11 Most Beautiful Beach Resorts in Sri Lanka

11 Most Beautiful Beach Resorts

in Sri Lanka

The island nation of Sri Lanka is a magical place to visit, located

off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean. It is one of the world's

most popular vacation destinations due to its beautiful scenery

and outstanding beach resorts, ancient culture, amazing local

cuisine, and warm, welcoming people. Most people have it on

their travel bucket list or on their list of the best places they've

ever visited.

The best time to visit Sri Lanka depends on where you want

to go on the island. There are two monsoon seasons in the

Philippines: one from May to September and one from October

to February.

Areas on the island's east and north sides should be avoided

from October to February, while resorts in the west and southwest

experience monsoon season from May to September.

Check out our list of the best beach resorts in Sri Lanka for

ideas on where to stay near the surf, sand, and sea.

1. Shangri-La's Hambantota

Golf Resort & Spa

Shangri-Hambantota La's Golf Resort & Spa is probably

Sri Lanka's closest thing to a mega resort. It is a large

resort in terms of size (the largest in Sri Lanka), with a

wide range of activities, amenities, and dining, but it retains

an intimate, luxurious feel due to the limited number of rooms

(274). (including 20 suites). It also has the only 18-hole resort

golf course on the island, making it the best beach resort

for golfers.

The rooms and suites are luxuriously appointed and all have great

views - some overlook the lush tropical gardens, others the golf

course, and still others the ocean. They are all designed in a tropical

style with an Asian influence, as the brand is known for.

The Shangri-La offers a variety of activities in addition to pools

and a beach. There is a circus trapeze as well as a water park.

There's also an artisan village, which helps local artisans.

You can learn about (and purchase) local artwork and crafts,

and there are nightly music and dance performances.

The Shangri-La welcomes children with a supervised children's

programme. They stay free in your room, and children under

the age of six eat for free at the buffet (kids six to 12 are charged

50 percent of the adult price). The resort's casual all-day dining

restaurant (three meals per day) is Bojunhala, and Sera, which

is open for dinner, serves Southeast Asian cuisine.

Shangri-La also operates a hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital

city. Because it is closer to the airport, travellers sometimes

choose to spend their first or last night in Sri Lanka here.

CMB is a four-hour drive away from the resort (or a 20-minute

air taxi flight on Cinnamon Air).

Accommodation is available at the Shangri-Hambantota La's

Golf Resort & Spa.

2. Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle

Resort

This resort is also in Tangalle, but it is closer to the town. The

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort is located on a 42-acre

former coconut plantation on Sri Lanka's southern coast. It sits

on a postcard-perfect crescent-shaped stretch of golden sand

beach with turquoise water, backed by a line of palm trees and

grassy areas.

There are 152 rooms and villas, all of which overlook the ocean.

The villas are self-contained luxury units with private plunge pools.

Some have direct ocean access, while others face the ocean.

All villas include a butler, known as a Villa Host.

Every room has a large, furnished balcony or terrace, and ground-floor

rooms have direct beach access. The resort is built around a central

infinity pool with views of the ocean. A large wooden deck is lined

with sun loungers.

Anantara Resorts are well-known for their spas, and the Anantara Spa

offers a variety of beauty and body treatments. There is also a

selection of Ayurvedic healing treatments available. The spa has

a yoga studio and a yoga class schedule.

There are three restaurants, a lobby lounge, and a poolside grill

to choose from. You can also do their Dining by Design personalised

dining experiences in unusual settings such as a clifftop or a beach.

The Spice Spoons programme at the resort pairs guests with local

culinary experts and chefs for a cooking class/dinner.

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort provides lodging.

3. Aditya

This all-suite luxury boutique beach resort is located in Rathgama,

close to Hikkaduwa and the colonial town of Galle.

There are 16 suites and villas, each with plenty of space. The

villas are two-story and have over 7,500 square feet of living

space. The rooms are all unique; some have balconies, others

have terraces, and still others have private plunge or lap pools.

Aditya has a main restaurant that is open 24 hours a day, seven

days a week, with dining on demand and a la carte service.

Basically, you can order whatever you want whenever you want,

just like a diner. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at set times.

Swim in the infinity pool at the resort or unwind in the library

or lounge. A large outdoor garden with multiple hammocks and

a private beach is available. The resort can organise a variety

of excursions and tours to help guests learn about the local area

and culture.

