LankaProvince guide
Southern
20 places below, plus every guide set here. Start with the essentials, then pick your base.
Destinations in Southern
- Dalawella Turtle Beach (Galle)
- Galle Fort and Lighthouse (Galle)
- Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary (Galle)
- Jungle Beach and Japanese Peace Pagoda, Rumassala (Galle)
- Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, Koggala (Galle)
- Unawatuna Beach (Galle)
- Bundala National Park (Hambantota)
- Kataragama Sacred Complex (Hambantota)
- Rekawa Turtle Beach (Hambantota)
- Ridiyagama Safari Park (Hambantota)
- Tangalle Beach (Hambantota)
- Ussangoda National Park (Hambantota)
- Yala National Park (Hambantota)
- Coconut Tree Hill and Parrot Rock, Mirissa (Matara)
- Dondra Head Lighthouse (Matara)
- Hummanaya Blowhole (Matara)
- Mirissa Whale Watching (Matara)
- Polhena Beach (Matara)
- Weligama Beach Surf Bay (Matara)
- Wewurukannala Buduraja Maha Viharaya (Matara)
Guides set in Southern
Hike & Viewpoint
Southern Province Essentials: Scams, Beaches, Food, Gyms, Views
Honest Southern province roundup: scams to avoid, best beaches and views, where to eat, and gym options.
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Wildlife & Safari
Bundala National Park — Hambantota Travel Guide
Birders and photographers; flamingos, pelicans and crocodiles in coastal lagoons
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Hike & Viewpoint
Coconut Tree Hill and Parrot Rock, Mirissa — Matara Travel Guide
Photographers and sunset chasers; palm viewpoint over Mirissa bay
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Wildlife & Safari
Dalawella Turtle Beach — Galle Travel Guide
Families and turtle lovers; calm beach where turtles swim close to shore
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Heritage
Dondra Head Lighthouse — Matara Travel Guide
Lighthouse fans and view seekers; Sri Lanka's tallest lighthouse at the island's southern tip
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Heritage
Galle Fort and Lighthouse — Galle Travel Guide
History lovers and photographers; walk ramparts, lighthouse and Dutch-era streets
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Dive & Snorkel
Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary — Galle Travel Guide
Divers and marine-life fans; turtle spotting, coral and dive courses
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Hike & Viewpoint
Hummanaya Blowhole — Matara Travel Guide
Families and geology fans; powerful ocean blowhole at Kudawella
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Hike & Viewpoint
Jungle Beach and Japanese Peace Pagoda, Rumassala — Galle Travel Guide
Hikers and snorkellers; jungle trail to a hidden cove plus hilltop pagoda views
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Temple & Sacred
Kataragama Sacred Complex — Hambantota Travel Guide
Pilgrims and culture travellers; multi-faith shrine complex on the Menik river
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Heritage
Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, Koggala — Galle Travel Guide
Literature and culture fans; folk-life museum in a novelist's home garden
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Wildlife & Safari
Mirissa Whale Watching — Matara Travel Guide
Wildlife seekers; blue-whale and dolphin cruises from the harbour
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Beach
Polhena Beach — Matara Travel Guide
Snorkellers and families; reef-sheltered swimming with turtles
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Wildlife & Safari
Rekawa Turtle Beach — Hambantota Travel Guide
Turtle lovers; night-time nesting watches with conservation guides
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Wildlife & Safari
Ridiyagama Safari Park — Hambantota Travel Guide
Families and first-time safari-goers; open-zoo drive-through with elephants and big cats
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Beach
Tangalle Beach — Hambantota Travel Guide
Beach relaxers and couples; long golden beach with calm reef pockets
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Beach
Unawatuna Beach — Galle Travel Guide
Swimmers and snorkellers; calm reef bay 5 km south of Galle
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Hike & Viewpoint
Ussangoda National Park — Hambantota Travel Guide
Walkers and photographers; red soil cliffs and sea views on a breezy plateau
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Surf
Weligama Beach Surf Bay — Matara Travel Guide
Beginner surfers and surf schools; gentle long beach break
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Temple & Sacred
Wewurukannala Buduraja Maha Viharaya — Matara Travel Guide
Buddhist pilgrims and art lovers; giant seated Buddha and tunnel murals of hell and heaven
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Wildlife & Safari
Yala National Park — Hambantota Travel Guide
Wildlife and safari-goers; leopards, elephants and sloth bears
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