Sri Lanka has a coastline that stretches for 1,239 kilometers with beaches of golden sand. If you're looking for quality surf, pristine water, golden sand, tall palm trees, and gorgeous sunsets, you're guaranteed to find exactly what you're searching for at these beaches in Sri Lanka!
October to April is the most beautiful time on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka.
Take the small train all the way along the coastline and find the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka.
Bentota Beach
Bentota, 60 kilometers away from the capital of Sri Lanka, is a coastline town and the gateway to the southern province. Known as "the paradise of Sri Lanka", Bentota is also one of the best beaches on the west coast and was once known by the European tourism association as "the most beautiful beach in the world".
Bentota Beach is well-known for its beauty, being pristine, natural, and tranquil with picturesque landscapes surrounding it and coconut trees swaying in the gentle breeze. The soft beach has clear blue water but the current can sometimes be slightly strong.
Bentota is an ideal place for people who wish to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It offers a variety of water sports, such as surfing, diving, windsurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, banana boat rides, and deep-sea fishing. Whatever your preferences are, you will be satisfied.
What else you can do in Bentota? You can have a nice walk along the beach, go on a cycling tour to a fishing village, taste the fresh catch from the sea, go to a beach party at night, take a boat ride along the Madu River and drift alongside the mangroves, see the herons, crocodiles, and various rare wild animals living in Bentota, and visit the Buddhist towers and temples.
How to get there: You can easily take a train ride from Colombo to Bentota. Alternatively, go by car or bus. It takes about 2 hours to drive by car from Colombo to the beach.
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Seeing Bangkok with ease
In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. More
Diane Elkins,
Nov 2023
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Thailand -insights, no stress and amazing team
My husband and my Thailand trip was fantastic, stress-free and educational thanks to the amazing team coordinated by Albee at Asia Highlights. The whole team was incredibly accessible, responsive, sensitive to our needs and lovely to work with. End-to-end, the trip was truly remarkable and the knowledgeable and dynamic tour guides and drivers made it especially memorable! More
AndrewsFamily,
Oct 2023
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Informative & Thorough / Thanks Sharon!
Sharon the advisor that helped me was so thorough & informative and explained the details of the tour including questions about visas and what is included vs what is not included in the tour packages. I would recommend them to explain tour packages that would fit the schedule of your pending travels. More
Chris,
Sep 2023
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Easy, fast responses
I worked directly with Monica in Asia Highlights. She was incredibly helpful and answered all of my questions quickly. Working with her made the whole process easy and we are so excited for our trip! More
Diana B,
Sep 2023
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Stress free Thailand
Alisa has organised our 14 day Thailand holiday for 2024 for my family & I. She has been very accommodating & super quick with all of our requests & we cannot wait for a stress free holiday! Thank you Alisa! More
Alana Mitchell,
Sep 2023
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Family Trip to Thailand-Cambodia
All of our guides were very nice and knowledgeable, but we have a special mention to our guide in Cambodia, Chan, he was very kind with us and it was very amusing. He went the extra mile for us. We really enjoyed our holidays! More
José Antonio Carrillo de la Pl,
Sep 2023
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Asia Highlights and Sharon
Asia Highlights, specifically Sharon, has been wonderfully helpful as we get ready for a 2024 excursion to Thailand. We are beyond excited, and much of that has to do with the personalized attention that we have experienced with Sharon. She has been extremely responsive, obliging, and focused as she helped us design a tailor made itinerary. All of our questions have been addressed, our needs have been met, and the path has now been set for a very exciting trip.... thanks to Sharon. More
Marcy Hoenig,
Sep 2023
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I was planning a trip to Thailand to…
I was planning a trip to Thailand to especially see the Lantern Festival this year for our birthdays!! It’s been on our bucket list, but we were completely lost on how to go about planning for our trip. We’ve never really booked tours before but Alisa was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, flexible and efficient in providing all the information we needed to make our decision on the best tours and tickets to purchase. Thank you so much!! More
https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/64d9a5a4657e4b39f768a21e,
Aug 2023
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I would definitely recommend Asia…
All of our guides were wonderful (Mr. Bank - Bangkok and Ms. Kai in Phuket & Khao Sok plus antoher guide who assisted in Koh Samui). Sharon took care of tours, private drivers, flights and hotels within Thailand and our trip went off without a hitch. The hotels were great and the transportation always arrived on time and with a clean, More
