Family-friendly activities on Sri Lanka’s East Coast

Sri Lanka’s East Coast offers glittering beaches perfect for family holidays, all the down the coast from Nilavali in the north to the surfers’ paradise of Arugam Bay towards the south. This is a tempting tropical haven of palm-fringed beaches offering crisp, white sands and turquoise seas. These beaches are never better than during July and August – perfect for the European summer holidays as the schools close and families look for relaxation in guaranteed sunshine.

The East Coast’s focus centres around modern beach hotels and the infrastructure, as far as tourism is concerned, is limited. So that means that life centres upon the sea and sand – and there are lots of water sports to keep everybody entertained. You can even trek out further off the coastline on a private catamaran from which you can go snorkelling or just have a few introductory sailing lessons.

Also virtually guaranteed to delight a family is the ride out into the deep seas in search of whales and dolphins. Blue whales in particular, and the occasional sperm whale, are a regular sight about half-an-hour off the coast by boat with most sightings off the east Coast occurring between March-April and again in August-September.

If your family wants a simple beach holiday, and feels like a change from the crowded resorts around the Med, then the East Coast of Sri Lanka might be just what you are looking for.