HIKKADUWA
In the early 1960s, my home town Hikkaduwa started to change from a small fishing village into one of Sri Lanka's main surf destinations. I've been surfing these waves and the 3 main breaks since I was 12. These breaks, from north to south are: Locals Break, Main Peak (in front of Ranjith's Beach Hut) and Hansa Surf Break. Come see me in the shop, and I'll direct you to the great breaks here.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 99 KM (62 Miles)
SURF POINT: Hikkaduwa
RIDE DIRECTION: Left & Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Reef
KABALANA
Known as 'The Rock', because of the big rock pushing out into the ocean, this is one of the best points for many advanced surfers who come to our south coast. There's a pretty steep take-off from the reef, along with pretty warm water, which gets you feeling like you're really having a great tropical surf session. Kabalana beach break is in front of 7th Sky (Welhengoda) and is ideal for beginners. Give some respect to the locals and they won't drop in for your wave.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 130 Km (80 mile)
SURF POINT: Kabalana - The Rock
RIDE DIRECTION: Left & Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Reef
MIDIGAMA
Midigama is famous among surfers – the accommodation is cheap and there are a number of really good breaks here. The main break is in front of Hiltens Beach Resort. There's a lazy left, a 6-footer, and nice deep water – good for beginners and longboarders. An early morning offshore wind might welcome you with some barrels. The next break is in front of Ram's guesthouse which breaks right, short, hollow and fast, over a shallow reef and closes out nicely on medium-to-big swells.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 136 Km (85 miles)
SURF POINT: Midigama - Plantations
RIDE DIRECTION: Left & Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Reef
WELIGAMA BAY
Surrounded by rubber and coconut plantations, ancient temples, spice gardens and exotic wildlife, Weligama is known as 'sandy village'. Weligama offers something for everybody – especially beginner surfers looking for an easy-to-learn-on surf. Beginners can walk all the way to the surf line and catch the waves. Weligama is also the base point for a lot of the surf schools in Sri Lanka. Certainly worth being here with your longboard to make the best use of your time in the water.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 144 Km (90 miles)
SURF POINT: Weligama Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Left & Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
MIRISSA
Mirissa was not hit that badly when the Tsunami struck back in 2004, and the infrastructure was spared so the beach has returned to its beautiful self. Paradise Beach is rapidly becoming a very popular surfer hangout and is well known to Japanese surfers. There's a fine-looking right point with good waves if the swell direction is right. Waves wrap into an exquisite little bay. It's an excellent place to chill out, and there are a number of beach shacks at the point serving some awesome calamari.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 147 Km (92 miles)
SURF POINT: Mirissa - Paradise Beach
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Reef
TANGALLA BAY
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide-open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
OKANDA
Okanda is a remote location on the east coast, so be ready for a bit of an adventure. There's an amazing right point that breaks off a large rock headland, then runs at a near perfect pace for 200+ meters along some pretty well-formed sand banks. There's not as much swell as A-Bay, but you'll definitely want to find this place – it's a minimum two-hour drive along winding dirt paths from Arugam Bay. It's also a great spot for smaller days – I think it's as fun at 3 feet as it is at 6.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: May to October
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 345 Km (215 miles)
SURF POINT: Okanda
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand/Flat rocks
PEANUT FARM
Near the end of the season in '79, me & my surf mates discovered this small phenomenal cove & right break-point just south of Arugam Bay. We immediately set up a camp site there that the surfers have since called 'Peanut Farm'. This place is really near & dear to my heart. After the tsunami, I've been rebuilding it each season. What really sets it apart from the rest of the sand-bottom right breaks in Sri Lanka, is that it's nearly impossible to find without a guide – or directions from me – despite being relatively close to Arugam Bay.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: May to October
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 328 Km (204 miles)
SURF POINT: Peanut Farm
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand bottom
ARUGAM BAY
The point-breaks at the headland in front of Arugam Bay – are also known as 'A-Bay'. It's also the best swell magnet of all the points, so it's a sure bet that the break will be a few feet bigger here than at any of the other breaks, and usually breaks between 3 and 6 feet max. A-Bay provides a clean line that will barrel in sections and give you a nice 400+ meter right ride through to the inside.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: May to October
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 322 Km (200 miles)
SURF POINT: Arugam Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Reef with Sand
POTTUVIL
Pottuvil is a great little wave that peels over some sand banks and breaks so close to the beach, that as it hurls its way down the point, it's a crazy easy step off onto the dry sand at the end of the wave. You can then run back out to the take-off, and do it all over again! It's a nice fast and even barreling wave in the mid section, which then breaks right along the short.
SURF ESSENTIALS
SURF SEASON: May to October
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 326 Km (202 miles))
SURF POINT: Pottuvil Point
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
WELCOME TO MY SRI LANKA
Since I've been a boy, I've been truly blessed to be able to surf some of the most superb tropical surf in the Indian Ocean. With a warm welcome and a laid-back atmosphere, Sri Lanka offers year-round surfing for beginners and experts. My favorite surf spots in Sri Lanka are listed in this guide, and I welcome you to come join me for some of the best surf the world has to offer. Make sure to wear your Dunstans!
HIKKADUWA KABALANA MIDIGAMA WELIGAMA BAY MIRISSA TANGALLA BAY OKANDA PEANUT FARM ARUGAM BAY POTTUVIL
Since I've been a boy, I've been truly blessed to be able to surf some of the most superb tropical surf in the Indian Ocean. With a warm welcome and a laid-back atmosphere, Sri Lanka offers year-round surfing for beginners and experts. My favorite surf spots in Sri Lanka are listed in this guide, and I welcome you to come join me for some of the best surf the world has to offer. Make sure to wear your Dunstans!
- HIKKADUWA
- KABALANA
- MIDIGAMA
- WELIGAMA BAY
- MIRISSA
- TANGALLA BAY
- OKANDA
- PEANUT FARM
- ARUGAM BAY
- POTTUVIL
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand
Matara Beach gathers plenty of swell to a wide- open strand that is replete with a Buddhist temple on an islet. The east part of Tangalla Bay towards Meddawatta is best, and there are some good guesthouses and a range of decent peaks to choose from except at high tide. To the west, out of town, there are a couple of reefs which cause a fairly hollow left. Between Dondra and Tangalla contains a number of beaches and reefbreaks, but some swell and north winds are needed to get the surf going.
SURF SEASON: November to April
DISTANCE TO COLOMBO: 160 KM (99 miles)
SURF POINT: Matara - Tangalla Bay
RIDE DIRECTION: Right
SURF SKILL: All Surfers
TYPE: Sand