Sri Lanka is the best place to go. The best beaches in Sri Lanka for winter holidays

Would I hotel tourist or a novice independent traveler who is planning a trip to Sri Lanka, then this issue would worry me in the first place. So, you are going to Sri Lanka, but where to go? Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa? Which resort to choose, where the sea is better, where there is more nightlife, which beach is cleaner. A lot of questions that we will now try to answer for you.

Unawatuna

The beach in Unawatuna is small. You can walk around it in 20 minutes. White and soft sand. The entrance to the water is sharp in places. The depth is about 5 meters from the shore. But the beach is good for swimming.

The peculiarity of the beach is unpleasant stones that are carried out with each new wave. They don't always happen, but in most cases. Apparently, some currents of the Indian Ocean carry these stones.

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Waves. They are, but very small when compared with other beaches in Sri Lanka. I repeat, Unawatuna is ideal for swimming.

In the right corner of the Unawatuna beach, the waves break on the rocks. Here you get good photos, as well as a surge of adrenaline and a flurry of emotions for those who are basically afraid to swim, because if you get closer, you can see just giant 5-meter waves.

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Swimming is almost always safe in Unawatuna. Huge waves crash on the reef. Particularly calm water in a quiet harbor at the end of the beach.

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Nightlife in Unawatuna is in full swing. There are plenty of people on the beach. Young people gather every evening. Locals and tourists come to celebrate the passing day with a glass of beer in bars and beach restaurants. On the beach, a bunch of motley bars and cafes open until late. Music is playing, candles are burning on the tables (as in) and people are having fun.

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The infrastructure of the beach is developed by Sri Lankan standards. There will always be free sunbeds for which you do not have to pay. All you need to do is order a beer or a dessert, and a sun lounger will be provided to you free of charge.

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - Kiwi Taxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience In this article.

Unawatuna has no shortage of skinny, elderly massage therapists who will gladly give you a massage, as well as merchants offering endless souvenirs and throwing painted rags in the wind.

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Entertainment on the beach. Do you want to go diving, go boating, order sightseeing tour or rush with a breeze on a water scooter, then the beach in Unawatuna is what you need.

Cons of Unawatuna

The disadvantage of the beach in Unawatuna is the presence of a large concentration of drunk locals on weekends. They usually occupy the most trump place - a corner where there are no waves, but often walk along the beach, look openly at the girls, swim near you.

The guys are trying to get acquainted, they can even grope a female tourist in the sea. So, if you are a girl and you see that several Sri Lankans have appeared around you in the water, who do not swim, but simply sit in the water and look in your direction, then it is better to quickly leave to swim away from them or return to the sun lounger.

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sunsets. They are in Una, as the people who live there for a very long time say. We haven't seen him in two months. Neither on the beach, nor from the window of our guesthouse. Sunset closes the mountain.

Sunset on the beach looks something like this

Another sunset from the window

Conclusion according to Unawatuna

The beach in Unawatuna is liked by almost everyone who has been on it. Despite the fact that the 2004 tsunami was well battered, the beach has not lost its attraction for tourists. If you came for parties, parties and at the same time also lovers of swimming in relatively calm water, then you are here.

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Hotels in Unawatuna

Hotels near the beach on the first line. I advise you to book as quickly as possible, because all normal hotels near the sea fly apart in a matter of hours.

Sea View Deepal Villa A room in a villa with a large balcony overlooking the ocean. There are large family rooms. Rating 8.4

Unawatuna sea ​​view hotel Air-conditioned rooms with a large balcony overlooking the ocean. Rated 7.5 out of 10 (according to Booking.com)

Nature Villa Air-conditioned rooms, landscaped grounds and swimming pool. Rating 9.3

No Name Rest Guesthouse with good rating and reviews three minutes from the beach. Rating 9.2

Calamander Unawatuna Beach One of the nicest hotels on the coast. Balcony overlooking the sea. Well-groomed territory, swimming pool, restaurant on the beach. Rating 8.7

The Grumpy Elephant Modern hotel, there are family suites and houses by the sea. Rating 7.9

french lotus Cozy rooms in a well-maintained two-story villa. To the sea 3 minutes walk. Rating 9.1

All hotels

Unawatuna on the map

Hikkaduwa

The beach in Hikkaduwa is wide and very long. You can walk for more than one hour. The entrance to the sea is smooth. Yellow sand. Hotels lined the entire length of the beach.

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The waves in Hikkaduwa are either large or medium in almost the entire length of the beach. Swimming in such waves is not recommended for an unprepared person. But still there is one small harbor where you can safely swim.

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Thanks to such waves, Hikkaduwa was chosen by surfers
In the early days, I kept looking at Slava, but I only saw the top of his head.

In Hikkaduwa there is a corner where both locals and tourists swim, it’s calm there. Those who do not know how to swim will not be afraid there, but those who swim well will be able to swim further away. This beach is located near Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa . The beach is marked on the map.

Nightlife in Hikkaduwa is not as vibrant as in Una. There are cafes and a couple of bars, but generally life stops early. And only the most courageous tourists or drunken local men remain on the streets.

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We found Hikkaduwa cuter than Unawatuna

Beach infrastructure. There are no public sun loungers on Hikkaduwa beach. And those sunbeds that are, belong to hotels coastline.

A hotel with sun loungers, if you wish and have the courage, you can go for free

The rest spread their towels on the shore and sunbathe on the sand, hiding in the shade of trees.

