Most tourists who are tired of popular, promoted places are looking for countries that are not too exotic and not known to everyone for their vacation. One of these wonderful places for tourists is Sri Lanka, where it is best to vacation starting in November. What is attractive about holidays here, what you need to know about this country, what attractions Sri Lanka is famous for, when is the best time to relax, going to this island and much more, you will find out right now.

The unique country of Sri Lanka

Indeed, Sri Lanka is a unique country in every way. It is not simple exotic island and home to coconut trees, elephants, and tea. It's much more:

  • here you will see the last relict forest;
  • near Kandy you can observe unspoiled and dense species;
  • are you visiting ancient city, as well as on the ruins of Buddhist sanctuaries and palaces, which were lost in the jungle;
  • You will find rivers infested with crocodiles and forests overgrown with dense vines.

Even all this will already be enough for the purpose of your individual trip to be a visit to Sri Lanka, right? Now think about the endless beaches of the island and you will understand that you need at least a month to visit them all. So, when and where is the best time to vacation in Sri Lanka?

Best time to relax

The island has a hot, humid climate all year round, or at least warm, although it cannot be said that it is the same everywhere - it is influenced by the length of Sri Lanka's territory and the topography. On the plains average annual temperature stays at +31 degrees, in the mountainous part up to +24. The rainy season begins in May and ends in September for the southern and western coasts of the country, and for the eastern coast - from October to April.

Hence the conclusion: for beach holiday on the west and south coasts the best time is October - April, and for the east - May - September. However, it is worth noting that such a division is quite arbitrary, since in any direction at any time of the year in Sri Lanka there are always enough sunny days for a pleasant pastime, so you can go in any direction.

The most popular resorts on the island, according to tourists

In Sri Lanka, in addition to wonderful weather, there are also many excellent resorts with developed infrastructure and magnificent beaches. By analyzing reviews of tourists who have already been here, you can find out which resorts or areas are the most popular on the island.


Have you decided which resort in Sri Lanka you want to vacation at?

What are the must-see attractions in Sri Lanka?

The island of Sri Lanka, which is surrounded Indian Ocean, attracts travelers both with a beach holiday and the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sights. When planning your vacation, take seriously the question of what to see on the island, because quite a lot of natural and historical places that you want to visit. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to visit everywhere in a short period of time, but it’s quite possible to see the main attractions.

In Sri Lanka, check out the architecture first ancient cities, such as:


Hindu temples are no less interesting - Ganesan and Kanestan, which are located in Colombo in the Pettah area on Sea street. The Jami Ul Alfar Mosque is the main Muslim shrine of the city. Everyone's attention it attracts with its facade, which is painted in white and red stripes.

The attractions of Colombo include the Brown Gardens, which offer guests of Sri Lanka a walk in the shade of various exotic plants. The huge park is located on former cinnamon plantations. There is a Buddha statue surrounded by shrubs, flower beds and a round pool. The main alley with green lawns and fountains stretches from this sculpture.

If you look closely at the map, you can see the island of Sri Lanka, surrounded on all sides by the Indian Ocean. It would seem that the ocean is everywhere and summer all year round, you can go to the island wherever you want.

Where is the best place to go on vacation and which beaches?

As I already wrote, in Sri Lanka there is no concept of winter - summer, but there is a monsoon season and a season favorable for beach holidays. IN winter period Strong monsoons hit the east coast of the island and blow from the northeast. In summer, everything is just the opposite: monsoons and winds from the southwest.

Therefore, excellent hotels and the most beautiful beaches for swimming are on the southwest coast, and for and - welcome to the east coast.

And we, as residents of colder climates, always want to bask in the sun and swim in the clean, turquoise sea.

Overview of the beaches of Sri Lanka

You can see uniquely beautiful beaches and magical sunsets only in Sri Lanka at a relatively low cost of travel.

That way!

