Life’s A Beach In Sri Lanka: A Different Asian Vacation

Most people have heard about or experienced the beaches of Thailand and Bali in Indonesia. However, a vacation on a beach in Sri Lanka has so much more to offer in the way of sun, sea, sand, and glorious sunsets.

Whether wanting to chill out and get the perfect tan or enjoy all the water sports anyone could desire, Sri Lanka is rapidly becoming one of the best destinations for the ideal beach vacation. With everything on offer on this teardrop-shaped island, travelers keep returning for more.

Sunset at Sri Lanka beach | Photography by ©Charly Lataste #piclogy pic.twitter.com/qZZYnXHXIZ

— Piclogy (@Piclogy) October 26, 2015

Hugged by the warm Indian Ocean and with seemingly endless golden sand beaches lined with palm trees, Sri Lanka also experiences one of the best tropical, year-round climates, making it ideal at any time of the year.

Heading to the beach in Sri Lanka gives a lot of variety too, as the best coastline for vacations extends all the way from Negombo in the northwest of the island to Trincomalee in the northeast, with miles of excellent clean and sandy beaches all the way.

According to a blog on Tropical Vacations, the southern coastal belt offers some of the best vacations on the beach in Sri Lanka, as this region has many flat and wide beaches, along with lagoons, that are perfect for safe swimming all year.

Among the beaches on the southern coast, Bentota is possibly the best, but for those who enjoy diving and snorkeling, Hikkaduwa offers beautiful corals and the opportunity for water-based sports.

Beruwala and Bentota are famous for the sparkling blue ocean, shallow reefs perfect for bathing and seemingly endless flat beaches. Bentota is also perfect as a honeymoon destination or for a spa break, as the beach is lined with hotels offering luxury spas and the various Ayurveda practices. There’s also plenty in the way of watersports available on the beach.

Hikkaduwa, further south on the coast, is renowned as Sri Lanka’s beach party capital and is located a mere 60 miles south of the capital city of Colombo. While it is the best destination for party people, with several beach festivals including the popular “Hikka Fest” going on during the year, Hikkaduwa also offers untouched natural beauty, perfect for relaxation on the beach in Sri Lanka.

The best time to enjoy the southern coast is between November and April, as the coast is hit by the southwest monsoon between May and September. However, while the southern coast might be out of action during those months, everyone heads to the east coast to have fun on the beach in Sri Lanka.

As reported on Beach Holidays in Sri Lanka, between April and October the beaches from Arugam Bay all the way up to Trincomalee are popular with thousands of surfers, as this area is well-known as a great surfing destination.

For those wishing to relax on the sand, the eastern beaches offer a beautifully picturesque experience on clean, white sand with waving palm trees and a warm ocean for paddling and swimming.

Arugam Bay and the rest of Sri Lanka’s east coast used to be off limits when that area of Sri Lanka was under terrorist control. Times have changed, however, and the east coast is now available and perfect for a vacation on the beach in Sri Lanka.

While it is a perfect destination for surfers, the laid-back and charming village also attracts those who enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, and underwater photography, due to the clear blue waters off the beach.

Heading to Trincomalee, Uppuveli Beach, a few kilometers outside of town, and Nilaveli Beach are great for a slightly more busy beach vacation, with hawkers selling everything anyone could ever need at the beach in Sri Lanka, including some more unusual items.

Enjoy a brief tour of Unawatuna Beach, Jungle Beach, Trincomalee Beach, Hikkaduwa Beach, and Chaaya Hotel Beach in the video included below.

As reported recently by the Inquisitr, Sri Lanka is also the perfect alternative destination for a safari vacation and wildlife tour.

[Photo via Flickr by Shyam Habarakada / CC BY-SA 2.0]