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Colombo & West Coast holidays
Powered by an immense love of cricket and traditional street food combined with spectacular beach resorts brimming with golden sand, Colombo and the surrounding western provinces are a great introduction to the stunning country of Sri Lanka.
- Flight time
- 10h30
- From London
- Currency
- Rs
- Sri Lankan Rupee
- Time zone
- GMT +5h30
Package holidays to Colombo and West Coast
Getting to Colombo & the West Coast
Sri Lanka’s west coast is the country’s front door and the integral point of arrival for nearly all visitors. Arriving in the capital city at Colombo’s Bandaranayake Airport (CMB), direct flights to Sri Lanka departing from London will take approximately 10 hrs and 30 minutes to travel the sprawling 8720km flight path.
Soak up the city and coastal views as you fly into the picturesque Western Asian landscape of Colombo and nearby Negombo. Taxis and buses will take roughly an hour to get into the heart of the city, and don’t be put off by the daunting traffic lined Galle Street and bustling buildings, the cities charm will grow on you as you delve deeper and discover what's on offer at your beautiful end destination.
Stop-over flights at either Frankfurt or Doha can help break up the itinerary if you are travelling with the little ones and may also offer a cheaper fare, perfect to allocate some more spending money at the amazing authentic shops and hospitality on offer to you.
Average weather in Colombo and West Coast
- Temperature (°C)*
- Rainfall (Inches)*
Holidays in Colombo & the West Coast
Nightlife in Sri Lanka, especially in the Muslim cities like Colombo, is gathering more and more momentum than ever before with a large spread of places to drink and party. Many of the city's bars are perfect for enthusiastic travellers waiting to let loose, as well as being kind to the wallet. ON14 in Colombo is a perfect rooftop bar with sights of the city, and Molly’s Pub in Nawam Mwatha offers a friendly atmosphere with buzzing live music.
Gambling being legal in Colombo calls for it to be extremely popular in the city. Bally’s casino and Nightclub is voted one of the best in the country, with excellent customer reviews, the free entry and warm hospitality will make you feel like a winner.
Boasting some of the best eateries in Sri Lanka, Colombo and surrounding areas boast a full range of Asian and European restaurants. Galle Road and Pettah host the majority of restaurants, along with food stalls lining the streets and welcoming hospitality making you feel at home. Ministry of Crab is one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia, offering no-fuss dining with a gourmet touch. The renowned Colombo Cinnamon Grand Hotel offers excellent cuisine in their Lagoon restaurant, with seafood in abundance and being cooked to your specifications in Infront of you.
Negombo also has some excellent restaurants, such as the Black Coral Restaurant, located in the elegant Jetwing Beach Hotel. Easily accessible from the city centre, the chic setting creates an exquisite dining experience with a six-course menu.
A great range of shops can be discovered in West Sri Lanka, and a day trawling through Colombo’s handicrafts emporia and chic boutiques is an enjoyable way to offload the rupees. Various locations in and around the city will offer modest handicraft items on sale, as well as modern shops like Barefoot, with stylish modern takes on traditional Asian designs – everything from stationery, stuffed toys and kitchenware, all at bargain prices.
Pettah's bazaar district offers traditional wares piled up in markets in a way that is undeniably chaotic, but perfect for exploring. In true bazaar style, each street is devoted to a different trade, from household appliances to fabrics. This district also retains a strong Muslim heritage, as evidenced by the many pure food products and colourful saris.
Activities in Colombo & West Coast
Explore diving in the calm waters of Bentota Lagoon, or glide along the waves in the cooling breeze of Alankuda for an unmissable kitesurfing experience. Colombo and Western Sri Lanka is a hotspot for exhilarating land and water sports, discover below our top choices and choose which ones you’ll be sinking your teeth into on your next visit.
Watersports
Diving in Colombo & West Coast
Hikkaduwa has some of the largest selection of diving schools in Sri Lanka. Dive to the stunning depths of Labrynthine Hikkaduwa Gala, a famed spot for swim-through caves at 25m, and the rocky bottomed area of Kiralagala at 30m deep and witness the extraordinary Coral Gardens reef. Experience the multitude of shipwrecks within the vicinity too, including the oil tanker from 1860 known as the conch, packed full of marine life too colourful for words.
