5 Secret Beaches in Sri Lanka

by Ram Vaas Travel Blogger

To the south of India, in the Indian Ocean, is a breathtakingly beautiful teardrop-shaped island country. With a 1,340 kilometre-long coastline, it comes as no surprise that Sri Lanka has some spectacular beaches. A stay in one of the hotels in Bambalapitiya and some of the popular locales of Colombo will take you to some of these, but if you are looking for some of the most beautiful but less popular beaches of the country, read on -

Mirissa Beach - Mirissa is at a distance of about 150 kilometres south of Colombo. Despite its proximity to the capital, Mirissa Beach is a shining gem of serenity and is visited by very few tourists. Mirissa is a small seaside village. DO not expect hotels or fancy restaurants but that is precisely the beauty of this unspoilt beach. Swaying coconut trees, crystal clear blue waters, small food shacks, and lots of sand for children to play in – Mirissa is definitely among our favourite secret beaches in Sri Lanka.

Nilaveli Beach – To the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka, near the city of Trincomalee, is Nilaveli - the beach resort town. The beach is largely a private beach and is both clean and beautiful. Nilaveli beach is perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway.

Arugam Bay - The Arugam Bay beach is a favourite with those who love water sports but are looking for a quiet beach without any of the crowd that better known beaches attract. Located on the south east coast of the country Arugam Bay quickly becomes a well-loved destination for those who visit it.

Pigeon Island Beach - The Pigeon Island is home to one of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka. And naturally this makes the beach of the island both remote and sparsely populated. The Pigeon Island beach is one of the most idyllic and scenic beaches in the country and the resort on the island is perfect for the peaceful getaway that you have always sought.

Tangalla Bay Beach - Last on our list of secret beaches of this gorgeous island country is the Tangalla Bay Beach. This does not diminish the pristine beauty of this beach. The small town of Tangalla is located at a distance of about 295 kilometres from Colombo. The unending stretch of golden sand lined by tall swaying trees makes it the perfect beach for those who are looking for a quiet getaway. Tangalla is not great for watersports or surfing. The sunsets and sunrise are, however, breathtaking. The currents are somewhat rough and wilderness very attractive.

Apart from these beaches, Sri Lanka has much more to offer its visitors in terms of culture and heritage. Stay at one of the Anuradhapura hotels or in Kandy and visit these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.