Then come with me to Sri Lanka where every day is a surf day! The East coast and the Southwest coast of Sri Lanka are surfer’s paradise! Whether you are a beginner or an expert, these waves will give you that thrill no other wave can. You can learn to surf at the many licensed Surf schools here too.

Some of the typical types of Surf breaks you get in Sri Lanka are: Rams Right, Reef breaks, Hollow barrels, Sand bottom point and Beach breaks.

And the biggest thrill is that the weather and water are deliciously warm so you can really enjoy yourself. No need for those cumbersome wetsuits and definitely no freezing water!!! Take your surfboard out now and let’s go……

The East coast offers super waves for surfers during the peak period. The best place to surf is in Arugam Bay. It is 400km from the airport and 300 km from Colombo. It is a small little fishing village with sweeping white beaches and crystal-clear blue waters with fantastic waves. The peak period here is between May and September. Here there are many offshore mornings and several nearby breaks that have headlands that have wind protection sufficient to keep things clean and readable right through the day.

You will of course find huge crowds on this beach but if you explore the surrounding areas you could find good spots that are less crowded. Surfers usually are up and going long before dawn breaks. But it is certainly worth bracing the crowds for the fabulous time you could have surfing on the waves in this area.

Off-season the waves are flat and surfing is not really good. Most of the surf shops, and surf schools are closed.

Facts 

Best time to surf is May to September.

The water is warm between 27 C (80F) and 29 C (84F) all year round.

Put on your sunscreen as the sun is scorching.

Good for advanced, beginner and intermediate.

Surfing school with experienced instructors.

To get to the beach from your hotel you can easily take a tuk-tuk ride or you can organize with a local driver to take you. But do remember to negotiate the price for the ride before you put even a step inside it. Also your hotel could organize a ride for you that is safer

If you are the adventurous type you can hire a scooter or motorbike but driving on those roads are dangerous. Drivers and people alike never adhere to road rules, and people, dogs and cows will cross suddenly at all places.

This point is about a half-hour tuk-tuk ride from Arugam Bay. It’s a long sandy beach and is much less crowded. But here there are rocks along the way. The ride here from the outside section to the beach on the inside is about 800 meters.

This place is rather remote so do take your own food and water.

Here you can work a four foot face and be only a few meters from the beach where it will grind down to the Sandy Point.

Here “The outside section sucks up and throws out when the swell raps into the point giving a 30 meter wall to work before it truly fades as it hits deeper water for about 12 seconds.

The wave then usually doubles up as it hits a shallow sand bottom section. It will certainly keep you hanging in there with all your might so as to be able to try the next 40 – 80 meter section.”

 When you are finally through it, it will meekly peel for a long time before it ends up meters away from the beach. An awesome experience, but quite a challenge. 

At this point you can easily get a large swell in the middle section.

This is a very good place for experienced surfers. The waves breakoff a rocky outcrop, close to the beach. 

The swell here can be from 1 – 6 meters which is ideal for the surfer. Although the waves are gentle, they are very powerful.

Useful link: 

https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Whiskey-Point

This is a ½ hour tuk tuk ride from Arugam Bay and is a very popular for beginners. You can get their by tuk-tuk but don’t forget to tell your tuk-tuk guy to come back for you at a specified time as this is a remote area and you will not be able to find a tuk tuk back. Also take food, water, umbrella and a towel.

To reach this point you have to walk for about 20 minutes on the beachfront and clamber over rocks. You may even see an elephant or two on your way there if you are lucky.

But during the day walking on the beach could be very sunny and hot. Its good for the intermediate and beginner surfers.

When the point is 6 feet then the Crocodile rock will be 3 feet and you will need at least a medium to large swell for it to work. It’s a mushy right ideal for the beginner and intermediate surfer.

This can be said to be the smallest of the Points.

Other surf spots close by:

1.   Peanut Farm

2.   Panama

3.   Okanda

The best time to surf is early morning and late evening. During this time the waves are in the head high range and can push to double overhead. In this are the peak season is from November to March.

There are many types of beach and reef breaks in this area such as Rams Right, Lazy Lefts, The Rock, which will give you a thrilling time.

If you are an advanced surfer you will enjoy the Rams Right Barrel and you just may have it all to yourself as most surfers prefer to avoid a fast hollow shallow reef break. In this area the waves break closer together.

