The Deep South

Sri Lanka’s deep south coast is as long as it is stunning, incorporating beautiful beaches, cultural sights and national parks.

Stretching from Matara to Yala, drive along the narrow, single road that hugs the coast and pass by beautiful beaches along the way. Luxury villas and hotels dot the coastline and the food is as fresh as it comes, caught straight from the ocean every day.

Matara, a bustling and somewhat youthful town lies close to the small beach town of Mirissa where great surf, whale watching excursions and the much-photographed stilted fishermen perch in the water at dawn and dusk can be seen. Within Matara surrounds, the town of Dondra and its prominent lighthouse marks the southernmost tip of the island.

Moving further along the coast, Tangalle’s perfect golden sands are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, although the surf here isn’t ideal for swimming. Beyond Tangalle, the salt capital of Sri Lanka, Hambantota, is dominated by expansive saltpans. Many use Hambantota as a base to dive into the amazing biodiversity of the national parks that also incorporate the deep south; Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park and Bundala National Park.

If you’re lucky, get a glimpse of the Sri Lankan leopard and the sloth bear or for the bird enthusiasts, the greater flamingo which migrate in large flocks.