Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is a lively beach town on the south-west coast, known for its shallow coral reef, now a protected marine sanctuary, where snorkellers can swim among parrotfish and angelfish and often spot green sea turtles grazing on seagrass close to shore. The reef has faced pressures over the years, and visiting it gently, with fins kept clear of the coral, helps it recover.

The town has an easy-going surf culture that gives it a different energy from the quieter resorts nearby. Gentle beach breaks suit beginners, while reef breaks challenge more experienced surfers, and the long, sandy shoreline is ideal for morning walks. By evening, beachfront restaurants set out tables on the sand and serve freshly caught seafood as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.

Inland, Hikkaduwa Lake offers peaceful boat rides past waterbirds and mangroves, and small temples, cinnamon gardens and moonstone workshops are scattered through the surrounding villages. Further afield, glass-bottomed boat trips and diving excursions explore wrecks and reefs offshore when the sea is calm.

Hikkaduwa lies roughly halfway between Bentota and Galle, so it slots easily into a journey along the coast. Some guests stay for a couple of nights of sea and sunshine; others pause for a morning of snorkelling on the way to Galle Fort and Mirissa.