South Sri Lanka- Travel Blog

When it comes to booking a getaway, most are searching for a holiday destination which offers total and utter relaxation and the chance to escape the mundane stresses of everyday life. Sri Lanka was an unexpected surprise and offered a tranquil stay. A whirlwind of culture, food, national parks, beaches and spectacular scenery, Sri Lanka surprised me due to a variety of reasons. Whilst I didn’t have much time to spend on a lot of places I decided to do just one small area- Galle, Unwatuna & Mirissa.

After landing in Colombo I decided not to spend much time at the capital city and directly made my way to Unawatuna- a sleepy old coastal town 5 kms from Galle and perfect for a beach vacation. Using Unawatuna as base, the idea was the explore couple of places around and enjoy the beach life.

Famous for its beautiful beach and coral formation, Unawatuna is a major draw. There’s plenty to enjoy- a good stretch of beach, a good selection of places to stay and eat, plus varied activities ranging from surfing and diving through to yoga and cookery classes.

Jungle Beach

Quick ride from Unawatuna is Jungle Beach, which has some of the best underwater views. The view from the beach is beautiful while the sheltered bay keeps the current away. Once ready to leave the beach, go take in the beauty of the Unawatuna Japanese Peace Pagoda just a km away for beautiful views of the whole area.

This coastline (between Unawatuna and Tangalle) is packed with beautiful white beaches, so you can easily get to the next one on a day-trip.

From now on, when you want to have a beach vacation in Sri Lanka, just head to Mirissa Beach. The sea is crystal clear the surf is huge and the sand is dotted with  bamboo and palm frond affairs beach with shacks and restaurants. Full relaxed and laid-back beach atmosphere around. Spent an afternoon here and enjoyed every bit of it.

Mirissa Beach

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Mirissa Beach

If you have had enough of the beach fun, then plan a visit to Galle. The old part of Galle, Galle Fort, was built by the Dutch in 1663. It is an architectonic masterpiece, like suddenly being in an old colonial European city. I enjoyed strolling down the narrow streets, visiting the many unique artistic shops and galleries, and having lunch and dinner at the many nice cafes and restaurants. Make sure to go for an afternoon walk on the city wall surrounding Galle Fort, and enjoy the sunset and scenic view of the ocean.

Sri Lanka is easy country to go or plan. Traveling through the country is relatively easy, english is widely spoken and easy to get around. Speak to a tuk tuk driver and one can go around easily for day trips. Travel travel is slow but surely the cheapest way. Though Sri Lanka may look like a small island, there is a lot to see and do there. So plan according to what are you going for. Focus in either South region totally or North & central together. That way you can enjoy the Sri Lankan life and attractions to the fullest.

Also it is a very budget-friendly country. You can make do with under 50 usd a day including food, stay, drinking etc. It feels like South-east Asia but far lesser crowd. It is hiding in front you. Just go & explore it!