Sri Lanka vacation description. The best resorts of Sri Lanka description

It's almost impossible to answer this question right off the bat. I'll explain why. Although there are no winters and cold weather in Sri Lanka at all (it is located 500 kilometers from the equator), the climate of this island is very changeable, periods of drought and rain are pronounced in it. Therefore, in order to answer where it is better to go to Sri Lanka, you still need to clarify the approximate time of your vacation. So let's ask the question differently.

Sri Lanka: where is the best place to go in autumn-winter?

The ideal time for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka can be considered the months of November, December, January, February, March. The ideal option during this period would be to go to the beaches of the southern and southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. In such resorts of Sri Lanka as Mount Lavinya, Kosgoda, Bentota, Mirisa, Unavantuna, Dikwella, from November to April, there is a real stir.

Sri Lanka: where is the best place to go in the summer months?

At that time southern resorts are dominated by the tropical monsoon. On southern beaches It rains almost constantly, although warm. The sea at this time of the year on the beaches is very violent, it is almost impossible to swim. The ideal option is to travel to East Coast- the resort of Trincomalee and Arugam Bay. These resorts civil war, which ended here in 2009, have not yet fully recovered, but more and more tourists visit these beaches because housing and food prices are much lower than already promoted places. Here are the most promising plots of land for the development of the tourism industry. So far, the only drawback of the listed resorts is the lack of high-speed roads to them, but in the near future everything will change, because China has begun large-scale construction of a toll road to the north on the island, connecting eastern and central regions countries.

Sri Lanka: where is the best place to go on your own?

If we talk in general about gaining the experience of an independent trip to Sri Lanka, booking a flight yourself, looking for housing and food yourself, then there are no restrictions at all. As a rule, if you are going to go alone or alone, then the best option visiting the island will be a tour consisting of 14-20 days . During this period, at a fairly comfortable pace, you can see almost all the sights of Sri Lanka, touch the culture and life of the country, and soak up, so tired, on sunny beaches. If you are determined to visit Sri Lanka on your own, the only thing you should remember is that the days before and after the New Year are very problematic for finding accommodation on the spot. Accommodation and food prices increase significantly, so we recommend booking it in advance. I think now you more or less understand where it is better to go on your own.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Sri Lanka?

No, wherever you are, from north to south, and from west to east, whether in the mountains or on the sea, you will always have a roof over your head. Of course, the amount of this accommodation is drastically reduced depending on your expectations as an aesthete and a lover of comfort. If it so happened that for some reason you could not find housing - do not lose heart. Your task is to find a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tukers, in our opinion taxi drivers, do not have a nation and everywhere the basis of their life is making money on solving someone's problems. Most importantly, at the beginning of communication, tell him the level of cost of housing that you are counting on, and at least explain on your fingers what should be there. hot water. Otherwise, you will start a numerous tour with the most expensive hotels, where he will be paid more for you.

Sri Lanka: what to do if you can't find accommodation?

In a word, even in the worst case scenario, if you arrived late, if everything around is packed, ask the tuker to take you to his house, or to his neighbors. It costs, as a rule, mere pennies, believe Sri Lankans are very friendly and hospitable people. You will spend the night at their place and in the maximum comfort provided to you by them. This tactic has been used by me more than once. We stopped with my wife just so that in the morning, waking up, not to go through the whole city to railway station, and leaving the owners' courtyard, to be right on the platform, this option saves a lot of time and effort. I hope that the issue of the difficulty of finding housing in Sri Lanka has been sorted out.

Sri Lanka is indeed a unique island in every way. This is not just a country of absolute exoticism, the birthplace of tea, elephants and coconut trees. This is something more: here you can find the last island of the relict forest; not far from Kandy to see dense, unspoilt Veddas; here you can see the ancient cities, the ruins of palaces and Buddhist sanctuaries lost in the jungle; here you can also find forests overgrown with dense lianas and ... rivers teeming with crocodiles. Enough to make it all a separate journey, right? Well, the beaches of this island stretch endlessly, and it will take at least a month to travel around them all ... So when and where will it be best?

