5 Top beaches in Sri Lanka – A beach bums paradise

One of the first beaches you'll encounter when landing in Sri Lanka is the Negombo beach as it is located close to the Katunayake international airport: the country's main commercial airport. The beach of Negombo are one of the best places to get acquainted with what the rest of the country has to offer and is the ideal place to go for long beach walks. Enjoy live music on the beach and kite surfing; the most popular beach sport that the area has to offer.

Located on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, Pasikuda is a coastal city that offers gorgeous untouched beaches with waters so shallow that you can walk as far 200 meters without being in any kind of danger. While visitors can engage in popular beach sports such as surfing, kayaking, jet skiing and banana boats because the water is so shallow it's the ideal place for novice divers to get their feet wet and learn the basics of snorkelling. Located a short distance away is the Trincomalee beach, one of the best places in the world for whale watching.

Located in the southern part of the country, Bentota is a stunning beach city that has plenty see and do. From popular beach sports such as surfing, canoeing, jet skiing, boat rides to getting relaxing massages to even explore neighbouring cities like Kalutara, Bentota is a tourist haven that is worth exploring. There is a wide variety of hotels and resorts in the vicinity to choose from similar to AVANI Kalutara Resort that offer its visitors with plenty of things to do in Kalutara and other attractions in the area.

Snorkelling beneath Hikkaduwa beaches beautiful sea waves is an experience that you shouldn't miss out if you're visiting the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The friendly people of Hikkaduwa have been entertaining tourists from all over the world for so long they know exactly how to meet the needs of its visitors. The streets of Hikkaduwa are lined with colourful beach clothes shops, cheap restaurants with offer delicious food, swim gear shops that offer any equipment or gear needed for snorkelling, diving or surfing and rental shops that let tourists rent scooters for the duration of their visit for nominal amounts. Hikkaduwa is also known for its vibrant nightlife that attracts party goers from across country as well as foreigners who want to dance the night away in the wee hours of the morning.

The shores of Arugam Bay are recognized across the world as one of the best places to for surfing. The surfing season in Arugam bay start in April and goes on October and the waves that can rise to almost 5-10 meters is best suited for advanced surfers. Even if you're not a surfer Arugam bay still has plenty to offer such lagoon safaris, rock climbing, yoga classes and scooter expeditions to see hidden beaches. Similar to Hikkaduwa, Arugam bay also has a vibrant nightlife that's a lot of fun and normally goes on till the last person leaves.