The South Coast Beaches
Travelling along Sri Lanka’s south coast, you pass mile upon mile of beautiful beaches where, at any point, you’d be happy to stop and drink it all in. Thin, flexible palms sway in the tropical breeze; lush, shaded grasses make way for soft sands; and the Indian Ocean stretches out beyond the horizon... Our Sri Lankan colleagues say the south encapsulates an older Sri Lanka of sleepy villages and religious reverence. Life on this coast revolves around agriculture, fishing and low-key travel, and offers the perfect place for a few days of blissful beachside downtime.
Three beaches to see on Sri Lanka’s south coast
Obviously there's a lot more, this is just to get you started...
Thalpe & Koggala
A few kilometers south of Galle, the coast road opens out to reveal some stunning stretches of beach peppered with privately-owned villas and small hotels perched in premium positions. Similarly, the hills beyond Koggala Lake are a haven for yoga retreats and lavish hideaway properties. A little of the sophistication of Galle stretches out here, giving the region a slight hipster vibe that might have something to do with the well-heeled of Colombo and Galle owning second homes here. However, the area still has a low profile and is perfect for hunkering down in your accommodation for uninterrupted r&r…
Weligama & Mirissa
Whilst Sri Lanka’s beaches can offer glorious isolation, sometimes it’s nice to be a little more sociable, wandering from hotel to beach bar to restaurant, soaking up the buzz. If this sounds like your holiday style, then the neighbouring bays of Weligama and Mirissa might be the perfect places to break your journey. Both have areas with calmer and more sheltered waters, along with great conditions for aspiring surfers. Weligama is still fairly relaxed, with hotels, restaurants and surf schools nicely spaced along its coastal strip. Mirissa is more lively, with a condensed peppering of hotels and bars attracting a younger backpacker crowd, naturally accompanied by a tad more exuberance and noise! Meanwhile, out at sea, sperm and blue whales move gracefully in the blue depths...
Tangalle
Less-developed Tangalle benefits from the continued pristine coastline, although the understated town doesn’t really set the scene for some of the ultra luxury that’s available nearby. The lavish Amanwella is a good example and there are several other diverse options if such obvious opulence is not to your taste or budget. Bijou beach houses and small, welcoming hotels dot the seaside landscape wherever the views are best. If you tire of the sea, beach, infinity pool, fine food and general luxuriating, there are some fascinating sites to visit nearby, including the evocative and atmospheric cave temple of Mulkirigala.
