Sri Lanka’s wild south coast is mostly less developed than its west coast and the beaches near Galle in the southwest. It is the perfect area for those looking to completely switch off, enjoy long beach walks, and get away from the crowds.

Tangalle is a great place to explore the area’s highlights, including the Mulkirigala Temple and Hummanaya Blowhole. A particular treat is an evening visit to Rekawa Beach, highly treasured for the marine turtles that lay eggs here each night – we experienced this on our most recent trip and it was an incredible sight! The beaches here are untouched and you can walk for miles, only bumping into locals taking their dogs for a cooling dip. The current can be strong at the Tangalle beaches, so swimming in the sea is not advised, although paddling is fine.

Mawella is a recent addition to our portfolio because we’ve discovered some some beautiful boutique properties there. The beach here is more sheltered, meaning the waters are calmer, swimmable, and ideal for stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. You also have Mawella lagoon nearby if you fancy a boat trip, and the area is popular with fishing boats so if you’re into photography you could capture some fantastic snaps.