Fondly termed ‘The Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka is a beautiful island that has a lot to offer. This country is an extremely popular tourist destination for many reasons. Sri Lankan hospitality is recognized worldwide, as the people are always willing to go the extra mile to help you out. Additionally, the cultural and historical heritage that you will encounter across the island will give you an experience like no other. But most importantly, Sri Lanka is blessed with spectacular natural landscapes and scenes that would leave you inspired and awe-struck.
However, if you Google Sri Lanka right now, the economic crisis it is undergoing will surely be one of the first things to pop up. But do not fear, that will not have any impact on your tourist experience. Actually, your visit will be mutually beneficial because not only will you have a relaxing and wonderful time but you would also be able to help the economy. Tourism is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest sources of income and because of COVID and other unfortunate situations, the tourism industry has been negatively impacted. Therefore your visit to this island can play a role in reviving this industry and generate much-needed revenue while you have a memorable experience.
One of the biggest pull factors is the fact that this small country has an abundance of perfect post-card worthy white sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Some of the tourist beaches are lined with luxury resorts that will make a great stay if you are a beach lover because the sandy shores and lapping waves will be just a couple of steps away. If you are interested in exploring the beaches on the South and South-West coast of Sri Lanka, make sure to book a stay during December- March as that is the dry season. However, if that is not your ideal holiday time, the North-East and East have some beautiful beaches that experience the dry season from May to October. This is not to say that these beaches are unsuitable during the other months, but if you want to guarantee good weather on your beach holiday this is what we’d recommend. However, the experience will be different at each beach, as each spot is known for its own unique thing and comes with its own special vibe. So here is a list of the best beaches in Sri Lanka that we highly recommend for you to visit!
- Nilaveli
Located close to Trincomalee on the Eastern coast of the Island, Nilaveli beach is a scenic sandy beach with clear water, marine life and beautiful coral reefs. It is only 1km away from Pigeon Island, which is one of the two marine national parks in Sir Lanka and is definitely a ‘must visit’. Nilaveli is a 4 and a half-hour taxi drive from Colombo or you can take a bus/train to Trincomalee town which is only 14km from Nilaveli.
2. Kalkudah
This beach is also located on the Eastern coast and has received plenty of visitors in the recent past. However, it still remains to be one of the quieter spots as it is quite remote. The quickest mode of transport from Colombo will be to catch a domestic flight to Batticaloa and then take a taxi to Kalkudah which is 35km away. Alternatively, you could take a Taxi from Colombo as it is estimated to be only a 5-hour journey.
3. Arugam Bay
This is one of the most loved beach spots and is located on the South-East coast of the island. It is a popular surfing destination and has been listed by CNN in the top 50 surf spots in the world. It is 350km away from Colombo, thus not making it an easy journey but it will definitely be worth it. There are luxury and non-ac buses that operate that could take you to the closest city, Pottuvil.
4. Mirissa
Mirissa is one of the easier beach spots to get to from Colombo as it is located only 2 and a half hours away. This is a popular destination for surfing and whale watching. The waters are clear, and on most days you would be able to see big turtles swim up to shore.
5. Unawatuna
Unawatuna is very accessible by train and bus and will take you an average of 3 hours to get to from Colombo and is only a 30-minute car journey from Mirissa. Located in the South it is known for its palm-lined beaches, turtle farm and hatchery and popular beach parties.
6. Arisimale Beach
Deriving from Tamil, Arisimale translates to Rice Beach as the sand is as large as a rice seed. Hidden behind a semi forest area, it is only 3km away from Trincomalee town, making transport there quite easy as it is a 6 and a half hour bus/train journey from Colombo. There are also 2 domestic flights available per week and this will save a lot of time as it will take you only 45 minutes.
7. Hiriketiya Beach
This beach became recently popular as it’s a great surfing spot, for the beautiful palms and stunning coastal setting. If you are looking for a spot without many tourists, this is it. It’s quite convenient to get to by taxi as it takes only 2 hours and 20 minutes from Colombo.
8. Mannar Island
We would highly recommend visiting this region especially if you are on holiday between November and April as it is Flamingo season. Yes, you would be able to see large groups of flamingos as they arrive in Sri Lanka to escape the winter. This unique experience is definitely one to write home about. The cheapest way to travel to Mannar would be by train and then a short taxi ride which would take you 7 and a half hours.
9. Negombo beach
This beach is very close to Colombo and will take you an hour by bus. There is a long stretch of luxury hotels that are located on the beach, if you want to grab a quick bite, there are plenty of spots nearby. Additionally, the beach is long, guaranteeing that you would be able to find a spot away from the crowd if you are willing to explore for a while.
10. Hikkaduwa beach
Hikkaduwa is located one and a half hours away from Colombo by train and we recommend you take this mode of transport as you will be exposed to the beautiful scenery on the way. This beach is popular for snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat tours and its thriving nightlife.
