Kumana National Park

Arugam Bay Surf and East Coast Escape

Arugam Bay Surf and East Coast Escape is a 6-day trip built around Sri Lanka's east-coast surf season, which runs opposite the south-west's: while Colombo, Galle and the south coast sit in their wet season, Arugam Bay is dry and breaking cleanly roughly May to October, with the most consistent swell and offshore wind in the June-August window. The town has several named breaks within a short ride of each other: Main Point, a powerful right-hand reef break in town delivering 200-500 metre rides for intermediate and advanced surfers; Whiskey Point, 10-15 minutes north, a gentler right-hander suited to intermediate surfers; and Peanut Farm, a similarly mellow point break over sand and flat rock that works for beginners and advanced surfers alike. Lessons and board rental are booked and paid locally at the beach surf schools rather than pre-arranged, that's how the town actually operates, and it means you can pick an instructor and change plans day to day. A half-day trip to Kumana National Park, 12km south and home to leopards, roughly 30-40 resident elephants and over 200 recorded bird species, adds a wildlife day without leaving the coast. The transfer to Arugam Bay is long, roughly 7-8 hours from Colombo, the trade-off for reaching a coastline most first-time visitors never see; ask about flying into a closer regional airport if the drive time is a concern.

6 Days / 5 Nights