Hiriketiya

Day 1

After checking into our beautiful accommodation (we stayed here; note the amazing free breakfast, kitchen and hot shower!) we headed to Hiriketiya Beach to explore. I only spent one night here last year, and was excited to return to the tropical palms and rolling waves. As it turns out, the swell had taken a turn on the smaller side, so we watched the ocean as we ate roti on the beach.

Later that evening, we wandered into the town of Dickwella in search of delicious local food, and found a hotel serving rice and curry, where we paid 640 between us.

Day 2

Woke up early but the surf was flat! So napped on the beach for a bit, before heading back to our accommodation for a breakfast of Sri Lankan spicy omelette, local toast and fresh papaya. We planned our travels to Vietnam, applied for our visas and did a little work, before heading back to Hiriketiya beach.

After reading for a while, we looked up and saw that the surf was working a little more - so ran to get the longest boards possible (bargained 400 each per hour) and had great fun paddling between the many people in the bay.

After drying off, we wandered towards Dickwella to get some supplies for the evening ahead, stopping at the most amazing local hotel on the way. I’ve never seen such a selection of food on offer… And even better, they had a whole tray of fresh coconut pancakes! We had a real feast of coconut roti, lentil bites, sambal, a dal parata and vegetable roti - I cannot recommend this place more.

I also saw that a local curry buffet I found last year was open, so noted to go there the next evening. We carried on our journey to buy curd, fruit, beer and cash (my kinda shopping!) and returned to the beach, followed by a workout. For dinner, we enjoyed the above food, making a change from curry and rice that we had been enjoying for days.

Day 3

Waking early with a determination to surf, we headed to the bay and found success in the form of peeling waves and barely any humans. I rented a beautiful Hawaiian log for 500 per hour (which we stretched out to 1.5 hours) and had some amazing long waves right onto the sand, before heading back for a breakfast of coconut pancakes, pineapple and endless tea.

We headed back to the beach, read, swam and listened to a podcast, before snacking on our leftover curd and fruit, did a little work and then had another dream afternoon surf. I can’t recommend this bay enough to beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers, as you’re almost guaranteed to have fun waves here, whether you surf the point or in the middle as the swell gets bigger. After another workout, we headed to a local buffet for yet more rice and curry, and got in an early night ahead of a big morning surf.

Day 4

Logs secured, we maxed our last morning with a 2 hour surf. With burning shoulders, we headed home to another spicy Sri Lankan omelette, packed up our belongings and headed out on the road again - heading in the direction of Mirissa, fun and party.