Aditya's lodging:

4. Chena Huts by Uga Escapes

Chena Huts is a luxury cabin resort operated by Uga Escapes,

a company that owns and operates several hotels and resorts in

Sri Lanka. It combines two of Sri Lanka's best features: incredible

wildlife and magical, unspoiled beaches.

It's right next to Yala National Park and right on the beach. There

are only 14 cabins on seven acres of land, providing privacy and

seclusion that can be difficult to find at larger resorts.

The cabins are spacious and can house families of up to four people.

Each opulent cabin has its own private plunge pool, a spacious living

area, and a full bathroom with a freestanding tub.

Aside from the beach, the main attraction here is safari expeditions

into the national park's tropical jungle. Yala National Park has the

world's largest leopard population, and visitors can go on photo

safaris and game drives to see them and the hundreds of other

animals that live there.

When it comes to unwinding, the resort has a surprisingly full-service

spa as well as a large outdoor pool with waiter service.

There is only one main restaurant, Basses, but the resort will

prepare and serve meals on the beach and at other locations

upon request.

Uga Escapes' Chena Huts provide lodging.

5. Amanwella

The Amanwella is a boutique ultra-luxury, all-villa resort in Tangalle

that is part of the ultra-luxury Aman chain of resorts. The design,

like that of other Aman properties, is an integral part of the experience.

Tropical Modernism, a stylish, Asian-influenced mid-century modern

aesthetic, is reflected in Amanwella.

Each of the 30 villa suites has its own private courtyard, plunge pool,

and sun terrace. The suites are completely open, with floor-to-ceiling

sliding glass doors on both ends allowing for an indoor/outdoor

experience with gentle air flow. There is no separate spa, but the

resort does provide a variety of in-room massages and treatments.

While Amanwella provides privacy, you can walk a few minutes to

the village for a more authentic experience.

The Restaurant and Beach Club specialises in local seafood as

well as dishes that feature Sri Lankan spices and curries.

Amanwella is a hotel.

6. Uga Bay by Uga Escapes

Uga Bay, another Uga Escapes property, is a reasonably priced luxury

resort on legendary Pasikuda Bay. It's a popular spot because the

bay is shallow and you can wade quite a distance out to the reef.

The resort has fourplex units in a tropical Balinese style, with

beach-view villas upstairs and garden-view villas downstairs.

Wood floors, ceiling fans, and open floor plans characterise the

units. You can also select a Bay Suite or a two-level Beach Villa,

both of which are larger, more luxurious accommodations.

Uga Bay has its own private beach that is more than a mile long

and offers the usual range of water sports and beach activities.

It's also close to some of the best diving and snorkelling spots in

Sri Lanka.

Uga Bay's food is served in an elegant restaurant overlooking the

pool, with a la carte dining available throughout the day. The menu

focuses on fresh seafood caught close to the resort.

Private dining is also available in your room or at other locations

such as the beach. They also provide a sand dining experience,

in which the staff constructs the dining set (table and chairs) entirely

out of sand, with only a single piece of wood for the tabletop.

After the meal, you're encouraged to demolish everything, much

like a child destroying a sandcastle.

Uga Bay is a hotel operated by Uga Escapes.

7. The Sandhya

This stylish micro-boutique beach resort offers a lot for its reasonable

mid-range price. It is located directly on Kabalana Surf Beach

and has nine rooms, one of which is a suite. All of the rooms have

either a balcony or a patio with direct ocean views. The entire

property is designed and decorated in a contemporary mid-century

modern style and vibe.

These rooms feature 500-thread-count sheets, a spa-like bathroom

with a freestanding soaking tub, and a Harman Kardon Bluetooth

sound system.

Aside from the beach and water sports, there is a plethora of things

to see and do in the immediate vicinity of the resort. There are nature

preserves and rain forests nearby, and the historic Galle Fort is only

30 minutes away. Both Yala and Udawalawe National Parks can be

visited in a half-day trip, with time to return to the resort for a late

lunch.

The Sandhya's Dining Room serves freshly prepared breakfast, lunch,

and dinner using locally sourced ingredients. Western specialties

are also available on the menu.

The Sandhya provides lodging.

8. Mermaid Hotel & Club

The Mermaid Hotel & Club is located in a fishing village about 45

minutes from the international airport, on a gold-sand beach backed

by coconut palms on the Kalutara coastline. Guests can enjoy an

all-inclusive experience at the 4-star property.

