Bentota & Madu River
Bentota’s calm water, water sports and the Madu River mangrove system offer an accessible mix of coast and river wildlife. Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s garden estate on a peninsula above Dedduwa Lake, is among the most atmospheric heritage sites on the island, visited by advance booking.
Rekawa – Turtle Beach
Green, leatherback and olive ridley turtles all nest on this beach, monitored by rangers who lead evening visits to the nesting sites under strict red-light rules. The daytime hatchery visit is available year-round. It is the most meaningful wildlife conservation experience on the south coast.
Mirissa
A deep-water canyon off Mirissa makes this one of the best places in the world to look for blue whales. An early-morning boat departure can bring a whale surfacing within a few hundred metres, and sperm whales and spinner dolphin pods are regular. Sightings are never guaranteed; only licensed operators who keep strict ethical distances […]
Tangalle
Tangalle has the south coast’s best combination of quiet and beautiful – wide empty bays, the Rekawa turtle beach nearby and resorts with more space and privacy than anywhere further west. It is specially recommended for the Winter Escape Collection and for Ayurveda stays.
Galle Fort
A living UNESCO World Heritage site with boutique hotels, independent bookshops, galleries, a Dutch Reformed Church from 1755 and 17th-century coral-stone ramparts above the Indian Ocean. Portuguese, Dutch and British layers can be read in a single afternoon walk. Given a full day, the National Maritime Museum, the Dutch period museum, local artists’ galleries and […]