The beach is wilder than in Unawatuna

Entertainment on the beach. The main entertainment is feeding the turtles. Such a sight is only in Hikkaduwa. The locals have fed the giant tortoises and they come at the same time for food. You can look at the turtles for free, or you can treat them to a tasty treat for a small fee.

Review the best resorts and beaches of Sri Lanka: map, description, season, pros and cons. Find out where the best beach holiday on the island is!

There are many wonderful resorts in Sri Lanka with good beaches and well-developed infrastructure. In this review, you will learn about the most popular resorts and the beaches of Sri Lanka. We will talk about a beach holiday in Sri Lanka: what each resort is good for, how to spend time on vacation and when is the best time to go on vacation.

Map of resorts and beaches of Sri Lanka

List of the best resorts in Sri Lanka

Negombo is closer than other resorts to Colombo Airport - the distance to it is about 30 km. This is very convenient for tourists who have undergone a long flight. The place is more famous for its fishing conditions than beach holiday: coastal waters abound big amount fish, their migration period falls on a high tourist season. The Big Seafood Market is one of Negombo's most famous attractions. Negombo has reefs, which makes the place popular among divers.

Beach holidays in Negombo are mediocre: the water is muddy, some parts of the coast are occupied by fishermen, where they lay out gear and dry the fish. There are few umbrellas and sunbeds, as well as water activities, the only exception is expensive hotels.

Nevertheless, Negombo is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka due to the comfortable swimming beaches that stretch along Lewis Place. In addition, there is an optimal choice of accommodation and many photogenic fishermen and beautiful landscapes.

Negombo can be visited all year round, but it is very damp in May and October - November.

(Photo © ronsaunders47 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Hikkaduwa is located 100 km from Colombo and is the leader in attendance. Divers, surfers, snorkelers, youth and family people come here. Water activities and modest night life made Hikkaduwa the busiest and best resort in Sri Lanka.

Here are the longest beaches in Sri Lanka and many hotels of different categories. The beaches are ideal for surfing - almost always a strong wave. Early in the morning, huge turtles appear near the shore, which are so accustomed to people that they take treats right from their hands.

In the center of Hikkaduwa there is a coral park where you can ride a boat with a transparent bottom or go snorkeling, order boat trip. There are several Buddhist temples in Hikkaduwa, the most famous and popular among them is located on a small island. Entrance to the temples is free, not counting the fare. Excursions to the mines are popular with vacationers, where precious stones are mined that you can buy.

The best time to visit Hikkaduwa is from November to April.

Wadduwa is located 35 km from Colombo. In this Sri Lankan resort you will find golden sandy beaches, coconut palms, diving centers, sailboats, surfing and other entertainment. During the dives, you can see the remains of sunken ships. Tennis courts and golf courses are specially equipped for vacationers. All hotels are comfortable.

Fans of excursions will not be bored - they can visit neighboring Kalutara with the Buddhist temple of Gangatilaka Vihara and the fishermen's town of Hambantotu, take a boat trip along the canals and capture local beauties.

Best time for active and beach holidays in this resort - from October to March.

(Photo © Hash Milhan / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

The village of Bentota is located south of Colombo - 65 km (2 hours drive), between the mouth of the river of the same name and the ocean. It is considered the elite and best resort of Sri Lanka, a favorite beach holiday destination for romantics and those who seek solitude.

Here the largest number of comfortable hotels, sparsely populated clean beaches and the lush nature of the jungle, the famous mangrove forests grow in this area. The resort offers a lot of entertainment for its guests - sea and river fishing, an exciting safari on the river with crocodiles, excursions to a turtle farm, yacht trips and much more. For lovers of diving there is a center.

The best time for a beach holiday in Bentota is from October to April.

(Photo © lola media / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Small resort village Unawatuna is located 120 km from Colombo. Once it was a fishing village, now the rapidly developing resort is only slightly inferior in popularity to Hikkaduwa and Bentota.

This place is especially loved by tourists who have a rest on their own - the resort has many guesthouses at an affordable price. The main advantage of Unawatuna is the calm water in the ocean. Central Beach is located in a bay, and coral reefs protect from strong waves, so they are happy to relax here with children.

The entire tourism infrastructure has been created. Vacationers can go diving or snorkeling, excursion lovers can visit the neighboring resort - Galle. But this place is not for solitude: the beaches of Unawatuna can be quite crowded.

The best time to visit is from December to April. Too rainy in May and October-November.

(Photo © iris0327 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Due to their remoteness from the airport, the resorts of the northeast coast of Sri Lanka are less popular than those of the southwest. Nevertheless, Trincomalee is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka and the most beautiful place islands: here is a deep-sea bay, discovered at one time by Admiral Nelson. Trincomalee itself is unique in terms of architecture - there are Muslim buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples. You can get there by night train from Colombo (9 hours on the way) or by bus (7 hours).

According to some vacationers, the beaches of Trincomalee are the best in all of Sri Lanka. The rest is calm, there is little entertainment here, the infrastructure is still under development, most hotels are inexpensive, bars and restaurants of the same level.

surprises natural beauty of this place are tall palm trees and lemurs roaming free. Not far from the coast - a coral island, which was chosen by divers and snorkelers, a few kilometers away are hot springs.

It is best to plan a trip from March to August, as it is too rainy in November-December.

