Matara
A great beach city with a star shaped Dutch fort.
Exactly 100 miles (161km) from Colombo lies Matara, another old fort town built around the Nilaweli river. Matara Fort was erected by the Dutch around 17th centaury. In 1761 the Dutch commander constructed the little star fort, after the attack by the Kandyan army.
Koggala
A great beach in down south where you can see stilt fishing. Koggala is famous because it is the home of great Sri Lankan novelist, Martin Wikramasinghe. The stretch form koggala to Weligama is famous for its “stilt fishin
Weligama
A fine location for a relaxing beach holiday. 27 km. from Galle with its picturesque bay, and an off shore islet where a French Count built his dream house, Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt fishermen.
Puttlam
The lagoon and Beach in this town is famous together with the Dutch Fort
Kalpitiya
Less famous but a great scuba diving location with a lagoon
Batticoloa
One of Sri Lanka’s largest lagoons and beaches in the east coast.
314 km. from Colombo, Batticaloa is famous for its ‘singing’ fish and picturesque lagoon. Batticoloa became the first Dutch foothold in the island in 1602.
Kalkudha
A finest beach in east coast on the way to Batticaloa.
32 km. from Batticaloa, Kalkudah, with its clear calm reef protected sea is ideal for bathing. Passekudah, close by, has a fine bay with clear waters. A popular tourist center with a modern hotel and other facilities.
Passikudah
A fine beach in the east coast.
The curved Passekudah bay is more compact but still impressively vast. The reef turns the bay in to a calm, blue shallow swimming area.
Arugam Bay
This eastern bay is great for surfing and Scuba Diving.
314 km. from Colombo, a most beautiful bay with good surfing. The East coast offers infinite possibilities for all kinds of water sports and underwater photography. The many shipwrecks of the coast are a tempting challenge to the diver
Nilaweli
A great long wide beach with great Scuba diving location.
One of the finest beaches in the country. The white sands of beach & the clear waters is a forte here. The beach stretches about 6km up to Uppuweli. Pigeon island is a famous place for snorkeling & diving.
Trincomalee
The eastern beach city has one of best natural harbors in the world.
257 km. from Colombo, Trincomalee is the ideal refuge for the beach addict, with its fine natural harbor and excellent beaches.
Hambantota
A great fishery harbor and a beach with wild life around.
237km from Colombo, with some magnificent beaches, this is the closest to the Bundala National Park. It is also famous as the home of Leonard Wolf the Arthur of the famous book ‘A Village in the jungle’. You can also find salt making pans in this area.
Tangalle
A fishery harbor town with scuba diving and a long beach.
Situated 195 km from Colombo, this is the ideal location to soak up the sun. The Tangalle rest house is one of the oldest in the country, which was built by the Dutch in 1774. Turtle watching can be done at Rekawewa.
Mirissa
A fishing town and a great place to relax. Mirissa is situated about 4km southwest of Weligama. A small town, a fishing harbor together with a beautiful beach makes it something special. It is a peaceful beach with crystal clear waters which is ideal for snorkeling.
Unawatuna
One of best places in Sri Lanka with Scuba Diving Locations.
About 5 km south of Galle is the golden beach of Unawatuna. It is also one of the safest beaches in Sri Lanka as it is protected by a reef. Surfing, snorkeling & diving are some of the water sports you can participate here. All the equipment you need can be rented from many a beachfront place.
Galle
A world heritage city with a fine Dutch Fort.
116 km. south of Colombo, is the most important southern town with an old-world charm. Believed to be the ‘Tar shish’ of the Bible, its natural harbor was a famous fort in days gone by. Famous for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing
Hikkaduwa
A beach with entertaining night life and Scuba Diving.
98 km. south of Colombo, Hikkaduwa is the place for underwater delight. Site of the famed coral gardens; hire a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and explore the fantasies under your feet.
Ambalangoda
An important ecolological mangove environment and mask dancing makes Ambalangoda a special beach city.
A half hour’s drive from Bentota is Ambalangoda, home of devil dancing and mask making. The streets are lined with mask shops & a variety of masks and antique masks are available
Ahungalla
A fine beach in down south with lots of facilities.
Kalutara
A great Beach and River with water sports and adventure facilities.
42 km south of Colombo Kalutara is famous for it beaches as well as for the Kalutara bodiya
Mount Lavinia
Closest beach to Colombo and has a colonial touch in the surroundings.
Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is an immediate city suburb and the beach is one of the better known even in colonial times. It lies alongside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sand is the softest and the waves calm and clear. The Governor’s House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland, now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Negombo
Closest Beach to the Airport
Negombo boasts of Sri Lanka’s first beach resort. The beach north of the town is a narrow & long. There are plenty of beachside restaurants & hotels for reasonable fees, and many a traveler make Negombo their last stop in Sri Lanka before flying out as it is the closest beach to the Air port.
Beruwela
Ancient Sea farers of Arabia used this natural bay.
56 km south of Colombo, Beruwela marks the beginning of a 130 km. stretch of beach where resort development has taken immense strides in the past few years. Good bathing may be had in the bay all year round.
Bentota
The beach, coral reefs, river and ecology makes a water sports paradise.
Bentota beach is one of the best beaches in the west coast, which has he added advantage of the Bentota ganga. Both the beach & the river is ideal for water sports.