In Mirissa most people go whale and dolphin watching. Another thing you could opt for here is go catamaran sailing along the coast, should you grow tired of the beach.

Being ‘appropriated’ by the hippie-community in the sixties as a popular hang-out, Hikkaduwa is one of the oldest beach resorts of the country. At about 100 km from Colombo, it offers also the Rocky islets sanctuaries, the National Park, Telwatte Bird Sancuary, the Coral Gardens reef for diving off the coast, glass bottom boats, snorkeling, and it is one of the best surfing spots of the country.

On the world’s top 10 list for surfing, Arugam Bay is being promoted with a yearly championship in May-June organized by the Sri Lankan Tourist Board. Next to that, it has on offer Kumana, for bird watchers, Lahugala, for elephant lovers, and the Kudumbigala promontory, with a stone inscription commemorating an old monastery being built there and given to the local community by Nandimithra, one of the 10 generals referred to as the giants of King Duttugemunu, a history preceding Christian times. Nearby Panama is a perfect paradise for vacationers on a budget.

Famous for the Prince Vijaya legend, Kalpitiya has a lagoon sheltered from the ocean, where you can safely practice kite surfing before venturing out onto the sea. It is the best place to see Spinner dolphin pods. Furthermore, you can see manta rays and reef sharks here, while snorkeling or diving.

Tangalle has the most beautiful quiet beach. It’s also a fishery harbor where you can go for deep sea fishing. The surf break here has a tendency of sounding like gunfire.

Because of its secluded beach, Ranna is a honeymooners’ ideal getaway. There is also the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, the ancient Buddhist rock monastery Mulkirigala, dating from 2 nd century, which is also called the 2 nd Lion Rock.

Only 6 km from the international airport, Negombo is a great place to enjoy a beach vacation. It offers stilt fishermen, the traditional fishing method of Sri Lanka, rigger canoeing, and catamaran sailing. In the lagoon you can find pomfrets, crabs and lobsters.

Trincomalee was called Gokanna during the reign of the kings of Anuradhapura and Polunnaruwa. Overlooking the bay now are the old British Fort Frederick, and the Dutch Fort. The city is built on a promontory, which serves as natural protection for the adjoining harbor. It has great beaches, most famously the one called Marble Beach. Nearby is China Bay. You can go diving shipwrecks at Trincomalee, snorkeling, whale watching, and kite surfing.

Nilaveli: – At only 16 km north of Trincomalee, Nilaveli has a beautiful lagoon, coconut palm tree groves, hordes of cattle (for the predominantly Hindu population in these parts sacred animals), a white sandy beach with a gentle surf, a coral reef where you can snorkel, and Red Rock Beach. Pigeon Island is in front of the coast at a distance of just 2 km.

At only 35 km from Batticaloa, Pasikudah has the picture postcard turquoise blue water. It offers, next to its immaculate beaches for sunbathing, coconut palm trees, Palmyra trees and activities like wind – and kite surfing, boogie boarding, and sailing. It has long been inaccessible due to the civil war, so it is not on everybody’s radar and therefore not crowded as of yet.

Only 45 min south of Colombo, Bentota is the water sports capital of Sri Lanka, with anything on offer from wind – and kite surfing, to Jet Ski riding, speed boating, water skiing, boogie boarding, and banana boating for the family and kids. There are lots of star and boutique hotels to choose from.

On the Kalu Ganga River, its name giver, Kalutara offers you one of the best beaches of the country and it’s close to Colombo and the airport. You can see the toddy tapper’s climbing up the coconut palm trees everywhere and it offers reed ware products to take home as a souvenir. Also interesting to see here is Gangathilake temple and its hollow stupa with frescoes.