Bentota Holidays

One of Sri Lanka’s most stunning beaches, Bentota Beach is a broad stretch of glistening sand backed by coconut trees and lush green shrubbery. It exudes a natural sense of calm, providing an idyllic space to kick back and unwind. Generally hailed as the watersports capital of Sri Lanka, Bentota offers a plethora of high-octane and laidback activities on the water, from water-skiing and speed boating to snorkelling and body-boarding.

If you venture away from the beach on your Bentota holiday, you’ll find a wide range of cultural attractions, including a Buddhist temple and an old Dutch fort. Make sure you also visit the Brief Garden, designed by Bevis Bawa – the brother of Geoffrey Bawa, who’s considered the master of Sri Lankan architecture. Covering five acres, the garden is home to a whole world of tropical plants, fascinating sculptures and old structures that make for an interesting and unique day out. Other activities include river safaris through mangroves and a visit to Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s beautiful house.

During certain months of the year, you can enjoy the unforgettable experience of watching turtles hatch at the Kosgoda Turtle Conservation Project. Run by volunteers and relying solely on donations, this is one of the best places to see turtles up close in their natural habitat, while also learning more about conservation.

The central aim of the project is to monitor the activity of local sea turtles and conserve their nesting sites. After taking a tour and finding out about the various different species, you might even have the chance to release baby sea turtles safely into the ocean and watch them take their first tentative swim. As an important part of Sri Lanka’s rich and diverse marine life, gaining insight into their protection and conservation is an inspiring and eye-opening experience not to be missed.

Taking its name from the sprawl of cinnamon trees that populate the island, Cinnamon Island is a picture-perfect spot for tourists, where the process of harvesting, peeling, oiling and rolling cinnamon can be seen in all its glory. Not only does it provide a wonderful change of scenery, it’s a place where culture, history and nature collide, making it the perfect spot for an enlightening day out.

A number of companies also offer boat tours that circumnavigate the island. You can take in the scenery as you gently glide across the picturesque waters of Koggala Lake, before finishing up with a delicious meal on land. A visit to Cinnamon Island provides insight into a way of life that has existed for hundreds of years, and should not be missed on your holiday to Bentota.

While the tropical south west coastline of Sri Lanka generally offers good weather all year round, the best time to visit Bentota is between October and April, when the temperature is ideal for adventure activities and beach days. The sea is much calmer at this time of year, too, making it perfect for watersports like sailing, water-skiing and diving.

May to September tends to be wetter and the temperature hovers around the 20°C, meaning outdoor activities are less enjoyable. Sudden downpours can happen at any time, but you’ll find that the jungle is lovely and lush. And, as this is considered the low season, Bentota holidays are usually cheaper and lots of local businesses offer special discounts at this time of year.