Sri Lanka is a warm-water, beginner-friendly surf destination with a clever two-season rhythm: when one coast is offshore, the other is on. The south (Weligama, Midigama, Hikkaduwa) and the east (Arugam Bay) trade places through the year. Fly via Colombo (CMB).
South coast November – April; east coast (Arugam Bay) May – October.
Beginners thrive on the gentle, sandy points of Weligama and Hikkaduwa; advanced surfers want the long right-hand point at Arugam Bay (Main Point) and the reefs of Midigama.
It depends on the coast. The south coast (Weligama, Midigama, Hikkaduwa) is best November to April; the east coast (Arugam Bay) runs May to October. The offset seasons mean quality surf almost year-round.
Excellent. Weligama is one of Asia's best learn-to-surf beaches — a long, sandy, gentle bay with abundant surf schools and warm water. Hikkaduwa and mellower Arugam Bay points suit improvers.
Arugam Bay is on the south-east coast and is Sri Lanka's best-known wave — a long, sand-and-rock right-hand point. Its season is May to October, opposite the south coast.