When it's winter, it's the best time to relax. Therefore, the number of Europeans from December to March is off the charts and there are places to go on vacation!
All beaches in Sri Lanka are located very compactly and due to the timely construction of the expressway toll road getting from Colombo to Kogalla has now become much faster (instead of 5-6 hours, with a good driver and without traffic congestion in Colombo, in 3.5 hours).

Negombo

The closest beach to the airport. It is located in the lagoon.

Pros:

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Hello friends!

Today I took a ride in my furious Enfield from Arambol to Kerim beach. And then he passed out like a knockout: he had no strength to work or cook. I can only listen to music. This is not the first time I have noticed such a feature when I go out into a crowded place. Either I’m grabbing other people’s bad energies, or I’m sick from the heat and climate...

Please write in the comments if you have encountered this? And how did you cope? So far, only a cool shower brings me more or less to my senses, and only every once in a while.

I remember the island of Ceylon, where we spent 2 months last year. And I remember that I also fell into a similar “blackout” within the confines of bazaars and noisy streets. Therefore, if you are looking for silence and solitude, I will tell you where it is better to go in Sri Lanka, not only to the hectic beaches, but also to the cold with fogs. By the way, I had a great time working remotely there.

Mountains are my favorite landscapes throughout the ages

In general, all the sights of Sri Lanka can be divided into 3 large groups (based on interests, let’s say): beach, mountain and cultural. The latter include not only ancient cities like Kandy or Anuradhapura, but also such legendary psychedelic places as the tomb of Adam and Eve or the Rama Bridge.

But I'll start with the most popular.

In general, the beaches of Sri Lanka are wildly popular among our fellow tourists. Consider the Sinhalese who have learned to babble in Russian on the narrow streets of Negombo. The sight, along with beer-addled vacationers, is not the most pleasant, of course, but all this is more than compensated by the stunning nature and friendliness local population(albeit with a huge amount of absolutely stupid desire to cheat for a rupee or two). About the latest in the country.

So, resorts. Best time— winter, especially in January and February, the weather in summer is very hot, and in early September it can rain. You can visit them calmly and independently!

Negombo

The beach town closest to the capital and the airport with a wide tourism infrastructure and a huge number of hotels for every taste and budget. You can easily rent a motorcycle for a long trip around the island or lie down while waiting for your next visa to India.

Among the obvious advantages of Negombo, there is one significant disadvantage. Especially for the female half of humanity: the number of spermotoxic degradants is simply off the charts. I am frankly at a loss as to the reasons for this situation, but the fact is clear. It is impossible to leave your girlfriend for a minute: immediately some creature with an obligatory hand in his pocket begins to get hooked. Therefore, I would only recommend staying here to those who have nowhere else to go. It is better to go to the South, to Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna.

Hikkaduwa

Big beach resort with an even larger selection of all the tourist delights. You can get here from Colombo in 3-4 hours by bus or in 2 hours by train. But you have to manage to squeeze into the latter, because in Sri Lanka trains with reserved seats run on very limited routes. But upon arrival there is a long beach with soft and fine sand; and the sea, into which the sun sets every day in incredible colors.

Here it is, the sunset sea of ​​Hikkaduwa

An incredibly strong Tsunami wave hit here in 2004, resulting in the death of a huge number of people. I already wrote about the tsunami museum earlier in a small one.

It’s crowded and hectic here, but if you live in a small apartment off to the side, it’s quite bearable. And everything is there: supermarkets, Saturday market, diving, snorkeling and surfing. And the prices are more than adequate.

Unawatuna

Unawatuna is an even more party and youthful place than Hikkaduwa. A picturesque area for long-term stays next to a very beautiful piece of colonial architecture - Galle Fort. Especially if you live away from all the bustle, behind the railway.

Here, according to National Geographic, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

I am often asked which is better: Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna? I cannot give such an answer, you need to come and look at everything yourself. It seemed to me that Unawatuna was somehow more cozy. Most of it lies below the main road and is not so hectic there. But in Hikkaduwa there is a beach with an amazing ocean right next door.