In Sri Lanka all year round humid hot or at least warm climate, although not everywhere the same - the climate of the island is strongly influenced by the relief and the length of the island from north to south. The average annual temperature on the plains is about +29 - 31 degrees (seasonal fluctuations are very small), while in the mountainous part of the country the temperature is around +16 - 24 degrees. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean all year round is about +25 - 27ºС.

The rainy season falls on May to September(southwest monsoon) for west and south coasts and with October to April(northeast monsoon) for east coast.

Hence and best time For beach holiday in the country: October - April for south and west coasts And May - September for East Coast. Based on the experience of its own travels, the Bamboo Club company notes that such a division is very conditional: at any time of the year, on any coast of the island, there is always enough sunny days a year for a comfortable pastime on the beach.

To stay on the beach

Trincomalee (east coast): May - September
Recommended hotels:* , +* , * , Chaaya Blu 4*

Wadduwa (west coast): November - March
Recommended hotels: Serene Pavilions 5*, Siddhalepa Ayurveda 5*, The Blue Water 4*, Villa Ocean View 3*

Kalutara (west coast): November - March
Recommended hotels: Royal Palms 5*, Mermaid 3*, Avani Kalutara 3*, Hibiscus Beach 3*, Tangerine Beach 4*, The Sands by Aitken Spence Hotels 4*

Beruvella (west coast): November - March
Recommended hotels: Eden Resort & Spa 5*, Lanka Princess 4*

Bentota ( West Coast): November - March
Recommended hotels: Bentota Beach (Cinnamon Beach) 4*, Vivanta by Taj Bentota 5*, The Surf Bentota (ex. Lihiniya Surf) 4*, Club Bentota 3*, Serendipity 4* (ex. Avani Bentota)

Ahungalla (southwest coast): October - April
Recommended hotels: Heritance Ahungalle 5*

Galle (southwest coast): October - April
Recommended hotels: Amanwella 5*, Cantaloupe Aqua Boutique 4*, Jetwing Lighthouse (ex. Lighthouse Hotel & Spa) 5*, Unawatuna Beach Resort 4*, Weligama Bay Resort 4*

Koggala ( South coast): October - April
Recommended hotels: The Fortress 5* Boutique

Dikwella (south coast): October - April
Recommended hotels: Villa Jayananda 3*, Dickwella Village Resort 4*

Tangalle (south coast): October - April
Recommended hotels: Eva Lanka Hotel 4*, Talalla Retreat 4*, Ranna 212 4*, Palm Paradise Cabanas 3*, Buckingham Place 4* Boutique, Turtle Bay 4*

Must visit places in the country

Climb on" lion rock"will require a lot of effort. But it's worth it: from the top you will have an amazing view of the surroundings, and on the top of the cliff you will see the ruins of the Kassapa palace (V century AD), carved pools and terraces.

Anuradhapura - ancient capital Sri Lanka. The exact date of the founding of the city is unknown. But archaeological excavations in Sri Lanka confirm that the first human settlements in the area date back to the 5th century BC.

"Not a single drop that fell from heaven should fall into the sea without benefiting a person" - such was the philosophy of those times when Polonnaruwa was the capital of the state. The kings built a complex irrigation system here, and to this day an artificial lake, canals, pools have been preserved here ...

Insanely beautiful alpine landscapes create unique landscapes, without which a trip to Sri Lanka is unthinkable.

A trip to Kandy will be very popular with lovers of cultural values. In Kandy one feels special atmosphere, which attracts not only travelers who are in a spiritual search, but also ordinary people who dream of seeing the milestones in the history of Sri Lanka with their own eyes.

Walk through the Royal Botanical garden in Peradeniya must be included in the program without fail. This is not just a garden where more than 4800 plants from all over the world are planted, but also just a very beautiful place - a favorite place of the promenade among the townspeople themselves.

Pinnawala is the largest elephant orphanage in the country. Moreover, it contains the most a large number of in the world of elephants in captivity.

