A nice and clean beach with white sand, less noise and less crowded. Another Surfing destination especially for the beginners, but during the off-season the sea is a little rough so have to be a little aware. If you don’t find the beach in Mirissa or Unawatuna comfortable, Kabalana could be one of the great choices.

Mirissa beach is one of the main tourists’ attractions in Sri Lanka. Beach is the main factor and the restaurants, parrot Island, coconut tree hill, day excursions to Yala national park, Singharaja Forest, snake farm, fishing village, whale watching, stilt fishermen, Galle Fore attractions have been given more value to the location. Direct access airport via Southern Expressway is another advantage in respect of time-saving.

Moonstones are hecatolite or sodium-potassium aluminum silicate that displays pearly and opalescent schiller. Sri Lankan moonstones are renowned in the world for their blue shine. Meetiyagoda is the main moonstone location. It has a mine and a display outlet with various moonstones with a workshop for cutting and polishing. It is a great experience with how the moonstones are coming to your ring from the mine.

Mask making is a popular traditional industry in Sri Lanka. Masks are handcrafted by skilled craftsmen who have inherited the industry from their forefathers. Ariyapala Mask Museum is a library that has a collection of masks in all traditions. A workshop is also located in the museum and tourists can buy those handcrafts as their souvenirs from Sri Lanka.

Martin Wickramasinghe 1890-1976 is a novelist in Sri Lanka. One of his dreams was to create a folk museum and later, the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust created a folk museum. A series of photographs, antique furniture, souvenirs, awards, etc of Martin Wickramasinghe are in the museum. In addition to those, variety objects grinding stones, traditional clay pots, old wooden carts, horse carriages, rickshaws, masks, and many more traditional objects are available in the museum.

Another one of Sri Lanka’s favorite surfing destinations. A wide range of bars and restaurants are available here. Surfing instructions? Yes, there are surf schools available right at the beach for your convenience whether you a beginner or a professional. Powdery sandy beach, quiet and nice. If you are looking for a place to surf, get a tan, have some seafood and a beer, welcome to Narigama beach!

Ahungalla is a peaceful fishing village. You will find locals with amazing hospitality. A golden sandy beach with coconut and palm trees, recommendable for walks and sea bathing too. January to April is the perfect time for sea bathing as the sea is not rough and offers the quality of a swimming pool. This approximately 3 Kms long beautiful beach is perfect for a romantic walk not to mention with a range of luxury and standard hotels.

Another perfect hideout to visit during your beach stay in Galle, Unawatuna or Koggala. Over the hill from Unawatuna take a short hike for about 10 minutes through the forest to get to this magnificent beach with calm water. If you are looking for an isolated beach to relax this could be the perfect spot as it is surrounded by the forest.

Would you like to swim with Turtles? Yes, you can in Mihiripenna. The place also offers a natural water pool ideal for average swimmers and kids. If your beach stay is in Galle, Koggala or Unawatuna, you must visit Mihiripenna beach. There is a rope tied to a coconut tree along with a tire hanging this has become a signature of Mihiripenna beach, you could see a lot of kids even adults taking a swing for fun. Would you dare to take a swing while your partner could take a snapshot?

A visit to this museum is worthwhile to know the marine history of the country. You can find a lot of artifacts and get to know the importance of 5000 years of Galle’s history and how it has been as a seafaring town. Situated in the longest Dutch building in South Asia which was built in 1672, there are more shipwrecks yet to be discovered and surely will be displayed soon. The artifacts will surely draw your attention in an hour or two you spend here.

You are on a beach vacation in Unawatuna, I know, Unawatuna is most famous for its unique beach but take a little time off from the sea and visit this magnificent Rock cave temple you will surely feel relaxed. Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya is a little similar to the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, the temple is not visited by tourists very often. As you enter the temple you can find a Buddha statue 9 meters in Hight, take the stairs up the hill you can have a wonderful view of the area. The temple walls are covered with sculptures and paintings. A visit to the ancient temple is definitely worth it.

A mountain in Galle relates to the Hindu Mythical story ‘Ramayana’. Legend says this is a piece of the Mountain that Lord Hanuman carrying while flying over Sri Lanka. For a view of the beautiful Galle area, this is the peak to be on but unfortunately, it is not allowed to go to the top, but the peaceful surrounding will definitely offer you a perfect place for photography.

Sri Lanka is a Cricket crazy country and the Galle International Stadium is known to be one of the most picturesque grounds in the world also as one of the luckiest grounds for the Sri Lanka Cricket team. The ground has a great past but was officially declared as a Cricket Stadium in 1927. During the Tsunami in 2004, the ground and the stadium were badly damaged but provided shelter for hundreds abandoned at the time. Bordered by the sea you can get a beautiful view of the ground from the top of the Galle Fort.

This is another one of the oldest protestant churches in the country. Beautifully built in 1755, and the most interesting part is the floor of the church is paved with tombstones from Dutch cemeteries, there is also a carved wooden memorial dedicated to the commander of Galle in the era. The building has not changed a bit since it was built about 250 years ago and this is the second oldest church in Sri Lanka after St. Peter’s church in Colombo. You will not miss this site during a Galle city tour as this is situated in the fort itself.

