Area: Sri Lanka beach holidays

Create your holiday

Search based on 2 adults sharing 1 room flying from London in Economy
Click for more optionsClose

Room 1
Age of ChildrenDiscounts may be offered to children of certain ages, please enter ages at time of travel
Age of InfantsDiscounts may be offered to infants. Please enter infant ages at time of departure
Room 2
Age of ChildrenDiscounts may be offered to children of certain ages, please enter ages at time of travel
Age of InfantsDiscounts may be offered to infants. Please enter infant ages at time of departure
Room 3
Age of ChildrenDiscounts may be offered to children of certain ages, please enter ages at time of travel
Age of InfantsDiscounts may be offered to infants. Please enter infant ages at time of departure
Room 4
Age of ChildrenDiscounts may be offered to children of certain ages, please enter ages at time of travel
Age of InfantsDiscounts may be offered to infants. Please enter infant ages at time of departure
Search for holidays

Recommended Beach Hotels

  • Bentota Beach
  • Bentota Beach Hotel
  • The Beach

Sri Lanka beach holidays

Add to travel planner

Sri Lanka’s palm-fringed beaches are dotted with relaxing resorts – perfect for a relaxing escape. With sand that glitters like gold dust and a turquoise sea that sparkles all the way down the southwest coast, on the island’s idyllic coastal stretch you can unwind under the warm sun, try thrilling watersports and savour fresh seafood as the sun sets.


Head to the island’s southern tip and soak up the colonial atmosphere of fortress city Galle, watching men fish on stilts along the stunning coast. Discover an underwater wonderland in Bentota as you dive among sunken shipwrecks and colourful fish. Contrast Colombo’s vibrant city with its soothing beaches, or spot fishing canoes and catamarans float past in traditional Negombo.

Find your perfect Sri Lanka Beach resort with Kuoni. Choose from:
•   The historic fortress city of Galle, steeped in old colonial atmosphere with a beautiful beach, bazaar-style market and stilted fishermen perched on their poles
•   Negombo - a picturesque fishing town with its pretty churches, nearby Elephant Sanctuary and variety of watersports
•   Sri Lanka's scenic Southwest Coast, home to palm-fringed beaches, luxurious resorts, watersports and wildlife attractions


Discover our fantastic range of Sri Lanka Beach holiday offers.


Kuoni Sri Lanka Beach favourites
•   Stay at our Kuoni Exclusive hotels that include stylish Jetwing SEA and the fabulous value All Inclusive Club Bentota.
•   Our blissful spa resorts offer rejuvenating treatments in a beautiful beach setting – try Jetwing Ayurveda Pavillions and Jetwing Blue.
•  Our great value All Inclusive Sri Lanka Tour includes five nights at the four-star Bentota Beach, where you can rest in total tranquillity at the end of your adventure.
•   You can add a relaxing beach extension to many of our other amazing tours.

Sri Lanka Honeymoons
All of our Sri Lanka hotels make for fabulous honeymoon settings, but we have specially labelled a few of our favourite, most romantic retreats that we think make the most perfect settings for your dream honeymoon in the Sri Lanka. Please note that due to local laws and customs, same sex honeymoons are not recommended in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Beach Weddings

Getting married at a Sri Lanka beach resort is a magical and memorable way to tie the knot. An exotic land of endless beaches and swaying palms as well as host to vibrant cultures and magnificent landscapes and wildlife, Sri Lanka is sure to infuse you with its beauty and wonder.

Our Sri Lanka beach resorts also offer fantastic value, look out for our ‘Wedding’ labelled Sri Lanka beach hotels for our specially negotiated Sri Lanka beach wedding packages. All of our Sri Lanka wedding hotels also offer Renewal of Vows ceremonies and many also offer special offers and discounts, please see the individual pages for details.


Sri Lanka Beach tailor made
Our knowledgeable Personal Travel Experts know Sri Lanka inside out and will help you combine the island’s sprawling beaches with other fantastic locations. Whether you want to visit buzzing cities, explore the cultural triangle or tour tea plantations in the hill country, we’ll work with you to create your perfect holiday.

You could even extend your break to take in other destinations, such as the paradise islands of the Maldives.

