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Introducing Koggala – Sri Lanka’s Longest Beach

Koggala is a tiny coastal town stretching along a picturesque lagoon edge on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Koggala draws travellers of all ages with its pristine golden sand beaches, fantastic snorkelling and amazing surfing.

Ministry

Koggala Overview

Koggala features with a postcard scenic deserted sandy beaches fringed with swaying coconut palms, endless water sports and wonderful sightseeing. Located in close proximity to the popular Galle and Unawatuna, Koggala benefits from its strategic position offering visitors to stay away from the hustle-and-bustle, yet, within a short drive to the major tourist facilities.

Koggala itself is a peaceful and serene village with only a few restaurants dotting the city. There are no vibrant bars and hectic nightlife in the town, instead, Koggala offers laidback atmosphere and naturally beautiful setting. A couple of beautiful villas tucked away in the lush tropical greenery, and a few local guest houses provide travellers with a choice of accommodations to suit all budgets.

Koggala features a wonderful stretch of wide golden sand beach seducing to lay around on the soft sand, swim in the pristine waters and soak up the sun. Due to its unbeaten location, Koggala serves truly unforgettable sunsets with stilt fishermen towering over the messy waters on the background.

What We Love

  • Beautiful long golden-sand beach

  • Luxurious, yet, affordable villas

  • Fantastic snorkelling, diving and surfing

  • Splendid mangrove-fringed lagoon

  • Peaceful and serene atmosphere

Ministry

Things to See & Do in Koggala

Shopping

There isn’t much shopping in Koggala except a couple of fruit stalls, small seafood market and several tiny shops that sell basic necessities.

Should you wish to enjoy the retail therapy, head to the nearby Galle, which is only a 40-minute drive from the city. Galle is a southern trade centre and it’s scammed full with amazing fashion stores, gem factories, local markets and tiny boutiques.

Once in Galle, you cannot pass by tea shops selling authentic Ceylon tea, quality silk scarfs, natural spa products or more expensive, yet, precious sapphires, which could be an amazing gift for someone special back home.

Relaxation

Koggala is relaxed, serene and peaceful coastal town boasting magnificent scenery and endless splendid beach. It is an ideal place to simply lay around on the golden sand, soak in the naturally formed reef protected pools, and admire the colourful marine life.

Koggala is a home to a turtle hatchery, and all travellers are welcomed to visit the turtle farm, take a closer look at these fascinating sea habitants and learn more about the turtle conservation.

The beautiful Koggala Lake fringed with lush green mangroves is another way to relax and unwind in the lap of nature. You can ride on a catamaran around the lagoon with a local guide who will be happy to take you fishing upon request. Finally, Koggala provides fantastic surf breaks but only for experienced surfers.

Stick Fisherman View Restaurant Koggala Sri Lanka
Beach Koggala Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Koggala Beach
Habaraduwa House Play Area | Koggala, Sri Lanka
South Point Cottage River Front Dining Table | Koggala, Sri Lanka
South Point Cottage Dining Table | Koggala, Sri Lanka
Ministry

Eating & Drinking in Koggala

Restaurants

While in Koggala try a genuine Lankan cuisine, which is rich in flavours and combines various tastes. Catering to foreign travellers, the local cuisine served in the popular restaurants is far less spicy as it is adapted to the tourists.

The must-try in Koggala is a seafood barbeque served in several beachfront venues. Fresh and delicious, you will be spoilt for choice of jumbo prawns, calamari, lobster and various fish depending on the catch of the day. Seafood is priced by weight, so you can expect to pay half the price you usually pay in your hometown.

If you are feeling for a more sophisticated dining experience, opt one of the high-end restaurants located in the upmarket hotel resorts. These elegant and fancy establishments offer both local and international cuisines at a matching price. Still, well worth trying.

Nightlife

You will never get enough of the mesmerising Koggala sunsets, when the sky is awash with incredible colours and casts brilliant reflections on the water surface. Being quiet and peaceful town, Koggala is an ideal place to watch the subtle silhouettes of the stilt fishermen in the setting sun.

A couple of bars lining the beach and serving a friendly atmosphere are excellent establishments to relax, sip a cold beer and gaze upon the stars.

For a more hectic evening head to the popular Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa resort towns, where the vibrant beach bars, frantic nightclubs clubs and trendy lounges will compete for your attention.

South Point Cottage Fruit Plate | Koggala, Sri Lanka
Catalina Grill Restaurant Koggala Sri Lanka
South Point Cottage Romantic Dining Set Up with View | Koggala, Sri Lanka
Villa Serendipity Dining and Living Area | Koggala, Sri Lanka
Restaurants in Koggala Sri Lanka
Habaraduwa House Dining Area | Koggala, Sri Lanka
Ministry

Koggala Neighbourhoods

Situated towards the south of Colombo International Airport (a.k.a Bandaranaike International Airport) on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Koggala is the ideal base if you want to stay away from hustle-and-bustle, yet, close to the major tourist facilities and attractions of Galle and Unawatuna towns.

Koggala & Surrounds

Tangalle

One of the last towns on the coast before the great expanse of the national parks, known for its paradise beaches.

TANGALLE GUIDE

Mirissa

An irresistibly relaxed beach town with the occasional beach party and opportunity for whale watching.

MIRISSA GUIDE

Galle

The southwest tip of the island is home to the UNESCO protected Galle Fort dating back to the 16th century.

GALLE GUIDE
Ministry

Koggala Villas

There are two Ministry Approved villas in Koggala. As Koggala is a rather secluded coastal resort town villa prices tend to be lower than other parts of Sri Lanka. Koggala villas range from USD $400 per night to USD $450 per night for a four-bedroom luxury villa.