Arugam Bay

A small and very rustic little place with huge stone piers. Is located east coast islands, so on the beach, unlike Hikkaduwa, it is better to meet the sun than to see it off. Suitable for long-steers and those who need rural silence.

Trincomalee (Trinco)

Almost the most the best place Sri Lanka, where you can hang out in May and August. Either cyclones swirl like that, or some other typical local mysticism. The beaches in Trinco are also in complete order, and if in Hikkaduwa you are attacked by the ocean, insane in its fury, with waves, sunsets and wild surfers, then here there is relaxation and silence, because all the beaches are located along a large and cozy bay.

In addition to typical beach attractions, you can find WWII bases and even hot springs right there in the jungle. Of course, I somewhat doubt the relevance of the latter against the backdrop of eternal summer.

Tea, mountains and fogs

If you, like me, prefer fogs, the smell of taiga, waterfalls and coolness - you should go to the central highlands. Because there's a really cool story going on here. Quiet, measured and very fresh. I especially fondly remember Haputalle and Ella, where it was especially fun.

Kandy

Ancient capital Ceylon. There is, however, a minimum of fog here. But the surrounding forests, tea hills and Buddhas are truly fascinating. There are also several tea factories in the area, where there are some super-old-school tea machines (or whatever they are called), which are shown in the museum to enchanted tourists right there in the city.

Lake in Kandy - wonderful

People have differing opinions about Kandy. Some people think it's vain, but I really liked it. But I wouldn’t hang around here for any long time (there’s nowhere to be found).

Ella

I’m talking about this wonderful place on the very edge of the Ceylon Highlands. Ella is a very small village, permeated with tourist orientation, coolness and thick fogs. There are several amazing viewing points, tea plantations and extremely picturesque waterfalls around. This is probably one of those places where I could hang for months.

By the way, in Ella, during one of them, I actively chased cats in order to 100% capture the delights of the surrounding space.

Most high mountain resort Sri Lanka at an altitude of about 1800 m above sea level and one of the coldest places on the island. It is located at the foot of the highest point - Mount Pidurutalagala (barely able to pronounce it). Here, with tourism, everything is on a grand scale: a bunch of alpine-style hotels, a bunch of expensive cafes and a bunch of those who want to spend a few days away from the heat of the plains and coastal areas. All around is very beautiful: mountains, the same tea, which in Nuwara Eliya is considered one of the best, and even coniferous forests.

Here she is - highest point Sri Lanka

And in winter, as legends and locals say, frost sometimes falls at night. On my own behalf, I will say that in the absence of heating, it is very oaky here, especially when it rains. But all this is more than compensated for by the gorgeous surrounding beauties.

A very small village, located, like Ella, on the very edge of the highlands and rightfully considered the coldest place in Sri Lanka. There is absolutely no tourist infrastructure here, as well as more or less adequate housing options for a long stay.

Celebrating the New Year in Haputale with Ippolit and Zhenya Lukashin

But he who seeks will find. Therefore, we discovered a wonderful little place called Bawa Guest House with a nice elderly couple of Muslim jewelers. That’s how the place began to be called: Uncle Bava’s. There is complete freedom all around for walks through the jungle and tea fields, and at night the clouds literally flow from one window of your home to another. Sit and watch!

My favorite Sri Lankan photo is the view from Haputale looking south

From here you can also organize a trip to the Horton Plains - mountain shrouds with incredibly clean air and an equally insane 30 USD per person for entry.

Ohiya

Another place for relaxation and flow in the heart of eucalyptus forests. If even Haputale seems noisy to you, go to Oia. Because it is very quiet here and, according to the locals, even water here can be easily collected from the stream and drunk without boiling. It's so clean.

Eucalyptus forests near Oia

Bandarawella and Badulla

Quite large transport and tourist hubs of the central highlands. From Badulla, for example, you can take a direct train to Colombo or Kandy. This is where the line of the stunningly beautiful mountain railway ends.