(Photo © Images of Sri Lanka - Sequential Shots / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

List of the best beaches in Sri Lanka

All the beaches of the island are sandy, many of them are surrounded by coconut palms and other tropical plants. The best beaches in Sri Lanka are located on the southwest coast and are not too far from each other.

Bentota Beach

The most famous beach on the island, and according to numerous reviews of enthusiastic tourists, it is also one of the best for a beach holiday. It is here that they prefer to spend their Honeymoon newlyweds. A wide coastal strip, palm trees, complete privacy - these are the main advantages of this place.

Great place and almost complete lack of infrastructure. Since the beach is quite far from Colombo (5 hours by bus), it is visited by single tourists or those who have taken independent trip around the island.

(Photo © That Guy,Will / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Unawatuna Beach is located in the village of the same name. The coastal strip is not as wide as in Bentota, but the calm waters off the coast make it extremely attractive. The sand is very fine and clean, part of the territory is occupied by cafes and hotels, the rest is available for swimming and water activities. There is shallow water for swimming with kids.

Hikkaduwa Beach

The longest beach line in Sri Lanka. Orange sand and turquoise water, along the line - numerous cafes and guesthouses. Strong waves have made this place a favorite place for surfers, but there are relatively calm areas - near the Chaaya Tranz hotel. There are no sun loungers, there is enough shade from palm trees, many people come there to swim with their children. Thanks to all this, Hikkaduwa Beach is ranked among the best places for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka.

The Tangalle beach complex has long and stubbornly been included in the lists of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. This is the perfect place for a solitary holiday: you can walk a mile and not meet a single person. Any accommodation can be found. You can get to the place by bus from Colombo (6 hours).

(Photo © Šejba / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

It is difficult to predict where and who will like it more. Sri Lanka is still amazing island where every place deserves special attention and admiration, so it is rather difficult to compile a list of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka that claims to be objective. However, we hope that our review will help you decide on the choice of a place to stay and you will have a great time.

Intro image source: © Dhammika Heenpella / Images of Sri Lanka / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Hello friends!

Today I took a ride on my furious Enfield, from Arambol to Kerim beach. And then he passed out as if he had been cut down: there was no strength to work, no cooking. I can only listen to music. This is not the first time I notice such a feature as I go out into a crowded place. Either I grab other people's bad energies, or I'm sausage from the heat and climate ...

Please write in the comments if you have experienced this? And how did you manage? So far, only a cool shower brings me more or less to myself, and then every other time.

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

Mountains are my favorite landscapes in all ages

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

But I'll start with the most popular.

In general, the beaches of Sri Lanka are wildly popular with our tourist brother. What are the Sinhalese who have learned to babble in Russian in the narrow streets of Negombo. The spectacle, on a par with vacationers numb from beer, is not the most pleasant, of course, but all this more than pays off with stunning nature and the goodwill of the local population (albeit with a huge share of an absolutely stupid desire to breed for a rupee or two). About the latest in the country.

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

Negombo

Closest to the capital and airport beach town with a wide tourist infrastructure and a huge number of hotels for every taste and budget. Here 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 off scale. I am frankly lost in conjectures about the reasons for this alignment, but the fact is on the face. It is impossible to move away from your girlfriend for a minute: immediately some creature with an obligatory hand in his pocket begins to stick. Therefore, I would recommend staying here only 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 greater selection of all tourist delights. You can get here in 3-4 hours from Colombo by bus or 2 hours by train. But, you have to manage to squeeze into the latter, because in Sri Lanka, trains with seat reservations run in very limited directions. But upon arrival - a long beach with soft and fine sand; and the sea, in which the sun sets every day in incredible colors.

Here it is, the sunset sea of ​​Hikkaduwa

An incredible strong Tsunami wave hit here in 2004, as a result of which a huge number of people died. I already wrote about the tsunami museum earlier in a small one.

It is crowded and bustling here, but if you settle in a small apartment on the side, it is quite tolerable. And everything is there: supermarkets, Saturday market, diving, snorkeling and surfing. And the prices are more than reasonable.

Unawatuna

Unawatuna is an even more party and youth place than Hikkaduwa. scenic area for long stay next to a very beautiful piece of colonial architecture - Galle Fort. Especially if you settle away from all the hustle and 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 see for yourself. It seemed to me that Unawatuna was somehow more comfortable. Most of it lies below the main road and there is not so fussy. But in Hikkaduwa, the beach with the awesome ocean is right next to you.

Arugam Bay

A small and very rustic place with huge stone piers. It is located on the east coast of the island, 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.

Trincomalé (Trinco)

Almost the best place in Sri Lanka, where you can hang out in May and August. Either the cyclones are twisting like that, or some other typical local mysticism. With the beaches in Trinco too full order, and if in Hikkaduwa you are attacked by the ocean crazy in its fury with waves, sunsets and wild surfers, then here - relaxation and silence, because all the beaches are located along a large and cozy bay.

In addition to typical beach attractions, here in the jungle you can find bases from the Second World War and even hot springs. I, of course, 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 are in the central highlands. Because there's a really cool story going on here. Quiet, measured and very fresh. I remember especially warmly Haputalle and Ella, where it was especially high.

Kandy

ancient capital Ceylon. Fog here, however, is minimal. But the surrounding forests, tea hills and Buddhas are very mesmerizing. There are also several tea factories in the area, on which there are some kind of super-old-school tea machines (or whatever they are called), which are shown in the museum to enchanted tourists right there in the city.

