After spending around ten days in Sri Lanka, we are leaving… but not without an unexpectedly awesome experience here. We have absolutely loved exploring this country and haven’t regretted stopping once!
So, if you’re wondering what it’s like to visit Sri Lanka by sailboat, you’re in the right place! Let’s check out everything we did and loved about our time on this fascinating island.
Related:
Indian Ocean Crossing: Part One – Thailand to Sri Lanka
The Highlights:
What were some of the best parts of our time here?
The first one is easy: the ‘marina’ was just a two-minute walk from a beginner surf beach! Almost every sunset, we walked there and enjoyed what we call a “Mum Wave”—when conditions aren’t epic, but there are still fun little ones to catch, and Mum loves that size and learned heaps. We loved it! It was unexpected, which made it even better.
That same learner’s beach had several surf schools and cafes, creating a cool vibe. We’d sometimes grab a smoothie bowl and watch the learners surf—it was chill, easy, and fun!
To explore further, we decided to hire a car and do some adventuring.
On our first day with the van, we drove south along the coast with surfboards on the roof. After not getting much surf in Thailand, we were stoked to find some rippable waves. Our first stop was at a popular spot where we caught a few good ones. Then, we grabbed some local roti for lunch and kept heading south. After turning down a side road, we spotted a few surfers at what looked like a reef break. Sure enough, we’d found a sweet hidden left with just a few people out. Paddling out, we got some super fun waves, and it was awesome to find more power in the swell.
Okay, let’s leave surfing for a sec and talk about our second day with the van. We had boards on the roof again, but today’s main mission was driving to Colombo to visit a sail loft we’d been invited to tour.
We didn’t know what to expect, but first, we had to get there—our van wobbled like crazy if we went over 80km/h, so our 2-hour trip took more like 3 hours. But we made it!
And wow, it was worth it! I won’t go into all the details, but it wasn’t just a sail loft—it was more like a factory! They made everything from tents to hot air balloons, kites to windsurfer sails… mind-blowing! By the time the tour ended (after a couple of hours), we were totally exhausted. We made our way back to the coast and squeezed in a cheeky surf before getting home in the dark.
The next few days, we chilled closer to home—surfing and enjoying the local food. Speaking of food…
Sri Lankan Food:
Sri Lankan food was really yum! I wouldn’t say it’s my all-time favorite, but it was delicious. We mostly had curry and fried rice, both good. But the best? Roti! Especially the ones stuffed with curry—so good! We also grabbed baked goods from a bakery tuk-tuk a couple of times—those things were packed with bread and buns.
Exploring Galle Fort:
One of our last adventures was visiting Galle Fort. A 10-minute tuk-tuk ride took us to the fort, which is still in use—schools, cafes, restaurants, and shops fill the streets. We walked the outer wall, checking out cannons and the lighthouse! Finn even got brave enough to take a pic with a snake man (definitely not for me! 😂).
Checking In and Out:
I also have to add—our check-in and check-out process was crazy quick! Our agent did an awesome job, and everything was super smooth.
What About the Boat?
If you’ve looked into sailing to Sri Lanka, you might have heard about the surge and marina setup. We were cautious, but we’d also heard things had improved since last season.
We med-moored Happy Days, dropping our anchor as a bow line and reversing in to tie off to the concrete wall (better explanation here). It worked well—no damage at all.
The marina is… interesting. I wouldn’t really call it a marina—it’s more like a concrete basin. There’s a section for fishing boats, another for navy vessels, and then a tucked-away spot for about a dozen sailing boats. That’s where we stayed.
There’s drinking water for around $12 USD per 1000L, and there’s power (though we didn’t use it). The marina is inside a gated compound with guards at the entrance. You have to radio the harbor master when entering, but everyone was super friendly, and it was free to stay!
Anchoring isn’t allowed due to limited space and permission requirements. Some boats did anchor off the beginner surf beach if they were leaving early the next day.
Happy Days was super safe, and we were comfortable leaving her for the day, knowing she’d be fine when we got back!
Not-So-Good Things:
Okay, let’s be real—some things weren’t great. Nothing that would stop us from coming again, but they’re worth mentioning.
First, the marina is almost constantly full of rubbish—old sacks, dead fish, plastic… and yeah, that means a pretty bad smell. Gross. But they are trying to clean it up! Every other day, guys would come and pull stuff out of the water, which helped a bit. Still, because of the debris, we couldn’t run the generator, water maker, or AC without risking clogged intakes.
Also—flies! So. Many. Flies. Even with our bug screens up, they still got in. Super annoying!
There’s a decent fee to sail into Sri Lanka, covering agent and visa costs, but it’s not ridiculous and was worth it.
And finally—crowded surf! The lineup is busy, packed with learners, which means some sketchy moments. But if you go searching, you can find quieter spots!
Some Extra Things:
A few final things worth mentioning:
- The car rental was around $50 USD per day.
- The marina compound has rubbish facilities.
- While we med-moored Happy Days, some boats tied side-on to the wall.
- The people were super friendly!
- Tuk-tuk rides are a must—so much fun!
- Samosa roti = the best! If you know, you know. 😉
Summary:
So, what’s it like sailing to Sri Lanka? Hopefully, this post answers that!
We could have explored more, but we were stoked with what we did and didn’t feel like we missed out at all. Sri Lanka is an amazing country and well worth a stop—especially if you’re continuing on to the Maldives. It’s an awesome way to break up the passage.
I’d love to hear from you! Have you been to Sri Lanka? Got any questions? Drop a comment and let me know!
Sounds like you had a blast! Looking forward to the Sailing with Six YouTube video!
Haha, yeah we loved it! Thanks Robert 😊
Why am I just now hearing about this blog? I’m feeling so left out but grateful to finally be on board!
Ahh, welcome aboard! Stoked to have you here! No FOMO needed—you’re on board now, and that’s what counts. Can’t wait to share the adventure with you! 🌊⛵
What a great write up. We visited Sri Lanka years ago by plane but I’d love to sail that way and break up the journey to the Maldives. We’ll keep following your tracks – thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thank you! It was a great way to break up the trip, and I would definitely recommend it. Glad to have you following along—hope our route gives you some inspiration! ⛵🌍
What a great write up. We visited Sri Lanka years ago by plane but I’d love to sail that way and break up the journey to the Maldives. We’ll keep following your tracks – thanks for sharing your experiences!