All around are the same tea fields, serpentines and night oak trees. It’s just a lot more bustling and crowded, so my clear favorites are Haputale and Ella. Where, despite the size, there is everything you need for a long hang.

Cultural and archaeological sites

I finished my favorite part about mountains and nature. Now I will touch on the cultural richness of the island. And with some degree of regret I will say that I knew absolutely nothing about him before coming here. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is one of the main hotbeds of Buddhism, where it has not only survived for 2 millennia, but has multiplied and spread its tentacles quite widely. At the beginning of our era, the teachings of the Buddha fell into decline and only thanks to the efforts of traveling monks it was carried to the most remote corners of Asia.

Sri Lanka seems to have got the most significant piece. Where else can you find Buddhist temples that have been in operation for over 2000 years? Where can you touch antiquity, the developments of which are still used today? I haven't found such a place yet...

The only downside to all these cultural fossils is the price of admission. In Sri Lanka, pricing in general is a complete mess. Entry to Horton Plateau costs $30. Go beyond the Anuradhapura gate - 35, etc. Sigiriya, who has nothing else besides aesthetic beauty, asks for 40 bucks. Well, etc.

And Kandy again

As I already wrote above, this is a rather picturesque place, rightfully considered almost the cultural capital of the island. But the main attraction here is the Temple of the Tooth Relic. No more and no less! I will say right away that you still won’t see the tooth itself, it is hidden from prying eyes somewhere in the depths of the temple, but you will be able to fully feel the ancient energy. Entrance price 1000 rupees (rate 1 dollar = 145 rupees)

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Dambulla

Ancient cave temples, about 2000 years old. The most important artifact of the place is a small stream of water, which during the rainy season suddenly begins to run up the walls. Either a miracle, or a trick... But for me, the place is very touristy, and in order to somehow feel the energy and character of the place, you have to hide in the farthest corners. Entrance price 1500 rupees (rate 1 dollar = 145 rupees)

cave temples of Badulla

Anuradhapura

If there are places where the antiquity is simply off scale, then after cities of the dead Varanasi, I can only name Anuradhapura. Huge Old city, a living archeology of 2,300-year-old stupas, and a Mahaboddhi tree grown from a branch of the Boddhi tree in Bodhgaya, India, where the Buddha gained enlightenment. The Mahaboddhi of Anuradhapura is considered to be the oldest tree in the world with a documented history.

Entrance price 4500 rupees.

Pollonaruwa

Another place where travelers to Sri Lanka strive to get. The ancient capital of the island with the large Gal Vihara temple. If you are fans of antiquities and cultures, welcome. If not, then let's go to Ella.

Sigiriya

The strangest attraction, in my opinion. Because apart from its psychedelic-photogenic location, for me it is not particularly remarkable. Well yes, object world heritage UNESCO. Well, yes, it’s beautiful... But around you can find at least a couple of places where the view will be even cooler, and you don’t have to pay money for entry. Unless the fact that there are Buddhist monasteries at the top makes it somehow significant. The rest is a place promoted by the tourism industry, where package travelers are transported by huge buses.

Admission is $30.

Mannar Island

But this is a completely different matter! North of Sri Lanka. There are no tourists at all, just villages, Christians, churches and tuk-tuk drivers completely indifferent to our white faces. It is from here that the legendary chain of islands leads to India, called the Rama Bridge, and a few kilometers from it are the graves of Adam and Eve themselves, who, after the Fall, decided to live in Sri Lanka for a season. Not a bad option for earthly paradise?

Rama Bridge Islands

But all around is chaos worthy of the best examples of India. Heat, dust and donkeys. The sea and beaches are deserted and inaccessible.

Jaffna

The far north of Ceylon, which for a long time remained the center of LTTE separatist militants, until they were finally defeated by government forces in 2010. Until 2012 the city was closed to foreign tourists, apparently it was actively cleared of mines, tripwires, undead groups of Tamil Tigers and unexploded shells. And today you can even find KFC here.