The lake in Kandy is wonderful

People have different opinions about Kandy. Someone considers it vain, but I really liked it. But for any long time I would not hang out here (stupidly nowhere).

Ella

About it wonderful place on the very edge of the Ceylon Highlands. Ella is a very small village, permeated through with tourist orientation, coolness and thick fogs. Around - several awesome observation points, tea plantations and extremely picturesque waterfalls. It's probably one of those places where I could hang for months.

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

Most mountain resort Sri Lanka at an altitude of about 1800 m above the level and one of the coldest places on the island. It is located at the foot of the highest point - Mount Pidurutalagala (barely uttered). Here, everything is on a grand scale with tourism: 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. Around - very beautiful: mountains, all the same tea, which is considered one of the best in Nuwara Eliya, and even coniferous forests.

Here she is - highest point Sri Lanka

And in winter, as legends and locals say, frost sometimes falls at night. From myself I will say that in the absence of heating, it is very oaky here, especially when it rains. But all this is more than offset by the chic 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. With the tourist infrastructure, it is completely dull here, as well as with more or less adequate housing options for a long hangover.

We meet New Year in Haputale with Ippolit and Zhenya Lukashin

But whoever seeks will find. Therefore, we found here a wonderful stash Bawa Guest House with a nice elderly couple of Muslim jewelers. So they began to call this place: at Uncle Bava's. Around - a complete expanse for walking 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 to the south

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

Oya (Ohiya)

Another place to relax and flow around in the heart of the eucalyptus forests. If even Haputale seems noisy to you, go to Oia. For it is very quiet here and, according to the locals, even water here can be easily drawn in a stream and drunk without boiling. She is so pure.

Eucalyptus forests near Oia

Bandarawella and Badulla

Sufficiently large transport and tourist hubs of the central highlands. From Badulla, for example, you can take a direct train to Colombo or Kandy. Here the branch of the mountain railway, awesome in its beauty, ends.

All around are the same tea fields, serpentines and night oak trees. It's just a lot busier and more crowded, so my absolute favorites are Haputale and Ella. Where, despite the size, everything is there, what is needed for a long hang.

Cultural and archaeological sites

Finished my favorite part about mountains and nature. Now let me touch on the cultural richness of the island. And with a certain degree of regret I will report that I knew absolutely nothing about him before coming here. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is one of the main breeding grounds of Buddhism, where it not only survived for 2 millennia, but 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 away 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 operating for over 2000 years? Where can you touch the antiquity, the developments of which are still used? I haven't found this place yet...

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

And again Kandy

As I 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 will not 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 fee 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 suddenly starts to run up the walls during the rainy season. Either a miracle, or a trick ... But for me, this place is very touristy, and in order to somehow feel the energy and character of the place, you need to hide in the farthest corners. Entrance fee 1500 rupees (rate 1 dollar = 145 rupees)

Cave temples of Badulla

Anuradhapura

If there are places where antiquity simply rolls over, then after cities of the dead Varanasi, I can only name Anuradhapura. Huge Old city, the living archeology of 2300 year old stupas and the Mahaboddhi tree, grown from a branch of the Boddhi tree in Bodhgaya (India), where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Mahaboddhi of Anuradhapura is considered the oldest tree in a world with a documented history.

The entrance price is 4500 rupees.

Pollonaruwa

Another place that travelers in Sri Lanka strive to get to. The ancient capital of the island with a large temple of Gal Vihara. If you are fans of antiquities and cultures - welcome. If not, then we'd better go to Ella.

Sigiriya

The strangest, in my opinion, attraction. For apart from her psychedelic-photogenic disposition, she is nothing special to me. Well, yes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Well, yes, it’s beautiful ... But around you can find at least a couple of places from where the view will be even cooler, but you don’t have to pay money for entry. Unless the fact of the presence of Buddhist monasteries at the top makes it something significant. Otherwise, it is a place promoted by the tourism industry, where package travelers are transported by huge buses.

Entrance is $30.

Mannar Island

But this is a completely different matter! North of Sri Lanka. There are no tourists at all, entirely villages, Christians, churches and tuk-tuk drivers completely indifferent to our white faces. It is from here that the legendary chain of islands goes to India, called Rama's bridge, and a few kilometers from it are the graves of Adam and Eve themselves, who, after the fall, decided to go to Sri Lanka for a season. A good option for an earthly paradise?

Rama Bridge Islands

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

jaffna

The extreme north of Ceylon, which for a long time remained the center of the 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, trip wires, unfinished groups of Tamil tigers and unexploded shells. And today you can even find KFC here.

In general, if you like ruins, post-apocalypse and holes in the walls from shells, you are in Jaffna! All the sights here cost 1-2 days on foot, and you can leave from here by direct train to Colombo. Jaffna made a very positive impression on me. There are few tourists here and no Sinhalese stupefied by white wallets have been noticed.

Church destroyed by war

The local population is adequate and business-like mobile. A kind of India cleaned of dirt and debris with a touch of partisanism and post-apocalyptic landscapes. Even the sea is nearby.

In general, something like that!

Wow, wrote and exhaled! Of course, the list of antiquities and places where you can go to Sri Lanka is not exhausted by all these points. For wherever you look - expanse for ornithologists and biologists: a huge variety of wild flora and fauna, picturesque landscapes and a steep historical background.

