Pasikuda
A reef-protected east coast bay whose water is shallow, remarkably calm, and glass-clear for hundreds of metres from shore, creating swimming conditions more associated with a lagoon than an open coast. At its best from April to September when the west coast is in monsoon, Pasikuda is one of the island’s quietest, most beautiful, and […]
Trincomalee
One of the finest natural harbours in Asia, with the clifftop Koneswaram Temple rising above it and some of Sri Lanka’s finest and least-crowded beaches at Nilaveli and Uppuveli just north of the city. Pigeon Island Marine National Park is a short boat ride from Nilaveli Beach, offering blacktip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, and vibrant […]
Arugam Bay
The east coast’s most celebrated surf destination, with a point break that has held cult status among serious surfers for decades and a distinctive coastal culture that the more developed western beach towns have gradually lost. The surrounding area offers Kumana National Park for elephant and birdlife sightings, the Pottuvil Lagoon for boat safaris, and […]
Weligama
A long, gently curving bay whose wave is almost perfectly calibrated for beginners learning to surf: consistent, long, and forgiving enough for first-time riders while offering enough push on the outer sections for improving surfers who want more. The stilt fishermen at the reef edge at dawn are still a genuine working practice here rather […]
Mirissa
A compact, palm-fringed south coast beach facing some of the Indian Ocean’s deepest water, where blue whales surface between December and April in numbers that make the experience reliable rather than a matter of luck. The Mirissa whale watching season is the finest on the island and among the most significant in the Indian Ocean. […]
Galle
A 17th-century Dutch fort city that still functions as a living neighbourhood: cobbled streets, colonial-era buildings occupied by boutique hotels, independent galleries, and some of Sri Lanka’s most considered dining, with ocean-facing ramparts that provide one of the most beautiful sunset views on the entire island. Ceylon Travel Escapes treats Galle as a destination in […]
Unawatuna
A sheltered horseshoe bay with naturally calm swimming conditions created by a rocky headland and an offshore reef, Unawatuna sits close enough to Galle to make a natural extension of a fort visit and far enough away to feel distinct. The snorkelling at the reef’s southern edge, the handful of excellent restaurants that have established […]
Hikkaduwa
A coral reef directly offshore, accessible by snorkel, and a resident sea turtle population that has occupied these waters for decades make Hikkaduwa more interesting than its resort-town reputation suggests. The beach is long enough for all its visitors, the independent surf and restaurant culture gives it genuine character, and the glass-bottomed boat trips over […]
Bentota
The Bentota River meets the southwest coast at a wide, calm estuary that gives the destination a rare dual character: open beach on one side and a sheltered river lagoon on the other, ideal for boat safaris through mangrove channels, water sports, and visits to cinnamon islands where a family trade in true Ceylon cinnamon […]
Negombo
Twenty minutes from the international airport and considerably more than a transit destination, Negombo carries a genuine Dutch colonial heritage visible in its canal system, its churches, and the traditional fishing community that still works the lagoon by the same methods it has used for generations. The beach is long, the seafood is honest, and […]