In general, if you like ruins, post-apocalypse and shell holes in walls, Jaffna is for you! All the attractions here can be visited in 1-2 days on foot, and you can leave here by direct train to Colombo. Jaffna made an extremely positive impression on me. There are few tourists here and no Sinhalese, stupefied by white wallets, have been noticed.

Hello friends. Today I will talk about the beaches of Sri Lanka. About when is the best time to go to this country, beautiful in all respects for tourism. There is also National parks nature and ancient monuments of culture and architecture, protected by UNESCO, and incredible beauty mountain landscapes with tea plantations and, of course, beaches. After all, Sri Lanka is an island.

You can go to Sri Lanka at any time of the year and for different purposes. There are many hotels in the country with fresh pools and spa treatments where you can enjoy your holiday and not depend on the mood of the weather. You can travel to Sri Lanka either independently or through a travel agency.

In the article we briefly talked about the roads, weather, and peculiarities of the country.

It's time detailed story about the beaches of the island, about their pros and cons, about what you can see and where to go near the beach.

Sri Lanka is lucky with its beaches. You will not have to travel more than a day and a half by train, as for example in India, to get from the beaches of the state of GOA to the beaches of Varkala. In Sri Lanka the distances are completely different. Everything happens faster and more pleasantly. The southwest of the island is dotted with beaches, the distance between which takes from 15 minutes by tuk-tuk to 2 hours by bus. All you have to do is choose the one that suits you.

Important! When choosing a beach in Sri Lanka, you need to remember three things: season, geographical features and infrastructure of the island. IN different time Monsoons blow from the ocean to the island every year. In the coastal waters, high waves rise and swimming is simply impossible. Hotels temporarily stop operating and wait for the wind to change.

In October, November, December, January and February you need to choose beaches South West Coast. This is what my story is about today.

If you have plans to relax at sea from May to September, then you should think about the east coast of Sri Lanka.

You can open the map and point your finger at any beach in the southwestern part of the island. There will be no storms or huge waves there. We bring the top popular places which tourists prefer to visit. We recommend starting to get acquainted with them beach Sri Lanka. To make it easier for you to navigate, I will describe the best beaches in Sri Lanka from west to south. These beaches are equipped with good infrastructure. They have a large selection of accommodation, cafes, restaurants, entertainment and attractions.

Beaches of Sri Lanka on the map

Negombo

The beach is closest to (7 km), which in turn is located 30 km north of the capital. The beach is suitable for those who want to plunge into the Indian Ocean immediately upon arrival and take a break from the flight. Or vice versa - take a break from an exotic trip around the island and gain strength before a long flight home.

The long sandy strip of Negombo beach is wide. There is a lot of space, but unfortunately, umbrellas and sun loungers are mainly offered only to those staying at a coastal hotel. For independent tourists you need to either negotiate with the hotel, or think about it.

All hotels are located along the coast. The choice is large. There are more expensive ones, there are cheaper ones, there are ones closer to the shore, there are ones further away. Finding accommodation to suit your taste is very easy.

  • More expensive and close to the beach - Hotel Snahelo
  • A little cheaper, but no worse - hotel Holiday Fashion Inn
  • Budget guesthouse - Blue Elephant Tourist Guesthouse

Nearby attractions: You can visit the Muthurajawela Nature Reserve, which is home to about 200 species of plants and animals. The main historical values ​​of Negombo are the old Dutch fort and the Church of the Virgin Mary. For diving enthusiasts there is a sunken ship and coral reefs.

Pros: close to the airport and the capital. Large selection of accommodation, cafes and restaurants.

Minuses: a lot of tourists and local residents, the beach is not very clean. You can find a quiet and clean place, but sometimes it is not easy.

On the island we met people who happily spent their holidays only in this place. This is a little unclear to us. We wouldn't spend our entire holiday just in Negombo. Maximum one day for relaxation and forward to the adventures of Sri Lanka.