And even for remote work, good conditions. Where else can you buy a 3G package for 25 gigabytes for $8? Yes, and visa conditions are very loyal. Only the local population is completely unpredictable. Read my review, I described a lot of oddities there.

Hello friends. Today I will talk about the beaches of Sri Lanka. About when it is better to go to this beautiful country in all respects for tourism. There are national nature parks and ancient monuments of culture and architecture under the protection of UNESCO, mountain landscapes of incredible beauty 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. The country has many hotels with fresh pools and spa treatments where you can enjoy your vacation and not depend on the mood of the weather. You can go to Sri Lanka both independently and through a travel agency.

In the article, we briefly talked about roads, weather, country features.

It's time for a 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 beaches. You will not need, as in India, to travel more than a day and a half by train to get from the beaches GOA to the beaches of Varkala. In Sri Lanka, distances are completely different. Everything happens faster and more pleasantly. The south-west of the island is directly littered with beaches, the distance between which takes from 15 minutes by tuk-tuk to 2 hours by bus. You just have to choose the right one for you.

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

In October, November, December, January and February, you need to choose the beaches of the Southwest Coast. It is about them that my story 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. Storms and huge waves will not be there. We give the top popular places that tourists prefer to visit. With them, we recommend starting acquaintance with 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.

Sri Lanka beaches on the map

Negombo

The beach is closest to (7 km), which in turn is 30 km north of the capital. The beach is suitable for those who want to immediately plunge into the Indian Ocean upon arrival, take a break from the flight. Or vice versa - to 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 are plenty of places, but unfortunately, umbrellas and sunbeds are offered mainly only to those who stay in a coastal hotel. Independent tourists need to either negotiate with the hotel, or think over.

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

• More expensive and close to the beach - Hotel Snahelo
• Slightly cheaper, but not worse - hotel Holiday Fashion Inn
• Budget guesthouse — Blue Elephant Tourist Guesthouse

Of the attractions in the neighborhood: 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: many tourists and local residents the beach is not very clean. You can find a quiet and clean place, but sometimes it's not easy.

On the island, we met people who were happy to spend their holidays only in this place. It's a little unclear to us. We would not spend our entire vacation in Negombo alone. A maximum of one day to relax and forward to the adventures of Sri Lanka.

Mount Lavinia

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

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

Mount Lavinia Beach is a wide and long stretch of sand. Umbrellas and sun loungers are available on site. Entry into the water is fast. The current here is changeable. You can encounter rip currents (they are also called - rip currents). The thing is unpleasant and dangerous for beginners. Watch out for local vacationers - if you see that in some places they don’t swim, most likely there is a current. Don't go there.

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

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

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

Pros: much less crowded than in 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 things for the whole trip, to swim before a 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 with lovers. Newlyweds often stop here and spend their honeymoon.

Bentona is located at the point where the Bentota Ganga flows into the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the resort is divided into two parts. Calm cape in the north - paradise beach, And south beach 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, a catamaran, a scooter, a canoe, a surfboard.

• 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

From attractions: sightseeing of the ruins of the Galapata Vihara complex, boat trip along the Bentota Ganga river. There is a turtle farm 3 km from the resort. It is worth going here - you will see how small funny turtles are bred.

Pros: wide long beach, quiet relaxing holiday, not crowded

Minuses: waves, a small selection of inexpensive housing, expensive holidays. Bentota is considered expensive resort, so it is preferred by wealthy people.

Hikkaduwa

This is our favorite beach. We chose a resort for a long time and decided to go to Hikkaduwa. And they didn't fail. Hikkaduwa combines an excellent beach strip, a large selection of housing, developed infrastructure and entertainment.

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

A large selection of umbrellas and sunbeds can be found on Narigama Beach, next to the hotel Rita Hotel and the Blue Moon restaurant. In some places, even large double trestle beds with a roof.

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

Fewer waves in the lagoon near the hotel Coral Sands.

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

On the coast there is a large selection of housing from 5 stars to guesthouses. At night, you can hear the sound of the ocean, sometimes the noise of the party. For those who want to sleep in silence at night, we suggest looking for housing 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 in the lagoon. You can try to feed them.

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

Minuses: not seen

Both independent travelers and package tourists have been seen on the beaches. We recommend this beach for long stays.

Unawatuna

An ideal place for holidays with children and for the elderly. Thanks to the lagoon, there are practically no waves here. Entry into the water is easy and pleasant.

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

• Cozy hotel by the sea La Veranda Di Serena
• The hotel is cheaper, also on the coast - Rock Fort Hotel
• Budget guesthouse — Sam's Guest House

From Unawatuna, it is easy to get to the city of Galle, where the fort is located, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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

Pros: ocean without waves, beautiful nature

Kogalla

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

Tourists with children, lovers, newlyweds, diving enthusiasts love to relax here (diving centers work on the coast)

The peculiarity of Kogalli is in the lake of the same name. It was chosen by birds, ecotourism fans and pilgrims who want to visit the ancient Buddhist sanctuaries, once built by hermits.

• Resort hotel on the coast South Lake Resort
• Cheaper hotel on the lake 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 beach next to Koglalla is Weligama. Is in picturesque bay with golden sand. Waves are 300-400 meters from the shore. Surfers catch waves there. The wave almost does not reach the beach.

