Contact Us & FAQs

Hikkaduwa is in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. This famous coastal town is only 25 minutes north of Galle Old Town along the south-west coastal road and also has good motorway connections via the Southern Expressway. Take the Kurundugahahetekma Interchange, signposted for Hikkaduwa, which is about 14 km inland from the town. Hikkaduwa is around two hours by car from Bandaranaike International Airport.

Suite Lanka is a beachside boutique hotel, next to Riff Hotel, on the southern fringes of Hikkaduwa in the neighbouring village of Thiranagama. This is a quieter stretch of Narigama Beach and is home to some of the finest properties. A 10-minute stroll north along the beach takes you to a host of beach restaurants and bars, while Hikkaduwa town is about 3 km away. Suite Lanka is also within easy reach of Galle Fort, about 25 minutes down the coast road by tuk-tuk.

Hikkaduwa has a hot, tropical climate. Daily temperatures throughout the year generally vary between lows of 24C and highs of 33C. Because Sri Lanka is a tropical island close to the equator, humidity levels are high, although sea breezes can give a fresher feel.

Advice about the best times to visit Hikkaduwa can be misleading. Weather forecasts might predict wet weather all day, but locals know that most rain tends to occur in sporadic heavy bursts, much of it after dusk. Climate change has also made the weather unpredictable, as in much of the world, which can make low-season holidays more appealing.

High season: Mid-December to the end of April, when rainfall is lowest and prices are at their highest. The north-east monsoon has minimal effect in this part of Sri Lanka. April is often the hottest month as the build-up to the monsoon period begins.

Low season: The south-west monsoon brings prolonged rain in May and much of June. Many hotels and restaurants close for this period.

Mid-season: Mid-June to mid-December. Hotel prices are attractive for holidaymakers willing to mix sunshine with bursts of rain. Mid-June to the end of August is a “secret window” and can have plenty of sunshine and lighter rainfall. Rain steps up again in the inter-monsoon months between September and mid-November, but there is sunshine too, and the seasonal beach bars and restaurants begin opening again. The weather then starts to settle as Christmas approaches.

Read our practical Weather in Sri Lanka month-by-month guide.

If you are looking for a Sri Lanka beach, Hikkaduwa can offer four of them. Hikkaduwa Beach is the town’s main beach and has a vibrant atmosphere in high season between November and April, with surfing, snorkelling, lively beach bars, and restaurants. The beach can be narrow at monsoon time but magically broadens every year as high season arrives.

To the north of the town is Turtle Beach where, if you are lucky, you can swim with the turtles. Swimming is at its safest here. The bay can become busy in high season.

A short stroll south takes you to Narigama Beach, a 3 km stretch of sand offering surf breaks, a beach-café atmosphere, and some of Sri Lanka’s finest sunsets. Hotels and villas tend to be more upmarket at the southern end of the beach in Thiranagama, including Suite Lanka, Riff Hotel, and Villa Saffron. It is advisable to swim only in lifeguard-patrolled areas as currents can be very strong.

Head south from Suite Lanka towards Dodanduwa and the beach becomes quieter still, perfect for an untroubled sunset stroll.

• Swim with the turtles in Turtle Bay
• Go snorkelling or scuba diving
• Enjoy sunset strolls on Narigama Beach
• Try your hand at surfing
• Enhance your wellness with Ayurvedic treatments
• Go kayaking or take a boat trip on Rathgama Lake
• Visit the tsunami museum to learn about the 2004 disaster
• Take a day trip to Galle Fort
• Dance and party the night away at vibrant beach bars
• Eat fresh seafood in a host of beach restaurants
• Indulge yourself with lazy beach days
• Watch top sport on big screens at Sam’s Bar
• Shop for local arts and crafts
• Cycle down quiet country lanes near Hikkaduwa
• Canoe on Hikkaduwa Lake
• Listen to jazz, soul, and gentle evening melodies in Roshan’s Bar

Suite Lanka is a small boutique hotel, so we cannot offer the sort of on-site activities found in bigger, package-style hotels. But we seek to be a small hotel with a big punch by working with several off-site partners without seeking commission. We can offer nearby recommendations for yoga and Ayurvedic massage, for example, and we are currently developing a range of other activities to help you enjoy your stay to the full.

Why not take a look at our Activities page?

Hikkaduwa has been renowned as a good place for a beach holiday since it sprang to prominence with the advent of young, independent travellers in the 1960s and gained the nickname Hippy-kaduwa. It has grown since then, but its chilled-out atmosphere has remained.

Hikkaduwa offers a wide selection of accommodation options, with most of the upmarket properties on the southern fringes, late-night beach bars, and a host of casual restaurants. Not to forget several sandy beaches and a range of watersports. The appealingly broad sands of Narigama Beach are where the famous Sri Lankan cricketer Lasith Malinga first developed his distinctive slinging bowling style. Trends come and go, with smaller south-coast options like Hiriketiya attracting a fashion-conscious crowd, but Hikka still offers a lot of fun for an easy-going global clientele.

