Talalla Beach

Talalla Beach is one of the best in Sri Lanka; it stretches for more than a kilometer, so it's easy to find a quiet, secluded spot all to yourself. It's one of the few sandy beaches in southern Sri Lanka that has remained relatively undeveloped and devoid of towering megahotel structures.

One of the best things to do in the mornings is to watch the local fishermen push their fishing boats out to sea or to walk the entire length of the beach to watch the sunset. This is one of those near-pristine beaches that defines all the tropical-beach postcard clichés, tucked away down muddy dirt tracks. This 1 km-long sand dune is largely unspoiled by tourism development; the main man-made feature here is small fishing boats. You can reach Talalla's narrow access road from two points on the main road; the best is at the 171km marker

Talalla Beach is one kilometer of golden sand and is breathtaking. However, the scene changes in the early morning hours as fishermen land their outrigger canoes and begin offloading their catch, just as their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers did before them. The most impressive sight is a fishing technique called "Beach Seining." Local fishermen used a small canoe to spread a net across the bay. After casting the net, the boat circles back and the fishermen work in two groups to pull in the massive net, hoping for the big catch: a net full of sardine-like fishes. Watch the show in Talalla or even participate in the net pulling. Tourists are actively encouraged to "help" the fishermen.

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5/5
Location: on the South coast of Sri Lanka at a distance of 190 km from Colombo via express.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Talalla Retreat