The East
The antidote to concrete resort hotels and national parks overrun with hundreds of jeeps, Tree Tops provides a true back-to-nature experience. Beautifully…
Must-see hotels in The East
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Arugam Bay
A quirky, locally owned beachside place with loads of atmosphere and a loyal clientele of backpackers and surfers. There's a choice of 22 digs (all built…
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Arugam Bay
This Danish-run place sits at the north end of the bay. There's a magnificent open-sided restaurant-lounge-terrace facing the ocean, perfect for languid…
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The East
Locally owned place with a blissful beachfront location. The garden compound is a delight; at its rear is an elegant villa-style structure for home-cooked…
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Arugam Bay
This fine beachside two-storey hotel has 15 rooms – all beautifully presented and immaculately clean, and most boasting minibars, desks and attractive…
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The East
This gorgeous place gets rave reviews thanks to the kindness and cooking (most meals Rs 300 to 600) of owner Dilani. Of the cabanas, the one on stilts is…
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The East
Beautifully designed hotel that makes the most of its prime beachside plot, where all rooms face the ocean. Colour schemes – whitewashed walls and cobalt…
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Trincomalee
Management couldn't be better at this two-storey gem with a great spot right on the beach. It doesn't look like much from the front, but head inside and…
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Galaxy Lounge Beachfront Cabanas
Arugam Bay
A sociable place where many of the 11 spacious cabanas are raised on stilts and hammocks abound between the shore-side trees. Galaxy has charm and…
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The East
Right at the northern end of Kalkudah Beach, this sprightly hotel is very well run. There are only eight rooms; all have terraces and views of the ocean …
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Arugam Bay
This very large site spans the sandy ground from the road to the beach. There are seven rooms, in wood and stucco cabana-style units. Some have 2nd-floor…
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The East
The cottage-style rooms here are dotted around a pretty, peaceful garden. All the units boast high ceilings, terraces and good-quality beds and mattresses…
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The East
This intimate, secluded beachfront villa hotel, 5km north of Arugam Bay, is managed by Jetwing, the well-regarded Sri Lankan hotel group. It's perfectly…
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Trincomalee
Vakarai, about 20km north of Passekudah, is the idyllic home to this unplugged, off-the-grid very rustic beachfront retreat. There’s only electricity at…
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Arugam Bay
Highly popular with travellers thanks to its gregarious vibe, guest kitchen and communal dining. The eight rooms here have bamboo frames topped with a…
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Arugam Bay
A fine place with atmospheric, boho accommodation scattered around a huge, shady garden plot. Stylistically, think hand-painted window shutters, tribal…
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The East
These eight rustic cabanas sit easy in their rural surrounds right by the break. Kanthan, the owner, worked in Arugam Bay for years, and is well versed in…
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Arugam Bay
Set back from the west side of the main road, the Danish Villa has a lovely, peaceful garden (except when the odd troop of monkeys whoops by) and a classy…
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The East
Slightly smaller than its luxe brethren, the Anantaya is at the northern end of the strip and is fairly isolated from any crowds. The 55 rooms are…
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The East
Around the bluff from the main strip, this tasteful beachfront resort offers modern styling tempered with thatched roofs and natural materials. All…
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The East
This well-run property has tasteful and no-surprises rooms all with dark-wood furniture and little porches, though bathrooms are cold-water and mattresses…
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The East
On a huge beachside plot in the middle of the resort strip, this luxury hotel offers beautifully finished rooms and suites (all with sea views) that…
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The East
A bustling, attractive place set around a central garden, there are 11 large, clean and comfy rooms here in a two-storey block. The restaurant features…
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The East
Upscale surfers' digs right on the beach. If the water seems too far, there's a big pool. Rooms are in bungalow-style units with thatched roofs. The…
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The East
Offers good rates for its 10 remodelled rooms, which have little front porches for lounging. Various rooms here sleep from two to four people and are…
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The East
Back from the beach, but with its own private path to the sand, this professionally managed hotel has clean and comfortable rooms in two-storey blocks…
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The East
First the good points: it's cheap, sociable and the beachfront location is superb. Prepare yourself, however, for the fearsomely ugly concrete…
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Arugam Bay
Surfer favourite, right next to the main point, allowing you to tumble out of bed and land in the line-up. Offers isolated but attractive fan-only rooms…
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Arugam Bay
Deservedly popular place on the west side of the main road that definitely wins the 'garden of the year' award, with a lush, verdant Eden complete with…
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Arugam Bay
Inviting modern four-storey hotel with a prime beachfront location (you can watch the fishing boats come and go from the sea-view rooms). The minimalist…
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The East
This good guesthouse (in the old YMCA building) has four spacious rooms and a lounge, and is the best place to hook up with other travellers. Hikes to…
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The East
This green villa is set well back from the road in beautiful gardens. Rooms vary – those on the ground floor are more traditional, while upstairs they're…
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Arugam Bay
A tiny place 50m from the beach with three simple, clean, arty rooms and a very inviting porch-lounge area, complete with hammocks. Happy Panda promotes…
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The East
Initial appearances are a little deceptive here as the slab-like concrete design looks rather soulless from the outside, but the 16 spacious, neat rooms…
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Arugam Bay
This guesthouse has 12 rooms with comfy touches, all about 100m back from the beach. Recent expansions, however, have filled the site almost to bursting,…
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The East
Moni is in the midst of things, but has a good family feel. The nine rooms are basic, but kept tidy, and the family owners prepare filling meals,…
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The East
A welcoming family-run place with a selection of very clean rooms with mosquito nets and wooden furnishings; those in the new block are a bit smaller. The…
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Arugam Bay
Slightly up a hill and a three-minute walk from the beach, this newish place has four pleasantly large rooms. There are fridges and little porches with…
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The East
Run by a welcoming family, this basic aqua-and-white guesthouse occupies a shady plot on a quiet side street, two blocks from the town centre. The nine…
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Arugam Bay
Right on the beach by the fishing boats, but tucked away in a garden. Staff are helpful, and rooms, though small, have little porches. The cheaper rooms…
