Beaches

The picturesque island is surrounded by an inviting expanse of beautiful palm fringed beaches and the warm, blue waters of the Indian Ocean. There is never a dull moment with plenty of things to do: relax and unwind with a good book, a sun hat and a chilled drink to keep company. Take a dip in the ocean, explore the underwater world of coral reefs, teemed with vibrantly colored fish and you may even find a shipwreck. There are plenty of Water sports like snorkeling, windsurfing, water – skiing, and catamaran rides too and most significantly the enticing fresh sea food cuisine served on the shore of the Ocean.  

Bentota – Bentota is a famous beach resort at a distance of 62 km to the south of Colombo. Located at the junction of Bentota River and the sea the place offers plenty of water sport opportunities such as windsurfing, water-skiing and catamaran rides. The best time to visit Bentota is between October and April, when the sea is safest for swimming

Hikkaduwa – Located 98 km south of Colombo, Hikkaduwa is one of the most popular beach resorts of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s only marine sanctuary is located here. It is an ideal place for nature lovers with its abundant corals and tropical fishes. Hikkaduwa has something to offer to everyone-coral for snorkellers, waves for surfers and white pristine beaches for those who want to relax and enjoy Sun and sand

Unawatuna – Near Galle is a beautiful wide curving golden beach. The beach has been acclaimed amongst 12 best beaches in the world. There is a reef protecting the beach, which makes it safe for bathing. Rumasssala, a rocky outcrop projecting into the sea at Unawatuna is connected to the legend of Ramayana. It is believed to be a piece of mountain that was fallen when Lord Hanuman brought the mountain to Sri Lanka in search of a medicinal herb to treat Laxamana-Rama’s brother wounded in battle. The serene surroundings and the Dutch architecture add to the charm of the place.

Kalkuda & Passikudha – Kalkudah & Passekudah are two very fine beaches in the East Coast. Kalkudah Bay, a 2 km long wide stretch of beach-located 32 km north of Batticaloa-is well protected from the monsoon by an off shore reef. Passekudah Bay is another wide beach 4 km long, just south of Kalkudah. The two beaches form an ideal stretch for bathing, windsurfing and water skiing. The combined area of Passekudah and Kalkudah was declared a National Holiday Resort in 1973.

Trincomalee – situated 250Kms from the capital Colombo, Trincomalee has natural harbor. Horatio Nelson, British admiral of the 18^th Century had described Trincomalee Harbor is the finest harbor in the world. Trincomalee offer some of the best sea bathing in the country. In the northern stretch of ‘ Trinco’ known as Nilaweli, shadow beach goes up to half mile into the sea. The Hot well and the Pigeon Island are the important places of tourist interest in the vicinity.

Arugam bay – Arugam Bay is a fishing village, located 314 km to the east of Colombo. The town has a sweeping beach and a beautiful bay that is good for surfing. Arugam bay offers numerous possibilities for water sports and underwater photography. The many shipwrecks of the coast offer a tempting challenge to the divers.

Kalpitiya – for its presence of Sperm Whales and occasional blue Whales alone is a world class attraction of marine life. Whales are regularly seen around Kalpitiya Penninsula. Interestingly it was only from around February 2010 that Kalpitiya is finally considered as a destination to catch the sight of the majestic whale, Boat trips are regularly taken off Kalpitiya peninsula to a off-shore site to catch the sights Sperm Whales, the largest toothed whale in the world.

Enjoy water sports in Kalpitiya, there are some spectacular offshore reefs herewith plenty of big fish. The prime dive site is the Bar reef, which sites several Kms off the northwest tip of the peninsula and it’s said to be one of the finest dive sites in Sri Lanka, it’s also spots good snorkeling site.

Mount Lavinia – Twelve Kilometers from Colombo on the road to Galle, is the beach resort of Mt. Lavinia l

Twelve kilometers from Colombo, on the road to Galle, is the beach resort of Mt. Lavinia. It lies alongside a wind-swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. With its white sand and calm waves, Mt. Lavinia is a popular bathing spot. The Governors House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland has now been converted into the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel.