Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Diving & Snorkelling
Pigeon Island off Nilaveli beach offers crystal waters, shallow reefs, colourful fish, and
diving and snorkelling that's great for a beginner or the experienced.
Whale-Watching
Whales can be seen all along the Sri Lankan coast but Mirissa is the best base for
seeing the blue whales that splash past Dondra Head.
White-Water Rafting
As the Kelaniya Ganga tumbles out of the mountains and passes through Kitulgala it
produces the best white-water rafting in the country.
Indulgence
Bentota beach has an unrivalled collection of sublime boutique hotels, and when
you're done with pampering the beach itself ain't bad.
Solitude
We almost want to keep this one to ourselves, but seeing as you asked nicely…
Talalla beach is utterly empty and utterly divine - for the moment.
When to Go
Sri Lanka is pretty much a year-round beach destination. When it's raining in the East it's
normally sunny in the West and vice versa.
The main tourist season coincides with the northeast monsoon, which runs from December
to March. At this time the beaches on the west and south coasts are bathed in sunshine
and the tourist industry for this part of the country is in full swing. The east coast, by con-
trast, is often wet and many hotels are closed.
