For surfing enthusiasts embarking on a journey to Sri Lanka, it's no secret that this island nestled in the Indian Ocean is a premier destination for riding the waves. Amidst the myriad of surfing spots scattered across the island, a lovely town on the south coast of Sri Lanka called Weligama is calling out to you with its surf breaks. True to its name, Weligama, meaning "sandy village", has long stretches of shallow shorelines making this coast the perfect place to surf, whether you are a brave beginner or a seasoned expert.

Midigama - Image via Flickr

The Weligama beach is the ultimate surfing sport for beginners since it is located on Weligama Bay where the waves are small and consistent. Trainers in the Weligama surf can easily guide beginners at Weligama beach considering how beginners can practice by paddling out further to catch bigger waves. For those of you who do not enjoy crowds, surfing at Weligama beach during the surfing season might not be your best option. Head out early in the morning to catch the best waves in Weligama.

This location is a surfer's paradise because there are several surfing spots that suit surfers with different levels of experience. Lazy Left, Lazy Right and Rams are popular among surfers. The reef breaks, Lazy Left and Lazy Right are great for beginners and intermediate surfers. You can ride upto 500m approximately on the Lazy Left and both Lazy Left and Lazy Right hold up a big swell that experienced surfers seek. The Rams is one of the more challenging surf breaks in Midigama that neither beginners nor intermediate surfers should attempt. After an exhilarating surfing session, you can unwind at beachside street food stalls for a well-deserved lunch break.

Just 20 minutes away from Weligama town, the reef break in Kabalana offers a less crowded alternative to more popular surf breaks. Many Weligama Bay Hotels including properties such as Parangi Weligama Bay provide transport to your surfing location. Between January and March, the waves at the surf point in Kabalana can reach heights of up to 8 to 10 feet. The Kabalana Main Surf Point, known as "the Rock," is renowned as one of the greatest A-Frame reef breaks in Sri Lanka featuring powerful left and right waves that can be ridden for up to 400 meters.

Only an hour away from Weligama, Hiriketiya has two great surf breaks and waves rolling in from December through February. The horseshoe bay's surf break on the west side is more suitable for beginners while the surf break on the east side of the bay is for intermediate surfers. The east side bay is a reef break and this popular beach's crystal clear water and coconut palm-fringed shores are even more mesmerizing during sunrises and sunsets. Expert surfers should head out further away from the beach to catch more challenging waves.

Mirissa is a bustling surfing area, often crowded due to its additional attractions like nightlife and whale watching. However, Mirissa Beach itself serves as an excellent surf spot for beginners, as the waves typically do not exceed 5 feet. With beachside stalls and surfing schools offering rental surf gear, travellers need not pack heavy equipment. The Mirissa Reef, situated at the western edge of the beach, caters more to experienced surfers. It's important to exercise caution when paddling out in Mirissa, as the area is known to have sea urchins. For photography enthusiasts, a visit to Coconut Tree Hill offers picture-perfect views of the beach from atop a hill adorned with tall swaying coconut trees.