Highlights of Sri Lanka's West Coast

Sri Lanka’s West Coast remains the first point of contact for pretty much all travellers. Negombo, just 20 minutes’ drive from the airport, is a good base for flight-recovery and offers good accomodation and a decent beach. Negombo lies at the northern end of Colombo’s large urban sprawl, stretching South through the bustling city centre and down to Mount Lavinia and Moratuwa. Beyond this, the coast begins to break out and gives way to a succession of fabulous resort towns, some larger than others. For more information on these see our section on South Coast Beaches. Further North the coastline is decidedly more rugged, with the notable exception of a small cluster of idyllic eco-resorts at Alankuda Beach on the Kalpitiya peninsula. The west coast is also home to the Wilpattu National Park, one of the largest and most interesting parks in Sri Lanka.

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There is a small cluster of interesting eco-resorts on sleepy Alankuda Beach on the Kalapitiya peninsula. The beach is one of Sri Lanka's most unspoilt and relaxing and being within 3 hours drive to Bandaranaike International Airport is the perfect way to start or finish your tour of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's capital is going places. The government has ambitious plans to turn Colombo into one of Asia's key business and tourist hubs with huge new state-of-the-art buildings popping up across the city.

This once secluded fishing village about 40km north of Colombo has, in recent times, become one of Sri Lanka's most visited Beach Resorts. Being just a short drive from Bandaranaike International Airport and with a 3km long stretch of golden beach it is easy to see why Negombo receives visitors from all over the world, craving their quick fix of sun, sand and dreamy views out over the Indian Ocean.

Travel south along the coast from Colombo and you will pass through the villages and towns which together make up Sri Lanka's most established beach destinations, with seemingly endless stretches of golden sand and a wide range of resorts to choose from.

Sambar Deer, Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka

Like a lot of Sri Lanka, recent history has not been kind to Wilpattu National Park, but in recent years things are looking up and Wilpattu is firmly back on the map as one of the country's best nature safari parks.