Looking to find the best beach in Sri Lanka? Well, well, well… we can confirm we found Sri Lanka’s best beach called Hiriketiya Beach in Dikwella. Originally we had booked a few nights to stay in Dikwella, but as soon as we found Hiriketiya Beach next door, we decided to stay much longer.
To be honest, we didn’t think we would find a great beach in Sri Lanka because we had just come from Maldives BUT Hiriketiya Beach literally pulled out all of the stops. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the best beach in Sri Lanka!
The Best Things To Do In Sri Lanka 2024 Guide
Are you looking for the best things to do in Sri Lanka? Maybe trying to organise a Sri Lanka itinerary…
How to get from Tangalle to Dikwella
We paid for a tuk tuk to drive us from Rekawa to Dikwella (50 minute drive) and paid 1800R. You can get a bus from Tangalle that would take about an hour and probably wouldn’t cost more than 100R each.
Check out these awesome tours below!
Dikwella Accommodation
Crystal Resort & Spa, Dikwella
After spending time in hospital in Tangelle, we decided to splash out on some decent Dikwella accommodation and booked ourselves into Crystal Resort & Spa for two nights (AU$80 a night). We didn’t realise when we booked it but it actually only opened two days before we arrived.
It was a three course breakfast affair at Crystal Resort & Spa
The staff were super friendly and professional and our room was beautiful. With views out to the outdoor pool and onto the ocean, it was perfect for us.
What I loved about our room was being able to have a bath for the first time in a long time (we never had one in Australia whilst we lived there) and the bed was so comfy, it was a nice change to actually have a duvet to keep us cool from the aircon rather than a sheet.
Book your stay at Crystal Resort here >
Verse Collective Backpackers & Co-Working Space in Sri Lanka
The Verse Collective, Dikwella
We popped by next door to The Verse Collective in Dikwella, and loved the co-working space and backpacker hostel as well as the cafe.
It's run by a young South African couple with cool art around the building and what looked like beautiful hotel and dorm rooms.
Book a room at Verse Collective here >
Tacos at The Verse Collective, Dikwella
We tried to book The Verse Collective for a couple of days after leaving Crystal Resort but they were booked out. Staff were friendly here and although the food was expensive, it was good.
Best Beach In Sri Lanka Is Hiriketiya Beach
One of our Instagram followers told us to go to Hiriketiya Beach and we couldn't believe how amazing it is.
We were utterly gobsmacked at how beautiful and completely perfect this beach is. It's honestly a little oasis, away from any road and had such a great vibe and beach.
Hiriketiya Beach is a fantastic place to learn to surf in Sri Lanka. Although I'm not a surfer myself, it didn't matter because the water was so lovely, we could spend hours swimming in it.
Happy in Hiriketiya
There's a mixture of tourists staying in Hiriketiya Beach. From surfers to backpackers and families, it's like there's something for everyone.
Check out these awesome tours below!
Hiriketiya Beach Accommodation
Hasmal House, Hiriketiya
After we moved out of Crystal Resort, we spent the day looking around various guesthouses until we found a gorgeous little homestay called Hasmal House just 30 seconds up from the beach.
Although this place was different.
The family lived up the road rather than in the house too and it was like living in a two bedroom apartment complete with dining area and kitchen for us to use.
Best of all, it was only $23 a night and we loved it. Our only problem was we could only have it for 2 nights as it was booked up.
Hasmal House, Hiriketiya
Where to eat in Hiriketiya
There's another Western looking could be in Bali restaurant called The Grove, owned by Australians and they actually had an Aussie menu but only served it until 1pm. After then, it was just expensive tacos on the menu until their dinner menu started. It was nice to see the brunch menu and have a smoothie bowl again 🙂
We did however find a roti shop just off the beach next Jesmi guesthouse. This place was awesome, a great little restaurant outside a family home and we loved it not only for the pricing, but because the food was good and it felt right to support a local family.
Hiriketiya Yoga Classes At Jasper House
Our yoga class at Jasper House, Hiriketiya
There's quite a few Hiriketiya Beach yoga classes twice a day at 8am and 4pm at Dots (a great hostel btw too), Salt and Jasper House.
Because our homestay was opposite Jasper House (it's also a brilliant place to stay if you're looking for Dikwella luxury accommodation. Check for rates here.) we went there on the two mornings we spent in Hirikitiya. It cost 1200R (about AU$10) but we absolutely loved it. The class was led by another Westerner and from what I could see, the other classes were too around the island.
I felt so inspired seeing all the fit surfers that I also went running early in the mornings before yoga and it felt awesome. There's loads of little lanes to run around and it was fascinating that running just 15 minutes down the road from our guest house was a surprise for all of the locals. Everyone came out to say hi to me and it was lovely.
After four days in Hiriketiya Beach, I had a really emotional goodbye with a place I had truly loved so much I hadn't felt like this since we left Fulidhoo in Maldives. There's not many places in the world that make me cry when I have to leave them and Hiriketiya Beach was one of them.
Now knowing what the other beaches are like up the coast like Mirissa, I would have happily stayed in Hiriketiya Beach until we had to catch our flight out of Sri Lanka.
Read More Sri Lanka Posts
We've written loads of Sri Lanka guides from our trip there. Here's some to get you started.
Why You Absolutely MUST Visit Hiriketiya Beach In Sri Lanka
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