Sri Lanka South Coast Road Trip: Galle to Tangalle

The 150 km of coast from Bentota to Tangalle is Sri Lanka's classic beach holiday, best from December to April. Each town has its own character, so the most important decision is where to base yourself. This guide compares them and suggests a 5–7 day route. For individual beaches, see our best beaches guide.

The towns, west to east

Town	Best for	Vibe
Bentota	Resorts, water sports, river trips	Polished, quiet
Hikkaduwa	Snorkelling, surf, budget	Busy, backpacker
Galle Fort	History, boutique hotels, food	Charming, cultural
Unawatuna	Calm swimming, nightlife	Lively
Ahangama	Surf, design hotels, cafés	Trendy
Weligama	Beginner surfing	Social
Mirissa	Whale watching, nightlife	Busy, fun
Hiriketiya	Small bay, surf, cafés	Boho, relaxed
Tangalle	Long empty beaches, villas	Quiet, romantic

A 6-day route

Day 1 — Bentota or Galle. From the airport, take the expressway south (around 2 hours). Spend the afternoon on a Madu River boat trip through the mangroves, or go straight to Galle Fort.

Day 2 — Galle Fort. Walk the ramparts at sunrise, visit the lighthouse and Dutch Reformed Church, browse the boutiques and watch sunset from Flag Rock. Eat well — the fort has some of the island's best restaurants.

Day 3 — Unawatuna. Swim in Unawatuna's sheltered bay and walk to Jungle Beach. Snorkel when the sea is calm. Late afternoon, watch the stilt fishermen near Koggala — note that many now pose for tips.

Day 4 — Weligama and Mirissa. Take a surf lesson in Weligama, then move to Mirissa. Watch sunset from Coconut Tree Hill. Our surfing guide lists the best breaks.

Day 5 — Whale watching. Leave early for a whale-watching trip (December–April). In the afternoon, relax at Secret Beach or visit Polhena's reef for turtles. Read our whale watching guide.

Day 6 — Hiriketiya and Tangalle. Drive east past the Hummanaya Blowhole to Hiriketiya's horseshoe bay, then on to Tangalle. At night, join a turtle watch at Rekawa. Visit the cliff-top Mulkirigala Rock Temple the next morning.

From Tangalle you can continue inland to Yala or Udawalawe, or return to the airport in about 3 hours via the expressway.

Getting around

• Private driver — the easiest way to hop between towns.
• Coastal train — the line from Colombo runs via Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle and Weligama to Matara and beyond, with sea views most of the way. See our train journeys guide.
• Tuk-tuks and scooters — for short hops. See our tuk-tuk guide.
• Buses run constantly along the coast road and are very cheap.

Swimming safety

The south coast has strong rip currents, particularly from May to October. Swim in sheltered bays such as Unawatuna, Hiriketiya and Jungle Beach and respect red flags. See our beach safety guide.