Hotels are located along the entire coast. The choice is large, for every budget.

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

A feature of the resort is the world-famous fishermen who fish sitting on large thick sticks. They climb on their pole, sit on the crossbar-seat and fish. Caught fish can be bought. Fishermen are a kind of show for tourists. By the way, on the beach they offer to try fishing in such an exotic way for a small fee.

Another feature - not far from the beach is the island of Taprobane (Taprobane) with a small hotel.

From entertainment: walk around the city itself, on its streets you will meet colonial mansions, Buddhist dagobas, Catholic churches.

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

Recommended for stays of 3 or more days. Nearby is Mirissa beach. You can stop at Weligama for 1 night, explore it, then go to nearby beach Mirissa and inspect it. Then choose from these two beaches already for a long time.

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). Swimming is better there. You can even go snorkeling and snorkelling.

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

From attractions: there is no entertainment as such in Mirissa, only the sea and the sun. There is a small rock with a viewing platform. The nearest attraction is the fort in Galle.

Plus: calm and quiet

Minus: few shops

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

The beaches in Tangalle seem endless. A wide sandy spit stretches for several kilometers.

The resort does not have one. developed infrastructure like Hikkaduwa. Mostly tourists come here for deserted beaches, of which there are several in Tangalle. There are two of them in the northern part: Medaketiya beach - the safest beach for swimming and Medilla. In the western part of the beaches Goyambokka (Goyambokka) and Pallikaduwa (Pallikaduwa).

There are waves in Tangella. Sometimes because of them it is generally impossible to go into the ocean. We recommend the beach next to the hotel Eva Lanka. There is a more or less calm bay.

From entertainment: visit the Mulgirigala caves, the national parks of Yala, Udawalawe, the Kalametiya nature reserve. Watch the turtles lay their eggs (April to September) at Rekawa West Beach. At the hotel, book an excursion for a walk 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 Indian Ocean and quite different from what we know European resorts With sea ​​beach. We must remember that the waves will always be here, at any time of the year. In winter, from October to March, there are fewer waves.

Of the resorts that I have listed above, the waves are the least on Unawatuna Beach (due to the natural bay), Mirissa (in a certain lagoon), Weligama (not all over the beach). There are waves in Hikkaduwa, but they are not terrible, except for stormy days, of which we met few. We just learned to communicate with them.

How much does a holiday in Sri Lanka cost?

Sincerely,

Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, is an island southeast of the Indian subcontinent. You need to go here to take a break from city life, dissolve in peace and quiet, make several sightseeing trips with a tour of the main attractions, and spend the rest of the time on the beach. And, of course, try the local tea "first hand", because it is thanks to tea that the former name of the island "Ceylon" is known all over the world.

How to get to Sri Lanka

You should not count on a cheap flight from Russia or the CIS countries to Sri Lanka, yet the remoteness of the island from our country plays a role and affects the cost of tickets.

Let's look at the site, which will find the most advantageous offers of air carriers, how much it will cost us to fly to Sri Lanka and back from Moscow in May 2016. At the time of writing, there is still almost half a year left until May, but we all know that it is better to look for tickets in advance, otherwise you will have to pay more, or even the tickets will run out. By the way, we have already written a detailed article about searching for tickets "".

So, round-trip tickets cost an average of about 30 thousand rubles. The most profitable option is a flight by Etihad Airways for 29,748 rubles in both directions. You will have to make a change in any case - there are simply no direct flights from Russia to Sri Lanka, so 1 change is already included even in the most optimal route.

There are also few options for where to fly in Sri Lanka itself, or rather, only two - the capital of Colombo or Hambantota Airport. Here, when choosing, you should be guided by what place on the island you have chosen for your vacation, and which airport is closer to this very place.

Currency and visa of Sri Lanka

Currency

The official currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR. At the exchange rate at the end of December 2015, one Russian ruble is equal to two rupees. In turn, one rupee is divided into 100 Sri Lankan cents. In circulation on the island are banknotes of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 rupees. In coins, there are 1, 2, 5 and 10 rupees, as well as 25 and 50 cents.

Coming to Sri Lanka, having only rubles with you, is not the best idea, because even if you find an exchanger ready to change Russian rubles, the exchange rate in it will definitely not please you. The best option is to bring US dollars to Sri Lanka, which you can exchange for local currency anywhere.

If you still have money from other Asian countries from past trips, for example, Indian rupees or Thai baht, feel free to take them with you on a trip, it will not be difficult to change them.

Bank cards they accept on the island, but you can often become victims of fraud, so it is better to leave the card as a last resort.

Visa

Residents of Russia need a visa to visit Sri Lanka. Fortunately, you can apply for it in advance online through the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) website http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/. On the site, you will have to fill out an application form and pay a fee of $30. The decision to grant or refuse a visa is made within 24 hours.
It is important that your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end date of the trip.

Climate of Sri Lanka

Everyone who has ever been to countries with a similar climate (for example, most Asian countries) knows what the rainy season is. There is also in Sri Lanka, and lasts from May to October. Exactly at summer period The island receives almost all of its annual rainfall. But from November to April, holidays in Sri Lanka will in no case be overshadowed by the weather - with general dryness, the air temperature stays around 27-30 degrees Celsius, and the water temperature is usually not lower than 25 degrees.

Transport on the island

Public transport in Sri Lanka is represented by a quite standard set: trains, buses, taxis and tuk-tuks characteristic of Asia.

