Sri Lanka- Ahangama, Welligama, and Marissa
Introduction
When visiting Sri Lanka’s southern providence, there are many different locations that you could choose to be based out of. Whether you’re looking for a chill surf lifestyle, a vibrant nightlife, or a backpacking vibe, this guide has got you covered.
Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, Sri Lanka is a hot spot for surf crowds and beach lovers worldwide, and is a certainly an up-and-coming travel destination.
Based on the month long stay of my sister, solo world-traveler Callie Rounds, this guide will deep dive into the best that Sri Lanka has to offer.
Where to Stay
As previously mentioned, Sri Lanka has different locations to stay in based on what you’re looking for. All have something special and unique to offer, and you really can’t go wrong. And as Callie says, any place you stay you will want to do day trips out of to explore the other locations.
Staying in Ahangama
Ahangama would be the location to choose if you are a more laid-back person looking for a chill beach lifestyle. There are a lot more beautiful beaches here, more options for surfers, and less of a crowded nightlife scene. This is Callie’s preferred choice for the area for sure, based on what she was looking for while there.
Terra Resort would be the top choice to stay in Ahangama. It was just opened by a friend of Callie’s that has really fantastic “Bali-style” villas. It’s in a really great location where you can just grab a surf board and walk straight to the beach. And if you’re lucky monkeys will come up and join you as you relax by the pool.
If you’re willing to be really immersed in nature, staying at Villa NL98 would also be an incredible choice. The family that owns this spot took care of Callie while she was sick and brought her local remedies and made her food. They also showed her how to make food using the tropical plants surrounding the villa. When you look it up it’s described as a mud hut that allows you to “learn from the nature”, so once again know that this would be a very rustic experience.
In our other Sri Lanka guide highlighting Arugam Bay, we mentioned that Kaffi was an amazing chain throughout the island that consistently offered coffee that she was obsessed with. This cafe had an incredible view, high-speed wi-fi, and an incredible staff. And from here you can walk right from the shop straight onto the beach to take a dip or surf.
Cactus was another special coffee option that you could check out that also offers salad bowls and paninis, and you can walk straight to the beach from here as well. Callie said that everything she tried there was delicious.
For activities you will obviously want to check out surfing. The Dream Sea Surf Camp is a really good place to learn, and if you decide not to try out surfing while people in your group are, the coconut milk cappuccino is to die for.
Another good thing to do would be to get a day pass to the Palm Hotel to do work by their pool or take a muay thai class. This is kind of a secret recommendation as most people don’t know that you don’t have to book a room at this high-end hotel to be able to use it’s amenities.
Staying in Marissa
Marissa will be your go-to spot if you’re into the night-life scene or are looking for great parties. At this point in her travels that wasn’t what Callie was looking for, but the times she did go to events she said they were amazing.
The Doctor’s House is a really popular spot to check out for parties and events, and they also have pop-up markets during the day. Check out their Instagram for a more detailed itinerary of what they have going on each week.
Secret Beach Marissa is a great spot to check out that has become not so “secret” but is still a really nice beach to check out and fly a drone if you have one.
And lastly for sunrise or sunset Coconut Tree Hill is a really special spot to catch sunrise or sunset. You won’t want to miss it for your visit to Marissa.
Staying in Welligama
If you are a backpacker or are looking for hostel vibes, Welligama will be your spot. There are lot more people here than Marissa or Ahangama, and a big surf scene is created here that gets really crowded. This will be the place to go if you’re a solo traveler looking to meet people.
Hangtime Hostel is Callie’s recommendation for the area. They have really fun open mic nights and live music sessions, and everyone comes here to grab a drink and watch the waves. There are also fantastic rooftop yoga classes.
If you do end up braving the crowds to surf, Fishermans can be a good spot to hit up in the right season- just ask around and do your research.
Nomad Cafe is the spot to go for coffee and smoothie bowls post surf session. And the Tiki Bar is a highlight for seafood. It is a great local spot with a nice view.
Day Trips in “The South”
There are two really fun day trips that you can choose to do from wherever you choose to stay in the southern part of the island.
A day trip to Galle will be a super nice adventure filled with all kinds of activities. If you choose to do everything we are recommending it will definitely take the entire day so pack accordingly.
On your way to Galle your first stop should be at Wild and The Sage. If you are a coffee lover, this is probably going to be one of the more epic spots you’ll ever stop at. They have an outdoor space with events going on all the time, as well as some incredible food options. And, obviously, great coffee.
Once you get to Galle you’ll want to go to the Galle Dutch Fort if you have any interest in architecture and history. This is a really interesting spot to look around and get some history on the area that you’re in. The streets here are also packed with fun restaurants and cute areas to walk around.
Both Unawatuna Beach and Jungle Beach are really fantastic stops in the area post lunch, at the former you can often see sea turtles and the latter is considered to be more of a hidden gem. And if you missed turtles at Unawatuna, head to Frog Rock. This will for sure get you some sea turtles views, and if you want to swim with them you can, just remember to keep your distance and be respectful.
The other day trip would be to Hiriketiya Beach. This one would also be a good spot to spend the night at as there are really great bars and restaurants. The Salty Pelican is a great place to stay where you can also do yoga and surf with a team of instructors.
You will want to try and hit Hiriketiya on a sunny day as these are some of the most beautiful turquoise waters she saw her whole time in Sri Lanka.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka is just epic, there is no denying it. There is so much to do and places that seem to fit every type of person. Tag us in your next adventure to the area!