Summary
This whole southern region of Sri Lanka composed of Mirissa, Weligama, Midigama and Ahangama is a very trendy surfing destination at the moment. Perfect weather, warm water, cheap food and the high amount of surf spots are mostly what attract so many tourists every year.
Also read: our full surf guide to Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Weligama is a large beach break where you will find most surf schools and board rental shacks. Beginners are definitely gonna have good opportunities to learn here but the crowd does get pretty heavy. For a bit of reef break action, Mirissa and Ahangama are very nice options as well as being a bit closer to what you would expect Sri Lanka to feel like in terms of atmosphere.
To find the perfect surf spot for you, make sure to try our WaveFinder search engine!
In this southern region of Sri Lanka, even if the surf from November to March is rather small and unpredictable, there are still opportunities to get wet with the wind being usually cross-offshore.
This region offers a lot of places to stay, restaurants, surf schools/shops etc. It is far more developed than Arugam Bay as well as being busier.
When to go
The best time to surf the south side of Sri Lanka is from October to March with small, but clean waves. After that, head to Arugam Bay during the rainy season where you can find some amazing point breaks.
January-February March-April May-June July-August September-October November-December
Suitable for: All surfers All surfers All surfers All surfers All surfers All surfers
Air temperature 26 °C
79°F27 °C
81°F28 °C
82°F29 °C
84°F28 °C
82°F27 °C
81°F
Water temperature 28 °C
82°F29 °C
84°F29 °C
84°F28 °C
82°F28 °C
82°F28 °C
82°F
Crowd Fairly crowded Very crowded Very crowded Very crowded Very crowded Fairly crowded
Swell Consistency 30% 60% 85% 90% 85% 60%
Swell height 3 ft 3 ft 6 ft 6 ft 5 ft 4 ft
Surf Camps in South Sri Lanka
8-day Full Lesson Surf Camp in Weligama, Sri Lanka
US$439, includes:
- Experienced instructors
- Personal feedback and tips
- 6-day surfing lessons (2 per day)
- Daily delicious breakfasts
- 7 nights accommodation
- Surf board rental
- 6 dinners
11-day Balance Package with Surf and Yoga Lessons in Mirissa
US$491, includes:
- 8 surf sessions
- 8 yoga classes
- 1:4 instructors to students ratio
- Plenty of time to stroll by the beach
- Vegan / vegetarian breakfast
- 10 nights accommodation
Where to stay in South Sri Lanka
There are several surf towns on the south side of Sri Lanka and all of them provide great access to great waves. Weligama is pretty central and gives you access to Ahangama as well as Mirissa which makes it a great place to settle.
Best surf hotels in Weligama
Ocean Bay Surf Resort Weligama
Browse our interactive map to find the best accommodation deals in Weligama!
Getting there
Fly into Colombo and take a taxi (more expensive), bus or train that will take you all the south. You can start in Hikkaduwa and make slowly your way down to Weligama.
Safety/things to know
Sri Lanka remains a pretty safe place to travel to especially once you have made your way to the smaller towns. I would try to avoid spending too much time in Colombo as it holds a little bit more tensions than the rest of the country and has recently been targeted by extremists.
Surf Spots in South Sri Lanka
Lazy Left/Lazy Right
Located in Midigama, Lazy Left is nice and soft reef break that should be attacked even by beginners as the reef is very forgiving. It represents a nice entry-level reef break. On the other side of the channel is Lazy Right which offers pretty much the same set up.
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Beginner to Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Rams right
Located in Midigama, Rams is a fast and hollow right-hand wave breaking on an exposed reef. Should be kept for experienced surfers.
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Weligama Beach
Right by the huge Marriott hotel is a classic beach break where many of beginners and intermediates try to make their first steps on a wave. Weligama beach offers lefts and rights on a sandy bottom and never gets too big which makes it a prime spot to learn how to surf. There are also a lot of board rentals and surf schools in the area.
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Fisherman’s point
Fisherman’s is located at the end of Weligama and offers a nice right-hand wave breaking over a shallow reef. It is recommended to take a boat to access the break.
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Mirissa point
A beautiful right-hand wave away from the big crowds of Weligama. Mirissa breaks over a shallow reef and one should look out for urchins on the inside.
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Hikkaduwa reef
Hikkaduwa’s main reef is a nice and forgiving A-frame providing both lefts and rights on a good SW swell.
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Benny’s (Hikkaduwa)
This one is way more exposed and less forgiving than main reef and should be kept for experienced surfers. Benny’s is a nice and challenging left-hand wave working best on a SW swell from November to April.
Wave direction : Left
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE