Author: Ekaterina
Hikkaduwa is fraught with many places: here you can find exotic, and the semblance of a Turkish beach with a crowd of Russian tourists, and high-quality service.
We - a young couple from Moscow - went there in February. We had only 10 days: we dedicated six to Mirissa, and the other four to Hikkaduwa. During this time, we wanted to see and feel the flavor of the country. So we tell you where to look for it.
Why Hikkaduwa?
In tourist reviews for 2019-2020, Hikkaduwa in Sri Lanka leads in the number of mentions. And not surprisingly, this is the most developed resort in the country by tour operators. However, we found out about this only upon arrival: signs, menus, posters - everything is duplicated in Russian. Even sellers own it, so the place is especially convenient for those who do not know English.
We chose Hikkaduwa because of:
- a wide beach with a length of almost three kilometers
- perfect waves for surfing
- secluded places without crowds of tourists
For example, Narigama beach is closer to Galle city. On that side only seldom sellers of coconuts come across. By the way, they - coconuts - are cheaper here than in the center (about 50 rupees).
Especially tasty are those that are drunk in the shade of palm trees and in the company of a Sri Lankan. A little farther from the Lavanga Resort & Spa is a black charred shack, where an elderly man might invite with a wave of his hand. And while you are busy with sweet coconut, he will tell you how the 2004 tsunami destroyed everything, including his house, in the ruins of which you are now sitting.
Hikkaduwa is a small town, but the infrastructure is excellent. There are dozens of times more restaurants and cafes, hotels and Ayurvedic salons here. And most importantly, there are supermarkets where you can buy quality tea and souvenirs at no extra charge.
Flights and tours
People travel to Sri Lanka on a tour - for a purely beach vacation with one or two excursions, and on their own - to see everything and surf everywhere.
Tours.
Hikkaduwa is usually the cheapest package. Therefore, there are a lot of compatriots here, and the Sri Lankans are focused on Russo tourists as much as possible.
✓ In 2021, a 7-day tour to Hikkaduwa for two costs from 80,000 rubles. If you catch two weeks before departure, you can find it for 60 thousand.
✓ All inclusive for a week will be released in the region of 130,000 rubles. It is more budgetary to take a full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and pay from 110,000 rubles for two.
✓ Family tour to Hikkaduwa in a good hotel (parents and child) - from 140,000 rubles.
We have indicated the cost of the vouchers, subject to departure from Moscow. You can find out prices for tours to Sri Lanka from your city and on suitable dates on the online aggregators:
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
They analyze offers from all leading tour operators, display prices directly and suggest when and with whom it is more profitable.
Travel on your own.
Flights to Sri Lanka from Russia are from 24,000 rubles round trip for one. There is a direct flight from Moscow - Aeroflot, 8 hours in the sky. From the regions they fly with docking, usually in Dubai or Doha. See tickets for:
- Skyscanner
- Aviasales
By the way, we have an article comparing these two services, you can read it.
As for accommodation: on RoomGuru or Booking in Hikkaduwa, you can find bungalows made of sticks and straw for 400 rubles / night for two, and more or less a 2-3-star hotel for 1000-1500 rubles / night, also for two.
The main problem with self-trip is to get from the airport to Hikkaduwa itself, because ↓
How to get from Colombo to Hikkaduwa?
Here with such a sign you will be met at the Kiwi Taxi airport.
The Hikkaduwa resort is located 100 km from Colombo Airport, due to speed limits, the journey will take about 2 hours by car.
The easiest way to get there is transfer from hotel (pre-ordered). Haggle in mail, adequate price ≈ $ 50. You will be greeted with all the honors and a piece of cardboard with your name scrawled.
Option "Taxi at the airport" better not to consider. And do not contact the local bombils at all and do not give luggage in your hands! The taxi driver will either ask for a tip or take the bags into their own trunk. And he will do it with such a sincere smile that you will not notice how you sit in the car with the same smile.
The best option: if you are traveling with a group of 3-4 people, it is much more profitable to take a transfer from KiwiTaxi - it will cost $ 65-70 per car. We used the service in Greece, it is very convenient.
There is no direct flight Colombo-Hikkaduwa and by bus... First you need to take bus number 187 to the Colombo Fort stop, and then change to a bus to Hikkaduwa (or to one going to Galle, Matara, Tangalle).
If you want, the same 187 will take you to the final station, where there is a transfer to a train to Hikkaduwa station. But there is a risk of getting into the semblance of the Moscow metro during rush hour, or even worse, because these are Sri Lanka and Hikkaduwa.
Weather in Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa receives tourists all year round, but you need to proceed from the purpose of your trip.
For surfers ideal both in spring and autumn - in a word, from April to October, when the Indian Ocean rages, and the waves rise to a height of 5 meters.
For a beach holiday The high season starts in winter - in December - and ends in March, but in April you can still catch days without rain or waves. In the tourist season, the ocean is calm and warm, + 28 ° С, and the temperature during the day is kept around + 30 ° С.
