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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Tip: During the Friday prayers most of the restaurants close for a few hours.
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.
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Hi, me and my partner are traveling to Sri Lanka on September 5th. How is the weather and where should we go to avoid monsoons?
Max & Malin
Hi Max and Malin,
September is generally a great time to go to Sri Lanka as thats right as the south monsoon season is ending and just before the north east monsoon begins. However you may still get the end of the rains in the southwest and potentially in high places like Ella. You should be good in most areas though and if it does rain it is unlikely to last too long! Enjoy your trip :)