Coast to Coast – Beaches, Sea Food & Marine Adventures

Negombo

Just 10km away from the Bandaranaike International Airport and an hour’s drive from Colombo, the beach town of Negombo on the west coast is ideally located as the starting point of your stay in Sri Lanka. With plenty of hotels and resorts on the beach and lagoon Negombo will provide you with a teaser for what is to come, and an ideal place to rejuvenate yourself from jet lag and travel fatigue.

Trinco
Trincomalee is a port city on the East coast of Sri Lanka 235 km from Colombo. The City is located on a peninsula and is considered the fifth largest and the most beautiful deep water natural harbour of the world. The Bay of Trincomalee provides security and is openly accessible to all types of sea crafts in all weathers. The beaches are used for recreational purposes such as surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching. The city is renowned for housing the famous Koneswaram Temple and the largest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka.Trinco is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island such as Uppuveli and Nilaveli, and stunning corals at Pigeon Island, which is a marine national park situated on an island. The hot springs in Trinco are always a major hit among tourists who visit Trinco. It is one of the oldest cities of Asia.
Nilaveli & Uppuveli Beaches
Their location on the east coast has meant that the beaches at Nilaveli and Uppuveli have remained blissfully unspoilt due to the decades of civil war that kept visitors and developers out of the region. Palm trees, golden sands, fishing boats and a distinct lack of crowds are what you’ll find here with just a smattering of places to stay, which means it stays peaceful and quiet. Off the coast Pigeon Island and its surrounding coral reefs make a good diving and snorkeling spot, particularly between May and September
Arugam Bay

Set on the East coast 314 km away from Colombo, Arugam Bay is spectacular and is renowned as the “Surfing Capital of the World” due to a break point highly popular among surfers. The surfing season commences in April and continues till October with many international surfing competitions being hosted here attracting surfers from all over the world. It is home to a vibrant expatriate community and features an attractive palm fringed beach. This unspoiled fishing town has impressive coral reefs, an abundance of tropical fish, mangroves, jungles, lagoons, rivers, rice fields and sand dunes.

Pasikudah & Kalkudah

Located about 35 km from Batticaloa and nestled along two bays, the twin beaches of Pasikudah and Kalkudah are the perfect spots for swimming thanks to the gently sloping seabed and calm blue waters. Pasikudah is known to have one of the longest stretches of shallow reef coastline in the world. You can walk kilometers into the sea because the water is only a few inches deep and the current is relatively weak compared to the rest of Sri Lanka’s coasts.

Tangalle
200km south of Colombo, Tangalle is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches in Sri Lanka. Situated on one of the largest bays in Sri Lanka and protected from the ocean by an enclosing reef means you can wade into the ocean waist high for quite a distance. The pristine beaches are uncrowded and ideal for sun lovers while the turquoise waters soothe your heart and soul. The Rekawa lagoon has Kayaking and Canoeing as tourist attractions while you can also observe five of the world’s Turtle species in their natural habitat at Rekawa Turtle Watch project.
Mirissa
Hidden away on the fringes of two small bays near the southernmost coast of Sri Lanka is Mirissa a secluded fishing town. It is a very picturesque crescent shaped stretch of beach and is in high demand during the months of December to April as an ideal whale watching spot where Blue Whales and Sperm whales can be seen cavorting in the warm blue waters in season. It is surrounded by coves and coconut trees and is an ideal place to gain a beginner’s experience of surfing while other water sports are also available. While the surroundings are simple and rustic and accommodations modest the sunsets are spectacular and breathtaking. And if you’re looking to party all night, Mirissa has a vibrant and upbeat nightlife with an assortment of bars and nightclubs to drink, dine and dance all night long.
Galle

113 km south of Colombo lies Galle, a mesmerizing city with remnants of cultures and architecture from 3 colonial occupiers over 4 centuries, the Portuguese, Dutch and English. Due to its rich cultural significance it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Galle Fort built by the Portuguese in 1588 is an impressive edifice which has stood the test of time. Though suffering damage by the 2004 Tsunami, it has been restored back to its past glory. The ramparts are thick enough to stroll on to check out the lighthouse, the old prison, the clocktower and the Cricket Stadium. Another colonial attraction is the Dutch Reformed Church standing proud in all its glory and definitely worth spending a half hour on. The Lighthouse, Dutch Hospital and the Maritime Museum are other interesting sites to visit. The streets within the Fort are narrow and paved with centuries old stones with rows of houses which have now been converted to shops selling artifacts, lace items and other souvenirs. You will find vendors selling fresh fruit like Mango, Papaya and Pineapple and other tasty street food off carts. For accommodation you can chose from a range of beachside resorts to boutique hotels to even private rooms rented by residents.

Unawatuna Beach offers you the ideal beach experience whether it be sunbathing, snorkeling whale watching or scuba diving.