Most of our villas have dedicated staff including butlers, chefs, nannies, 24-hour security personnel, drivers and many other services you won’t find in a hotel. This is why we say “Spend just one night in a villa and you’ll never stay in a hotel again.”

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    South Point Ocean View | Galle, Sri LankaSouth Point Ocean Night View | Galle, Sri Lanka

    SOUTH POINT OCEAN

    Ahangama, Sri Lanka – 8 Bedrooms

    Experience beachside bliss at South Point Ocean, where the only thing standing between you and the Indian Ocean is a pristine private pool.

    US $1,000
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    South Point Villa Dining Table | Galle, Sri LankaSouth Point Villa Building | Galle, Sri Lanka

    SOUTH POINT VILLA

    Ahangama, Sri Lanka – 3 Bedrooms

    South Point Villa is a blissful beachfront villa offering Sri Lankan charm on a stunning sandy beach.

    US $600
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    South Point Abbey Swimming Pool | Galle, Sri LankaSouth Point Abbey Exterior at Night | Ahangama, Sri Lanka

    SOUTH POINT ABBEY

    Ahangama, Sri Lanka – 4 Bedrooms

    South Point Abbey offers the ultimate getaway on a beautiful sandy beach in Sri Lanka.

    US $500
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    VILLA MAYURANA

    Koggala, Sri Lanka – 4 Bedrooms

    Villa Mayurana is an elegant villa with flawless interiors, nestled in a cinnamon plantation by a dreamy lake in Sri Lanka.

    US $1,648
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    Ivory House Swimming Pool | Galle, Sri LankaIvory House Indoor Living Area | Galle, Sri Lanka

    IVORY HOUSE

    Koggala, Sri Lanka – 4 Bedrooms

    Get lost in emerald green vistas of rice paddies at Ivory House, a divine blend of colonial elegance and modern luxe on the southern shores of Sri Lanka.

    US $491
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    Villa Alba Pool Side Loungers | Koggala, Sri LankaVilla Alba Indoor Living Area | Koggala, Sri Lanka

    VILLA ALBA

    Koggala, Sri Lanka – 5 Bedrooms

    This sleek modern villa achieves perfect harmony with Sri Lanka’s lush nature, fusing sumptuous levels of comfort with sweeping paddy field vistas.

    US $450
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    South Point Cottage River Front Dining Table | Koggala, Sri LankaSouth Point Cottage Romantic Dining Set Up at Night with View | Koggala, Sri Lanka

    SOUTH POINT COTTAGE

    Koggala, Sri Lanka – 3 Bedrooms

    South Point Cottage is an idyllic lakeside cottage with authentic Sri Lankan charm, offering serene seclusion on beautiful Koggala Lake.

    US $250
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    Villa Serendipity Living Area with Ocean View | Koggala, Sri LankaVilla Serendipity Building View | Koggala, Sri Lanka

    VILLA SERENDIPITY

    Koggala, Sri Lanka – 5 Bedrooms

    Villa Serendipity is a grand villa with a gorgeous tropical setting right on Koggala Lake, a 20-metre pool and 10 minutes to the beach.

    US $837
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    Kimbulagala Watte Villa Swimming Pool | Koggala, Sri LankaKimbulagala Watte Villa Living Room | Koggala, Sri Lanka

    KIMBULAGALA WATTE VILLA

    Koggala, Sri Lanka – 3 Bedrooms

    Kimbulagala Watte Villa is a beautiful villa combining colonial design and modern comfort, overlooking the peaceful Koggala Lake in Sri Lanka.

    US $375
Ministry

Practical Information

Getting There

Although it is possible to get to Koggala, Sri Lanka over land or water, the best way is to fly.

AIRPORT TRANSFER

It can take anywhere between 2 hours to 3 hours to reach Koggala from Colombo International Airport depending on traffic. Ministry of Villas can arrange a chauffeur to greet you upon arrival and escort you to your villa.

AIRPORT TAXI

Alternatively, there is a taxi desk at the arrival level which arranges one-way fares at a fixed-price. It is recommended to negotiate about the price before getting into the car, as metered taxis do not travel long distances from Colombo.

HIRED MINIVANS

If you are travelling in a larger group, hired minivan is the best option to reach Koggala. The service is available through the travel agencies in the Colombo airport at the arrival level.

TRAIN

You can take a train in Colombo to the direction of Mirissa, although, travelling by train is not recommended as getting a seat on the train is almost impossible. The trip from Colombo takes between 1,5 hours to 3,3 hours depending on the train, which you have chosen.

BUS

Public buses depart from the bus terminal and serve almost all destinations. It is an affordable, yet, uncomfortable way to get to Koggala as buses do not have air-con and usually depart crammed full.

Getting Around

There are plenty of options, so we’ve ranked them according to our recommendations for first-time travellers:

PRIVATE CAR

Ministry of Villas can arrange a private car and chauffeur for you. Depending on which villa you are staying in, the cost for the private car and chauffeur can vary, so it’s recommended to contact our Ministry of Villas team to get the complete information about the private transfers.

WALKING

As Koggala is a rather small coastal town, it can be easily covered on foot. Long and quiet strolls along the beach and tiny paths are one of the major city appeals.

TUK-TUK

Tuk-tuk travel is a fast and convenient way to explore the city and further afield. Take into account that you can always negotiate about the cost and reduce the first price the local driver announces.

RENTAL SCOOTER

It might be tricky to find a scooter rental shop in Koggala, however, you can always rent a bike in the nearby popular tourist locations. Though, the traffic can be somewhat chaotic, so a certain level of experience is required. Moreover, you should have an international driver license on your person at all times, and for your safety always wear a helmet.

Ministry

Koggala Travelogue