A beautiful beach of about 2 kms long. The waves here are good and mellow and is ideal for beginners. Left and right beach break peaks give you a mellow ride which is ideal for beginners. The waves here are good all year round.

There is not only the main beach break on the main beach but there also are small beaches along the bay which has their own waves.

Weligama Beach Break – located about 2 km from the main beach you can rent boards from the row of little surfing schools here. Waves can get bigger and better for intermediate surfers.

Midigama – North of weligama is a very good beach with three great points – Lazy Left, Right and Rams Right. If you want to catch the Lazy Left go in the afternoon. The Right has a shallow reef break and is close to the road. For those advanced surfers, there is the Rams Right with a couple of barrels and short tight breaks.

Gurubebila – here in the early morning you can catch the Plantation Point rides with both lefts and rights. It is a bit of a rocky entry but it is easy to ride. The Coconut Point is a classical A –Frame formation and is better for experienced surfers only.

This is just a few kilometers east of Weligama. The sea is turquoise and crystal clear. Here you will find mellow right hand reef break which peels slowly and breaks over deep water. It is ideal for those who want to try reef breaks for the first time.

But you also get the left and right handers here which is better for intermediate and advanced surfers.

It is also a famous for whale watching as you get migrating blue, sperm, Bryde and fin whales in this area as well as dolphins. Hence it is a hugely popular place both among the locals and tourists.

Just 115 km from the Airport which is a 3 ½ hour drive lies Hikkaduwa. Here you get not only the left and right handers it is also great for reef break which is an A-Frame where the big ones breakoff a predictable boil. The lefts are long and “have good lip to them” and the rights can barrel. At High tide the waves gets back-washy and is enjoyable.

Best surf spots:-

Bennys – A left hander reef break for the more experienced surfers as the waves are over 6 feet.

Main Reef – A relatively safe left and right handers over a deeper reef can be used by all levels of surfers.

North Jetty – Long left handers with a reef break by the harbor wall.

Beach Break – This is a very safe shore and reef break and is ideal for beginners.

Other attractions in the area:

Coral Sanctuary

Dive Stations

Beach resorts

Snorkeling

Hikkaduwa is also a party town so the night life is great.

If you are going with your family, this is the ideal place. The waves here are great and you don’t get the night life of Hikkaduwa. Ask the locals where the good swells are as the beach is not always great.

This is an ideal spot for beginners as the waves are right on the beach.

The waves here are only 3 feet to 5 feet and is a super spot for beginners. It has a right swell .

This place has a good longboard wave. But in the afternoon it tends to get blown out.

Although this place is good for beginners as they are right at the shore with frothy small waves, there is a rip current here which can prove to be dangerous. Since there are no life guards here, one has to be very careful when surfing.

This is located about 120 meters from the main beach of Unawatuna. This is a left breaker over a reef with corals and rocks and also urchins.

This is a great spot for surfers. A local town un-spoilt with delicious food and great waves. There are many good spots here to surf. Several right hand barrels and peelers.

This is one of the main spots for surfing in this area. You get many surf shops and schools too. The nigh life is fantastic too.

There are 4 goof reef breaks all within walking distance.

A perfect spot for the beginners to get their first reef break or long boarders. It is a weak long wave which breaks over a deep reef.

This is a slow left hander and is good on a mini mal or longboard rather than a shortboard. You could get about 6 cutbacks on each wave.

This is a beautiful mini slab and offers a super barrel followed by a nice shoulder to get a turn on. You could also get a left off the same wave. The right can be quite scary as it is shallow.

This is primarily a bird park where you can watch peacock dances and flocks of beautiful birds. Here you can also spot leopards and herds of elephants as well as turtles, crocodiles, white cobra etc. Although there are some bears living here it is very rare that you would spot them.

Enjoy the hospitality and learn the true Sri Lankan way of cooking. There are several places where you could learn traditional cooking methods and to make those delicious dishes. Go home and show off to your friends by making these delicacies. It will also give you a great experience you will never forget. They will teach you how to make curries, the famous coconut sambal, and many other delicacies.

Even if you do not have an ailment, you can pamper yourself with an ayruvedic massage or beauty treatment. Its truly natural and soothing.

If you do have an ailment, get their special ancient eastern medical treatment of natural products and you will be amazed at their healing powers. The oils are fabulous and treat most aches and pains.

There are several places where you can practice yoga or even learn it. It’s a great way to relax and start your day.