There’s no denying the beaches in Sri Lanka are amazing. From the popular surfer’s beaches on the east coast around Arugam Bay to the busy white sands of Mirissa, there is no shortage of salty goodness to go around. If you’re looking for a beach without the hordes of tourists, with quiet bays that are favoured by the locals head to Madiha Beach for your ocean fix.
Madiha Beach is about a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride from Mirissa. The jagged coastline doesn’t have the long stretch of white sand like Mirissa but instead, pockets of small bays are scattered down the coast and you can pick and choose where you want to swim.
Local fishermen sit astride their rickety wooden poles and catch whatever’s floating about and they make you wonder how the heck they can balance on a singular pole with waves constantly crashing upon them. Scruffy dogs cruise about like they own the place and there’s always a little puppy to fall in love with!
We arrived at Madiha Beach and instantly fell in love. The laidback, island vibe was contagious and within hours of our arrival, we began to move just a little bit slower. Our accommodation for our time at Madiha Beach was this fantastic AirBnb right near an area called The Point.
Tucked in between palm trees and dense rainforest was this little jungle oasis complete with hammocks and an outdoor shower. We even had our own private beach! It was a simple set up but just what we needed. We spent our days riding bikes around, drinking fresh coconuts and exploring the beaches and our nights eating delicious Sri Lankan curries, playing cards and listening to the ocean. It was delightful.
The excellent surf is a well-kept secret by Madiha locals and the swell is good all year around. Most of the people staying in Madiha Beach are surfies so thankfully we had Dad’s old surfing past to fall back on to make the cut! 😛
For meals, there are plenty of places to choose from but I have two that I wholly recommend. The Doctors House is worth a visit to Madiha Beach alone. The rundown beach shacks have been taken over by a couple of Aussies and they have created their own little oasis complete with wood-fired pizzas, lounges and EXCELLENT COFFEE!!
For some Sri Lankan staples, you must visit Bob’s Roti House which is tucked in down a dirt track opposite the beach. We devoured kotu roti, which is almost like a Sri Lankan version of Pad Thai and coconut and chocolate roti until we were stuffed. Washed down with the local Elephant ginger beer and you have yourself a bloody delicious lunch!
We did duck into Mirissa one day but the busy streets and beaches full of tourists weren’t really what we were after. It’s good for a visit but if you’re looking for a laidback and relaxing stay in Sri Lanka, Madiha Beach is where you need to be!
GET THERE:
Beach Road, Madiha, Matara, Sri Lanka., Matara 81000, Sri Lanka
Madiha Beach is about 150 kilometres south of Colombo, located in the Matara District. It’s easiest to get to Mirissa by train or car and then catch a tuk-tuk to Madiha Beach. As it’s a long stretch of sand, I recommend hiring a bicycle to get around. Saves your energy for important things like swimming and sunbaking!
STAY:
I couldn’t recommend Dikwatta House enough! Eranga was so hospitable and helped us with all our needs and requests. He even delivered new coconuts to us because the ones around the house weren’t as sweet. The first night we arrived they cooked us a traditional Sri Lankan meal which was absolutely mouth-watering! 10/10 recommend!
A Blonde and Her Passport 
Sri Lanka has long been on my list, your post has just reminded me that I need to get there soon!!! 😊