The resort has fewer than 100 rooms, giving it a boutique feel. In a

few different categories, you can choose from standard or sea-view

rooms. All have wood floors, large windows with doors leading to

furnished patios, and lots of bright colours.

Meals are served in the restaurant, which also has an outdoor dining

area. Guests have direct beach access, as well as sun loungers and

umbrellas. More sun loungers line the perimeter of the two swimming

pools. A sports centre with a variety of activities is also available. You

can also work out in the gym, play games, or get a massage at the

spa.

Mermaid Hotel & Club is where you'll stay.

9. The Surfer Surf Camp Sri Lanka

Can you guess the theme and main activity at this Weligama resort?

It is, indeed, surfing. The Surfer Surf Camp Sri Lanka is located on the

beach, in front of a gentle surf break, and is geared toward first-timers,

beginners, and intermediate level surfers. The resort employs surf

instructors and focuses on lessons and training, but experienced

surfers can take advantage of their guide services.

Accommodations can be booked as bed and breakfast only or as part

of surf packages that include lessons, gear, and even meals.

Experienced surfers can benefit from their surf guide packages,

which include daily guided trips to secret surf spots rather than lessons.

Yoga classes can also be added to or combined with surf packages.

Breakfast and dinner are included in the majority of the packages.

The Surfer Surf Camp resort is divided into two sections: the Beach

Camp and the TS2 Weligama Surf Camp, which is about a five-minute

drive away. It's similar to a satellite lodging area. The Beach Camp

is where all of the surfing, activities, yoga, and dining takes place.

A free shuttle service connects the two locations.

The rooms are decorated in an ultra-modern style, with white walls,

cabinetry, and furnishings that are mostly white. The Beach Camp

location has 12 rooms, some of which are dormitory-style. If you

want air conditioning, you must book one of the deluxe top floor

rooms, as it is not available in all of them.

The TS2 location's accommodations are all large three-bedroom

apartments with multiple bathrooms.

The Surfer Surf Camp Sri Lanka provides lodging.

10. Villa Saffron Hikkaduwa

Villa Saffron, a tropical design hotel on the beach in Hikkaduwa,

is a beautiful boutique luxury villa designed by a Sri Lankan architect.

In fact, the owners have a design store in Battaramulla because the

design and style are so popular. Antiques, artwork, furniture, and

other accessories designed or curated by the hotel's owners are

available for purchase.

Because there are only five bedrooms, staying at the boutique hotel

feels more like staying with a wealthy friend. Each one is spacious,

with its own terrace and spa-like bathroom. They all have slightly

different styles, and some have views of the ocean. Despite the fact

that there are only five rooms, there are amenities such as a 24-hour

staffed front desk and daily housekeeping.

There is free Wi-Fi, and the hotel will arrange all kinds of excursions,

tours, and experiences (as well as handle airport pickup/drop-off) on

your behalf.

Dining is a one-of-a-kind experience because the villa's chefs will

prepare any style of food you desire, whether Western, Asian, or

Sri Lankan.

Villa Saffron Hikkaduwa provides lodging.

11. Amaranthe Bay Resort

This popular low-cost resort isn't directly on the beach, but it does

have a small man-made beach on a river lagoon and a large infinity

pool. It's located on Sri Lanka's east coast, in the somewhat remote

area of Uppuveli, about three miles from the town of Trincomalee,

which is popular for budget accommodations.

The Amaranthe Bay Resort's accommodations are clean and modern,

ranging from basic twin rooms to executive and junior suites. The

executive suites are ideal for families because they include private

terraces, private outdoor Jacuzzi tubs, and a second bedroom with

twin beds.

Junior suites have a large bedroom and a separate living area, as

well as a private balcony and a glass-enclosed Jacuzzi in the

bathroom. They're on the upper floors and have fantastic views

of the surrounding countryside.

The resort has a small spa that offers Ayurvedic beauty and skin

treatments, as well as massages.

Visit the beautiful Marble Beach, which is only a short walk away,

or the nearby Hindu temple. You can go diving or squid fishing, or

you can get up at 4 a.m. to visit the Trincomalee Fish Market.

Amaranthe Bay Resort provides lodging.

Muhammad Saghir

msaghir1392@gmail.com