Sri Lanka's best surf spots by season: where to surf each month

Sri Lanka’s surf follows the monsoons. From about November to April, surf the south and south-west coast: Weligama for beginners, Midigama, Ahangama and Mirissa for improvers, Ram’s, Kabalana and Hiriketiya’s point for experienced surfers. From about May to October, go to Arugam Bay on the east coast, where Main Point, Peanut Farm, Elephant Rock and Okanda are most reliable from June to September.

The main surf spots at a glance

South and south-west coast (about November to April)

Spot	Area	Level	Wave	Best months
Weligama Bay	Weligama	Beginner	Beach break, sand	December to March
Plantations	between Weligama and Midigama	Improver	Deep reef, mostly rights	November to April
Lazy Right and Lazy Left	Midigama	Improver to intermediate (Lazy Right is easier)	Reef, right and left	November to April
Ram’s	Midigama	Advanced	Fast, shallow reef right	November to April
Coconuts	Gurubebila, near Midigama	Intermediate to advanced	Reef, right and left	November to April
Kabalana (The Rock)	Ahangama	Intermediate to advanced	Reef A-frame, left and right	November to April
Hiriketiya	near Dickwella	Beginner (beach) to advanced (point)	Beach break and a left reef point	December to March
Mirissa	Mirissa	Improver to intermediate	Reef right at the west end of the beach	November to April
Dewata and Unawatuna	near Galle	Beginner at Dewata; experienced at the Unawatuna reef	Sandy beach and point; short reef right	November to April
Narigama beach	Hikkaduwa	Beginner	Beach break	November to April
Main Reef and Benny’s	Hikkaduwa	Intermediate (Main Reef); advanced (Benny’s)	Reef A-frame; reef left that needs a big swell	November to April

East coast (about May to October)

Spot	Area	Level	Wave	Best months
Main Point	Arugam Bay	Intermediate to advanced	Long right point over sand and reef	June to September
Baby Point	inside Main Point, Arugam Bay	Beginner	Small, soft rights	May to October
Pottuvil Point	about 6 km north of Arugam Bay	Intermediate to advanced	Long right over boulders and sand	May to October, on bigger swells
Whisky Point	about 12 km north of Arugam Bay	Beginner to improver	Gentle right that depends on the sandbanks	May to October
Peanut Farm	south of Arugam Bay	Beginner on small days, intermediate on bigger days	Right point off rocks	May to October
Elephant Rock	south of Arugam Bay, past Kudakalliya beach	Beginner to improver	Soft right point over boulders and sand	May to October
Okanda	about an hour south, near Kumana National Park	Intermediate to advanced	Right point with steep walls	June to September

A few notes from the water:

• Crowds. Weligama, Hiriketiya and Main Point get busy in peak season. Paddle out at sunrise, before the wind and the crowds.
• Whisky Point is reported to work less often in recent seasons, because coastal erosion has changed its sandbanks. Ask at your surf shop.
• Kalpitiya, north of Negombo, is not a surf spot but Sri Lanka’s kitesurfing centre, with a large, flat lagoon. The strongest winds blow from mid-May to mid-October; lighter winds from mid-December to mid-March suit learners.

Where to surf in Sri Lanka, month by month

Months	Where to surf	What to expect
November	South coast	The season starts. Swells can be bigger and messier, and rain showers are common. The east coast season is over, and the sea there is often rough until about February.
December to February	South coast	Peak season. January and February are usually the mellowest months, best for learning. The east coast has its monsoon.
March	South coast	Still good and very hot.
April	Either coast	Shoulder month: the south coast season ends and the first swells reach Arugam Bay. Mid-April is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a busy holiday week.
May	East coast	Arugam Bay’s season starts. The south-west monsoon brings rain and onshore wind to the south and west.
June to August	East coast	The most reliable months at Arugam Bay. July and August are the busiest, so book rooms early. Main kitesurf season in Kalpitiya.
September	East coast	Still good waves, with fewer people. Sri Lanka’s national surf championship was scheduled at Main Point for 10–12 September 2026.
October	Mostly east coast	Late season at Arugam Bay. The south coast can start towards the end of the month. Showers across much of the island.

During the south-west monsoon, Weligama’s bay still has small waves on some days and some schools keep teaching, but expect rain and wind. Hikkaduwa is mostly flat from May to October. For weather beyond the waves, read the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

How do you get to the surf spots, and how long are the drives?

Route	Drive time
Colombo airport to Hikkaduwa	about 2 hours
Colombo airport to Weligama	about 3 hours (about 170 km)
Colombo airport to Hiriketiya	about 3 hours
Weligama to Midigama, Ahangama or Mirissa	about 10 to 20 minutes
Weligama to Hiriketiya	about 1 hour
Ella to Arugam Bay	about 3 to 4 hours (about 130 km)
Colombo airport to Arugam Bay	about 8 hours or more (about 400 km)
Weligama to Arugam Bay	most of a day (about 250 km)

The south coast is easy to add to any trip: our 10-day culture and coast trip already ends there. Arugam Bay is different. Don’t drive there from the airport in one go; break the journey in Kandy and Ella, as our summer round trip does. In Arugam Bay, most surfers take a tuk-tuk to the points: Whisky Point is about 10 to 15 minutes north, Peanut Farm and Elephant Rock are about 15 to 30 minutes south, and Okanda takes about an hour.

Cyclone Ditwah (late November 2025) hit the hill country hardest. The Ella–Wellawaya road, the usual way down to Arugam Bay, reopened on 1 December 2025, and Sri Lanka’s national surf championship was scheduled at Arugam Bay in September 2026. The hill-country train still does not run between Kandy and Nanu Oya; the Nanu Oya–Ella section runs again.

Which surf spot is right for you?

• First time on a board: Weligama from December to March, or Baby Point, Elephant Rock and Peanut Farm near Arugam Bay from June to September.
• Improver: Lazy Right and Plantations, then Lazy Left and Mirissa. In summer, Peanut Farm on bigger days.
• Experienced: Ram’s, Coconuts, Kabalana and Hiriketiya’s point in winter; Main Point, Pottuvil Point and Okanda in summer.
• A mix of surfers and non-surfers: Weligama or Ahangama, with Galle Fort and whale watching nearby (see our south coast guide), or Arugam Bay, with lagoon trips and Kumana National Park (see our east coast guide).

Lesson prices, safety tips and how a private driver helps are in our page on surfing in Sri Lanka.

FAQ

When is the surf season in Sri Lanka?

On the south and south-west coast from about November to April, best December to March. On the east coast around Arugam Bay from about May to October, best June to September.

Is Weligama or Arugam Bay better for beginners?

Both work. Weligama is easier: one wide, sandy bay with many surf schools, in winter. Around Arugam Bay, beginners surf the small points in summer and need a tuk-tuk to reach most of them.

Do I need a wetsuit to surf in Sri Lanka?

No. The sea is about 27–30 °C all year. A rash vest protects you from the sun and the reef.

Can I surf both coasts on one trip?

Only in the shoulder months, around April and October, and it depends on the year. In the main seasons one coast is calm or stormy while the other has waves.

How far is Arugam Bay from Ella?

About 130 km, or about three hours by car.