Beautiful white sand beaches, amazing wildlife, endless stretches of green and palm trees everywhere… hellooooo, Sri Lanka, aka the Pearl of the Indian Ocean!
This beautiful country is a tropical paradise with many cultural influences and a rich history (not to mention awesome food). On a recent tour, I completely fell in love with its south coast.
If you’re looking for somewhere both relaxing and adventurous for your next Asia trip, I’m pretty sure this is the place: the beautiful beaches of Unawatuna, the buzzing streets of Galle and the waves (and whales) of Mirissa… Bring it on.
1. Unawatuna
Unawatuna is two and a half hours from Colombo by train and is one of the south coast’s major tourist attractions. Its beaches are the most beautiful in the country, attracting both tourists and locals alike.
To avoid the crowds (and the stifling heat), I would walk down to the beach early in the morning and then spend the hottest part of the day relaxing at the hotel pool. Head back out to the beach later in the afternoon when it’s cooled down – just a bit.
Most of the hotels and restaurants along the beach are westernized and can be quite pricey, so for a true local experience (and to save a buck), I’d recommend a trip into town to try out a few of the local restaurants for some delicious Sri Lankan food.
I randomly stumbled across a beautiful and quiet beach called Dalawella, just five minutes away from the main beach; there’s a swing hanging from one of the palm trees, which made for a sick Instagram pic!
2. Galle
I get bored of laying around on the beach quite fast and feel the need for something a bit more adventurous. Luckily, just down the road from Unawatuna (15 minutes in a tuk tuk) is the busier and very happening town of Galle.
Devastated by the 2004 tsunami, Galle has been slowly rebuilt over the past decade and is now more beautiful and vibrant than ever.
For an authentic Sri Lankan experience, the best place to start is on the town’s bustling streets; stalls along the roadside sell fresh vegetables, fish and spices, and the honks of tuk tuks and motorbikes fill the air… If you start to feel overwhelmed, head inside the walls of the Galle fort for some peace and quiet.
First built by the Portuguese in 1588, and then fortified by the Dutch in 1649, the fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the architecture is beyond gorgeous. While walking inside the fort I had the impression of being suspended in time in a place that is not quite Europe and not quite Asia!
There are heaps of cute little shops and restaurants, and creative types from all over the world are known to spend time here to reflect and get inspired.
3. Mirissa
Mirissa is another beach town further along the coast, and is famous for its dolphin- and whale-watching locations.
I was a bit too lazy to get up at 5am to go out on the boat, so I opted to go surfing with the guys instead; this is an awesome spot to surf, as the waves are much higher than in other parts of Sri Lanka. Many waves (and bruises) later, I had worked up an appetite.
Luckily, Mirissa is also the largest fishing port on the south coast so I had some delicious super-fresh seafood in a shack on the beach!
Sooooo, life’s good on the South Coast. If you fancy spending a gap year in Sri Lanka, make sure to stop by this amazing part of the country. You might also like to check out tips for female travellers in Sri Lanka.