Caveman temple complex in Dambulla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Anyone who loves nature and wants to see wild animals in natural environment their habitat, may go to one of the country's national parks. The largest in Sri Lanka is Yala Park, which is located in the southeast of the country, overlooking beautiful coast Indian Ocean.

Watching whales and dolphins in the open ocean.

Almost the entire coast of Sri Lanka consists of sandy beaches. A most of surface it is an undulating plain with a height of thirty to two hundred meters. The most expressive transition from the plains to the mountains can be observed in the southeast, while in the northern part this transition is very smooth. The beaches are very diverse, but of course luxurious, different in wave, landscape, depth of coastal waters and even according to the rating of the famous Forbes magazine, because it was here that they were noted as best beaches Asia. Most choose the bgo-west coast, which is located south of Colombo. Most famous resorts this part of Sri Lanka: Negombo, Marawila, Kalutara, Wadduwa, Beruwela, Induruwa, Koggala, Hikkaduwa, Tangalle.

Bentota - Bentota is a city located in the southwest, here are some of the best beaches. The coast is built up with hotels for every budget, from budget hostels to chic luxury. Couples in love, newlyweds and just lovers prefer to relax here. a relaxing holiday. Still lovers love to come here active view recreation on the water, because there are a large number of centers where they teach water sports You can also rent equipment. Here it is quite possible to walk almost along deserted beaches, if you wish, you can rent a boat and go upstream Bentota - the river, it flows directly into the ocean. Bentota is diverse, the local views are unique, luxury and exotic merge together.

Tangalle - Tangalle is old City retaining its charm of a once eighteenth century Dutch colony. This is the south of Sri Lanka and the beaches in this area are the most beautiful in the country. In total, there are four beaches in the local district - Medaketiya, Pallikaduva, Medilla, Goyambokka. Tropical greenery is lush, palm trees hang directly over the water, warm sea and Nice weather almost all year round. The infrastructure is well developed, there are restaurants and shops, hotels offering the full range of services necessary for tourists. The city is located far from Colombo, at a distance of 195 kilometers, this determines the fact that there are a small number of tourists here, for a couple of kilometers you can wander along the deserted coast. The place is chosen by people who love solitude or VIPs who do not want to meet tourists on vacation.

Unawantuna - Unawantuna - the beach is called the same as the village in which it is located, the village itself is located along the highway that goes towards Galle from Colombo, the distance to the airport is 164 kilometers. In this place there is a beach of indescribable beauty, semicircular, one of the ten best beaches in the world according to the Discovery Channel. Blue Lagoon with incredibly clear water, as well as the area is protected by a double coral reef. Safe and pleasant swimming, because the depth is only six meters, and the water is warm throughout the year. Ideal place for divers big variety fish and sea turtles, reefs, shipwrecks, e.g. wrecked a hundred years ago, the British steamer Rangoon.

Eco-tourists tend to Unawatuna, they are waiting for hiking in the tropical jungle, as well as the nearby nature reserve rain forest Kottawa. If you are going to rest in Sri Lanka with children, be sure to go to Unawatuna, because the ocean warms up all year round and the minimum temperature is 27 degrees.

Mirissa - Mirissa has an individual atmosphere of relaxation. This area is practically undeveloped organized vacation. If you are traveling on your own to Sri Lanka, choose this area. Housing is easy to find upon arrival, already in place, located a place a hundred kilometers from Bentota and thirty kilometers from Unawatuna. That is, in this area you can just come on an excursion, if you do not stop to rest. Moreover, in Marissa from November to April you can admire blue whales. They come so close to the shore that it will not be difficult to admire these huge marine inhabitants from a sightseeing boat.

Kogalla - popular place among divers. Nature is unique Coral reefs, golden sand on the beach, impressive size freshwater lake and many nearby islands, and no doubt the evergreen tropics. It will not be a problem to rent a boat, catamaran or bicycle. Transfers to diving centers are organized directly from the hotels. Boat trips with the opportunity to watch whales or dolphins are popular. Interesting to visit nearby Buddhist temples on the islands of the lake. Kogalla is 136 kilometers away from Colombo, but it also has its own small airport.

For me, these places are interesting and picturesque, but the interests in all are different, maybe it will help you short description, I will be happy to help you.

Overview of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka: map, description, season, pros and cons. Find out where the best beach holiday on the island is!

There are many wonderful resorts in Sri Lanka with good beaches and not bad developed infrastructure. In this review, you will learn about the most popular resorts and the beaches of Sri Lanka. We will talk about a beach holiday in Sri Lanka: what each resort is good for, how to spend time on vacation and when is the best time to go on vacation.

Map of resorts and beaches of Sri Lanka

List of the best resorts in Sri Lanka

Negombo is closer than other resorts to Colombo Airport - the distance to it is about 30 km. This is very convenient for tourists who have undergone a long flight. The place is more famous for its fishing conditions than for its beach holidays: coastal waters abound big amount fish, their migration period falls on a high tourist season. The Big Seafood Market is one of Negombo's most famous attractions. Negombo has reefs, which makes the place popular among divers.

Beach holidays in Negombo are mediocre: the water is muddy, some parts of the coast are occupied by fishermen, where they lay out gear and dry the fish. There are few umbrellas and sunbeds, as well as water activities, the only exceptions are expensive hotels.

Nevertheless, Negombo is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka due to the comfortable swimming beaches that stretch along Lewis Place. In addition, here optimal choice housing and many photogenic fishermen and beautiful scenery.

Negombo can be visited all year round, but it is very damp in May and October - November.

(Photo © ronsaunders47 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Hikkaduwa is located 100 km from Colombo and is the leader in attendance. Divers, surfers, snorkelers, youth and family people come here. Water activities and modest night life made Hikkaduwa the busiest and best resort in Sri Lanka.

Here are the longest beaches in Sri Lanka and many hotels of different categories. The beaches are ideal for surfing - almost always a strong wave. Early in the morning, huge turtles appear near the shore, which are so accustomed to people that they take treats right from their hands.

In the center of Hikkaduwa there is a coral park where you can ride a boat with a transparent bottom or go snorkeling, order a boat trip. There are several Buddhist temples in Hikkaduwa, the most famous and popular among them is located on a small island. Entrance to the temples is free, not counting the fare. Popular with tourists are excursions to the mines where gems that you can buy.

The best time to visit Hikkaduwa is from November to April.

Wadduwa is located 35 km from Colombo. In this Sri Lankan resort you will find golden sandy beaches, coconut palms, diving centers, sailboats, surfing and other entertainment. During the dives, you can see the remains of sunken ships. Tennis courts and golf courses are specially equipped for vacationers. All hotels are comfortable.

Fans of excursions will not be bored - they will be able to visit neighboring Kalutara with Buddhist temple Gangatilaka Vihara and the fishing town of Hambantotu, take a boat trip through the canals and capture the local beauties.

The best time for an active and beach holiday in this resort is from October to March.

(Photo © Hash Milhan / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

The village of Bentota is located south of Colombo - 65 km (2 hours drive), between the mouth of the river of the same name and the ocean. It is considered the elite and best resort of Sri Lanka, a favorite beach holiday destination for romantics and those who seek solitude.

Here the largest number of comfortable hotels, sparsely populated clean beaches and the lush nature of the jungle, the famous mangrove forests grow in this area. The resort offers a lot of entertainment for its guests - sea and river fishing, an exciting safari on the river with crocodiles, excursions to a turtle farm, yacht trips and much more. For lovers of diving there is a center.

The best time for a beach holiday in Bentota is from October to April.

(Photo © lola media / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Small resort village Unawatuna is located 120 km from Colombo. Once it was fishing village, now a rapidly developing resort is only slightly inferior in popularity to Hikkaduwa and Bentota.

This place is especially loved by tourists vacationing on their own - the resort has many guesthouses affordable price. The main advantage of Unawatuna is the calm water in the ocean. Central Beach is located in a bay, and coral reefs protect from strong waves, so they are happy to relax here with children.

All tourism infrastructure created. Vacationers can go diving or snorkeling, excursion lovers can visit neighboring resort- Galle. But this place is not for solitude: the beaches of Unawatuna can be quite crowded.