Mount Lavinia

The next beach is located 12 km from Colombo and 45 km from the airport, in the town of the same name, Mount Lavinia. This beach is also strategically suitable for those who are going to travel around Sri Lanka or, conversely, to relax before flying home. In our route around the island, we made Mount Lavnia as our starting and returning point, plus we left our winter things at the hotel here. Before flying home, they took me.

The hotel is a house with separate rooms for tourists. It is inexpensive and conveniently located. The owner is sociable and will gladly answer all questions about Sri Lanka. It will even help you plan your route. For those who choose not a vacation spot, but a convenient point of arrival and departure, we can recommend this hotel. 2 minutes walk to the beach.

Mount Lavinia Beach is a wide and long strip of sand. Umbrellas and sun loungers are available on hotel premises. Entering the water is quick. The current here is changeable. You may encounter rip currents (they are also called rip currents). The thing is unpleasant and dangerous for beginners. Keep an eye on local vacationers - if you see that there are no swimmers in some places, there is most likely a current there. Don't go there.

On the beach we met both foreign tourists and many local residents with children who were enthusiastically building multi-tiered living pyramids, climbing on each other's shoulders.

Mount Lavinia is a historic town built by the British. Of the surviving buildings, there is a hotel here. Mount Lavinia Hotel. It used to be the governor's house, built for the governor's mistress Lavinia. Hence the name of the resort.

What to see: Dehiwela Zoo, Bolgoda Lake, home to 45 species of fish, about 160 species of migratory and waterfowl.

Pros: much less crowded than Negombo

Minuses: rip currents, waves, many locals come on weekends and holidays.

As I wrote above, Mount Lavinia beach was chosen for strategic reasons: to leave winter clothes for the entire trip, to swim before the long route to the center of the island. I wouldn't stay here for a long time.

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Bentota

The resort is located 80 km from Colombo and offers tourists a gorgeous long beach with golden sand. The infrastructure is well developed. The beach is considered romantic because... popular among lovers. Newlyweds often stop here and spend their honeymoon.

Bentona is located at the point where the Bentota Ganga River flows into the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the resort is divided into two parts. The calm cape in the north is Paradise Beach, and the southern beach is where all the entertainment, cafes and restaurants are collected.

The resort has the largest center aquatic species sports and diving club. Here you can rent water skis, catamarans, scooters, canoes, and surfboards.

  • Stylish 5 star hotel on the coast - Paradise Road The Villa Bentota
  • Cheaper hotel - Ocean of Life Ayurvedic Resort
  • A budget option - Dimuthu Tour Inn

Among the attractions: visiting the ruins of the Galapata Vihara complex, a boat trip along the Bentota Ganga River. There is a turtle farm 3 km from the resort. It's worth going here - you'll see how little funny turtles are bred.

Pros: wide long beach, quiet, relaxing holiday, uncrowded

Minuses: waves, small selection of inexpensive accommodation, expensive holidays. Bentota is considered expensive resort, that’s why people with income prefer to visit it.

Hikkaduwa

This is our favorite beach. We spent a long time choosing a resort and decided to go to Hikkaduwa. And they were right. Hikkaduwa combines an excellent beach strip, a large selection of housing, developed infrastructure and entertainment.

In the northern part of the city there are railway and bus stations; a market where you can buy fruits and seafood.

You will find a large selection of umbrellas and sun loungers on Narigama Beach, next to the hotel Ritas Hotel and the Blue Moon restaurant. In some places there are even large double trestle beds with a roof.

On the beach you can rent a surfboard and a small board for riding the waves. By the way, there are waves, but you can swim with pleasure.

Less waves in the lagoon near the hotel Coral Sands.

In the evening, party parties are held on the beaches. The environment is relaxed and friendly

There is a large selection of accommodation on the coast from 5 stars to guesthouses. At night you can hear the sound of the ocean and sometimes the noise of a party. For those who want to sleep in silence at night, we suggest looking for accommodation on the second line, behind the road. We lived in .

