Arugam Bay: 7 Best Things To Do Arugam Bay: 7 Best Things To Do

Arugam Bay: 7 Best Things To Do

Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka is known as a surfers paradise and one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. It is one of those areas in the world you have to visit at least once in a lifetime. With world-famous Yala National Park as its neighbor, Arugam Bay is lucky to be surrounded by loads of wildlife like monkeys, elephants, and crocodiles. The bay is trendy and a great place to spend at least 3 days. Use this Arugam Bay Guide to plan your visit.

About Arugam Bay

It’s important to know that the busy season in Arugam Bay runs from June until August. The waves in this season are world-famous. Parties are going on in the night. Outside of this season, the weather is still great, just no waves, no parties. The season you should go is up to you. Restaurants and shops are open from February until October.

1. Climb up Elephant Rock

The Arugam area has many great bays, and Elephant Point is one of those. Elephant Rock is located at the end of this bay and is a great place to get up and have a view of the whole area. Getting there is not the most obvious road; the good part is that it only takes 20 minutes.

arugam bay guide things to do elephant rock

From Arugam Town, drive the main road and turn left when you see the sign of the Navy Camp. Keep left, follow the road until the next split, and take a right towards a small lake. Just before the lake, turn left and keep going straight until the end.

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Arugam Bay: 7 Best Things To Do

Please keep a few things in mind. It’s not recommended to be here alone in the morning or late afternoon as elephants will pass this area. Also, don’t go near the rivers as crocodiles are active here.

2. Muhudu Maha Viharaya

This beautiful white temple can be spotted from Arugam Bay Beach. It is located beautifully located in the sand dunes of Pottuvil. Combine this with a visit to the beach or Whiskey Point.

arugam bay guide things to do muhudu maha viharaya

3. Surf & Chill at Arugam Bay Beach

Arugam is world-famous for its waves in high season. Some swear that there isn’t a better place to surf. Big companies like Red Bull organize competitions here.

Rent a board in town and explore the popular surf spots: Baby Point, Peanut Farm Beach, Main Point, or Elephant Point. High season in Arugam Bay runs from June until August.

sri lanka beaches arugam bay dog

After some surfing, chill at one of the many cafes like The Hideout or Stay Golden. There are also many Yoga lessons available throughout the whole bay’s high season.

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Visiting in Low Season
Do not skip Arugam because there are no waves. In February and March, you can do all these things to do in Arugam Bay except for surfing. Prices are about 5 times lower than in high season.

arugam bay guide things to do art

4. Lagoon Safari

Going on a 2-hour lagoon safari is one of the popular things to do in Arugam Bay. The beautiful untouched lagoons, Kottukal or Urani, hold many crocodiles, elephants that can be spotted, and other wildlife. We can recommend Azi Taxi to be your transport.

Yala National Park is quite close to Arugam and a perfect place to spot even more wildlife like leopards!

5. Arugam Bay Guide (Be a Foodie)

Arugam is full of small trendy places where foodies can enjoy local delicacies and fusion food. They offer everything from Sri Lankan dishes, fresh seafood, wood oven pizzas, and even Vegan food or smoothie bowls. Some of our favorites are:

  • Cili
  • Blue Ocean
  • Flo!
  • Stay golden

6. See and Help the Fishermen

In the low season, the fishermen will be at the main beach every morning. Go check out how they weigh their catch of the day, which directly goes to the restaurants. And give them a hand to drag the boat on the beach.

7. Kudumbigala Monastery

A monastery located in the middle of the jungle. Sounds great, right? You will need about 45 minutes from Arugam to get to the foot of the rock. The climb is not the easiest, but you will have a view of the whole region.

The view from the monastery by lena_moony

How to Visit Arugam

Arugam is a bit dislocated from the standard Sri Lanka Route. Visiting from Trincomalee (5h) or Ella (2.5h) are the best options to reach the bay. You can even do a 2-day Sri Lanka East-Coast road trip from Trincomalee.

Where to Stay in Arugam Bay

Arugam is all about the beach! As such, most of the accommodations are located along the coastline.

Choose from charming beach huts, mid-range guesthouses, or upscale beach resorts.

24/07/2023 https://www.saltinourhair.com/sri-lanka/arugam-bay-guide/
Blog comments (10)

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  • Denise

    Hi, I know it’s a kinda old post but do you think it’s also worth it to visit the bay in January? because you mentioned going there during the off-season is still fine but only starting in February. Happy to get your opinion and keep up your amazing work! :)

    • Salt in our Hair

      Hmmm not totally sure as weather could be an issue and shops being closed. You could message some local restaurants and just ask if they are open.

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