Sri Lanka, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, has earned a reputation amongst surfing enthusiasts as one of the best surfing destinations in Asia. With year-round surfing, the country offers a number of locations to suit everyone – from beginners to experts – on its east and south coasts.
Sri Lanka is blessed with year-round surfing spots thanks to its diverse climatic conditions. The east coast is at its best from April to October when the dry months hit this region. Arugum Bay – perhaps not surprisingly, first discovered by Australians – is the most popular surfing hotspot; its open surf points feature some of the best waves around. A small fishing town, it fills up with surf enthusiasts during the season, with colourful lights, street food, fresh seafood and BBQ grills filling up its narrow roads of an evening. During the off season, Arugum Bay goes into hibernation, reverting back to being an almost unrecognisable quiet tuna fishing village. The south coast is at its best from November to March. Unlike the east coast, the south coast is no longer remote and untouched. A number of surfing hotspots can be found here, including Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Talalla, Weligama and Mirissa.
Weligama is great for families as it offers a range of accommodation options, whilst Talalla, Unawatuna and Mirissa are more appealing to younger surfers. Although the surf breaks are not as well formed as in the east, they are still great for a relaxed holiday with surfing being the main interest. For beginners, surf clubs and instructors are available with facilities for borrowing surf boards and other necessary amenities. Around the island the surf breaks are long and consistent. While they are not gigantic, they attract both professional surfers and beginners, as well as families. Both the east and south coasts have great accommodation options, delicious food and friendly locals. The east coast – where simplicity is key – offers rustic and barefoot luxury. The south coast, on the other hand, offers a range of accommodation from upmarket resorts and luxury boutique hotels to secluded villas. Our surfing tours also cater to those who want a little more than surfing during their holiday– yoga and delicious food.
Here are sample itineraries for surfing tours in Sri Lanka. Click below to read more about great surfing locations in Sri Lanka tours or get in touch to receive a detailed itinerary for a tailor-made holiday in Sri Lanka.
Amazing trip! We absolutely loved it. Sri Lanka is now a country we would definitely like to go back to and explore further.Thank you so much for all the work you did in putting the trip together for us. It was a great mix of places for us to get a good feel of the country. We will be encouraging all our friends to go to Sri Lanka.