The calming waters of Bentota Lagoon provide a year-round hub for water sports enthusiasts, with some excellent diving that can be done around Lighthouse Island just off the northern end of Beruwala beach. Trips can be arranged with local boatmen who will tout for customers along the shoreline (around Rs.1500 for the boat plus Rs.750 for the diving equipment).
Surfing in Colombo & West Coast
Beruwala is a fantastic southwestern town to stop at for more than just a quick dabble in surfing. With numerous surf schools on famed Moragalla Beach catering to newbies and experienced, with board rentals on the shore and even accommodation if the required meaning you won't have to miss a second if the surf’s up. With the popular resort town and surfer’s paradise Hikkaduwa in the southern region, just 30 mins drive away, and other surf five minutes away at Bentota Beach, there are plenty of alternatives if the right wave isn’t breaking at your doorstep.
Windsurfing & kitesurfing in Colombo & West Coast
Alankuda is the perfect spot for kiting and windsurfing. With great winds blowing down each end of the peninsula for the more experienced rider and calming waters in the lagoon for beginners. Multiple watersports schools reside here offering tuition and equipment for all levels. The best time for kiting is from May to September, when the wind gusts the strongest, although kiting at other times of year is possible, with April and November being an exemption as winds are non-existent.
Sailing in Colombo & West Coast
Not many people believe Sri Lanka is a sailing destination, but that is all changing. The country’s vast and varied climate, influenced by two monsoons, results in sailing being available at any time of year, although for the west coast the best time is between October to April. Beruwela and Bentola again are incredible for boating in the west coast. Bentola has the great advantage of hosting a large water sports centre where the Bentola River meets the Indian Ocean, and also offers some secluded private cruises from the Kalpitiya lagoon.
Fishing in Colombo & West Coast
Peak tourist months on Sri Lanka’s west coast also make for peak fishing season. Harbours and marinas around the majority of coastal towns and resorts will allow fishing or have a sea fishing charter service as this is part of Sri Lankan heritage. Fisherman will set off as night falls, and the boats will twinkle in the ocean like low-hanging stars as the catamarans drop their nets through the waves. Fresh produce caught is then sold at fish bazaar trade stall and implemented in the resorts and restaurants in Colombo and surrounding areas such as the Galle Face resort and Club Hotel Dolphin in Negombo.
Canoeing & kayaking in Colombo & West Coast
Canoeing and kayaking are great ways to escape the city landscapes and connect with nature. With a direct shuttle from Colombo, Sunrise Mangrove Kayaking in the Madu River Ahungalla offers an uncharted tranquil ecosystem of many mangrove islets perfect to paddle and explore. The Madu River wetland offers over 300 species of plants and 280 species of animals, and with training from professionals on this sunrise kayak tour, you’ll feel at one with nature.
Bolgoda Lake, a freshwater lake in the western province near Moratuwa, is a watersports' hub of dreams. Experience stunning wilderness and scenery in the breathtaking expanse of the untouched southern lake as you glide on the water in the kayak, canoe or paddleboard of your choice.
Land activities
Golf in Colombo & West Coast
Sport is an important attribute of Sri Lanka, and Colombo is no exception when it comes to offerings. The Royal Colombo Golf Club is the oldest in the country, with well-maintained grounds adhering to all standards, and English colonial-style architecture offering plenty of room for guests to unwind and eat traditional cuisine after a round on the green. Stay nearby in the stunning OZO Colombo Resort and Cinnamon Red Resort, both favoured by golf lovers.
Cycling & mountain biking in Colombo & West Coast
Cycling is an impressive way to discover the vast outer reaches of Sri Lanka's western island. Routes have been mapped out to persuade cyclists to go further afield and discover the wonders of the island's heartland. Popular routes include the Galle Face Green - Beira Lake loop from Udahmulla, a largely paved 20-mile ride with excellent panoramic views, perfect for beginners. For a shorter route, try the same 11.5-mile loop, just as enjoyable, but starting at Narahenpita. All walks can be accompanied by a guide or easily managed with well signposted directions.
Walking & hiking in Colombo & West Coast
Hike through Sri Lanka’s past and contemporary culture, basking in ancient sites and colonial heritage walkways with designated walking tours. Pack your best appropriate footwear and ask your local trip tour advisor or resort representative for the best maps and trails to explore this stunning part of the country. From cities, lakes and shorelines, wildlife will be situated at your every step. We recommend keeping a fair distance as these species call these trails home and prefer to be undisturbed from their slumber.
