Is Hiriketiya Worth Visiting? My Honest Take in 2025

I’ve had a few months now to think about this since I left Hiriketiya, and after visiting even more Asian countries, especially in Southeast Asia, I can confidently say that Hiriketiya Beach on the south coast of Sri Lanka is my favorite little beach town in Asia.

No place in the Philippines, Thailand, or Indonesia even came close. And honestly, the fact that I’m beginning this article like this probably already gives away my answer to the question: Is Hiriketiya worth visiting?

I spent over a month in Hiriketiya at the beginning of the year, and after checking out more surf and beach towns in Asia, I feel like I’ve got a pretty good idea on whether it’s worth visiting, and how it compares against other beach towns in Sri Lanka and beyond.

In this Mini Travel Guide I’ll give you a quick answer to why I think Hiriketiya Beach is so amazing and then a list of things I loved about it, some things I didn’t like so much and a few more tips and tricks on Hiriketiya Beach. Let’s get into it!

In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Hiriketiya Beach

⭐️⭐️⭐️ La Playa Beach Club – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️⭐️ The Yard Hiriketiya – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️ Dots Bay House – Click here for rates & availability

Is Hiriketiya Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer

Well, the quick answer is yes, 100%, it’s worth visiting. In my opinion, it’s the best little beach/surf town I’ve been to in all of Asia. I actually preferred it to places like Siargao, Bali, Lombok and Koh Tao.

I know everyone’s different and likes different things. So obviously, this is just my take, and I can totally see how some people might disagree.

One thing I noticed is that a lot of Asian beach towns are built along one long, busy road. And It kinda makes sense, that’s usually how a sleepy fishing village turns into a touristy surf town. But honestly, I always find it super annoying that everything ends up happening on one main highway, with a thousand scooters, pedestrians, trucks, and chaos everywhere.

Hiriketiya is different. It’s just a few small streets, located quite far off the main road, with barely any cars or scooters. I could actually walk here, which is basically unheard of in other places where a scooter is 100% essential.

Hiriketiya definitely has more of a ‘walk barefoot to the beach’ type vibe. You can literally roll out of bed and walk to the beach in the morning.

There’s loads of surf, yoga, some really good cafes and restaurants, a couple of boutique hotels, a coliving space, and a great little community. It’s kinda in that perfect sweet spot right now, not too built up or overrun yet, though I can already tell it’s heading that way in the next 2–3 years.

Things I Like About Hiriketiya Beach

Hiriketiya is walkable: I loved that I didn’t need a scooter here on a daily basis. You can actually just wander around barefoot, grab a coffee, walk to the beach, or head to yoga without worrying about traffic or parking.

It’s clean: Hiriketiya felt surprisingly clean to me compared to other beach towns in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Sure, you’ll still see the occasional construction site or pile of rubbish somewhere, but overall it’s much more well-kept than I expected.

Not too developed (yet): It’s in that sweet spot where there’s enough going on with cute cafes, boutique hotels, a few shops, but it hasn’t turned into a giant backpacker town. I did see a bunch of construction starting to pop up though, so I’m not sure how long this will last.

Not a full-on party hotspot: There are parties and some nightlife on the weekends, but it’s definitely not an all-night, every-night backpacker blowout kind of place. I liked that it still felt laid-back most of the time.

Chill surf and yoga vibe: I loved that you can start your morning with a surf session, hit a yoga class, and then just chill in a cafe for hours.

Good for digital nomads: There are actual coliving spaces here and good wifi in most cafes and hotels.

The food is surprisingly good: There are some really nice restaurants here, from healthy smoothie bowls and poke bowls to fresh seafood to proper Italian pizza. I honestly didn’t expect to find so many amazing restaurants in such a small place.

A proper beach (finally!): A lot of Sri Lankan beach towns look nice on Instagram but end up having rocky or super tide-dependent beaches in reality. Hiriketiya actually has a great sandy beach where you can swim and hang out pretty much all day.

The community is amazing: You’ll meet a fun mix of surfers, backpackers, people on vacation, and long-term digital nomads. It’s easy to make friends here if you want to.

Things I Don’t Like About Hiriketiya Beach

It’s growing fast: Like, really fast. New hotels, restaurants, and random boutique shops are popping up everywhere. I already saw so much construction starting this year, and I can tell it’s only going to get crazier in the next few years.

Prices can get high: Because it’s such a small place and getting super popular, prices for Airbnbs and hotels can definitely feel a bit high, especially during high season. You’ll still find some budget options, but they go quick.

The surf lineup gets insane: Hiriketiya Bay is actually pretty small, with two main breaks. Once you add in all the surf schools and beginners flailing around in high season, it gets super, super crowded.

Might feel boring for some: I loved the slow, sleepy vibe, but I can totally see how some people (especially if you don’t surf) might get bored here. Outside of the beach, cafes, and a few yoga classes, there’s not a ton going on, especially in low or shoulder season.

