Search for Sri Lanka Beach holidays and view latest package prices based on available flights combined with our selection of the hotels and resorts. We have also highlighted some of our current best deals to Sri Lanka beaches. All holidays to Sri Lanka include full financial protection and can be booked online or with a call to our destination specialist travel consultants.
Sri Lanka Beach Holidays
The Fortress Resort & Spa
1 FREE night
7 nights All Inclusive
From £2245 Per Person
Sri Lanka Beaches Travel Guide
Sri Lanka is famous for its tropical climate, sweeping beaches, ancient ruins, and rainforest reserves.
The south and west coasts of Sri Lanka are the most visited parts of the island, and where you'll find the prettiest beaches. Palm-fringed swathes of sand are backed by fields, orchards, and picturesque rice paddies.
The south and west coasts of Sri Lanka are the most visited parts of the island, and where you'll find the prettiest beaches. Palm-fringed swathes of sand are backed by fields, orchards, and picturesque rice paddies.
Things to do in Sri Lanka - The Highlights
Sri Lanka's national parks rival Africa's Savannah reserves - see elephants, leopards and all manner of birdlife
Discover 2000+ years of culture at Sri Lanka's 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Go snorkelling at Hikkaduwa National Park
See waterfalls and wildlife with a guided walk through the Sinharaja Forest
Go whale-watching at Dondra Point
Tour a working tea plantation and enjoy a tea-tasting session
See the sacred home of world's oldest living tree at the ruined city of Anuradhapura
Go on safari in the grassy plains and jungly forests at Yala National Park
Culture and Wildlife
Sri Lanka brims with culture, cramming in a whopping eight UNESCO heritage sites within its relatively small borders (it's a smidge smaller than Scotland). There's plenty to prise you away from the beach - discover ruined cities, cave monasteries and historic Buddhist temples. The country is also known for its varied landscapes, which range from grassy plains to temperate hills, tea plantations and verdant rainforests - all of which set the scene for loads of excursions and adventure sports. With such a diverse range of habitats, it's one of the best places in Asia for wildlife spotting - and because distances are short, it's possible to explore many different parts of the island all within the same holiday.
Sri Lanka Watersports
Located just south of India and surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka holidays offer all sorts of water sports. Take your pick from jet-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing, or plunge into the ocean and explore Sri Lanka's top diving sites. Shipwreck dives are Sri Lanka's speciality. October to May is the high season for diving the west and south-west coast.
Sri Lanka Hotels
There's a good selection of both boutique and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, with more popping up each year. From dazzling, super-stylish resorts to cosy colonial hideaways - there's something to suit all tastes, making Sri Lanka holidays increasingly popular for both couples and families alike.
Wherever you stay on your Sri Lanka holiday, you can be sure of a warm welcome. Visitors to the island almost always come home raving about the friendliness of the people.
View all our Sri Lanka Hotels »
Sri Lanka brims with culture, cramming in a whopping eight UNESCO heritage sites within its relatively small borders (it's a smidge smaller than Scotland). There's plenty to prise you away from the beach - discover ruined cities, cave monasteries and historic Buddhist temples. The country is also known for its varied landscapes, which range from grassy plains to temperate hills, tea plantations and verdant rainforests - all of which set the scene for loads of excursions and adventure sports. With such a diverse range of habitats, it's one of the best places in Asia for wildlife spotting - and because distances are short, it's possible to explore many different parts of the island all within the same holiday.
Sri Lanka Watersports
Located just south of India and surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka holidays offer all sorts of water sports. Take your pick from jet-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing, or plunge into the ocean and explore Sri Lanka's top diving sites. Shipwreck dives are Sri Lanka's speciality. October to May is the high season for diving the west and south-west coast.
Sri Lanka Hotels
There's a good selection of both boutique and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, with more popping up each year. From dazzling, super-stylish resorts to cosy colonial hideaways - there's something to suit all tastes, making Sri Lanka holidays increasingly popular for both couples and families alike.
Wherever you stay on your Sri Lanka holiday, you can be sure of a warm welcome. Visitors to the island almost always come home raving about the friendliness of the people.
View all our Sri Lanka Hotels »
Best time to visit Sri Lanka Beaches
Weather in Sri Lanka
The best time to visit the beach resorts on the west coast of Sri Lanka is for some winter sun from December to March - although the weather is perfect nearly all year-round.
