Hiriketiya: surfing and relaxing in Sri Lanka
Hiriketiya is one of my favorite spots in Sri Lanka and I usually spend most of my time here. Although it is getting busier, it is still a beautiful place and there are some very nice accommodations to book. Almost everything is within walking distance here. These are my Hiriketiya tips and highlights!
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I stayed at the lovely Dots Bay House twice. This was my ultimate home away from home and I loved the food here! In the evenings there are often live performances, so it is not the most quiet place. The music was a bit loud this year, so if you prefer more peace & quiet I would recommend staying at Salty Pelican Retreats! You can refill your bottle of water here for free. I booked surfing classes at the Hiri Surf School. Really nice guys and good lessons for all levels. Highly recommended!
This year I rented a board at the Lion Surf School almost every day and surfed on my own. Be aware of rocks and sea urchins in the water. Especially on the left side of the beach. The best thing to do is not to ‘walk’ but just hop on your board;-) I got a little piece of sea urchin in my foot and that wasn’t very pleasant… Nothing serious, but you’re a bit crippled and because of the heat you can quickly get infections under your foot…
READ ALL ABOUT MY STAY AT DOTS HERE
Dots Bay House | Hiriketiya | Sri Lanka
MY STAY AT A GREAT SURF CAMP IN WELIGAMA
Restaurants, food and drinks in Hiriketiya:
Dots Bay House: love this place Hiriketiya, because of the atmosphere and I loved the Mahu Mahu burger with kimchi! Because of the new airconditioning, it is also a great spot to work… if the wifi works:-)
Taboo: great spot for coffee, delicious shakshuka with dips and there is a beautiful roof top area!
Bahia: one of my favorite brunch spots. Beautiful garden, great coffee and nice, central location.
Duni’s Hoppers: if you want to try the tasty, traditional hoppers, you should definitely visit Duni’s Hoppers. Delicious hoppers for breakfast, brunch or lunch. The menu also includes fresh smoothie bowls and good iced coffee.
Smoke & Bitters: the best cocktails (!) and a very extensive menu with a lot of delicious vegan options too. A beautiful place for sunset in Dikwella. Not cheap and call to make a reservation, because the place is almost always fully booked.
The Backyard: delicious breakfast, tacos and cocktails! This is the restaurant of Salty Pelican Retreats, that is open to everyone.
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Verse Collective: good place to work with an amazing tasty vegan burger and good coffee on the menu. It is all about sustainability here. Inside you can sit and work in a cool café area. There you will also find a nice little shop with surf wear. Great spot for digital nomads, although. Try the Hari Bung night with delicious Korean and Chinese food!
MOND: very nice place for coffee, smoothie bowls and other goodies. In the evening they serve cocktails & wine and delicious small dishes. Love it all!
Hirketiya Beach Bus Restaurant: simple Sri Lankan dishes on the beach. Especially at night time this place looks so romantic!
The Sunset Bar: so in love with this spot. Try the coconut roti with dahl and coconut sambol and watch the surfers right in front of you. What a view!
Belika: French pancakes and delicious smoothies & coffee. This Instagrammable spot has a beautiful pool!
Verse Collective | Dikwella | Sri Lanka
Rent a tuktuk – promo code
If you are looking for an amazing way to explore Sri Lanka, rent your own tuktuk at TukTuk Rental! They rent tuktuks from locals to boost their income. A great way to travel around, visit all the places off the mainstream tourist route and support a local family as well! I have partnered up with them: use my code “LittleWanderbook” on their website for a good discount! Go to tuktukrental.com to book your tuktuk.
Hiriketiya Seafood Restaurant: delicious Sri Lankan dishes and fresh fish.
Pumpkin Cafe: amazing Sri Lankan buffet.
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Photos in the middle: breakfast at Dots Bay House
Where to stay in Hiriketiya – Hotels & Hostels
Click on the name for the best rates and availability!
Dots Bay House: my ultimate ‘home away from home’ during my trip in Sri Lanka! Not that great if you like some peace & quiet though…
Salty Pelican: ideal if you want a little more peace and like to meditate & follow good yoga classes. I absolutely LOVED my stay here and will be back!
House on the Bend: spacious rooms, with everything that you need. The breakfast here is so good! It felt like home.
The Yard: stunning rooms on a prime location!
MY STAY AT SALTY PELICAN RETREAT HIRIKETIYA
Verse Collective: hip ‘co-work space’ hotel, ideal for digital nomads. Verse is situated on the beach of Dikwella. Book a comfortable private room through Airbnb.
Le Cabanon: stylish apartments that look like they’re styled for a magazine.
Not recommended: Barefoot Backpackers. Had a very bad experience here. Overpriced, not that clean, cold shower and a not so nice owner… I was surprised this place has good reviews. Maybe it is nice in the eyes of young backpackers on their first solo trip, because of the social vibe, but it is way to expensive for what you get and it felt like this place is all about making money. That staff was very friendly though, so they are not the problem here.
First photo: Boho Hiriketiya. 2nd photo: Dikwella beach. 3rd photo: fish tacos at Dots Bay House.
Visit the relaxing Tonic Spa! My Ayurveda ‘back massage’ was so good! When you book a ‘full body massage’ always ask for a masseur of the same sex, because your front/ torso will also be massaged and this can feel uncomfortable otherwise… Also highly recommended is Healing House! Had an amazing massage here!
Go shopping at L’Atelier! Enter at your own risk.. Send the owner a DM trough Instagram and book an appointment. Other great shops are Le Ketiya and the shop next to Loco’s.
Tonic Spa
Book your own tuktuk at tuktukrental.com and use my promo code “LittleWanderbook”
Tip: download the app Refill my bottle in your app store, so you always know where to refill your water bottle or Dopper for free. This saves a lot of empty plastic bottles in the trash!
MY STAY AT SALTY PELICAN RETREAT HIRIKETIYA
- For the best accommodations go to Booking.com
- Check out unique activities on Getyourguide.com
- Rent your own tuk tuk with the code “LittleWanderbook” at Tuktukrental.com
- Find your flight to Sri Lanka HERE.
Never visit an elephant park where elephants are ridden and, even at an “orphanage” or “shelter”, do your research in advance to check if the animals are treated well. At the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka, the animals are chained up underwater. Do not go there!
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