Where is Yokohama located? Japanese city Yokohama

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located south of the Hindustan Peninsula. The total area is 65,610 sq. km, the length from north to south is 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. In the center of the island is the Central Mountain Range.

The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but individual peaks rise higher.

The most high point islands - Mount Pidurutalagala has a height of 2524 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (2243 m).

Typically, on weekdays stores are open from 9:30 to 17:00, and on Saturdays from 9:30 to 13:00. The addresses of stores recommended by the Ministry of Tourism of Sri Lanka can be found in many guides to the island.

In addition to tea, which, by the way, is allowed to be exported as a souvenir in quantities of more than three kilograms, items made of silver and copper are considered traditional souvenirs. These products are manufactured in the Kandy region. The Kandy region also produces beautiful pottery. They are painted mainly in red tones, decorated with various patterns. In the south of the island, various demon masks are made.

The most ancient folk crafts include wood carving and the production of various fabrics. Sri Lanka is famous for its rich selection of precious and semi-precious stones and silk.

Tipping is not required. However, a hotel receptionist or a restaurant waiter will be happy with a few extra rupees.

It is recommended to wear light cotton clothing and a hat. Be sure to stock up on sunscreen and lotion sunburn. There are no strict requirements for clothing in the country, but you should not visit temples in shorts, in clothes with open backs and shoulders, and you must take off your shoes when entering the temple.

Climate

Equatorial, with monsoon seasons.

Almost 95% of all precipitation falls during the summer rainy season. The rest of the months are quite dry. Only in the northeast of the island does it rain in the fall, when the northeast monsoon passes over Ceylon.

The air temperature on the island remains virtually unchanged and all year round equal to 26-28 C. In the mountains of the central part of the island it is cooler, and at the coldest point, the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya, located at an altitude of 1880 meters above sea level, it is approximately 15 C.

There is high air humidity in Sri Lanka, and you can feel it when you get off the plane, when you get the feeling that you are being hit with a warm, “bath” stream of air.

Language

official languages- Tamil, Sinhala and English. Total number population 15 million people. By ethnic composition the country is multinational, the population consists of Sinhalese, Tamils, burghers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch) and Moors (descendants of Arab traders).

Currency

From Monday to Friday, banks are usually open from 9.00 to 13.00-15.00. During holidays, as well as on Saturday and Sunday, they are closed. The exchange of money is allowed only in banks and organizations that have received permission to do so. The list of these organizations includes most hotels.

Transport

Driving is on the left.

Resorts of Sri Lanka:

Ambalangoda

Ambalangoda is a colorful port town in the south of Sri Lanka. Located on the very shore of the ocean, 122 km from Colombo International Airport. This picturesque corner famous throughout the island not only for its beaches, but also for its artisan traditions.

Talpe

Holidays in Talla are less popular than in other regions of Sri Lanka. The thing is that there are no large entertainment centers or famous attractions on the territory of this small resort.

Review of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka: map, description, season, pros and cons. Find out where the best beach holidays are on the island!

Sri Lanka has many wonderful resorts with good beaches and well-developed infrastructure. In this review you will learn about the most popular resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka. We will tell you about a beach holiday in Sri Lanka: what is good about each resort, how to spend time on vacation and when is the best time to go on vacation.

Map of resorts and beaches of Sri Lanka

List of the best resorts in Sri Lanka

Negombo is located closer than other resorts to Colombo airport - the distance to it is about 30 km. This is very convenient for tourists who have had a long flight. The place is more famous for its fishing conditions than for beach holidays: coastal waters abound big amount fish, their migration period occurs during the high tourist season. The large seafood market is one of Negombo's most famous attractions. Negombo has reefs, which makes the place popular among divers.

Beach holidays in Negombo are mediocre: the water is muddy, some areas of the shore are occupied by fishermen, where they lay out gear and dry fish. There are few umbrellas and sunbeds, as well as water activities, the only exceptions being expensive hotels.

Nevertheless, Negombo is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka thanks to the convenient beaches that stretch along Lewis Place. In addition, there is an optimal choice of accommodation and many photogenic fishermen and beautiful scenery.

