Pasikuda Bay is one of the world's most shallow swimming bays — you can walk 100 metres out and still be waist-deep. For families with kids and nervous swimmers, it's a dream. For couples, it's a postcard.
While the south coast monsoons May-September, the east coast is sunny. This is the trick most Aussie travellers don't know — you can holiday in Sri Lanka year-round if you swap coasts with the seasons.
The Calm runs a serious spa program: Ayurvedic massage, hot-stone, couples treatments overlooking the lagoon. The pool wraps three sides of the property and there's a dedicated meditation pavilion at the water's edge.
Mornings are for snorkelling — Pasikuda's coral is recovering beautifully and you can swim straight from the beach to it. Afternoons are pool, book, repeat. Evenings, the east-coast cuisine here — devilled prawns, kottu, fresh-grilled trevally — is some of the best on the island.
Whale watching at Trincomalee is 90 minutes north (June-September is sperm whale and blue whale season). Combine with a few nights at Trinco for a proper east-coast week.
Aussie school holidays in July-September align perfectly with east-coast dry season — most tourists are stuck on a soggy south coast.
Is this the right Sri Lankan stay for you?
- May-Sep travellers
- Honeymoons
- Slow holidays with a book