Southwest Coast Holidays

Bentota
A feel-good beach destination boasting a calm lagoon, a mangrove-lined river and golden sands, Bentota is a place for skimming waves, snorkelling among technicoloured coral reef and trying water skiing and windsurfing. For something mellow, there are yoga studios with drop-in classes, spas with lengthy lists of Ayurvedic treatments and river cruises in the company of baby crocodiles. For local adventure, visit the larger-than-life sorbet-coloured Kande Viharaya Buddhist temple and nearby Ambalangoda for the island’s famous devil dance shows.

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Beruwala
One of Sri Lanka's first Muslim settlements, the small fishing village of Beruwala comes with plenty of traditional flavour and is just a 20-minute drive from Bentota. Golden Mile Beach glistens like honey and the pace of life matches. Coral reef just off the seaboard is a snorkeller’s dream on calm water days, and the bustling port, lined with Crayola-coloured boats, is where you can watch fishermen bring in catch-of-the day that you’ll later taste in one of the beachfront restaurants.

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Kalutara
A cool coastal retreat that’s as family-friendly as it is romantic, Kalutara has the watersports, the waves and the plush hotels with all the creature comforts. Stay at Anantara Kalutara Resort and you’ll be ziplining above the lagoon, sliding into water skis and heading out on a traditional Sri Lankan sailing boat before chef whips up a meal with your catch of the day.

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Hikkaduwa
In raw-edged and rustic Hikkaduwa piles of surf boards are stacked on the beach, palm trees lean over the Indian Ocean and healthy coral reef gives you a chance to see turtles in their natural habitat. This is the surfing soul of Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, with small waves ideal for beginners and bigger breaks as you paddle out. Get your beach eats in shabby chic restaurants which slowly melt into mellow late night bars as the sun goes down.

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Food & drink
Roti, rice and curries are staple dishes, infused with spices including cinnamon, turmeric and tamarind. Being on the coast, fresh seafood is a main player, with prawns, crabs and lobster grilled or barbecued. You’ll find local stalls selling king coconuts, antioxidant-rich mangosteen and sweet sugar apples. Sri Lankan hoppers – bowl-shaped crumpet-style batters filled with a fried egg – are a breakfast favourite and kottu roti, a jumble of ripped up flatbread, vegetables and meat, is a dinnertime go-to. Made from the distilled sap of the coconut flower, Arrak is the spirit of choice and teas come in flavours including ginger, cinnamon, apple and vanilla.

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