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6.05° N · 80.22° E · Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Couples and curious travellers who want a beach stay combined with ayurveda, wildlife and tea country.
Local time
Sri Lanka packs beaches, rainforest, tea hills and ancient cities into one compact island. The south and west coasts, from Bentota past Galle to Tangalle, are lined with palm-backed beaches, old colonial villas and a slow, warm sea. Galle Fort, a walled old town on a headland, gives the coast its centre, with cafés, galleries and ramparts where families, cricketers and couples gather to watch the sunset.
The island rewards those who combine a beach stay with something else. Ayurveda is a living tradition here, and several resorts build whole stays around it. The national parks hold elephants and leopards, and the tea country around Ella and Nuwara Eliya is cool and green. Distances are modest but roads are slow, so plan two or three bases rather than daily excursions.
When to go
The year in Sri Lanka
For the south and west coasts, December to April is the season: dry, sunny and calm, with a sea around 28 °C. November is a good start, though showers linger. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain, wind and heavy surf to this side of the island, and many beaches fly red flags. Rates fall and the gardens are lush, while the east coast has its own dry season at the same time.
Typical long term values, indicative. Weather in any single year can differ.
Where to stay
Resort styles here
South of Colombo, the coast around Bentota and Beruwala has larger beach resorts and ayurveda retreats. Near Galle and in the villages of Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa, the style shifts to boutique villas and small hotels in old houses. Further east, Tangalle has wide, quieter beaches with private villas and a few secluded resorts. Inland, tented lodges near Yala and Wilpattu and planters’ bungalows in the tea hills make good second stops.
Getting there
There are nonstop flights to Colombo from a few European cities, around ten and a half hours, and many more with a change in the Gulf. The airport lies north of the city, so the drive to the south coast takes two to four hours, much of it on the southern expressway.
Guides that mention Sri Lanka
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