Low season - this is summer, when it rains three to four times a day. In addition, the water level rises in August, covering part of the sandy beach. Nevertheless, many go to Hikkaduwa in the off-season - forecasts are often wrong, but low prices in cafes and hotels are stable :)
In general, in the summer you can find a corner where the season is in full swing, unlike the same Hikkaduwa. In the article about the resorts of Sri Lanka, we considered all the places to stay - where, when and to whom to go. |
Hikkaduwa beaches
It is difficult to say where Hikkaduwa Beach begins and ends - there are no exact boundaries. If you look at the map, it consists of two large ones: Hikkaduwa Beach (north) and Narigama Beach (south).
South part Hikkaduwa beach is real Sri Lanka, it is wilder. Fewer tourists, you can feel the scale and strength of the ocean: waves crash with noise on stones, and white foam floods your feet. Friendly dogs stretch out in the sun, and Sri Lankans also enjoy life on the sand. Few decide to swim on this beach. The sunset is too sharp, the sand tightens, and the waves strive to push you deeper.
Carefully! The main danger of the ocean in Hikkaduwa is reverse currents. |
Northern part more lively and popular. There are coral reefs here that trap strong waves. Many people prefer the beach of the Chaaya Tranz hotel (now Hikka Tranz), where there is a convenient entrance and large turtles. Tourists affectionately call this place "lagoon", and we called it "Russian" - "Stewardess named Zhanna" was playing behind the back, and compatriots were lazily sipping beer.
Lying rest did not appeal to us, so we swam closer to the southern beach, where the locals were not afraid to swim. They are a kind of security indicator.
Hikkaduwa Kitchen and Cafe
For calculations: 100 Sri Lankan rupees ≈ 35 rubles. |
Prices in supermarkets and markets in Hikkaduwa:
- A can of local beer - 150-170 rupees
- Mango as in Tae, kg - 500-700 rupees
- Pineapples, kg - 100 rupees
- Passion fruit, kg - 200 rupees
- Bananas, kg - 100-200 rupees
To whom it is important - alcohol is freely available, sold in stores.
Sri Lankan cuisine is similar to Indian cuisine, so remember the phrase “no spicy” as a prayer. And also - “no sugar”, “no ice” - when ordering drinks.
Sri Lankans prepare spicy dishes, although they are already accustomed to adapting them for Europeans. But it is worth reminding once again if you are not a fan of hot pepper. It is better to ask for cocktails and juices without sugar and ice - it happens that tap water is frozen, and there is a risk of catching an intestinal infection.
Reviews say that in Hikkaduwa and in general in Sri Lanka, you must definitely try several dishes:
- rotti (stuffed tortillas)
- rice and curry (more than 15 varieties of rice are grown in the country)
- lassi (drink with juice, yoghurt, water and spices)
- string hoppers (rice flour dish)
- tea with milk (this is the island of Ceylon)
- arak vodka
There are many cafes on the beach where you can eat both local and European cuisine. In the evening, the staff brings tables out to the ocean, so they eat here while watching the sunsets. I recommend:
- JLH Beach Restaurant - try mango shake with ice cream (390 rupees) and avocado juice (350 rupees)
- Hello burger - just great burgers (700-900 rupees)
- The getfresh - inexpensive seafood restaurant, shrimp with rice ≈ 960 rupees, fish ≈ 850-900 rupees
- Mika Wu - barbie-style cafe, delicious and unusual desserts in the range of 350-500 rupees
- Main Reef Surf Cafe - order rice and curry (600 rupees), get about seven plates with different fillings
Attractions in Hikkaduwa - what to do?
Don't expect impressive architecture or interesting museums from Hikkaduwa. The main attraction here is the ocean. This means that the main entertainment is associated with surfing, snorkeling + field excursions. From what to see on the spot, there is:
- Turtle farm
- Tsunami monument
Well, and a massage, for which you will have to pay 2000-2500 rupees.
Surfing and snorkeling
In Hikkaduwa surfing Is the first thing to do. If you have never skated, then be sure to take an instructor: he will pick up a board, provide clothes (so that you do not burn out and you can be seen), and will also take you to a special place with optimal waves. Such a lesson with the pros is about $ 35. There is even a Russian school, but the cost of classes is higher - from $ 45. For those who are confident on the board, you can rent a surf on the beach: 1 hour - 600 rupees, all day - 1200-1500 rupees.
Lovers of the underwater world will suit snorkeling... It is not everywhere - the most beautiful views are right at the beach of the Chaaya Tranz hotel. It is better to go to coral reefs exactly in the place where turtles come out. There will be a chance to swim with them.
