Hikkaduwa

Awesome Things to do in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

Swim with Sea Turtles

Hikkaduwa Main Beach

If you’ve ever wanted to swim in the ocean with massive sea turtles, then Hikkaduwa is the place to do it.

Right from the shore in town, you can easily spot many sea turtles just hanging out in the water. They aren’t scared of people and often swim right up to you!

Go to the Tsunami Museum

On the outskirts of Hikkaduwa heading north

The Tsunami Museum is one of the best free things to do in Hikkaduwa. It is located just outside of the town, about a 10-minute drive from the town center.

Visit the “Big Buddha” (Tsunami Honganji Viharaya)

Outskirts of Hikkaduwa near the Tsunami Museum

Near the Tsunami Museum is the “Big Buddha”. You simply can’t miss it as it is a very large Buddha statue on the side of the road. The first time we simply drove by and thought “oh cool.” But then the lady at our hotel told us we needed to go back and actually check it out, so we did.

Eat Seafood

Any restaurant in Hikkaduwa

There is an abundance of seafood available in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka and there are also a ton of great (and affordable) restaurants to eat at! This makes Hikkaduwa the perfect place to try some fresh seafood. Everything from fish, crab, and lobster is available and it is pretty reasonably priced.

Go on a River Safari

Tours start in town but they will take you to a river (20 minutes from town)

North of Hikkaduwa is the Madu River. Going on a river safari is one of the most popular activities in Hikkaduwa.

Tours will pick you up in Hikkaduwa town and take you out to the river’s edge where you’ll board a boat. Your guide will talk about the river, the area, and any animals you see along the way. Expect to see crocodiles and monkeys! You will also get the chance to try some fresh local fruit.

Visit the Galle Fort

Galle around 15 minutes from Hikkaduwa

Take a day trip out to Galle (21 kilometers away ) and check out the Galle Fort! There is a great tour available which will take you to the Galle Fort from Hikkaduwa as well as visit a tea factory!

The Galle Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and a beautiful place to explore especially if you love history. Entrance to the fort is free however you must pay $5 USD to visit the museum.

Go on Safari in a National Park

Udawalawe or Yala National Park
If Hikkaduwa is where you’re going to spend your entire holiday in Sri Lanka, then I highly suggest taking a tour to one of the national parks to do a safari. We did our safari in Udawalwe National Park and loved it! It’s one of the best national parks to see elephants and is a stunning place to visit in Sri Lanka. Of course, it’s no good for spotting leopards and instead, you’ll need to go to Yala National Park for that! Getting to the parks takes some time, so it’s best to join an organized tour. You have two options: 1) do a one day tour, or 2) a multi-day tour! Given how far the parks are, I really recommend doing a two-day or multi-day safari tour from Hikkaduwa