Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka's surf mecca — a fishing village on the dry southeast coast whose long right-hand point breaks rank among the best in Asia. From May to September, Main Point peels for hundreds of metres on its day, with quieter waves at Whiskey Point and Peanut Farm suiting every level in between. The town itself is a single sandy street of surf camps, juice bars, and restaurants that comes alive after the evening glass-off.

The wild surroundings are half the appeal: elephants wander the lagoon edges at dusk, Kumana National Park's birdlife lies just south, and the crocodile-watched rock temple of Muhudu Maha Viharaya sits right on the beach.

We've walked the trails, paid the fees, and rated every guide. Below: how to get there, when to skip it, and what nearby places pair well — the kind of advice a local friend would give.