Mirissa

For those who seek a break from being a tourist

For those of you who seek to move away from the busyness that Sri Lankan beaches have come to be, for those of you who wishes to travel to the Southern coast of the island, but are wary of people, Mirissa is the ideal location. Moving further to South of the island than any other popular tourist destination one comes across Mirissa. Hotel scene in the area caters to everyone, making it famous among family travellers and budget travellers alike.

Shaped like the waning moon that often greets you who wanders the beach at night, the Mirissa beach is a long stretch of sand that eases into the ocean in a gentle slope. This makes it safer for those travelling with children. The fringe of palm trees along the beach paints the traditional beach scene of a postcard. There is plenty to do here may you be old or young.

One can, of course, go snorkelling in the ocean, swim with the fish and dive among the reefs. If you are looking for more of an above-the-water experience, hotels in the area such as Casa Colombo Collection Mirissa has yacht safaris. You can witness and photograph the wonderful life of playful dolphins. If dolphins are not up your alley, whale watching is the most famous pastime in the area. Almost all whale watching tours begin at the nearby harbour, making Mirissa the hotspot for the whale season.

Mirissa is further enough from popular tourist destinations to give you some privacy and silence. And yet, it is close enough to key tourist attractions including the Galle Fort – a famous historical remnant to spend the day; Koggala lake – who can say no to a boat ride on the calm waters of the lake, and a spot of lunch at an island; and even Sinharaja rain forest – a conserved patch of rich rainforest – if you are up to waking up a little early!

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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