Tours
Prices for popular excursions in Hikkaduwa (local agencies):
- 2 days to Sigiriya and Kandy - $ 140-160
- 2 days to Ella and Nuwara Eliya - $ 140-160
- Mangrove River Safari & Turtle Farm - $ 40-45
- Whale watching - $ 60
- Yala National Park - $ 70
✓ For those who, like me, cannot swim, excursions are good on boats with glass bottom, so you can see the fish without getting into the water. Cost: Rs 2,100 for 6 people. This walk is ideal for tourists with children.
✓ Hikkaduwa has an interesting Sinigama Muhudu Viharaya temple - he stands on a separate island, where victims of robberies can ask for retribution from higher powers. Perhaps, this is precisely what attracts tourists. Admission is free, but for the boat crossing, they will ask for 400 to 600 rupees. You can bargain, or you can look from the shore.
✓ Not far from the city there is Meetiyagoda districtwhere the Moonstone is mined. They usually come there with a guided tour (sometimes even free), during which, after the guide's story, they offer to buy jewelry in a shop at the mine. Need to bargain!
✓ By the way, about souvenirs: it is better to buy them in large supermarkets, for example, Sandagiri, and perceive the markets only as a tourist attraction. The tea in the store is the same, but cheaper than in the tea boutiques. Look for the O.P (orange pekoe) mark on the packaging - this is a high quality whole leaf tea.
✓ The 8-hour guided tour is also popular. weeping forest (Sinharaja) is a national park in Sri Lanka. There are few animals, but birds, beautiful plants and ... insects are in abundance. Wear closed-toed clothing and take a spare set of underwear with you to change after swimming in the falls.
✓ We left the most worthy excursion at last - if you master it, then it will most likely become the best in your life. This is climbing Adam's Peak - a mountain with a height of 2243 meters. Pilgrims believe that there is an imprint of the foot of Adam / Shiva / Buddha, and tourists believe that the most beautiful views of Sri Lanka are here.
Hikkaduwa and Sri Lanka are rich in excursions, but we advise you to explore everything on your own.
Accommodation in Hikkaduwa - hotels and homes
Hikkaduwa hotels are either guesthouses or bungalows, or the usual three-star hotels. Housing is cheap: because of the variety, there are excellent options for 1000 rubles per day. You can find your base in Hikkaduwa on the good old search engines:
- Booking
- RoomGuru
- Airbnb - private accommodation, if you haven't received the $ 54 bonus yet, follow the link :)
A selection of good hotels
We lived in the Le Reve D'Hikka guest house - we paid about 1400 rubles per night. For this money, we got a pretty good room, tastefully decorated (the owner is a Frenchwoman) and a normal breakfast. A turtle lived on the territory, and the ocean was a 5-minute walk (though across the road). In principle, you can advise.
Where else to stay? Here are 3 worthy hotels, the last two are only available for touring:
- 4 * Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon - Said to be the best hotel in Hikkaduwa. Rooms with an ocean view, a great beach - you can surf, dive, and swim with the kids.
Tour price: from 130,000 rubles (breakfasts)
Price per night: $ 110 - 2 * Lanka Super Corals is probably the only hotel in its category that has received SO positive reviews. Tourists insist on increasing stardom to all 4 🙂
Tour price: from 100,000 rubles (breakfasts) - 2 * Villa 96 - a small hotel away from Hikkaduwa with a Russian hostess. The hospitality is on the level, delicious breakfasts and dinners.
Tour price: from 95,000 rubles
It is better to choose hotels not on the first line in the center - the music from the cafe will definitely not let you fall asleep. Particularly vibrant nightlife at the Fanki de bar. We almost rented a hotel in this building (affordable price, panoramic windows overlooking the ocean, cool room), but thought about the catch in time. It turned out that the music in the establishment is so loud that the walls vibrate.
Where else can you go? Reviews of tourists
Hikkaduwa is easy to get around in 3-4 days, and during the rest of your vacation it is better to go to conquer other cities. We were only in the fort city of Galle, but the reviews of tourists speak of many more places.
- By bus to Halle - 50 rupees. Taxis and tuk-tuk are also taken there, but it is better to get there by trains from Hikkaduwa station. It will take about half an hour, but the trip in a colorful carriage from the times of the colonial rule of England (€ 1) will leave more impressions than a walk in old Halle.
- Can take a car (however, either right at the Colombo airport - with the help of RentalCars - or at the Citrus Hikkaduwa hotel, only there is a car rental) and take a ride to the nearest resorts. In the city of Bentota - walk along the sand spit and swim in the lagoon, see the ancient temple of Galapata with a huge statue of Buddha. In the town of Unawatuna - swim without waves and snorkel. In the resort of Kulutara, you can see the most beautiful castle of the XX century, waterfalls and cave temples Fa Hien Caves with traces left by people 37 thousand years ago.
- Another beautiful place is the mountain Sigiriya... The ascent is paid ($ 30 adult ticket and $ 15 child ticket), but it's worth it. Previously, there was a luxurious palace, or rather, a whole city with gardens, fountains and swimming pools. The steps were carved between the paws of huge stone lions, the dilapidated parts of which remain to this day.