Guinevere Provance,
Aug 2023
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Great Experience
WOW! I’ve traveled Asia some & I must say Sharon & Asia Highlights made this trip so much more enjoyable and easy More
Stephen Hollis,
Aug 2023
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Alisa has has been great to work with
Alisa with Asia Highlights has has been great to work with. Very friendly and responsive. More
Ana Rausch,
Aug 2023
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Using Sharon right now to book our…
Using Sharon right now to book our upcoming trip to Thailand. She has booked everything that we asked for. Has answered all of my inquiries, which has been many! Looking forward to having a great girls trip in Thailand More
Tracy,
Aug 2023
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Thailand, Singapore, Bali
In Thailand, Tanny and Nori(Suparp), were both incredible! They were both fun, funny, and full of knowledge and made sure we got the full experience. They went the extra mile and always made sure we had cold bottled water and towels to cleanse our hands. In Singapore, Nicole was an absolute gem. She was so kind and knowledgeable and guided us in the right direction to make our day as enjoyable as possible. She helped us choose a top notch local lunch and coffee spot in China Town and taught us so much about the country! In Bali, Emon was an absolute joy. He was very knowledgeable and kind and absolutely made sure we were feeling comfortable and was willing to be flexible with us. He was fun to converse with and made our time traveling between destinations so enjoyable! I cannot recommend Asia Highlights enough! Accommodations, travel arrangements and guided tours were all a breeze. More
Cassi Thunker,
Jul 2023
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Very supportive
Very supportive ! I have received eticket for Sky Lattern Festival very fast More
Chi?n Nguy?n Ng?c,
Jul 2023
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My experience in Chang Mai with Asia Highlights
I greatly enjoyed my experience with Asia Highlights for a trip I booked to Thailand.All of my interests were catered too. My guide in Chang Mai Gemma was excellent.I truly felt the soul of Thailand culture and Buddhism. More
Richard,
Jul 2023
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A pleasure to plan with
Well, this has been a painless and pleasurable process to find such a wonderful company. I had specific dates and places to be and Sharon worked with me diligently to refine the schedule and costs to suit my travel needs and budget. She informed me of a special tour on the dates I am to be in Thailand and I added that to my previous plans. More
Chris Williams,
Jul 2023
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Large multi-generational holiday in Thailand
The holiday was wonderful. Our guides, Mr Monchai (Bangkok), and Ms Tipagorn (Tippy) (Chiang Mai) were exceptional. Travelling in a large multigenerational group with many children requires patience and our guides truly understood that. Mr Monchai and Ms Tippy shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. While everyday was busy, having them greet us with patience and a smile truly made this a memorable holiday. The hotels we stayed at were equally wonderful and went above and beyond to celebrate not only my parents 50th anniversary but also celebrate 2 milestone birthdays that occurred. We will cherish this holiday for many years to come. We hope to use Asia Highlights again. More
CL,
Jul 2023
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I never used a travel agent in my life
I never used a travel agent in my life, but Sharon for Asia Highlights did a phenomenal job helping planning and coordination a family vacation. The best part of working with Sharon was that she maintained an open line of communication and provided answers to my question well within 12-24 hours. Additionally, Sharon was flexible and customized our vacation to my families needs. Overall great experience. More
Antione Barry,
Jul 2023
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Great company to plan a trip to Southeast Asia!
Sharon Haung has been wonderful to work with! Very patient and accommodating. Responds immediately given time change and is prepared, prompt, and professional. More
Debi Hinerfeld,
Jul 2023
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We took a 15 days trip (10 days Vietnam and 5 days Thailand …
It was an amazing experience the guides and drivers were there awaiting for us at each airoport for a transfer to the hotels also on time for all the tours all the guides were so lovely , very experienced and spoke very good English , one of the days on tour in Thailand I lost my phone in a temple in Bangkok mr chai went out of his way in a middle of thousands of visitors and managed to find an bring it back to me I found that amazing , also while on a trip I contacted Jason li out tour organizer few time via whatup and he replied and helped on the spot I recommend asiahilights 150% The quality of the service hotels the guides the drivers outstanding From start to finish ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ???? More
SIMO el ghobar,
Jun 2023
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Hikkaduwa Beach
Hikkaduwa, located 98 kilometers south of Colombo and 14 kilometers from Galle, is the most developed beach resort in Sri Lanka, known for its surfing, diving, and beach bars.
