HIKKADUWA BEACH SRI LANKA – The Complete Guide
Hikkaduwa is the name of a small beach town which is located on the south west coast of Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa beach is one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka with plenty of fun activities to do. There are lots of water sports to do such as surfing and delicious seafood curries to eat. But also relaxing massages are easy to book here, and for culture you can visit some interesting Buddhist temples in Hikkaduwa. Read in this blog post everything you need to know about Hikkaduwa beach and the best things to do!
Best tours in and around Hikkaduwa
If you want to explore the best of what Hikkaduwa and surroundings have to offer, then these are the best guided tours. All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
- From Hikkaduwa: Udawalawe National Park Safari Tour. Visit the Udawalawe National Park, one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. Spot the 400-strong Asian elephant herd and the abundance of local wildlife on this safari trip.
- From Colombo: Hikkaduwa Village Tour with Boat Ride & BBQ. The ultimate one day tour to experience the Sri Lankan village life in Hikkaduwa and enjoy the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka. You will be served a locally prepared barbecue dinner that includes fresh catches from the Indian ocean.
- 2 day Southern Sri Lanka tour including whale watching. Visit Galle, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Bentota beach, Unawatuna beach and go whale watching during this 2 day tour to the Southern Sri Lanka coast.
- Hikkaduwa: Private Transfer to Colombo International Airport.
How to get to Hikkaduwa beach
Hikkaduwa is located about 100 kilometres south of Colombo and 140 kilometres away from Galle. There are a few different options to get to Hikkaduwa. With a private driver, by train, bus, or you can rent a Tuk Tuk in Colombo.
FROM COLOMBO TO HIKKADUWA BY BUS
Before you decide to take the bus, be aware of it that traveling by bus in Sri Lanka is very local and basic. For 100 LKR you can take bus 187 from Colombo Airport to Colombo Fort Central Bus Station. There you will have to change buses. You can take any bus going in the direction of Galle, Tangalle, Matara or Hikkaduwa. This bus costs around 300 LKR and you have to get off at Narigama beach or the Hikkaduwa bus station. The buses usually run every fifteen minutes.
The total time for this journey: 3-4 hours.
FROM COLOMBO TO HIKKADUWA BY TRAIN
First you have to get to Colombo Fort Railway Station where you can purchase 2nd or 3rd class train ticket to Hikkaduwa. This ticket will cost around 150 Rupees. The trains are usually packed on this route, so don’t expect to find an empty seat on this journey.
The total time for this journey: 4-5 hours.
PRIVATE TRANSFER
If you want to travel in a private car then booking a transfer from Colombo to Hikkaduwa is the best way. This will give you the flexibility to leave when you want and you don’t have to take into account the schedule of a public bus, train or other travelers.
The total time for this journey: 2 hours.
Best time to go to Hikkaduwa
Because Hikkaduwa is facing west, you will be able to see magical sunsets at this side of the island. Therefore, anytime is a good time to go to Hikkaduwa beach. Considering the best season to go, the best months to visit the south coast of Sri Lanka are from January until April and from July until September.
What to expect at Hikkaduwa beach
Narigama Beach is the most popular beach in Hikkaduwa and stretches on for about 4 kilometers long. It is a perfect surfing spot during the months from April to October. The sea water of the Indian Ocean is calm during the winters which makes it an ideal spot for snorkelling and swimming as well. You’ll have a high chance of seeing huge turtles swimming around close to the shore as this is one of the places in Sri Lanka where they hatch their eggs. You will definitely fall in love with the pristine white sand beach and crystal clear blue waters of Hikkaduwa Beach.
Things to do at Hikkaduwa beach
Besides sunbathing and swimming there are plenty of other things to do at Hikkaduwa beach.
Go snorkeling at the Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary Reef
The Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary commits to preserving the coral formations as unfortunately lots of coral (and fish) have died in the recent years. Reasons are the 2004 tsunami but also poor management and general pollution of the ocean. When you book a snorkel tour, you can explore the Hikkaduwa coral sanctuary reef and see the marine life and many turtles underwater from up close. It’s only a short boat ride to the coral reef and mostly snorkels and masks are included, but make sure to ask this before booking. Many tour operators on Hikkaduwa beach are willing to help you organise a snorkeling trip.
Scuba diving
If snorkeling is not completely your thing and you like to go deeper, then you can also book a scuba diving trip. Apart from the various species of fishes and sea turtles which you can encounter, there are also four different sites where you can explore shipwrecks in Sri Lanka Hikkaduwa!
Surfing at Hikkaduwa beach
Hikkaduwa Sri Lanka becomes more and more popular among surfers. Together with Mirissa, Hiriketiya and Arugam Bay is Hikkaduwa a great surf spot offering perfect waves. If you need to rent a surfboard, you can find several options at the local surf shacks along the beach or from a shop in the small village.
Swim with turtles at turtle beach
Right from the shore of Hikkaduwa beach you can easily spot many sea turtles in the water. They are used to people and often swim close to you. But please, be an ethical and conscious traveler and don’t touch or feed them! You can also visit a turtle hatchery where you can see the turtles hatching between the months of January and April. In the evening, around 6:30PM, they set the turtles free and let them crawl towards the ocean which is a beautiful experience!
Eat seafood curry with a fresh juice
After all the beach life you must be hungry and thirsty. Luckily the food in Hikkaduwa is amazing, and there are many restaurants who serve delicious seafood curry. There are also many roadside juice bars where you can get your daily dose of fresh fruit juice!
Day trips from Hikkaduwa
If you’re based in Hikkaduwa then there are plenty of things to do around. You can visit the Galle Fort which is only a 40 minute drive from Hikkaduwa. Or go whale watching, visit the Tsunami museum or book some of the Madhu river safari tours.
Galle is an easy day trip visit from Hikkaduwa
More Sri Lanka travel inspiration
We hope you enjoyed this complete guide about Hikkaduwa beach Sri Lanka.
For more Sri Lanka travel inspiration, head over to our other Sri Lanka travel guides:
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11 best Sri Lanka beaches – The Ultimate Guide
14 best waterfalls in Sri Lanka – The Ultimate Guide
Best things to do in Nuwara Eliya – The Ultimate Guide
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Best things to do in Galle – The Complete Guide
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Hi Ilse,
we really enjoyed reading your blog about Hikkaduwa beach, one of the best surfing spots at Sri Lanka. And then your pictures of the sea turtles. It must be amazing to swim just around them. You are very lucky travellers !