Quick answer
Hikkaduwa suits a 2-week Sri Lanka trip as a lively final stop, roughly 30 minutes north of Galle and roughly two to two and a half hours from the airport. It usually takes one or two nights from Mirissa: Mirissa two, Galle Fort one and Hikkaduwa one. It is the best south-west base for diving and nightlife and a good one for surfing, and less suited to travellers who want a quiet beach. Its season runs roughly from November to April.
Key takeaways
- Hikkaduwa is roughly 30 minutes north of Galle and roughly two to two and a half hours from the airport by expressway.
- Hikkaduwa's season runs roughly from November to April, when the south-west coast is calm and dry.
- Part of Hikkaduwa's reef is a marine national park, with shallow snorkelling close to the beach.
- Hikkaduwa has the largest concentration of dive centres on the south-west coast.
- Hikkaduwa has the liveliest nightlife on the south-west coast, concentrated along the main beach road.
Is Hikkaduwa worth adding to a 2-week trip
Hikkaduwa is worth adding to a 2-week Sri Lanka trip for travellers who want to end on a high note, with company. After nearly two weeks of early starts and quiet hotel dinners, a night or two where the music carries along the beach is welcome to many.
Choose Hikkaduwa for diving, surfing, a wide choice of restaurants and a sociable atmosphere. Choose Unawatuna, Mirissa or Tangalle if you want a smaller, calmer bay. The main road runs directly behind the beach strip, and its traffic is the town's chief drawback.
Where Hikkaduwa slots into the route
Hikkaduwa slots in at the end of the fortnight, after Galle. It lies on the way north to the airport, and an expressway entrance is close by, so the last day's drive is roughly two to two and a half hours.
- →One night: Mirissa 2, Galle Fort 1, Hikkaduwa 1, in place of Mirissa 3 and Galle Fort 1.
- →Two nights: Mirissa 2, Hikkaduwa 2, with Galle Fort as an afternoon visit on the way.
- →As the beach base: Hikkaduwa 4 after Yala, with a long transfer of roughly three and a half to four hours from Tissamaharama.
- →The rest is unchanged: Sigiriya 3, Kandy 2, Nuwara Eliya 1, Ella 2, Tissamaharama 1.
Reef, turtles, surf and diving
Hikkaduwa's water is its main asset. At the northern end of the beach, a fringing reef encloses a shallow lagoon, part of the Hikkaduwa National Park, where you can snorkel from the sand. The coral has suffered from bleaching and from decades of trampling, but fish are plentiful.
Green turtles come into the shallows by the beach, where they have long been fed seaweed by hand. Feeding and touching them changes their behaviour and is best avoided; watch from a short distance instead. Glass-bottom boats also damage the coral and add little that a mask and snorkel cannot show.
- →Surf: reef breaks at the southern end, towards Narigama, for intermediate surfers; beach breaks for learners.
- →Diving: wrecks and rock reefs offshore, for all levels; courses take three to four days.
- →Swimming: best inside the reef lagoon; elsewhere, watch for currents.
What to see near Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa has several worthwhile half-day outings. A few kilometres north, at Peraliya, a tall standing Buddha and a small photographic museum commemorate the 2004 tsunami, which struck a crowded train here with great loss of life. It is a sobering and respectful visit.
Inland, the moonstone mines at Meetiyagoda show how the gems are dug and cut. To the north, the Madu Ganga estuary offers boat trips through mangrove islands, roughly 20 to 30 minutes away. Galle Fort is roughly 30 minutes south, close enough for a sunset on the ramparts.
- →Peraliya tsunami memorial: a few kilometres north of the town.
- →Meetiyagoda moonstone mines: roughly 20 minutes inland.
- →Madu Ganga: mangrove boat trips, roughly 20 to 30 minutes north.
- →Galle Fort: roughly 30 minutes south.
Evenings in Hikkaduwa
Evenings in Hikkaduwa are the liveliest on this coast. Restaurants serve seafood on the sand, beach bars play music late, and at weekends in season there are parties that go on into the small hours. Light sleepers should choose a hotel at the quieter southern end or set back from the strip.
Alcohol is not sold on poya days, when the town is noticeably calmer. As in any beach town, keep an eye on drinks and belongings, and take a tuk-tuk back along the main road at night instead of walking it.
Planning the Hikkaduwa stop
Planning the Hikkaduwa stop is a matter of matching the hotel to the mood. The town stretches for several kilometres, from the reef and the busy centre to the calmer sands of Narigama and Thiranagama, and each part has a different character.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange a final night or two at Hikkaduwa with a departure transfer timed to your flight. The guide to choosing a beach base compares it with the bays further south, and the divers' plan gives it three nights.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hikkaduwa worth visiting?
Yes, for travellers who like a lively beach town. Hikkaduwa has snorkelling, surfing, diving and the best nightlife on the south-west coast, and it is close to Galle and the airport. Those seeking a quiet, pristine beach will prefer Tangalle or a smaller bay.
Is Hikkaduwa or Mirissa better?
Hikkaduwa is better for diving, nightlife and a short drive to the airport. Mirissa is better for whale watching, a prettier bay and a slightly calmer feel. Both have surf and plenty of restaurants. Many two-week trips include a night or two at each.
How far is Hikkaduwa from the airport?
Hikkaduwa is roughly two to two and a half hours from Bandaranaike International Airport by the Southern Expressway. It is roughly 30 minutes north of Galle, which makes it one of the more convenient beach stops for the last night of a trip.
Can you snorkel in Hikkaduwa?
Yes. A shallow reef lagoon at the northern end of the beach, part of a marine national park, has easy snorkelling close to shore, with many fish and frequent turtles. The coral itself is damaged in places. Do not stand on it or touch the turtles.
When is the best time to visit Hikkaduwa?
The best time is roughly November to April, when the sea on the south-west coast is calm and clear, and surfing and diving are both in season. From May to September the monsoon brings rough water, and many dive centres close.
Is Hikkaduwa good for families?
It can be. The reef lagoon gives shallow, sheltered water for children, and there are plenty of places to eat. The busy main road and late-night noise are drawbacks, so families should choose a hotel at the quieter end of the beach.