Passikudah Holidays

Passikudah Beach ranks as one of the loveliest in Sri Lanka, so you’re unlikely to be bored spending time here. But if you want to go wandering, there’s plenty to do away from the ocean too. 

Escape the heat and take a tour of green and shady Coconut Cultural Park in the heart of town. 

Or, when you feel like stretching your horizons on your Passikudah holiday, head south to Batticaloa and explore. You can walk over Kallady Bridge – the longest in the country – and visit Batticaloa Fort to learn about the area’s colonial history. Don’t miss cobalt blue St. Marys, possibly the cutest cathedral you’ve ever seen. Then make a point of seeing the city’s Anipandi Sitivigniswara Alayar Hindu temple, an incredible gateway tower. And if you’d like to know about Sri Lanka’s ancient Arab and Muslim trading traditions, Kattankudy Heritage Museum is just the place.

Another must-do on your Passikudah trip is a day safari at Somawathiya National Park, where you can have close encounters with Sri Lanka’s largest elephant population. Then discover the ancient ruined city of Polonnaruwa, to the west of Passikudah. It’s only about an hour’s drive, but make sure you leave as much time as possible to explore this incredible World Heritage Site. Most ruins are remarkably well preserved and the magnificent Palace of King Nishshanka Malla on the edge of Lake Bendiwewa is enough to take your breath away all by itself. 

Each year, over 20 different species of whale and dolphin migrate along the east coast of Sri Lanka and historic Trincomalee – just north of Passikudah – is one of the country’s whale-watching capitals. Set aside a day for a boat trip to see incredible blue whales out in the ocean. Or you can climb Swami Rock to watch them from shore, simply or hang out on the beach and wait for playful dolphins to swim past in droves. 

There’s nothing to stop you spending your whole holiday lazing in the sun on Passikudah Beach, interspersed with an occasional walk along the sand or a swim in the ocean. But when you want to be a little more active, you can also try watersports like windsurfing and kayaking. Shallow seas and average water temperatures of 26°C make for excellent swimming conditions. And, if you’d like a glimpse of daily Sri Lankan life, you can always head to Kalkudah Beach and watch the local fishermen. 

Even inexperienced swimmers find it easy to enjoy Kayankerni Reef, just south of Passikudah. The nicely shallow waters are great for first-time snorkelers, and the varied coral is teeming with tropical fish. Of course, the coast here also has some spectacular dive sites. But, if you feel like staying on top of the water, you can always go on a catamaran cruise from Passikudah. 

Sri Lanka’s tranquil east coast is best known for beautiful beaches like Passikudah, and yet it’s surprisingly quiet. It’s also the coast for cooling sea breezes, which cut through tropical humidity even on the warmest days. And there are plenty of those, as temperatures here sit between 26 and 32°C throughout the year.

For the driest, brightest weather and clear blue skies, holiday in Passikudah between March and October. You can relax on the beach and go for a swim in the warm sea, where water temperatures range from 25 to 28°C. This is also the best time of year for whale-watching and dolphin-spotting, and great for safari trips in the national parks.

It’s never chilly in Passikudah, but rainfall is highest between November and February, and you can expect occasional dramatic thunderstorms and rough seas. It’s not a great time for a beach holiday and local towns are often very quiet.