Whatever you want, we can make it happen:
•   Check out our Tailor Made Sri Lanka Beach holidays
•   Call our experienced team on 01306 747002
•   Use our online quote request form

Time difference / local time

GMT +6 hours
Language

Sinhalese. Tamil and English are also widely spoken, and newspapers are printed in all three languages.

Currency

Sri Lankan rupee
Safety

Ethnic disturbances rarely occur in tourist areas. We always follow Foreign Office advice on matters of security for British visitors, but crime against foreign visitors is virtually non-existent.

Highlights

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, near Kegalle
One of the world’s largest elephant orphanages, it’s well worth journeying inland to see these majestic creatures and their adorable young play, feed and bathe.

St Mary’s Church, Negombo
Building began on this beautiful pink church in 1874 and took 50 years to complete. It was worth the wait – the landmark boasts spectacular ceiling paintings.

Bolgoda Lake, Panadura
Covering almost 38,000 hectares, this freshwater lake is fringed by dense mangrove and a haven for wildlife including 45 species of fish and 160 types of bird.

Events and festivals

March
The Great Night of Shiva
You might see Hindus holding sacred rituals at temples during this important Hindu festival, which celebrates the deity Lord Shiva’s birth and wedding anniversary.

April
Sri Lankan New Year
Everyone celebrates this non-religious festival, and the festivities include traditional games such as pillow-fighting and ‘hide the wig’

May
Vesak Poya
This is the most important full moon for Buddhists, as it marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing. The island flickers with the light of delicate paper lanterns and clay coconut oil lamps.

Shopping

- In Bentota, browse the colourful bazaar and pick up souvenirs, batik and brassware.
- Negombo is home to jewellers and gift shops selling local handicrafts.
- In Colombo you can barter at Pettah Bazaar, buy an exquisite sari and famous Ceylon tea, and admire local artists’ work. You’ll also find gem-studded jewellery (only buy from shops licensed by the National Gem & Jewellery Authority).
- Galle is famous for its antique shops selling colonial furniture and ornaments, porcelain and pottery.
- A short drive up from Galle is Ambalangoda, selling antiques and intricately carved ‘devil masks’ traditionally worn to banish demons.
- Further south in Koggala, purchase delicious cinnamon from the local plantation.

Flying time to destination

10¾ hours

Sports

Diving
Many of our resorts have PADI centres. Sri Lanka’s waters are home to historic sunken shipwrecks and vibrant coral reef teeming with tropical fish.

Watersports
Hit the azure ocean and try scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, waterskiing, jetskiing, banana boating, catamaran sailing and kayaking.

Spa facilities Most of our Sri Lanka beach resorts boast their own spas - book a blissful treatment and leave feeling rejuvenated.
Eating/Drinking

Food
You’ll find delicious fish and seafood, traditional Sri Lankan curries and international fare. In Kalutara, try the resort’s famous mangosteen – a juicy purple fruit. 

Water
- Try the local brew, arrack.
- Don’t drink the tap water. Most hotels offer boiled and bottled water, so stick to this instead.

Telephone dialling codes

+94
Excursions

Your hotel might offer excursions such as big game fishing, a romantic sunset cruise, seaplane flights, submarine dives and trips to national parks and temples.

Tipping

Typically a 10% service charge is included in the bill, even in markets. If not, tip 10-15%.

Climate data for this region

Best time to visit

November to March and July to August.

Loading forecast...

Loading Weatherforecast...

  • Kandy Sightseeing From South Coast Beach Hotels:

    Surrounded by lush highland scenery, Kandy surrounds a lake which was created in 1807 by the last king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinha. The tour includes a visit to the splendid Royal Botanical Gardens with its blazing tropical flowers; the famous Temple of the Tooth which houses the Buddha’s tooth relic; Upper Lake Drive and...


    More information...

  • Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage:

    This full day tour is fantastic. Pinnawela has one of the largest elephant orphanages in the world and a successful breeding programme. Twice a day, the elephants go down to the river where cameras click away as the young playfully splash about in the water. Don’t miss the baby elephants being bottle fed during your v...


    More information...