Narigama Beach is ideal for novice surfers. Since the holiday town of Hikkaduwa became established in the 1960s, many beginners have caught their first wave here. Try just opposite Mambo’s beach bar for the most reliable waves. Early morning and late afternoon can be the calmest times. Narigama Beach has other attractions too. The appealingly broad sands are where the famous Sri Lankan cricketer Lasith Malinga first developed his distinctive slinging bowling style, and its beautiful sunsets rival any in Sri Lanka.

Hikkaduwa is the West Coast’s prime surfing resort, and the season normally runs from November to April, with some surfing before November if the weather is favourable. This youthful coastal town began as a surfing town and now attracts party-minded people of all types. Shops sell or rent surfboards, wetsuits, and other gear. The best surfing spots here are in Wewala.

• Benny’s: This left-hander reef break is preferred by experienced surfers when waves rise above 6 feet.
• Main Reef: Left and right handers over a deeper reef. Relatively safe for all levels. This is in the centre of the beach area, so it can become very busy in peak season.
• North Jetty: Hikkaduwa’s most northerly surfing point is actually in Ambalangoda. Long left handers with a reef break by the harbour wall.
• Beach Break: Recommended for novices. Safe shore and reef break.

Yes. Hikkaduwa has some of the most vibrant nightlife in Sri Lanka, especially from November until April, when it is renowned for laid-back beach bars, open-air dance spots, and late-night beach parties. Other places may catch occasional trends, but Hikka has been a popular and unpretentious party spot for more than half a century. Expect a casual vibe, with chilled-out sounds during the day giving way to rap, electronic music, and up-tempo dance tracks as the night takes hold. Suite Lanka is one place that goes against the trend, with Roshan’s Bar offering jazz, soul, and serene melodies every evening.

Hikkaduwa is around two hours by car from Bandaranaike International Airport. Getting through the airport to your transport normally adds another 45 minutes.

Yes. If you are looking for a reliable airport transfer, Suite Lanka can make recommendations.

Direct bookings are highly valued, especially by smaller, independent hotels, because the hotel saves commission which begins at 15% and is often much higher as rival hotels compete for attention. That expense can mean the difference between profit and loss. Booking direct also means that more revenue can be invested into the hotel, its staff, and the country itself through taxation. Direct booking can be a satisfying experience by fostering a closer relationship before your arrival, often through messaging apps such as WhatsApp. But beware of red flags. Before you book direct, check that you are getting the best deal, that the hotel website and customer service are professional, and that you have clear terms and conditions in case of cancellation. A trusting relationship is vital.

The easiest way is to select the BOOK NOW tab to book through our website. We guarantee professional service and the best deals, so if you find the same room cheaper for the same nights, send us a screenshot and we will beat it. No payment is taken upon booking and we show you the payment terms. You will find our full Booking Conditions at the foot of the page.

Galle, Sri Lanka, is an address on many people’s wish list. Galle Old Town is only 25 minutes south by car and close enough to reach by tuk-tuk along the old coast road. You can stay close to the historic old town while enjoying the advantage of a tropical beach on your doorstep.

Hikkaduwa Railway Station is on the west-coast line that runs from Colombo Fort to Matara and offers a budget, if somewhat rudimentary, travel option. Check the official Sri Lanka Railways timetable. There is no rail connection from the airport. For hotels to the south of Hikkaduwa, such as Suite Lanka and Riff Hotel, there is also the option of another smaller station at Thiranagama.

Sri Lankan cuisine traditionally makes heavy use of coconut milk and spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, and curry powder. The staple food is Sri Lankan rice and curry, in which white rice is accompanied by separate dishes of small curries made from vegetables, lentils, fish, or meat, along with spicy sambols. For breakfast, traditional options such as hoppers and string hoppers are based on rice flour. Fresh vegetables and tropical fruit abound.

Sri Lankan rice and curry is only part of the story. A long-established tourist industry means that, except in the most out-of-the-way locations, food options are international and extensive, with influences from India, south-east Asia, and Europe regularly seen on menus. Fusion cuisine combines different influences, and vegetarian dishes are also increasingly common.

Suite Lanka has a popular little beach restaurant, Olin’s, which has attracted many positive reviews from independent travellers and has great views over Narigama Beach. See what Suite Lanka can offer on the Olin’s food menu. You can also eat in Roshan’s Bar to the sound of jazz, soul, and mellow tracks every evening.

Sri Lanka has officially switched to the Type G plug, with three rectangular pins like the UK, so if you travel from the UK, your standard Type G plugs will fit most modern sockets without an adaptor. Some older buildings or rural areas might still offer Type D sockets with three larger round pins, still common in India. The standard voltage is 230V at 50Hz. Wherever you travel, it is always advisable to carry a universal travel adaptor for all eventualities. Local shops also sell adaptors, although their quality can vary.