Trincomalee has one of Asia’s finest natural harbours and Pigeon Island National Park just offshore - blacktip reef sharks, sea turtles and coral in water shallow enough to snorkel from the shore. The clifftop Koneswaram Temple is the cultural centrepiece. From May to September the ocean here is in completely different condition to the south coast, which makes it an excellent pairing for those catching both seasons.
Weligama
Warm waves, fishing boats and the most forgiving surf break in the country
Weligama Bay has a long gentle right-hander that works for complete beginners on day one and keeps improving the more time you spend in the water. The fishing village behind the bay is still a working port - boats out before 5am, the morning catch laid out at the harbour by mid-morning. The restaurants that have opened here are genuinely good.
