Down on the south coast of Sri Lanka you will find this picturesque beach location, which offers a bit of sun and sea without all the crowds you can expect in other destinations. Read on for my complete list of things to do in Weligama and if you feel anything is missing, please do let me know.
1) Surfing
I could hardly write this list without starting at the most obvious point. Surfing is life here, with anyone and everyone getting involved. But don’t worry if you’re not an expert, there are an impressive amount of surfing classes based all along the seafront, allowing you to arrange a tutorial on the day.
All of the equipment is readily available, however you might want to check with your hotel to see if they rent out any equipment for free, which they sometimes do. If you are thinking of booking surfing in Sri Lanka then we would recommend Shakabay.
If you do plan on visiting, I’d recommend having a read of my guide on surfing in Weligama.
2) Handungoda Tea Estate
You can barely reach a single part of Sri Lanka without passing a tea plantation and hearing a great story from a local about the history of the area. If you’re ticking this off in Ella or Kandy then this might not be a must, but it is definitely something you have to do in Sri Lanka and this estate covers 200 acres. Plus, you can pick some up as a gift for someone back home, picked straight from the gardens.
You can book yourself onto a guided estate tour, ending with some tasting sessions, where you’ll get to try Virgin White Tea, one of the purest teas in the world. They have all the other traditional options as well, such as black and green tea. The tour may be free, but make sure to buy some products at the end to help support their business to keep running effectively.
3) Whale Watching
Sat on a catamaran, staring out at the ocean, looking for a whale certainly sounds like a relaxing day activity! It can inevitably get a little frustrating if you don’t spot one, however this is a pot-luck activity, where you have to hope it’s your lucky day. This is a popular activity in both Weligama and Mirissa.
If you arrive between November and April then you might be able to spot a blue whale, while during the whole year you may spot a spinner dolphin. You should do some research beforehand to make sure the provider you pick is responsible, not adding bait in the water or going too close.
Remember to pack some sun tan lotion, as they don’t often have coverings on the boat and you can get caught in the sun for a few hours.
4) Eat Sea Food
It’s a cool experience to eat fresh fish for dinner that a fisherman has caught that day. Most of the fishermen will be able to speak immaculate English, so you can have a talk about their technique and how difficult it is to catch a fish, as many will sit down in the restaurant to eat as well.
A Sri Lankan crab curry will be offered at a number of restaurants, which is beautiful, while packing a spicy punch. Yellowfin tuna and king mackerel are also commonplace here. The curry dishes may also contain cuttlefish and squid which will be freshly caught. Look out for the beachfront cafe’s, that focus their culinary options on what is caught that day.
5) Watch The Stilt Fishermen
We loved watching these fishermen sitting on their poles as we sipped on a pina colada, it was such a relaxing experience and weirdly mesmerising to watch. While the action isn’t carried out as much as it used to, you should certainly see it near hotels, as the fishermen catch food and are probably paid a small amount by the hotel as it certainly is a good sight to see.
The image is the front of virtually ever Sri Lanka travel guide, so you will want to get a quick photo at least. It was also our first view after dropping our bags off at the hotel and heading out to the garden, we didn’t expect to tick this off so quickly. Koggala and Midigama beaches have the stilts setup, so it’s whether they have a fisherman in place at the time.
6) Have A Massage
There are a number of spa’s and massage services in place and the cost is certainly a lot cheaper than back home, therefore it is always tempting to get a head massage. With the country being so close to India, you can expect an UNBELIEVABLE Indian head massage which will leave you melting into the bed.
Weligama Beach Road has a few spots offering massages, priced around £10-15 for an hour, that’s about five times cheaper than back home. This is ideal if you’ve spent the day surfing (or trying to surf) and need some TLC to recover, especially if you’ve been backpacking with a heavy bag on.
7) Yoga At Kosala Widhanage
If you’ve come to the south coast of Sri Lanka hoping for a bit of relaxation then a spot of yoga might be just what you need. The Kosala Widhanage yoga resort is one of the most popular yoga centres in Sri Lanka, where a teacher can take you through the moves, either outside or inside.
This can be a great activity to do in the build-up to sunset, relieving any stress and helping you stretch a bit after carrying those heavy travel bags. I like the fact that the sessions tend to be outdoors rather than tucked into a stuffy room.
The classes are ideal for all levels, so don’t worry if you’re a beginner or never tried yoga, this is about the experience and trying something new and exciting. They will provide the yoga mat, just bring along a towel and a bottle of water.
8) Scuba Diving
It’s hard to escape the water when in Weligama, but would you want to? Scuba diving is a mind-blowing activity, allowing you to see an underwater world, while there are a number of classes available for those who have less experience. Keep an eye out for a giant sea turtle, that’s on my list of things to do before I die so I will be incredibly jealous if you do!
November to April offers a much calmer ocean and greater visibility, so you can spot a moray eel or a parrotfish. They do have some wrecks you can check out, but this is for the more advanced, otherwise if you’re still quite knew then they have some set areas where you can expect to see plenty of fish.
How Long Should I Stay In Weligama?
At the end of the day, there isn’t a huge amount to do here, therefore you might not want to stay for too long, but it is a great place to relax and be on the beach. We did actually end up spending a fair amount of our time jumping waves. I’d recommend spending 1-2 days here, unless you have a longer trip planned in Sri Lanka or you plan on taking up surfing to a more serious level.
Where Should I Stay While In Weligama?
We stayed at the We
Escape hotel on my short stay here, while I recommend having a read of my review if you’re considering staying. You can also have a watch of the video below, which will highlight what you can expect here: