A slender peninsula on the northwest coast, Kalpitiya has become Sri Lanka's kitesurfing capital thanks to strong, consistent winds from May to September over shallow lagoon waters ideal for learning. Numerous kite schools now operate along the lagoon shoreline during peak season.
165 kmDistance from Colombo
~3.5 hrsTypical drive time
It's equally known for dolphin-watching boat trips, with some of the largest dolphin pods recorded anywhere in the country visible from November to April — a very different draw from the same stretch of coast in the opposite season.