5 Top-Rated Beach Resorts in Sri Lanka

Located off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean, the island nation of Sri Lanka is a magical place to visit.

Beautiful scenery and outstanding beach resorts combined with an ancient culture; amazing local cuisine; and warm, welcoming people make it one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations. In most cases, it’s either on people’s travel bucket lists or on their list of the greatest destinations they’ve ever visited.

Sri Lanka beach resorts cater to all kinds of travelers. Families may like a large resort filled with activities and things to do, like Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa. Travelers looking for a romantic experience may prefer a more intimate beach resort like Amanwella. Chena Huts by Uga Escapes is the best place to stay for visitors who want to explore nature and wildlife, as it’s adjacent to Yala National Park.

For ideas on the best places to stay near the surf, sand, and sea check out our list of the best beach resorts in Sri Lanka.

1. Kitelantis Hotels and Resorts

Kalpitiya is located 130 km north of the Bandaranayke International Airport in Katunayake, while it is an exquisite coastal region located in the Western coastal belt, north of Colombo. Kalpitiya is a peninsula set in between the deep lagoon of Puttalam to the east and the magnificent Indian Ocean to the west. It is an unrivalled marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangrove swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches. City of Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka.

2. Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa

Photo Source: Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa

Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa

Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa is probably the closest thing Sri Lanka has to a mega-resort. It’s a large resort in terms of size (the largest resort in Sri Lanka), with a wide range of activities, amenities, and dining, but it still retains an intimate, luxurious feel, as there are only 274 rooms (including 20 suites).

It’s also home to one of the island’s best 18-hole championship golf courses and is the only beach resort with its own 18-hole course, making it the best beach resort for golfers.

The rooms and suites are luxuriously appointed, and all have great views – some look out onto the lush tropical gardens, some have golf course views, and some face the ocean. They all have a tropical style with the Asian influence the brand is known for.

More than just some pools and a beach, the Shangri-La has a wide range of activities. It’s a great place to stay for families as there’s a circus trapeze and a full water park. There’s also an artisan village, which supports local craftspeople. You can visit and learn about (and buy) local artwork and crafts, and at night there are music and dance performances.

Kids are welcome at the Shangri-La with a kids’ club. They stay free in your room, and kids under six eat free at the buffet (kids six to 12 are charged 50 percent of the adult price). Bojunhala is the resort’s casual all-day dining restaurant (three meals a day) and Sera, open for dinner, serves Southeast Asian cuisine.

Shangri-La also has Shangri-La Colombo, a luxury hotel located in downtown Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital city. Travelers sometimes choose to spend their first or last night in Sri Lanka here, as it’s closer to the Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) airport. The resort is a four-hour drive from CMB (or a 20-minute air taxi flight on local Sri Lankan airline Cinnamon Air).

Address: Sittrakala Estate Chithragala, Hambantota, Tangalle 82000 Sri Lanka

3. Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Photo Source: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Accommodation: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

This beach resort is also in the Hambantota region, located near the town of Tangalle. The Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort occupies a 42-acre former coconut plantation on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Like a postcard, it sits on a magical crescent-shaped stretch of golden-sand beach with turquoise water, backed with a line of palm trees and grassy areas.

There are 152 rooms and villas; all face the ocean. The villas are freestanding luxury units with their own private plunge pools. Some face the ocean, and some have direct ocean access. All the villas come with a butler, called a Villa Host.

All rooms have a large, furnished balcony or terrace with ground-floor rooms providing direct beach access. The resort is wrapped around a central ocean-facing infinity pool. Sun loungers are lined up on an expansive wooden deck.

Anantara Resorts are known for their spas, and the Anantara Spa has a wide range of beauty and body treatments. A selection of Ayurvedic healing treatments are also available. The spa has a yoga studio and a schedule of yoga classes.

There are three restaurants to choose from along with a lobby lounge and a poolside grill. You can also do their Dining by Design personalized dining experiences in unique locations like a clifftop or the beach. The resort’s Spice Spoons program matches guests with local culinary experts and chefs to collaborate in a cooking class/dinner.

Address: Goyambokka Estate., Tangalle 82200 Sri Lanka

4. Aditya

Photo Source: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Accommodation: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Address: Goyambokka Estate., Tangalle 82200 Sri Lanka

5. Uga Chena Huts

Photo Source: Uga Chena Huts

Accommodation: Uga Chena Huts

Chena Huts is a luxury cabin resort from Uga Escapes, which operates several hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka. It combines two of the best things about Sri Lanka: the incredible wildlife and magical, unspoiled beaches.

It’s directly adjacent to Yala National Park and right next to the beach. There are only 14 cabins on seven acres of land, offering privacy and seclusion, which can be hard to find at some of the larger resorts.

The cabins are large and can accommodate families of up to four people. Each luxurious cabin has its own private plunge pool, a large living space, and a full bathroom with a freestanding tub.

Aside from the beach, the big thing to do here is safari expeditions into the tropical jungle of the national park. Yala National Park has the world’s largest population of leopards, and guests can go on photo safaris and game drives to find them and the hundreds of other animals found here.

When you want to relax, the resort has a surprisingly full-service spa, along with a large outdoor pool with waiter service. There is one main restaurant called Basses, the resort will also prepare and serve meals on the beach and at other locations by request.

Address: Diyabunwala Kele, Palatupana, Yala National Park 82600 Sri Lanka

5 Top-Rated Beach Resorts in Sri Lanka

1. Kitelantis Hotels and Resorts

2. Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa

3. Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

4. Aditya

5. Uga Chena Huts

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