Negombo can be visited all year round, however it is very wet in May and October - November.

(Photo © ronsaunders47 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Hikkaduwa is located 100 km from Colombo and is the leader in attendance. Divers, surfers, snorkelers, young people and family people. Water activities and a modest nightlife have made Hikkaduwa the busiest and best resort in Sri Lanka.

Here are the longest beaches in Sri Lanka and many hotels different categories. The beaches are ideal for surfing - there is almost always a strong wave. Early in the morning, huge turtles appear near the shore; they are so accustomed to people that they take treats directly from people’s hands.

In the center of Hikkaduwa there is a coral park where you can ride a glass-bottom boat, go snorkeling, or book a boat trip. There are several Buddhist temples in Hikkaduwa, the most famous and popular among them is located on a small island. Entrance to the temples is free, excluding travel fees. Excursions to the mines where they are mined are popular among vacationers. gems that you can buy.

A great time to holiday in Hikkaduwa is from November to April.

Wadduwa is located 35 km from Colombo. At this Sri Lankan resort you will find golden sandy beaches, coconut palms, diving centers, sailboats, surfing and other entertainment. During the dives you can see the remains of sunken ships. Tennis courts and golf courses are equipped especially for vacationers. All hotels are comfortable.

Fans of excursions will not be bored - they will be able to visit neighboring Kalutara with the Buddhist temple Gangatilaka Vihara and the fishermen's town of Hambantota, take a boat trip along the canals and capture the local beauty.

The best time for an active and beach holiday at this resort is from October to March.

(Photo © Hash Milhan / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0)

The village of Bentota is located south of Colombo - 65 km (2 hours drive), between the mouth of the river of the same name and the ocean. It is considered an elite and best resort in Sri Lanka, a favorite beach holiday destination for romantics and those seeking solitude.

Here are the largest number of comfortable hotels, uncrowded clean beaches and lush jungle nature, famous mangrove forests grow in this area. The resort offers a lot of entertainment for its guests - sea and river fishing, an exciting safari on the river with crocodiles, excursions to a turtle farm, yacht trips and much more. There is a center for diving enthusiasts.

The best time for a beach holiday in Bentota is from October to April.

(Photo © lola media / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The small resort village of Unawatuna is located 120 km from Colombo. Once a fishing village, this rapidly developing resort is only slightly inferior in popularity to Hikkaduwa and Bentota.

This place is especially loved by tourists who vacation on their own - the resort has many guesthouses at an affordable price. The main advantage of Unawatuna is the calm water in the ocean. The central beach is located in a bay, and Coral reefs They protect from strong waves, so families with children are happy to relax here.

The entire tourism infrastructure has been created. Vacationers can go diving or snorkeling; lovers of excursions can visit the neighboring resort of Galle. But this is not a place for solitude: the beaches of Unawatuna can be quite crowded.

The optimal time for vacation is from December to April. It is too rainy in May and October–November.

(Photo © iris0327 / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Due to their distance from the airport, the resorts on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka are less popular than on the southwestern coast. Nevertheless, Trincomalee is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka and the most beautiful place islands: here is a deep-water bay, discovered at one time by Admiral Nelson. Trincomalee itself is unique in terms of architecture - there are Muslim buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples. You can get there by night train from Colombo (9 hours travel time) or by bus (7 hours).

According to some vacationers, Trincomalee beaches are the best in all of Sri Lanka. The holiday is quiet, there is little entertainment here, the infrastructure is still under development, most hotels are inexpensive, bars and restaurants are of the same level.

The natural beauty of this place is amazing - tall palm trees and lemurs roaming free. Not far from the coast is a coral island, which is favored by divers and snorkelers; there are hot springs a few kilometers away.

It is best to plan your trip from March to August, as November-December is too rainy.

(Photo © Images of Sri Lanka - Sequential Shots / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC 2.0)

List of the best beaches in Sri Lanka

All the island's beaches are sandy, many of them are surrounded by coconut palms and other tropical plants. The best beaches in Sri Lanka are located on the southwest coast and are not too far from each other.