From entertainment: 50 meters from the coast there is a coral reef, a good place for snorkeling. You can also take a surfboard and catch a wave. Turtles also swim into the lagoon. You can try feeding them.

Pros: a large selection of housing, cafes, restaurants, shops, a large wide beach.

Minuses: not noticed

Have been seen on the beaches independent travelers, and package tourists. We recommend this beach for a long holiday.

Unawatuna

An ideal place to relax with children and for older people. Thanks to the lagoon, there are practically no waves here. Entering the water is easy and pleasant.

The infrastructure is developed, there are cafes and restaurants along the entire coast. They also offer sun loungers and umbrellas. There are various shops and diving centers.

  • Cozy hotel on the seashore - La Veranda Di Serena
  • Cheaper hotel, also on the coast - Rock Fort Hotel
  • Budget guesthouse - Sam's Guest House

From Unawatuna, it is easy to reach the city of Galle, where the UNESCO World Heritage Fort is located.

From entertainment: You can go snorkeling, diving (there are several sunken ships and coral reefs), and fishing from a boat.

Pros: ocean without waves, beautiful nature

Kogalla

A small resort is located 12 km from. Kogalla has a five kilometer long beach. There is a good selection of hotels from 5 stars to guesthouses.

Tourists with children, lovers, newlyweds, and diving enthusiasts like to relax here (there are diving centers on the coast)

The peculiarity of Kogalla is in the lake of the same name. It is favored by birds, fans of ecotourism and pilgrims who seek to visit ancient Buddhist sanctuaries, once built by hermits.

  • Coastal resort hotel - South Lake Resort
  • Cheaper hotel on the lake shore - Madoldu eco resort
  • Budget hotel on the first line - Rainbow Surf Beach

Entertainment: Those who are interested in the life and history of Sri Lanka can visit the Museum of Folk Art and Culture.

Pros: quiet cozy resort

Minuses: waves

The next beach after Koglalla is Weligama. Located in a picturesque bay with golden sand. There are waves 300-400 meters from the shore. Surfers catch a wave there. The wave almost never reaches the beach.

Hotels line the entire coastline. There is a large selection to suit every budget.

  • Nice 5 star hotel on the shore - W15
  • Cheaper hotel on the coast, with a pool - We Escape
  • Budget guest house-villa - Diamond House

A special feature of the resort is the world-famous fishermen who catch fish while sitting on large thick sticks. They climb onto their pole, sit on the crossbar-seat and fish. You can buy the caught fish. Fishermen are a kind of show for tourists. By the way, on the beach they offer you to try fishing in this exotic way for a small fee.

Another feature is that not far from the beach there is the island of Taprobane with a small hotel.

From entertainment: Take a walk around the city itself; on its streets you will see colonial mansions, Buddhist dagobas, and Catholic churches.

Sight city ​​- a figure of the God of Death (Leper King) carved from a three-meter block.

We recommend for a stay of 3 or more days. Mirissa Beach is nearby. You can stay in Weligama for 1 night, explore it, then go to the neighboring Mirissa beach and explore it. Then choose from these two beaches for a long stay.

Mirissa

Beautiful beach in the lagoon with a great sunset. There are waves in the main lagoon. There are no waves in the third lagoon (the farthest one). It's better to swim there. You can even snorkel and snorkel.

Mirissa opens in the morning fish market. If you want to eat the freshest fish, get up early and go to the market.

Among the attractions: There is no entertainment as such in Mirissa, only sea and sun. There is a small rock with observation deck. The nearest attraction is the fort at Galle.

Plus: calm and quiet

Minus: few shops

Due to the small selection of entertainment and excursions, it is ideal to just lie on the beach and swim. It seemed to us that there was nothing to do on the beach for more than 6-7 days. Need to explore other beaches.

