Lanka Diaries: My Golden Birthday Getaway

A laid-back guide to a bit of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province.

All I wanted for my 25th birthday (25 on the 25th of December, last year) was a laid-back trip to Sri Lanka. Luckily, I was living in Mumbai, India at the time and flights were not only inexpensive but quick—about 2.5 hours. A breeze compared to those outbound from the states. After begging my boyfriend for months…we ended up booking a bit of a last minute Christmas vacation that turned out to be everything I dreamed it would be.

Here are the 3 things I loved most about Sri Lanka:

1. The undiscovered feel.
2. The bohemian vibe!
3. The food 🤤

Compared to so many other hot beach destinations like Santorini and Miami, there were countless parts of Sri Lanka’s coast that still felt discoverable. And who doesn’t want to feel like they’ve just stumbled on the world’s best kept secret?

In every town we visited, there were handfuls of chic boutique properties, funky coffee shops, and zen yoga studios—all tucked into the most unassuming places. It felt hip without even needing to try. For me, this is everything. I’m all about destinations with a laid-back vibe and Sri Lanka’s Southern Province oozes with an under-the-radar coolness.

Now, the food. We ate well, really well. Whether you’re indulging in tacos, smoothie bowls, egg hoppers, or Sri Lankan curries—there is something for everyone and everything is AMAZING. The area seemed to be extremely vegan friendly so I was a very happy little traveler.

All in all, it was very much a golden birthday, in every way, and absolutely one of my most favorite places in the world!

If you’re planning a trip of your own (bring me with you!) to some of Sri Lanka’s laid-back beach towns, you’ll want to save this post for later! I’m sharing all of my favorite spots with you 💛

STAY:

GETTING THERE & AROUND:

The main airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), commonly known as Colombo Airport. Flights arrive daily and taxis are available for hire once you get through immigration, although I would highly suggest arranging a driver through your hotel or villa in advance!

* Always be sure to lock your checked luggage! For the first time, ever, I had valuables stolen out of my checked bag and unfortunately did not realize until we arrived to our villa. Word to the wise *

Sri Lanka’s Southern Province is broken up into three districts—Galle, Matara, and Hambantona. Some of the most well-known towns include Galle, Hikkaduwa, Matara, Tangalle, and Weligama. With so many places (and beaches) to see, we ended up choosing just a few small towns along the way to explore. Beginning our trip in the furthest point and working our way back, we broke up our days like this:

• 3 days — Mirissa
• 3 days — Ahangama / Midigama / Weligama
• 2 days — Talpe + Unawatuna & Galle Fort

After walking our way around Mirissa, we eventually decided to rent a motorbike (about $8 USD per day). If you plan to move around, you’ll definitely want to do this! It makes exploring SO MUCH easier and we would have been lost without it. Just navigate with lots of caution—the public buses are insane!

EAT:

Shady Lane | Mirissa

Delicious smoothie bowls and other healthy options.

Zephyr Restaurant | Mirissa

Yummy curries on the beach (and a great playlist).

Nomad Cafe | Weligama

Tons of delicious vegetarian & vegan items. I couldn’t stop talking about how good this place was! // Weligama

Ceylon Sliders | Weligama

A happening spot with its own scene. After following the Swedish founders, Petter & Linn, on Instagram for awhile, I couldn’t wait to come here. Check out the shop on your way out!

Soul Cafe | Weligama

A European-style cafe. Perfect for coffee and a quick bite.

The Kip Kiosk | Ahangama

Seasonal & local. Phoebe & Seddy were kind enough to treat us to our lunch and we were whole heartedly obsessed. I cannot recommend this place enough!!!

Poonie’s Kitchen | Galle

Church Street Social | Galle

CAFFEINE + COCKTAILS:

• Aloha Coffee Gallery | Mirissa
• Papa Mango | Mirissa
• Cheeky Monkey | Midigama
• Good Story Coffee Shop | Weligama
• The Hideout | Unawatuna

DO:

• Coconut Tree Hill | Mirissa
• Get a massage at the Good Spa | Weligama
• Take a yoga class at Soul and Surf (about $8 USD) | Ahangama
• Kablana Beach | Ahangama
• Koggala Beach | Ahangama
• Catch sunset at Frog Rock | Unawatuna
• Walk around Galle fort and watch sunset along the outer wall | Galle
• Shop for gemstones! Sri Lanka is known for precious sapphires and rubies ✨

While we definitely got to see a lot during our 8 days in Sri Lanka, there is still SO much more of the country to experience. Attracting loads of adventure-seeking, culture-thirsty travelers…it’s developing quickly so I really hope we get back soon. Next time, I’m hoping to check out Tangalle, Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. Drop your favorite places around Sri Lanka below 👇🏻