Arugam Bay

Located in the southeast coast of Sri Lanka’s dry zone, 320 km east of Colombo, Arugam Bay is a 7-hour ride from Colombo. The first international surfing competition was held in the summer of 2004. Golden beaches, amazing surf spots, tiny cafes along the beach and ample wildlife is what Arugam Bay has to offer to its visitors!

Arugam Bay | Image Credit - Indi Samarajiva, CC BY 2.0 Via Wikimedia Commons
Arugam Bay | Image Credit – Indi Samarajiva, CC BY 2.0 Via Wikimedia Commons

The beaches

World famous for the waves during high season, Arugam Bay is an excellent spot to bring out the surfer in you. Even if you’re just a beginner, surfing in Sri Lanka isn’t difficult as there are surfing schools around the beach area to help you get started! The beaches in Arugam Bay are also home to different species of tropical fish, ideal for a colourful snorkelling experience.

Elephant rock

This rock is a small climb, after which you can treat your eyes to scenic 360 views of the spectacular landscape around you.

Kumana National Park

You can opt for a tour package, such as the likes of Walkers Tours, if you want to experience the wildlife ventures Arugam Bay has to offer to you. Catch the mesmerizing spectacle of elephants in their natural habitat. The most popular feature of the park is the 200-hectare bird reserve.

Panama Lagoon Eco Safari

Travel through the mangroves by boat whilst getting to experience the life underwater, on the marshes and up above. This wildlife watching journey is sure to leave you in admiration.

Muhudu Maha Viharaya

Located between Arugam Bay and Pottuvil, this temple can be spotted from the Arugam Bay beach. It’s thought that this temple is where Princess Vihara Maha Devi embarked.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Snorkeling in Sri Lanka

When on vacation, you often find yourself searching for fun things to do. Sri Lanka often referred to as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, has world-class snorkeling and scuba-diving tours that will keep you enchanted right throughout your trip.

Snorkeling | Image Credit - tata_aka_T, CC BY 2.0 Via Wikimedia Commons
Snorkeling | Image Credit – tata_aka_T, CC BY 2.0 Via Wikimedia Commons

Why Snorkeling
Snorkeling is one of the best ways to view under-water life without damaging them. The shallow seas of Sri Lanka allow you to do this without a hassle. View colourful coral reefs and shoals of fish by snorkeling in the warm waters of the Indian ocean while holidaying in Sri Lanka.

Locations
For snorkeling and scuba diving in Sri Lanka, the best locations are Hikkaduwa, Weligama, and Kirinda. If you are heading towards the west, you could check out ‘Bar Reef’, which is Sri Lanka’s largest coral reef, located just off Puttalam. The best way to check out all these locations is if you go through a good tour company such as Walkers Tours, that specialize in customized tour packages for their clients

Get Ready to Snorkel
Obviously, to go snorkeling you need to have the proper gear. You can rent some from shops that are located alongside the Sri Lankan beaches or you could even bring your own. All under-water activities are normally conducted by well trained and experienced UDI and PADI instructors to ensure the utmost safety and enjoyment of all travelers, so you have nothing to worry about!

Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world.

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Guide to Wildlife Safari in Yala

The mesmerising and informative Yala Safari is something every visitor or native should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Image Credit - Walkers Tours
Image Credit – Walkers Tours

Where to go

Adventure tours in Sri Lanka are rarely planned without including a safari or two in it and of all the places to go to on the island, the Yala National Park attracts the most visitors every year. A Yala Safari can be arranged with the help of any travel agency, Walkers Tours, for example, and you will have a fun-filled day where you watch the wildlife in their natural habitats.

Image Credit - Walkers Tours
Image Credit – Walkers Tours

About Yala Safari Park

Being the second biggest national park in Sri Lanka, it is also known as the Ruhuna National park. Spreading over a massive 979 square kilometres, this reserve is home to many endemic animals and birds, and a few endangered ones too.

The Safari

They pride themselves on providing the best tours and safaris on the island and a guide will take you through the jungles as he explains and shares fun facts about every animal or bird you spot.

What to expect

The Sri Lankan leopard and the Sloth bear are the most sought-after animals, closely followed by the deer, elephants, and crocodiles.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Guide to Whale Watching in Mirissa

Mirissa is one of the most popular coastal locales in Sri Lanka, and in addition to offering beautiful beaches with powdery sands and turquoise waters, it is has a significant whale population.

Overnight stay at Cape Weligama & Weligama
Image Credit – Walkers Tours

International Grade Operations

Pretty much all the providers of whale-watching expeditions operate under very strict guidelines to ensure the wellbeing of the marine titans. Among many things they refrain from venturing unnecessarily close to the whales, and they never interfere with the creature’s course.

The Vessels

The whale-watching boats are generally large vessels with a capacity of at least forty people. The ones run by the military are even bigger, and can hold more than a hundred passengers. The price is also generally inclusive of insurance relating to the boat and its passengers respectively.

Procuring a Tour

A whale-watching adventure should definitely be a priority when it comes to things to do in Sri Lanka. You can easily procure a whale-watching expedition from many travel providers such as Walkers Tours.

Whale-Watching Season

The optimal time to go whale-watching is from November to April, where there’s a very high number of whales and the seas are also quite calm. Although there will be whales from May to October as well, the seasons tend to be quite rough and the voyage is not recommended.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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