copious amounts of sunshine all make for a super relaxing holiday. Sri Lanka has a coastline fringed with numerous golden beaches. Here we have rounded up some of our favorite beach destinations at what time of the you should visit them to ensure perfect beach vacation. No matter what you fancy you can find perfect beach destination to match your perfect holiday!
Discover Sri Lanka's Top 7 Beaches and what it has to offer
If you’ve found yourself thinking about Sri Lanka lately or indeed, if you’ve booked your tickets to go to Sri Lanka, then this should be right up your street – the 7 beaches you have to find yourself on when you visit Sri Lanka.
1) Unawatuna – For Tranquil Blue Waters.
2) Beruwala and Benthota - For Beaches And Mangroves
3) Mirissa/ Tangalle – For Weekend getaways, Surfing and Whale Watching
4) Rekawa/ Induruwa – For Scenic Beaches And Villages.
5) Arugam Bay – For Surfing And Fishing.
6) Kalpitiya – For Meeting Dolphins and Relaxation
7) Pasakudah And Kalkudah – For Long White Sand Beaches.
1. Unawatuna & Galle
Unawatuna is a great little town on the south coast of Sri Lanka and is a fantastic beach destination to visit. It has some of the best beaches of Sri Lanka with blue turquoise water and palm trees (Unawatuna beach, jungle beach, Dalawella beach, Mihirpenna beach). The place is also known for snorkeling, diving, experience local culture and souvenir hunting. You can easily visit Japanese Peace Pagoda, experience the insta-famous palm tree rope swing at Dalawella beach, Galle town and see Fort of Galle (7Km away) while your stay in Unawatuna . It is one of the most popular and must visit destinations in Sri Lanka. One can easily visit Unawatuna as it is not far away from Colombo and offers the opportunity to connect beach holidays with cultural sightseeing (Only 1 1/2 hr drive along southern highway)
Best time to visit: October to mid of April
Unwatuna Beach
2. Beruwala and Benthota
This very long sand beach is without any doubt one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. Beside the fact that it is palm-lined it is a great destination for families as the water is very shallow here. Moreover Benthota and Beruwala are located close to each other very close to the capital Colombo (only a 2h drive)
Best time to visit :October to mid of April
3. Tangalle/ Rekawa
Tangalle beach has soft sand in dark-yellow colour contrasts beautifully with the emerald-blue colour of water. It is a perfect place to stroll at sunset. Tangalle is more calm and secluded. If you are planning a relaxed beach vacation, Tangalle is the perfect spot. Tangalle offers so many things for visitors other than its pristine beaches. One side of Tangalle bears a small hillock, with a bird's eye view of the surrounding bay up to the far horizon of the palm fringed beach and the shimmering sea.
You can visit the nearby Rekawa beach which is the nesting ground for 5 species of turtles. You can watch the turtles arrive at the beach and reach their nesting site where they will lay their eggs and return to sea. Season for turtle watching is from April to July.
Best time to visit : Throughout the year
4. Weligama/Mirissa Beach
Weligama beach on the southwest of the country is touted to be Sri Lanka’s most scenic beach. You can click selfies here with your loved ones. Make sure to put those pictures up on Instagram for everyone to see. Two Beaches are located close to each other. Most tourists come to Mirissa for whale watching. You can book the expeditions mostly directly at your accommodation. If you are lucky you'll come to see blue whales, dolphins during your visit here. Mirissa beach itself is beautiful with some awesome sunset. However, the waters are rough with crazy wild waves which can make you tumble.
Best time to visit :October to mid of April
5. Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is a surf beach on the east coast. As it is a predominantly Muslim area you should wear long clothes if you're a woman. Regarding the prices Arugam Bay is much more expensive than the beaches on the west coast. If you walk south along the beach for about an hour you'll get to a lake area with crocodiles and elephant. In the morning you can watch the fisherman doing their work at the beach
Best time to visit: April till September
6. Kalpitiya
Kalpitiya is a peninsula set in between the deep lagoon of Puttalam to the east and the magnificent Indian Ocean to the west. It is an unrivalled marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangrove swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches. The area is fringed with mangroves, rich in birdlife and one of the few places in Sri Lanka to see the dugong.
Seeing dolphins for the first time can be a surreal experience. On Kalpitiya beach, dolphins are a common sight. Sperm Whales and an occasional Blue Whale are also regularly seen around the Kalpitiya Peninsula. We suggest for a clearer view, you should hop on a boat or else you can sit by yourself on the beach and try spotting a few. Either way you are sure to have the time of your life.
Kalpitiya Beach, which is a haven for water sports like windsurfing and kiteboarding.
Best time to visit :November to March
7. Pasakudah And Kalkudah
If your dream vacation comprises of a white sand beach shaded by palm trees, this is it. Pasikudah Bay is a 2 km long wide stretch of beach well protected by a shallow off shore reef. Kalkudah beach is wide and long and spreads along for 4 km long just south of Pasikudah. The beach also houses a varied number of tropical fishes and exotic coral reefs. The combined beaches of Pasikudah and Kalkudah and are ideal for sea bathing as the sea is clear, calm and reef-protected.
Best time to visit : May to September
8. Kalpitiya
Kalpitiya is also the best place to see Dolphins and during the season you can witness Dolphin pods up to 1000 to 1500 members at most given times. Sperm Whales and an occasional Blue Whale are regularly seen around the Kalpitiya Peninsula.
Bar Reef, the largest coral reef (307 square km) in Sri Lanka, which can be reached by an hour’s boat trip from Kalpitiya, serves as the ideal sea for keen scuba divers and snorkelers. This beautiful reef is, exceedingly rich in bio-diversity and a known hotspot for reef sharks, manta rays and occasionally turtles.
If you’re keen to get your adrenaline fix while in Sri Lanka, you’ll love Kalpitiya Beach, which is a haven for water sports like windsurfing and kiteboarding.
We can arrange accommodation in a basic holiday cottage or a nice beach villa in Kalpitiya area or get a boat ride organised from Negombo and proceed to Kalpitya by sea, known hotspot for reef sharks, manta rays and occasionally turtles, in our opinion a week’s holiday here of snorkelling and diving will barely scratch the surface of what’s on offer.
Recommended Tours -To get you started with your holiday planning, take a look at our recommended tours. Alternatively, if you already know where you want to go or prefer the idea of a private tour and beach holiday, contact our travel planning team who will be happy to put together your dream trip together. Click here.