The best time to visit is from December to April. Too rainy in May and October-November.

(Photo © iris0327 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Due to their remoteness from the airport, resorts northeast coast Sri Lankans are less popular than the southwestern ones. Nevertheless, Trincomalee is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka and the most beautiful place islands: here is a deep-sea bay, discovered at one time by Admiral Nelson. Trincomalee itself is unique in terms of architecture - there are Muslim buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples. You can get there by night train from Colombo (9 hours on the way) or by bus (7 hours).

According to some vacationers, the beaches of Trincomalee are the best in all of Sri Lanka. The rest is calm, there is little entertainment here, the infrastructure is still under development, most hotels are inexpensive, bars and restaurants of the same level.

surprises natural beauty of this place are tall palm trees and lemurs roaming free. Not far from the coast - coral island, which was chosen by divers and snorkelers, there are hot springs a few kilometers away.

It is best to plan a trip from March to August, as it is too rainy in November-December.

List of the best beaches in Sri Lanka

All the beaches of the island are sandy, many of them are surrounded by coconut palms and others. tropical plants. The best beaches in Sri Lanka are located on southwest coast and not too far apart.

Bentota Beach

Most famous beach on the island, and according to numerous reviews of enthusiastic tourists, it is also one of the best for a beach holiday. It is here that they prefer to spend their Honeymoon newlyweds. A wide coastal strip, palm trees, complete privacy - these are the main advantages of this place.

Great place and almost complete lack of infrastructure. Since the beach is quite far from Colombo (5 hours by bus), it is visited by single tourists or those who have taken independent trip around the island.

Unawatuna Beach is located in the village of the same name. The coastal strip is not as wide as in Bentota, but the calm waters off the coast make it extremely attractive. The sand is very fine and clean, part of the territory is occupied by cafes and hotels, the rest is available for swimming and water activities. There is shallow water for swimming with kids.

Hikkaduwa Beach

The longest beach line in Sri Lanka. Orange sand and turquoise water, along the line - numerous cafes and guesthouses. Strong waves have made this place a favorite place for surfers, but there are relatively calm areas - near the Chaaya Tranz hotel. There are no sun loungers, there is enough shade from palm trees, many people come there to swim with their children. Thanks to all this, Hikkaduwa Beach is considered to be the best places for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka.

The Tangalle beach complex has long and stubbornly been included in the lists of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. This perfect place for solitary recreation: you can walk a mile and not meet a single person. Any accommodation can be found. You can get to the place by bus from Colombo (6 hours).

It is difficult to predict where and who will like it more. Sri Lanka is still amazing island where every place deserves special attention and admiration, so it is rather difficult to compile a list of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka that claims to be objective. However, we hope that our review will help you decide on the choice of a place to stay and you will have a great time.

If you look closely at the map, you can see the island of Sri Lanka, surrounded on all sides Indian Ocean. It would seem that the ocean is everywhere and summer is all year round, you can go to the island wherever you want.

Where better to go on vacation and what beaches

As I already wrote, in Sri Lanka there is no concept of winter - summer, but there is a monsoon season and a season favorable for a beach holiday. IN winter period strong monsoons hit the east coast of the island and they blow from the northeast. In summer, everything is just the opposite: monsoons and winds from the southwest.

Therefore, excellent hotels and the most beautiful beaches for swimming on the southwest coast, and for and - welcome to the east coast.

And we, as residents of a colder climate, always want to bask in the sun and swim in the clear, turquoise sea.

Overview of the beaches of Sri Lanka

Unique beauty beaches and magical sunsets, at a fairly low cost of travel, you can only see in Sri Lanka.

That way!

When we have winter, there is the season for rest. Therefore, the number of Europeans from December to March rolls over and there is where to go on vacation!
All beaches in Sri Lanka are located very compactly and due to the timely construction of a high-speed toll road to get from Colombo to Kogalla is now much faster (instead of 5-6 hours, with a good driver and without traffic congestion in Colombo, in 3.5 hours).

Negombo

the closest beach to the airport. It is located in the lagoon.

Pros:

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