Coral gardens, sea turtles, and the original surf town
Hikkaduwa put Sri Lankan beach life on the map in the 1970s, and it still delivers everything that made it famous: a marine sanctuary where coral gardens and reef fish start metres from the sand, giant green sea turtles that glide into the shallows, and surf breaks that suit everyone from first-timers to old hands. The town behind the beach hums with seafood restaurants, beach bars, and boutiques the liveliest stretch of the southwest coast, balanced by quiet mornings on the reef.
Swim at Turtle Beach in the early morning the big green turtles come right into the shallows.
Snorkel straight off the beach over living reef
Wild green turtles feeding in the shallows
Consistent breaks for beginners and intermediates
The reef without getting wet great for kids
Island shrine just offshore
Beach bars and fresh-catch dinners on the sand
Hikkaduwa lies in the Galle District, in Sri Lanka's South Coast region.
Tell us your dates and we'll build Hikkaduwa into a journey shaped around you.
