Did you know that? Sri Lanka is one of the best all-year-round surfing destinations!
With a huge variety of waves: beach-breaks, reef-breaks for both beginners and experimented surfers, it stay a very special place for all those who have discovered this paradise.
Beaches are something that is not at all scarce in Sri Lanka. There is a 1340 km stretch of coastline in Sri Lanka that extends from the famous tourist destinations in the South Coast to the less-visited expanses of North and East. A large part of Sri Lanka’s coastline is surrounded by coral reefs that make it ideal for travelers to dive into the ocean’s world filled with colorful life. Tourists can also enjoy snorkelling on the southern beaches like Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary. There is also a huge influx of tourists who come to enjoy surfing on the gentle waves of the Indian Ocean.
The waves are very good in Arugam Bay on the east coast, and along the south coast at Hikkaduwa and Mirissa, for enjoying surfing. There are also places with calm water perfect for swimming like at Unawatuna, near Galle, and Nilaveli.
Bentota is the informal water-sports activities capital for voyagers since, besides its rolling surf and exquisite sandy seashores, it likewise has a stream where novices can acquire insight prior to heading into the ocean.
For the best day-to-day information on where the good waves are, you can contact The Surfer Weligama a well known surf camp in Sri Lanka. They also offer range of surf and yoga packages to select at their surf camps in Sri Lanka
Below are the selected top 4 beginner surf beaches Sri Lanka offers.
Hikkaduwa:
Hikkaduwa is a humble community on the south bank of Sri Lanka, situated in the southern region. Hikkaduwa is a renowned surfer’s paradise that is regularly visited by sightseers all-round the year.
For vacationers keen on Water sports, Hikkaduwa is best for surfing and swimming from November to April when the visibility is good. Adventure lovers can enjoy snorkeling in the shallow waters just 200m off the seashore and can come across a number of brightly colored fish that float just a few meters from the seashore.
Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is very popular among tourists as it is a pristine beach that is one of the nicest beaches on the southeast coastline. Arugam Bay is frequented by tourists especially surfers as the beach has attractive waves and a secluded beach. The wide curved sandy beaches of Arugam Bay are less crowded with hotels and restaurants as compared to the South coast beaches. The best season for surfing and swimming for travelers is from May to October as the waves are calmer at this time. Tourists can also enjoy snorkelling near Arugam Bay and view the beautiful coral reefs and colorful tropical fishes.
Weligama
Weligama is a popular travel resort in Matara district, which is located at a distance of 144 Km from Colombo. This all-embracing bay has with calm water ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Weligama, meaning “sandy bay”, is also known as red bay, due to the red rose cliffs that can be seen from anywhere in the town. Weligama beach is popular among travelers for its serene sandy beaches and well developed tourism infrastructure.
Weligama is also surfer’s paradise with multiple surf breaks around the coast. Another popular tourist attraction here is Stilt fishing, in which fishermen stand on a single pole planted into sea-bed to catch fish.
The town of Weligama is located between Galle and Matara, and can be reached by Road or Rail.
Ahangama
Ahangama beach is a very beautiful tourist spot for travelers to enjoy the sand and sun, away from the crowd and commercialization. Ahangama is mostly visited by surfers and the local population who are looking a day away from crowds. The beaches of Ahangama and Midigama are great for surfers, but the facilities available here are average. There is more than a 5 Km is stretch here that provides some great breaks for surfing.
The best period of surfing is from October to March when the surf breaks are quite consistent. There are also some areas with surf breaks on this stretch, which is safe for beginners. The important beach breaks here are the Rock (Kabalana), Lazy Left (Midigama), Rams, and Plantation. The whole stretch around Ahangama extends till Galle and Hikkaduwa, have some amazing surf breaks.
So, whether you are an experienced surfer or non-surfer, Sri Lanka offers everything to have an unforgettable stay and surfing experience.