Bentota Beach

The most famous beach on the island, and according to numerous reviews from enthusiastic tourists, it is also one of the best for a beach holiday. This is where newlyweds prefer to spend their honeymoon. A wide coastal strip, palm trees, complete privacy - these are the main advantages of this place.

A wonderful place and almost complete absence of infrastructure. Since the beach is quite far from Colombo (5 hours by bus), it is visited by single tourists or those who have taken an independent trip around the island.

(Photo © That Guy,Will / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Unawatuna Beach is located in the village of the same name. The coastal strip is not as wide as in Bentota, but the calm water off the coast makes it extremely attractive. The sand is very fine and clean, part of the territory is occupied by cafes and hotels, the rest is available for swimming and water activities. There is shallow water intended for swimming with children.

Hikkaduwa Beach

The longest beach line in Sri Lanka. Orange sand and turquoise water, along the line there are numerous cafes and guesthouses. Strong waves have made this place a favorite spot for surfers, but there are relatively calm areas - near the Chaaya Tranz hotel. There are no sunbeds there, there is enough shade from palm trees, many people come there to swim with their children. Thanks to all this, Hikkaduwa Beach is considered one of the best places for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka.

The Tangalle beach complex has long been persistently included in the lists of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. This is an ideal place for a secluded holiday: you can walk a mile and not see another person. Any accommodation can be found. You can get to the place by bus from Colombo (6 hours).

(Photo © Šejba / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

It's hard to predict where and who will like it more. Sri Lanka is still an amazing island where every place deserves special attention and admiration, so it is quite difficult to compile a list of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka that claims to be objective. However, we hope that our review will help you decide on a place to stay and you will have a great time.

Introductory image source: © Dhammika Heenpella / Images of Sri Lanka / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

The island of Sri Lanka is rich in first-class beaches, modern hotels and a host of ancient attractions. Entertainment is entirely quiet and peaceful: picnics, fishing and diving. Capital Colombo, waterfalls and National parks- everything about Sri Lanka: tours, reviews, weather, prices.

Last minute tours to Sri Lanka
Tours for May Worldwide

The style of holiday in Sri Lanka can be briefly defined as follows: away from the hustle and bustle, closer to the sea and nature. There is hardly a more “leisurely” country in the world than Sri Lanka: here no one is in a hurry, everyone enjoys life - including the service staff in hotels (however, this does not apply to the top establishments - everyone there runs around in soap, to please the guests). Most of the attractions in Sri Lanka are natural, just like most of the activities. Noisy discos and smoke swirling until the morning are not in favor here, but picnics in nature, fishing or barbecues on the beach - as much as you like. Well, diving, of course. What Sri Lanka cannot please is its proximity to our vastness: the flight here is long.

In general, it’s very easy to identify a person who will definitely like it here. Firstly, there are few blank pages left in his not the first international passport. Secondly, he is either interested in world culture and history (and ancient Sri Lanka is very rich in interesting monuments), or he is a desperate sea daredevil who wants, in addition to palm trees, sand and the sea, to have a diving center and Surfer headquarters. Thirdly, he will certainly glance sideways at your fragrant cup of tea. After all, Ceylon, also known as Sri Lanka, supplies a quarter of the world with this drink.

Money

The country's currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), 1 rupee is divided into 100 cents. Current rate: 1 LKR = 0.37 RUB (1 USD = 175.47 LKR, 1 EUR = 197.01 LKR).

It is better to exchange currency at Colombo airport. It makes sense to keep the receipt received until the end of the trip: in this case, upon departure, you can convert back unspent local money at the airport bank at the purchase rate. In addition, currency can be changed at any hotel and bank. The latter are open from 9:00 to 15:00 from Monday to Friday. For exchange, we recommend taking US dollars with you: they are accepted in all branches, and in tourist areas you can pay with them directly at hotels and various retail outlets.

You can pay in large hotels and shops credit cards, there are ATMs in almost all cities of the country. However, it is better to notify your bank staff in advance about your upcoming visit to Sri Lanka: due to critical level financial fraud on the island, a credit card can be blocked at the first attempt to use it.

Hotels in Sri Lanka

Police: 133, ambulance: 144, Fire Department: 122.

