Nilaveli Beach

The beautiful Nilaveli beach has long been regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s finest. With groves of coconut plams swaying over the pale-golden sands and the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean it certainly feels like a tropical idyl. Stretching for over 3 km and with only a few low-key resorts along its length there is plenty of space to pretend you have been stranded on a remote island in paradise.

Sitting about 2 km of the coast of Nilaveli is Pigeon Island, so called because of the rock pigeons which roost here. This is one of the best diving spots in Sri Lanka. A marine national park with crystal clear waters and teeming coral reefs. You can also snorkel at Nilaveli but other water sports are also popular here such as windsurfing.

If you want to see the dolphins off the coast off Nilaveli, boat trips are available from the beach.

There are a couple of other attractions nearby that are worth visiting. The Kanniya Hot Water Springs are a series of small naturally heated bathing wells. Also not far away is Fort Fredrick, an 17th century colonial fort which houses not one but two temples within its walls.

There are a few small hotels and resorts along Nilaveli Beach, so you will have no problem finding somewhere to stay here. The beach is truly beautiful, and this is an amazing spot to relax and unwind on holiday.