The beaches in Tangalle seem endless. Wide sand spit stretches for several kilometers.

There is no such thing at the resort developed infrastructure like in Hikkaduwa. Mostly tourists come here for the deserted beaches, of which there are several in Tangalle. In the northern part there are two of them: Medaketiya beach - the safest beach for swimming and Medilla. In the western part are the beaches of Goyambokka and Pallikaduwa.

There are waves in Tangella. Sometimes they make it impossible to enter the ocean at all. We recommend the beach next to the hotel Eva Lanka. There is a more or less calm bay there.

From entertainment: visit the Mulgirigala caves, Yala and Udawalawe national parks, and the Kalametiya nature reserve. Watch turtles lay eggs (from April to September) at west beach Rekawa. At the hotel, book an excursion to the whale migration site.

Pros: deserted beach, few people, close to Yala National Park and other nature reserves.

Minuses: waves.

Sri Lanka beaches without waves

The southeastern part of the island of Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and is quite different from what we know European resorts with a sea beach. We must remember that there will always be waves here, at any time of the year. In winter, from October to March, there are fewer waves.

Of the resorts that I listed above, the least waves are on Unawatuna beach (thanks to the natural bay), Mirissa (in a certain lagoon), Weligama (not throughout the entire beach). There are waves in Hikkaduwa, but they are not terrible, with the exception of stormy days, of which we encountered few. We just learned to communicate with them.

You can find out how much a holiday in Sri Lanka costs.

Sincerely,

The island of Sri Lanka is rich in first-class beaches, modern hotels and a host of ancient attractions. Entertainment is entirely quiet and peaceful: picnics, fishing and diving. The capital Colombo, waterfalls and national parks - all about Sri Lanka: tours, reviews, weather, prices.

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The style of holiday in Sri Lanka can be briefly defined as follows: away from the hustle and bustle, closer to the sea and nature. There is hardly a more “leisurely” country in the world than Sri Lanka: here no one is in a hurry, everyone enjoys life - including the service staff in hotels (however, this does not apply to the top establishments - everyone there runs around in soap, to please the guests). Most of the attractions in Sri Lanka are natural, just like most of the activities. Noisy discos and smoke swirling until the morning are not in favor here, but picnics in nature, fishing or barbecues on the beach - as much as you like. Well, diving, of course. What Sri Lanka cannot please is its proximity to our vastness: the flight here is long.

In general, it’s very easy to identify a person who will definitely like it here. Firstly, there are few blank pages left in his not the first international passport. Secondly, he is either interested in world culture and history (or ancient sri lanka is very rich in interesting monuments), or - a desperate sea daredevil who wants, in addition to palm trees, sand and the sea, to have a diving center and surfers' headquarters nearby. Thirdly, he will certainly glance sideways at your fragrant cup of tea. After all, Ceylon, also known as Sri Lanka, supplies a quarter of the world with this drink.

Regions and resorts of Sri Lanka

Money

The country's currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), 1 rupee is divided into 100 cents. Current rate: 1 LKR = 0.36 RUB (1 USD = 180.6 LKR, 1 EUR = 198.89 LKR).

It is better to exchange currency at Colombo airport. It makes sense to keep the receipt received until the end of the trip: in this case, upon departure, you can convert back unspent local money at the airport bank at the purchase rate. In addition, currency can be changed at any hotel and bank. The latter are open from 9:00 to 15:00 from Monday to Friday. We recommend taking US dollars with you for exchange: they are accepted in all branches, and in tourist areas They can be used to pay directly at hotels and various retail outlets.

IN large hotels and stores you can pay credit cards, there are ATMs in almost all cities of the country. However, it is better to warn your bank staff in advance about your upcoming visit to Sri Lanka: due to the critical level of financial fraud on the island, your credit card may be blocked at the first attempt to use it.

Hotels in Sri Lanka

Police: 133, ambulance: 144, fire service: 122.

The best photos of Sri Lanka

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