The exact date of when the Dutch Hospital in Galle was built is unknown but it dates back to the 1640’s. The colonial-style two-story building has been used as a Hospital by both Dutch and British back in the day. Presently this is an arcade offering shop for handcrafts, clothing and also includes quality restaurants and bars. So, if you are enjoying a city tour of Galle, this the place for you to stop by for a short break, buy some souvenirs and have your favorite meal or drink.

This is the main landmark of Galle, if you are visiting Galle, you must get few shots here for your travel album. The lighthouse and the Galle Fort which is a world heritage site are visited by hundreds of locals and tourists every day. Built-in 1938, the lighthouse is still in operation. Very next to the lighthouse there is a beach to have a safe swim if you are interested.

In 1989, the Forest was declared a World Heritage site and a National Wilderness area. Sinharaja gives the meaning ‘Lion King’ in Sinhalese. Most of the countries endemic species are found here. 95% of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds claim Sinharaja their homeland, making this place a great spot for Bird watching lovers. Sinharaja is also an Echo Tourism destination. The forest spans over 18,900 acres. There are two main trails you can do in Sinharaja which leads to peak Maulawella and Sinhagala eventually you will find both these trails interesting. About 8 endemic mammals are found here among them there is a chance of frequently spotting a Badger Mongoose, Torque Macaque, Dusky Striped Jungle Squirrel, Purple Faced Leaf Monkey.

Claiming for the longest beach in Sri Lanka, Koggala is a place most of the tourists do not explore much. Place amid a large lake and a reef, Koggala has its unique beauty. Apart from the beautiful beach, you can visit the Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya temple which was built in the 13^th Century and of course, it is less than 10 Km from here to the Virgin White Tea plantation. This was the birthplace of Martin Wickramasinghe who was a famous author in Sri Lanka, there is also a museum with his arts and traditions open for public. You can enjoy a less crowded quite beautiful beach if you base yourself here.

Hikkaduwa has been a tourist destination in Sri Lanka for a very long time as there were very limited hotels and resorts down south unlike now. The sun-seekers and wave lovers find Hikkaduwa a paradise as this is the best location close to Colombo with best-surfing waves. There is a range of restaurants and bars to experience a delicious seafood plate and to have your favorite drink not to mention also a range of hotels from star class to homestays. For snorkeling enthusiasts, this would be the best place between November to March as the visibility is good during the period. There are many dive schools providing quality equipment and experienced dive guides, so if you looking for a vacation with sun, sea and some activities Hikkaduwa is the place for you.

Bentota is approximately 101 Kms from the airport. You will find the town of Bentota once you cross the bridge over the River Bentara. Amazing greenery with tall coconut and palm trees and the prime beach will make anyone fall in love with the place. The Bentota beach is an ideal place for water sports such as windsurfing, snorkelling, diving and water skiing. You can experience calm seas during winter from November to April, the area offers a range of 5-star luxury hotels to standard guest houses or homestays for travellers to choose according to their budget.

Take a boat ride through the Mangroves of Bentota, you will witness the diverse wildlife such as Water Monitor Lizards, River birds even a crocodile in their natural habitat while cruising through the third-longest river in the country. Absorb the nature and enjoy the Mangroves which play a huge part in preventing soil erosion by acting as a natural barrier. This was well proved when the Tsunami strikes down south in 2004. The biologists and ecologists find this place a treasure trove for the fertile soil in this region. There are many undiscovered species in the depth of this mangrove forest.

Unawatuna is most famous for its sandy beaches and corals. It is home to endangered purple-faced langur, a shy monkey species that can only be found in Sri Lanka. Unawatuna is a seashore dotted with thousands of trees, coconuts, and palms and rich in biodiversity. Even though the town is small, it has great shopping vendors, guesthouses, trendy restaurants and a lot of activities to choose from. The wide stretched beaches offer good swimming spots and sunbeds to rest and sunbathe. There is also a little walk to a Pagoda statue overlooking the bay. The beach is directly connected to the city center with a lot of restaurants and bars so, at the end of a relaxing day, you can have a delicious meal and enjoy your favorite drink.

The waters around Sri Lanka is filled with marine life. Sri Lanka is a marine enthusiast’s dream come true. Five out of the seven types of sea turtles call nests on our beaches. All of them are among the endangered list. You get to see Leatherbacks, Green Turtles, Loggerheads, Hawksbills and Olive Ridley Turtles in Sri Lanka. The turtle care center in Kosgoda is one of the 18 turtle hatcheries along with the southern coast of Sri Lanka. So why we are recommending you to visit Kosgoda, because you get to see all of the above five species there. The center functions mainly as a hatchery and make huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stage.

Would you like to swim with Turtles? Yes, you can in Mihiripenna. The place also offers a natural water pool ideal for average swimmers and kids. If your beach stay is in Galle, Koggala or Unawatuna, you must visit Mihiripenna beach. There is a rope tied to a coconut tree along with a tire hanging this has become a signature of Mihiripenna beach, you could see a lot of kids even adults taking a swing for fun. Would you dare to take a swing while your partner could take a snapshot?

Galle, the capital of Southern province. Before the Portuguese ruling of the country it was also considered a major port because of the natural harbour. The city is a fusion of the Portuguese & native architecture and maybe that is why it has become a must visit tourist attraction. The Galle fort which is the biggest feature of the city is considered as a world heritage and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by a European occupier. While in Galle you can visit National Maritime Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral and Galle International Stadium. Tourists prefer the famous Tuk Tuk tour in the city which will gain you first-hand experience about the city and the locals.