Beach Break:

Sri Lanka is surrounded entirely by the Indian Ocean, so it’s no great surprise that every compass point around the island boasts a beautiful beach or two. The best time to visit for surfing or sunbathing is August to October, before the start of the mons

Sri Lanka’s best sand and surf escapes

NORTH NO

Situated Sit in the middle of the island’s northeast coast, Trincomalee Tri offers beautiful sandy beaches with palm trees an and blue waters. You can visit Nilaveli Beach and try your hand ha at fishing, book a whale-watching tour, or take a short sh boat ride to Pigeon Island, a popular snorkelling spot. s Also nearby is Coral Island, boasting a gorgeous reef r with tropical fish and marine life. Windsurfing aficionados a aficio will want to head a little further south to Uppuveli Uppu Beach for some board-and-sail action.

SOUTH

Located close to the historic city of Galle along the southwest coast, Hikkaduwa Beach is firmly on the tourist trail and for good reason. Beat the h heat with a leisurely snorkel or a full-blown dive at H Hikkaduwa Coral Reef, or stay dry and enjoy the v view from a glass-bottomed boat. There’s a vibrant n nightlife scene in town, with rows of restaurants and b bars lining the shore. Further south is Mirissa Beach, a laid-back coastal community, where you can surf, jet ski or kite surf by day, and admire the stunning sun sunsets by night, with a few drinks and some fresh sea seafood cooked up p in the restaurants along the beach.

EAST

If you’re keen to catch some waves, Arugam Bay is the place to go. Located on the southeast corner of the island, this is arguably Sri Lanka’s best break – or, if boards aren’t your thing, you can just enjoy the sun and relax at one of the e many bars along the beach. End the day with a barbecue seafood feast beneath the palms.

WEST

Dropping by the beach town of Negombo on the west coast is a breeze, as it’s located less ess than 30 minutes from Sri Lanka’s international onal airport – maybe one final seaside stop before heading back home? Resorts line the beach, so there are e plenty of rooms with a view. The sea can be a little rough, so, if you’re keen on water sports, you can travel south to Negombo Lagoon for banana-boating, water skiing, kayaking and jet-skiing.