Buses are convenient for short trips within cities. This is not the most convenient and comfortable mode of transport on the island, as most buses are long overdue for "retirement". But there is a plus - you will pay nothing for the trip, about 1-3 rupees per kilometer. Commercial buses are slightly more expensive, but are more often air-conditioned. In general, it is easy to determine the level of bus comfort by the letter assigned to the route number - ordinary N, semi-comfortable S and comfortable A / C.

For longer trips between cities, you can use regular express buses, which are somewhat different from the usual ones for the better. Stops of such buses are most often located at bus stations and near railway stations.

Trains also come in different comfort classes. You can look at the train schedule and their routes on the official website of the Sri Lankan railways www.railway.gov.lk. True, there is often a problem with the schedule - trains are constantly late, so take this into account when planning your route.

If you do not want to depend on schedules public transport you can rent a car. How to do this, we wrote in the article "". I would like to add that in Sri Lanka there is left-hand traffic, which takes some time to get used to, as well as a completely different driving culture than ours: a lot of horns, little space, chaotic traffic, constant overtaking on the highways in corners and not only, but also regular violation of all possible rules. In principle, it is allowed to rent a car in Sri Lanka by persons over 21 years old, but we still recommend this type of transport to slightly more experienced drivers.

The main cities and attractions of Sri Lanka

- most Big city Sri Lanka and part-time capital. From here, most likely, your journey around the island will begin, since Colombo is the largest international airport in Sri Lanka. Even if you are going to relax in a resort, we still recommend that you set aside at least a day to explore the beauties of Colombo.

Temple Gangaramaya- the most popular among tourists place of worship in Colombo. The temple was built about one hundred and twenty years ago and immediately became not only a spiritual center, but also a training center for future monks. You can visit some of the premises of the school and a museum that tells about Buddhism and the famous "graduates" of the school and their achievements in the field of Buddhism. Entrance to the temple is free, it is open from 6 am to 6 pm every day. The temple is located at Sri Jinaratana Rd Slave Island, Colombo 2.

National museum- one of the main art centers on the island. It houses a collection of paintings by local artists, as well as the work of local artisans. No better place to experience colorful Sinhala art than this museum. The museum is located on Sir Marcus Fernando Mw. and is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm except national holidays. Entrance costs 600 rupees for adults and 300 rupees for children.

A park " Viharamahadevi"- one of the many parks in the city. This one is considered the largest of them, and, of course, the most popular among tourists. The park was built by English colonists, due to which it could be called a "typically English park", if only for the famous Buddha statue. It is located in the prestigious Cinnamon Gardens area of ​​the city and is open to the public from 8 am to 6 pm.

Halle- a large port city in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. His fort is recognized as a UNESCO monument, and the nature around is worthy of all praise. If your holiday in Sri Lanka takes place near Galle, it would be a crime not to come here. Now we will explain why with examples.

Halle lighthouse is a historical, though restored, landmark, which is part of the Utrecht bastion in the Galle fort, which, as already mentioned, is included in the List World Heritage UNESCO. The fort, like the lighthouse (more precisely, its predecessor) played a significant role in the life of the city and its port. You can look at the lighthouse for free at any time of the day or night. By the way, Galle Fort is the only surviving fort in Asia, built by colonists many centuries ago.

Temple Yatagala Rajah macha Viharaya- one of the oldest Buddhist temples of the island, whose history goes back more than two thousand years. Another feature is its location, because the temple is located in the rock. Caves and artificially created rooms were painted by masters millennia ago, and today all this is available to visitors, because the temple has been perfectly preserved. Entrance inside is free, it does not have specific opening hours - you just need to have time to visit it during daylight hours. The temple is located about five kilometers from Galle, in the village of Unawatuna, where you can easily get there by bus, tuk-tuk, rented transport or taxi.

reserves Halle- attract tourists with a variety of landscapes, alluring mountains, clean shores and, of course, such an unusual flora and fauna for us. The most iconic reserves are: Sinharaja, rich in rare species of plants and animals; Mount Rumassala, the ascent to which will not be easy, but will more than pay off with the impressions from the views from the peaks; Kottawa, famous for its arboretum. The nature reserves of Sri Lanka are interesting in that a huge number of plants and animals can be found only on this island and nowhere else.

Cultural capital of Sri Lanka richest history and a huge number of spiritual centers. The city is located in the center of the island, which makes it unsuitable for a beach holiday, but an excellent choice for a cultural holiday. And given the fact that transport between Gandhi and major resorts Sri Lanka is well established, you can easily combine these two types of recreation.

Temple tooth buddha- The temple, located in the former residence of the kings, is famous for its relic - the tooth of the Buddha, one of the four survivors of the cremation of the Buddha. There is always a huge queue to the shrine, but besides it, the temple has something to look at - frescoes, statues and even a library. The entrance to the temple costs 1000 rupees, it is open from 5:30 am to 8 pm. It is located on Sri Dalada Veediya Street.

Museum tea- As you know, Ceylon has long been considered the world capital of tea. So it would be strange not to visit the museum, which will tell about the history of growing tea bushes and harvesting, as well as the production process of the tea drink itself. The museum is located on Hantane Street, in the building of an old tea factory. Entrance - 500 rupees, from 8:15 to 16:45 on any day except Monday.