Hikkaduwa Beach is the best place to unwind. It offers perfect sunsets, incredible sand, warm blue water, and great bars and restaurants. It is perfect to take a walk there in the early morning hours.
Hikkaduwa is called a surfing paradise in Sri Lanka. From November to April, the water is clear and warm and the waves are perfect for surfing. People from all over the world go there to surf.
There are numerous snorkeling and diving centers along the beach with very competitive prices. You can experience snorkeling or diving to see the underwater world with colorful fish and coral. You also can take a glass-bottomed boat ride.
How to get there: It takes about 1½ hours by train from Colombo, about 30 minutes by train from Galle, about 40 minutes by coach, and then it costs 20 LKR to take the bus to the coastal area.
Unawatuna Beach
Unawatuna Beach, located 140 kilometers south of Colombo and 5 kilometers southeast of the suburb of Galle, is known as one of the top 12 beaches in the world.
Unawatuna, a crescent-shaped beach that stretches for 1 kilometer, is an ideal vacation beach. Featuring crystal clear blue water, soft golden sand, and various beachfront inns, bars, resorts, and small souvenir shops dotted along the coastline, it is also a great place for surfing.
Unawatuna Beach is not only popular with tourists but also with locals due to its short distance from Galle. The locals go there for weekends. Bars and lively music make the nightlife a lot of fun.
Unawatuna is also known for its sea turtle breeding base. In the sea turtle breeding season, sea turtles flock to the beach to lay their eggs. Walk around the beach and you will see many cute little turtles.
If you are a turtle lover, don't miss the turtle volunteer trip at Unawatuna Beach, which is fun.
How to get there: From Galle, take the bus in the direction of Matara, get off at Unawatuna Station, and walk for 15 minutes. Alternatively, take a taxi ride from the Old Town of Galle for 15 minutes.
Weligama Beach
Weligama Beach is located 143 kilometers south of Colombo and 30 kilometers east of Galle on the southern coastline of Sri Lanka. It used to be a quiet fishing village but now it is one of the most popular beaches for travelers.
Weligama is well-known for its stilt fishermen who use a unique style of fishing there. Every day, the fishermen sit on one wooden stick in the shallow sea, holding fishing rods without any bait. They spend hours waiting to hook the fish, then sell them or use them for daily meals.
The stilt fishermen used to be the poorest people in Sri Lanka but have now become a big tourist attraction there. You can pay a small fee to experience the stilt fishing and the fishermen will take your photo.
Weligama is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the Indian Ocean, dotted with many well-known surfing spots along the beach. Laceworks and handicrafts are good souvenirs to buy there, such as lace shirts, tablecloths, table mats, and so on.
How to get there: It takes 20 minutes by taxi from Galle.
Mirissa Beach
Mirissa Beach is located 146 kilometers south of Colombo. It is the largest beach in southern Sri Lanka. The seawater is clear and the beach is lined with green palm trees and coconut palms. There, you can see the best sunrise and sunset in Sri Lanka.
Mirissa is a beach paradise. It is cozy to slide into a hammock and gently sway in the breeze, taste a sip of fresh coconut juice, and enjoy the sunset on the beach.
With the laid-back atmosphere, there are many nice restaurants and cafés along the beach, serving tasty fresh seafood. After dark, the restaurants put out tables on the beach, light lanterns and candles, and serve seafood barbecues. What a wonderful life.
The water is very clear, which makes it perfect to go snorkeling around the small reefs and rocks. The west bay is the ideal place because of the big waves.
Mirrisa is one of the best whale watching places in the world. From November to April each year, many blue whales travel from the Antarctic to the Indian Ocean to breed.
It will be fun to join a whale watching tour in Mirrisa.
The peak season for seeing whales in Mirissa is between December and March.
How to get there: Take a 4-hour car journey or bus ride from Colombo, or travel by train to Galle and then by car to Mirrisa.
Discover Your Sri Lanka Beach Tour with Us
Sri Lanka is a beach paradise. The beaches are warm and quiet with blue water and soft sand. Everything in Sri Lanka is far beyond your imagination.
Asia Highlights offers tailor-made tours, accommodation bookings, and transfers for all the beaches that have been mentioned in this article. Please send your tour inquiry to us if you need any of our tour services. Happy travels!
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
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