South Sri Lanka with kids – beaches, turtles and slow days by the ocean
At the end of our trip, we decided to spend a few days by the ocean.
After quite an intense itinerary, we really needed some slower time – beach, nature, space. It also perfectly aligned with an invitation to stay at Sooriya Resort & Spa, a hotel located right by the ocean, with three direct beach accesses and a very calm, hidden-away feel.
And it was exactly what we needed.
What to do in South Sri Lanka with kids:
We didn’t plan too much here – and that was the whole point. Still, we found a few really great experiences worth sharing:
Hiriketiya Beach – surfing with kids
Hiriketiya was probably the most “different” place we visited in Sri Lanka.
It has a completely different vibe – a bit more international, a bit more polished. Think nice cafes, poke bowls, small curated shops. Almost a little European in feel.
But it’s also a great place to try surfing – especially with kids.
We went twice and the kids absolutely loved it.
The waves were perfect for beginners, the instructors were great, and the whole experience felt very easy and relaxed.
Wewurukannala Temple – beautiful and intense
We also visited Wewurukannala Buduraja Maha Viharaya, a Buddhist temple with incredibly detailed paintings and sculptures inside.
We were shown around by a local guide who told us many interesting stories, which made the visit even more engaging. One part of the temple is… hard to forget.
There is a so-called “hell tunnel”, where different human sins are illustrated – followed by the punishments. It’s fascinating, but also quite intense and honestly a bit scary. Definitely something to be aware of if you’re visiting with kids.
Turtle Point Bathigama – swimming with turtles
At Turtle Point Bathigama, you can rent snorkeling masks and go into the water to look for turtles.
There isn’t much reef or many fish, but we swam with a turtle – and that alone made it completely worth it. Such a simple but special experience.
Where to stay in South Sri Lanka with kids – Sooriya Resort & Spa
We stayed at Sooriya Resort & Spa, and it turned out to be such a good base for this part of the trip.
The hotel is located right by the ocean and has three direct paths leading to the beach. It feels quiet, spacious, and very relaxed – a bit like your own little oasis.
Slow mornings and empty beaches at Sooriya Hotel
Twice, we woke up at 6:30am and went for a walk along the ocean.
Empty beaches, soft light, birds, crabs – just nature and calm.
Afterwards, we came back for breakfast, which was a really nice buffet with lots of fresh fruit, juices, and Sri Lankan options. I mostly focused on fruit and fresh juices – so good.
Turtle watching at Rekawa Beach
One morning, a hotel staff member took us to the beach (literally 2 minutes away), and we ended up seeing a huge, beautiful turtle.
Without that insider knowledge, we would have completely missed it.
These kinds of moments – small, unplanned, but unforgettable – really made this special.
Sooriya Hotel – the spa
The hotel also has a spa with a wide range of Ayurvedic treatments.
I went twice and really enjoyed it – a very calm atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, and a very experienced therapist. It was just really good.
Sooriya Resort & Spa – our stay
We really enjoyed our stay at Sooriya Resort & Spa.
Our room was spacious and had a beautiful ocean view. There is also a pool, which the kids absolutely loved – they jumped in whenever they had the chance.
The staff was incredibly kind, the food was delicious, especially the dinners, which were served in different beautiful spots each evening.
Everything felt clean, well taken care of, and just very pleasant overall.
We had a really good time here – thank you so much for having us!
And this was the end of our trip to Sri Lanka.
We loved it and already feel like coming back, because it honestly feels like we only just touched a small part of this incredible country. Travelling around was easy and enjoyable, and the people were kind, friendly, and very helpful.
I can really recommend it!
You can read about our whole trip here: Sri Lanka with kids