Palace complex- the residence of kings until the beginning of the XIX century. On the territory of the palace today there are not only the living quarters of the royal family, but also the Temple of the Tooth Relic, as well as National Museum Kandy, which houses a huge collection of art from all over Sri Lanka. There is also an artificial lake and a beautiful royal park for walks. You can visit the territory of the Palace complex for free (except for the temple and the museum, there is a separate fee) during the daytime.

Natural attractions - the incomparable nature of Sri Lanka can surprise even tourists who come to the island not for the first time. Mountains, waterfalls, lakes, lagoons and tropical forests - well, what else can you say? Here is a small list of places where you can drive on your own or book an excursion directly from your resort or from the city of Kandy: Udawattakelle Nature Reserve, national park Horton Plains, Hunas Falls, Pusevalle Falls, Mount Sigiriya and more.

Nuwara Elia- small resort town, famous for its tea production, nearby waterfalls and golf courses. Many excursions to neighboring reserves are sold in local travel agencies and on the streets, and the city itself in some places resembles Europe, since many of its buildings were created by the colonists.

Botanical garden Hakgala This botanical garden is one of a kind. All because of its location, because Hakgala is considered high-altitude botanical garden which is what makes it unique. More than 6,000 plants grow here, many of which are unique to Sri Lanka. You can visit it all year round, it is located 10 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya along the A5 highway.

National a park Yala- the most famous and very first national park on the island. From Nuwara Eliya and closer cities (for example, Hambantota or Tangala), excursions are regularly carried to this amazing corner of Sri Lanka. Here, in the middle of wild nature, the ruins of ancient cities and monasteries are located, which are now occupied by wild animals. The best way see the park - safari (from 6 am to 6 pm), which costs 5-6 thousand rupees.

waterfalls- a separate attraction of the city of Nuwara Eliya. There are so many of them here that you definitely want to see them all, because each of them is unique in its own way. There are also very high ones, such as Bambarakanda Ella, more than 240 meters high, there are also romantic ones dedicated to lovers, like the Brides Falls, and there are completely unusual ones, for example, local beer is brewed from the water of the Laksapana Falls waterfall.

teahouses plantations the heart of Nuwara Eliya. It is here that the main tea production on the island is concentrated. You can buy an excursion to one of the tea plantations offered by local guides, or you can just enjoy delicious fresh tea and do not forget to buy a few packs as souvenirs for friends and family, because you will not find such quality tea as here in a store near your house. .

Beaches and resorts of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is most often associated in our minds with resort vacation, which is easy to understand, because there are simply an incredible number of beaches suitable for relaxing and swimming on the island!

Bentota- the most popular beach on the island, famous for its cleanliness and comfort, and proudly included in the list of the ten best beaches in Asia. In addition to a beach holiday, you can also do water sports here: windsurfing or diving.

Arugam Bay- a resort on the southeast coast was chosen by the servers of the whole world. The waves here are simply amazing, but a passive beach holiday is not very good - due to the special local microclimate on the beaches, it is especially hot and debilitatingly thirsty every second.

Batticaloa- one of the hottest cities on the entire island, located on its east coast. There are a lot of sandy beaches in the city of the same name, because it is located on a wide sandy spit and is surrounded by lagoons and all kinds of water bodies. A great place to combine city sightseeing with a beach holiday.

Beruwala- a resort that is preferred by more prosperous tourists. The weather and water temperature are excellent almost all year round. It is here that the 130-kilometer-long beach begins, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough space (as well as on any beach in Sri Lanka)!

Wadduwa- a resort town near the capital Colombo. A very popular place among tourists due to easy accessibility from the airport, and of course, because of the golden beaches and beautiful scenery.

Marissa- a well-deserved place in the list of the best beaches in Sri Lanka is this beach. The tourist infrastructure is not very developed here, and there are not many hotels and restaurants. But this is what makes the beach attractive to many travelers - privacy, originality, magnificent scenery and tranquility. Marissa is great for traveling with children, as there are several budget guesthouses here, and a smooth drop in depth allows children to swim near the shore.

Negombo- a resort town on the west coast of Sri Lanka. "Golden Mile" - this is the name of the local beaches of the city. The tourist infrastructure is excellently developed, and the city itself and its environs are also very interesting in terms of sightseeing holiday.

Tangalle- a resort town in the south of Sri Lanka, which is famous for its very mild climate. sandy beaches extend for several miles, the choice of hotels and apartments is very large, and you can have a bite to eat in one of the many tourist cafes. The width of the beaches is not very large - literally a couple of tens of meters, and you are already surrounded by palm trees, but this only adds originality to Tangalle. This resort is also great for surfing.

Unavantuna- a resort in the south of the island, which is most often chosen by travelers with children. The weather here is always pleasant, and the climate is mild, but more importantly, because of the reefs that separate the Unavantuna lagoon from the ocean, the waves here are not dangerous, and the storm is not a threat.

Uppuveli And Nilaveli- resorts in the northeast of Sri Lanka, which are becoming more and more popular among tourists. The reason for this is the ideal conditions for all water sports (especially diving). And also whales and dolphins, which you can accidentally see from afar or specially on a thematic excursion.

Hiksaduwa- another mecca for diving enthusiasts, and all because of the incredible beauty of the coral reef that stretches along the coastline. It is also a great place for an off-season holiday as the climate is temperate even during the summer months and there are beaches suitable for swimming and relaxing.