The best photos of Sri Lanka

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo

If you look closely at the map, you can see the island of Sri Lanka, surrounded on all sides Indian Ocean. It would seem that the ocean is everywhere and summer is all year round, you can go to the island wherever you want.

Where is the best place to go on vacation and which beaches?

As I already wrote, in Sri Lanka there is no concept of winter - summer, but there is a monsoon season and a season favorable for beach holidays. In winter, strong monsoons hit the east coast of the island and blow from the northeast. In summer, everything is just the opposite: monsoons and winds from the southwest.

Therefore, excellent hotels and the most beautiful beaches for swimming are on the southwest coast, and for and - welcome to the east coast.

And we, as residents of colder climates, always want to bask in the sun and swim in the clean, turquoise sea.

Overview of the beaches of Sri Lanka

You can see uniquely beautiful beaches and magical sunsets only in Sri Lanka at a relatively low cost of travel.

That way!

When it's winter, it's the best time to relax. Therefore, the number of Europeans from December to March is off the charts and there are places to go on vacation!
All the beaches in Sri Lanka are located very compactly and due to the timely construction of the high-speed toll highway, getting from Colombo to Kogalla has now become much faster (instead of 5-6 hours, with a good driver and without traffic congestion in Colombo, in 3.5 hours) .

Negombo

The closest beach to the airport. It is located in the lagoon.

Pros:

This is also interesting:

27 most interesting facts about Sri Lanka Where are the best beaches in Sri Lanka, white beach and more...Part 3 Where to go on vacation or travel all year round

On our website there is quite a large number of comprehensive information on almost all resorts in Sri Lanka. But I also understand that for a person who does not have enough big time In order to re-read all this, I offer express analysis and advice.

Let's decide what you choose?

Most main question The place to start is what you want from Sri Lanka. The options are in order.

We choose a vacation, a mixture of excursions and lying on the beach.

With this criterion, the choice is obvious; if your train is at least 10 days, we recommend you the following course of action.

“How about swimming and watching?”

Immediately upon arrival, you go for one day to the small town of Negombo, this is a quiet coastal town, with fairly reasonable housing prices and good wide beaches. Your task is to relax and acclimatize in Sri Lanka after the flight and shift. Next, move the way the vast majority of tourists move, preferring a similar method of recreation as you - combining excursions and relaxation. The meaning is very simple, you move along the route of the golden triangle: Polunaruwa, Sigiriya - Dambula.

At each of these points you need to stay for no more than 1 night. If you have more time, if I were you, I would go to Anuradhapura for a day, there is also something to see there.

Advice for those who decide to take this route:

try to minimize the number of moves, spend no more than 3 hours a day on moves;
do not rush at breakneck speed in an effort to embrace the immensity;
if you get bored, change plans along the way and don’t be afraid to improvise.

After 4-5 days, you usually get tired of looking at the ruins, and you go to the amara, crabs and shrimp that are waiting for you in the restaurants of coastal resorts, you can choose the best one by reading the answer below.

Which resort to choose for a beach holiday?

Here the task is extremely simple, with options for how noisy you like to spend your time.

If you are young and full of energy, you need discos and night dancing on the beach, you should definitely turn your attention to Best offer Sri Lanka, which are resorts and.

Note, if you are traveling with children, only Unawatuna is suitable for you, because Hikkaduwa has very big waves.

The beaches on Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa are completely different, but I personally like Una better.

Still, it is compact, with a good entrance to the water, and there are a lot of romantic cafes on the shore. Hikkaduwa is a surfers paradise. There are very large waves that are dispersed by the constant wind blowing here. The beach itself is simply huge, both in length (extends several kilometers) and in width when compared to Unovantuna, but there is very little shade. But in Hikkaduwa,

evening life is brighter, more people, cafes, shops. A kind of youth resort. The Unawatuna resort is a little more solid and lazier, so to speak.

Mirissa beach

You, dear introvert or respectable couple;) go to Dikwella or Mirissa, watch the sunsets and how coconuts fall on the sand in silence. In fact, Dikwella and Mirisa are probably the best beaches for an easy and relaxing time with your family. In my opinion, Mirisa is the best beach of all the beaches in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka.