Bentota Trips & Tours

Head south of Colombo for superb beaches, jungle-scapes and chic hotels to make your heart sing.

In an island of idyllic, palm-fringed beaches, it's the Bentota area, between Colombo and Galle on the south-west coast, that’s home to just about the very best. Bentota town itself is pretty enough (and a great place to shop, slurp smoothies and people-watch), but it’s a few steps further to the south where the magic really happens. First up are beaches ripe for waterskiing, windsurfing and even horse-riding, alongside exquisite Geoffrey Bawa-designed hotels. Then, head towards sleepy Balapitiya and discover a jungled landscape strewn with wetlands and mangrove forests ripe for boating, as well as inland Buddhist temples that are well worth an exploration. This southern section is also home to world-famous turtle hatcheries where you can play your part in conservation and release baby turtles into the wild. Struggling to choose a spot? Rest assured that wherever you end up, the south coast is a lesson in in forget-about-everything relaxation...

Things to do

What to do in Bentota

Bentota's true charm lies outside of the main town, where a collection of fantastic beaches await. You can fill your days with sunbathing and swimming, waterskiing and windsurfing, or horseback rides down the coast, and end off with a candlelit dinner on the sand. If you're a real nature lover, visit one of the turtle hatcheries where you can help release babies into the wild. Take a boat trip on the Mada Ganga, admiring beautiful birdlife and stopping to visit Buddhist temples and cinnamon farms (and see how it arrives in your jars) along the way.

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