List of the Best Beaches in Sri Lanka – The Best Coastal Retreats

If you don't want to travel too far away from Colombo – the island's commercial capital – Negombo Beach is the ideal coastal destination for you. Negombo beach is renowned for fantastic sunsets, so be sure to stick around till evening. Most Negombo hotels such as the Amagi Aria have beautiful beachfront properties, so there's no way you can miss it. What's more, if you're feeling a little adventurous, there are plenty of exciting water sports to try out here. Some of the highlights include surfing, fishing, and even a spell of scuba diving!

Located between the major cities of Colombo and Galle, Bentota can make for the perfect road-trip and the beach here won't disappoint. One of the best experiences to be had here is a relaxing boat tour across the coastal waters that border the beach. This lets you see and experience the rich natural beauty that surrounds Bentota, which includes a number of picturesque lagoons. You'll also catch glimpses of the vibrant local community, one which stakes its livelihood on harvesting the rich ocean. The lagoons that surround Bentota beach are also perfect for an exciting kayaking session or even jet-skiing – it's certainly a great place to visit for any would-be thrill seeker.

All the way at the southern edge of Sri Lanka's east coast, you'll find the seemingly reclusive town of Arugam Bay. Don't let the town's quiet nature fool you, as it contains one of the most picturesque and stunningly beautiful beaches found in Sri Lanka. Arugam Bay Beach was initially a popular destination for surfing enthusiasts, here the waves are just right for surfers of all kinds – from rookies to seasoned pros. In the time since Arugam Bay has grown to be an amazing coastal retreat that's complete with quaint cafes and bars fringing the beautiful beachfront.

The southern reaches of Sri Lanka contain some of the best bits of coastline found in the country. Among these, Mirissa stands out as one of the very best. It is said that the sand here is so fine that simply walking across the beach is a treat all by itself. Mirissa is also a great location to go whale watching in. Here the waters are regularly visited by ocean-faring giants such as the blue whale and roaming herds of sperm whales.

Uppuveli Beach is found a few kilometres away from Trincomalee, a region renowned for its pristine natural beaches and coastline. The real draw of Uppuveli is its secluded nature. The beach itself is found off the beaten track, this means that very few crowds tend to gather here regularly. As such, it's a great opportunity to enjoy the tranquil bliss of waves rolling in the distance in quiet seclusion.