Low season gets really quiet: High season is super busy and so much fun here, with jungle raves and party weekends. But in low season, the town basically goes into nap mode. That’s kinda the deal all over Sri Lanka, but still good to know if you’re expecting parties every night.

Things to Do in Hiriketiya

Surf, obviously: There are loads of surf schools right on the beach, as well as surf camps like The Salty Pelican and Kima Surf Hiriketiya if you want a more structured surf experience. The bay is perfect for beginners, but just be ready for a pretty packed lineup in high season.
Eat your way around town: There are so many good restaurants and cafes here, it’s honestly one of my favorite parts. My favorite places to eat in Hiriketiya: Smoke & Bitters (super popular for a reason), Bacuzzi for Italian, and Raa, one of the openings from last season. There is of course also a bunch of local restaurants that serve traditional local food and sri lankan cuisine.
Check out the cafes: My personal favorite for a good cup of coffee is Mond, which easily has the best flat white iin Hiriketiya, in my opinion. I also loved the breakfasts at Dots Bay House, Duni’s Hoppers, and La Luna Hiri.
Join a yoga class: I tried pretty much every yoga class in Hiriketiya. The Salt House has the best ones, with a beautiful jungle-view shala that feels super peaceful. Yoga at Dots Bay House is also great if you want something a bit more social.
Get into the nightlife: The nightlife here has really leveled up in recent years. There are fun parties and cute little cocktail bars you can go to during the week, but weekends are when it really pops off with secret jungle raves.
Take a day trip to Yala National Park: Yala isn’t actually that far from Hiriketiya. You can even book a tour that picks you up in Hiriketiya, takes you to Yala for a safari, and then drops you in Ella after. I did this and thought it was such an easy way to combine transport and a safari in one go.
Try the digital nomad life: There’s CLICS, a really nice coliving space if you want to stay longer and work remotely. Verse Collective used to be a huge coworking space too, but they closed down recently (their service kinda went downhill before that anyway). Hopefully something new pops up soon!

Who Should Visit Hiriketiya Beach Sri Lank

I personally think Hiriketiya Beach is the best place to stay if you’re looking for a longer-term stay in Sri Lanka. I felt way more comfortable staying, working, and settling in here for a month or two compared to Weligama or Mirissa (though I did really like Ahangama too).

So, it’s perfect for digital nomads, obviously anyone into surfing (whether you’re a total beginner or a pro), and anyone who loves yoga and slow, chill mornings.

There are quite a few hostels here too, but I don’t think it’s that big of a backpacker hotspot, at least not compared to other beach towns in Sri Lanka. Dots Bay House is an awesome hostel though, so yeah, there is definitely a backpacker scene if you want it.

Other than that, I think Hiriketiya would be an amazing spot for a couples vacation. There are loads of cute little boutique hotels, and it just has this super romantic, laid-back vibe that’s perfect for a beachy getaway.

FAQs About Hiriketiya Beach Sri Lanka

Can you visit Yala National Park from Hiriketiya?

Yes, of course. It’s actually not that far, maybe a 1–2 hour drive, so you can easily do it as a day trip. What I really liked were the packages you can book that include a Yala safari plus transport from Hiriketiya to Ella. Super handy if you’re planning to head up to the mountains after.

What is the Hiriketiya nightlife like?

Hiriketiya nightlife has gotten way better in recent years. There’s live music and DJ sessions at Dots Bay House (which is also a hostel), and now there are even massive jungle raves on the weekends.

Hiriketiya or Mirissa?

Depends on what you’re after. Mirissa is definitely more of a party/backpacker scene, while Hiriketiya is more grounded with more yoga, surfing, and a generally more relaxed vibe. I personally prefer Hiriketiya, obviously.

What to do in Hiriketiya?

There’s actually quite a lot. The main thing people come for is the surf, but there’s also loads of yoga, a beautiful beach where you can hang all day, and a bunch of day trips you can take from here.

What are the best Hiriketiya hotels?

I really like La Playa, which is right on the beach, or The Salt House, an awesome hotel if you’re into yoga and want a more chill place to stay.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Hiriketiya Sri Lanka

Well, after reading this mini travel guide, you can probably tell that I love Hiriketiya Beach. The whole vibe here is amazing, slow, easy, and super friendly. People actually walk around instead of zipping everywhere on scooters, there are only a couple of little roads with restaurants and cafes, and that’s it.

I’m personally a huge fan of Latin American beach towns, and Hiriketiya definitely gave me a bit of that same feeling.

Anyway, whether you’re a backpacker, surfer, digital nomad, or just here on vacation, I’m pretty sure you’ll end up loving Hiriketiya too. I hope this guide on “Is Hiriketiya worth visiting?” helped you answer that question, and maybe even convinced you to check it out for yourself.