The island is affected by the south-west monsoon, which brings the rainy season to the west and south coasts from May to July - so these months are probably best avoided, although the tropical downpours are usually interspersed with sunny spells.
Many of the hotels discount prices over the shoulder seasons (November and April) - so if you're flexible with dates, it's possible to pick up a great deal on accommodation during these months.
The island is affected by the south-west monsoon, which brings the rainy season to the west and south coasts from May to July - so these months are probably best avoided, although the tropical downpours are usually interspersed with sunny spells.
Many of the hotels discount prices over the shoulder seasons (November and April) - so if you're flexible with dates, it's possible to pick up a great deal on accommodation during these months.
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8
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25
38
18
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10
23
38
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18
Rainfall (cm)
Dining in Sri Lanka
Given that at some point or other during its history Sri Lanka has been colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, it suffices to say the dining opportunities are diverse. A mix between Thai and Indian cuisine, coconut, chillies, and spices are feature ingredients of many island favourites.
You can't visit Sri Lanka without trying a 'hopper'. Most hotels will serve these bowl-shaped crispy, coconut-flavoured pancakes at breakfast time. They can be filled with sweet or savoury ingredients or rolled like a traditional pancake. Sometimes they're even served alongside fiery curries at dinner-time, used to mop up accompaniments.
You can't visit Sri Lanka without trying a 'hopper'. Most hotels will serve these bowl-shaped crispy, coconut-flavoured pancakes at breakfast time. They can be filled with sweet or savoury ingredients or rolled like a traditional pancake. Sometimes they're even served alongside fiery curries at dinner-time, used to mop up accompaniments.
Where to stay in Sri Lanka
Negombo
Less than 10km and a 20-minute drive from Colombo International Airport, Negombo is a popular beach resort on the west coast of Sri Lanka; brimming with things to do, see, taste and buy. Historically a fishing town, you'll find plenty of restaurants serving fresh seafood dishes. Negombo Beach is vast; home to swathes of golden, well-kept sand. Evenings are relatively low-key, with local restaurants, bars and nik-nak shops to explore. Good hotels in the area include Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach.
Bentota & Beruwala
Bentota is an ideal beach holiday destination in Sri Lanka. Cuddled by the Laccadive Sea on one side and the Bentota Ganga lagoon on the other, Bentota's main allure is its impressive, palm-fringed beach. Despite an increase in popularity over recent years, the town has managed to hang on to its laid-back vibes, with a just handful of shopping arcades and cafeterias. There's also an open-air theatre which shows folk and mask dancing. Bentota is a great resort in Sri Lanka for watersports, especially waterskiing and windsurfing. A number of upmarket hotels line the shore.
Just north or Bentota, you'll find Beruwela beach - the starting point of a 130km stretch of sand. Recently the area has had a lot of investment, whilst the bay is ideal for bathing almost the whole year.
Hikkaduwa
The golden sandy beach at Hikkaduwa has attracted sun-seeking party lovers from around the world since the seventies. Hikkaduwa is a bustling town; the nightlife capital of Sri Lanka's west coast. Sip a bottle of the national beer at one of the local bars, or catch one of the regular beach parties and dance the night away on the sand. It's also a good surfing spot, and there are lots of snorkelling opportunities. It's the home of Sri Lanka's famed coral gardens, where you can catch a glimpse of the captivating creatures that inhabit the waters off the coast. Grab your goggles and plunge into the ocean - or take a glass-bottomed boat ride. Culture vultures - don't miss the chance to check out a traditional Buddhist temple.
Galle
Tucked away on the south coast of Sri Lanka, Galle is a town of prime importance. Famous for its Dutch colonial architecture, Galle's historic fort forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the area around the fort, you'll find plenty of artsy cafes, boutiques, and galleries to explore. It's an easy drive from the beach resorts of Hikkaduwa and Bentota; even if you don't stay here, day-trips are definitely do-able, and well worth the effort. Transfers from the international airport are only 2 hours long, thanks to the island's express highway. Stay at the five-star Jetwing Lighthouse.
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Key Information
Flight Time: 10 hours 45 minutes
Time Difference: GMT + 4 hours 30 minutes
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
Language: Sinhala, Tamil, English