Sri Lanka – A Paradise for Surfers and Beach Lovers

Katy M
Feb 4, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Feb 6, 2025

Sri Lanka is an island nation surrounded by the sea on all sides, known as a prime destination that attracts both beginner and professional surfers. Many travelers come here to explore the waves or turn a budding hobby into a true passion. Beyond surfing, Sri Lanka offers numerous beautiful beaches, making it an excellent destination for a relaxing beach vacation.

We traveled in Sri Lanka for two weeks, dedicating the second week entirely to beachside relaxation.

Recommended Travel Season to South Sri Lanka

The beach seasons in Sri Lanka are divided across different months of the year. The rainy season in the southwest region begins in May and lasts until September, while the monsoon season in the southeast occurs between October and January.

We traveled in Sri Lanka in April, which is considered a transitional season between the west and east coasts. Since the eastern season had not yet begun, we focused our stay on the southwestern beaches and were lucky to experience sunny and dry weather for most of the trip. This is typically the best choice for a Passover vacation on the island.

Accommodation

We dedicated about a week to this part of the trip and decided to split our stay between two hotels. This is something I always recommend – if you have the opportunity to divide your stay between different areas or even just different hotels in the same region, do it. This division makes the vacation feel longer and adds an extra layer of experience.

We stayed for three nights at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort and another three nights in the Galle area.

Galle Travel Guide

A Hotel That Feels Like a Slice of Paradise

The first hotel we visited on Sri Lanka’s beaches was Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort. We have a special connection to the Anantara brand since our first trip to Thailand, so when we saw there was one in Sri Lanka, we jumped at the opportunity to stay there.

We were looking for a hotel with a relatively quiet private beach that is family-friendly, and this was one of the best hospitality experiences we’ve ever had. The resort spans a vast area, yet still feels intimate. It features two excellent restaurants – one Italian and one Asian/Japanese – and a kids' club where children aged four and above can stay without parental supervision. We saw many young children staying at the club and easily navigating their way around the resort, which is very accessible and safe.

Additionally, the hotel has a huge swimming pool with a 20 cm shallow area that allows toddlers to swim freely, a long private beach, a gym, a spa, and daily yoga classes offered for free to hotel guests. Throughout our stay, we had a dedicated butler who was always available via WhatsApp and checked in on us regularly.

If I had to mention one downside, it would be the location. While the hotel provides everything you need, if you’re looking to explore beyond the beaches, there aren’t many interesting towns nearby. The closest town is Tangalle, which we visited on our first evening, only to find it quite empty, with just a handful of restaurants that didn’t look particularly inviting.

Recommended Beaches in the Area

Hiriketiya Beach

A well-known and highly popular beach among tourists. The Hiriketiya area has several hotels, guesthouses, and numerous surf schools. The beach is long, with plenty of restaurants and bars

Dickwella Beach

Located about five minutes west of Hiriketiya Beach, this is a long stretch of sand with calm, pleasant waters. It is much more suitable for young children compared to Hiriketiya. The beach has a few simple restaurants and offers a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.