Rathgama – A Secret Sri Lanka Surf Spot
Discover Rathgama – a beautiful beach without the crowds. Surf points at the south end will entertain but so will the chilled vibes and cracking hotels.
An introduction to Rathgama
Anyone who’s visted Sri Lanka will know that the utterly gorgeous southwestern coastline – the main surf zone in the eastern monsoon season (Nov-March) – is now almost totally developed and built up.
All the way from the chilled beaches of Tangalle to the bar-fringed waves of Hikkaduwa are hotels, bamboo beach bars, curry shacks, and surf rentals.
But there’s one little stretch north out of Galle that’s not quite as bustling as everywhere else, and largely unknown to surfers and sunbathers.
Cue Rathgama.
Running for about a mile from Dodanduwa Railway Station down the main Galle Road, it’s a downright stunning length of coast. Palms bristle in the salty breezes, locals play cricket in the shoreline parks, fishing shacks replace big resorts on the edge of the sea. Niceee.
And here’s the ace up the sleeve: There’s surf.
It’s not the best in the region, but it’s relatively uncrowded compared to Hikka, Hiri, and Midigama. Plus, it’s got something for all levels, what with deep-water reef breaks that offer fat and mellow lefts for learning (or ripping, depending on your level).
We see great potential in this part of the shore, but mainly because it’s so chilled and secret.
You can paddle out on a mellow morning and find just one or two (or even zero) other people in the water. The vibes are great, the waves are fun, and the beach will put your chill gauge into overdrive, especially since there are some looovveeely places to stay.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Sri Lanka
What’s in this guide to Rathgama?
Where is Rathgama?
Rathgama is roughly midway between the surf haven of Hikkaduwa (one of the mainstay destinations on the SW shoreline) and the town of Galle.
It’s actually right on the Galle Main Road, which weaves all the way north from here to the big capital of Colombo.
It’s also on the railway line that comes down from Colombo but sadly not all of the mainline services from Colombo Fort stop there.
Search the official Sri Lankan railway site to pre-book the ones that do, or go to 12Go and book yourself onto a service to Hikkaduwa or Galle and then catch a tuk-tuk from there.
Honestly, though, the best way to come, especially if you have surfboard (which aren’t always allowed on trains), is to get a private taxi from the airport straight to Rathgama Beach. It should cost around $50-60 and takes no more than two hours.
Surfing in Rathgama
Since you’re reading this guide on a surf-travel site, we’ll assume you’re interested in the waves in Rathgama over the other stuff (which we’ll get to below)
Now, this is a long, wide beach that’s mainly unrideable dumpy shorebreak from top to bottom. However, there is one key point on Rathgama that helps to put it on the Sri Lanka surf map… Owakanda.
Situated on the south end of the bay, Owakanda is a trio of different breaks that straddle a headland and a little patch of reef.
Let’s take a look at each of the spots in turn…
- Owakanda Beach Break – A mushburger of a wave that’s slow and crumbly. Great for complete beginners who want something very unthreatening to get started on. It won’t entertain you for long as it’s little more than a gurgling bit of whitewash that rolls about 10m from peak to shore, but still it’s a fine place to find your water feet and is often used by the local surf school.
- Owakanda Surf Point – The point break here is a left-hander that’s very mellow and generally good for beginners who are moving up from the whitewash on the beach break. It doesn’t always work since it needs a bit more size than other spots, but it’s fairly consistent. What’s nice is that it’s never crowded like other spots up and down the Sri Lankan southwest coast. You can hang at the take-off and have maybe two or three others there.
- Owakanda Reef – Probably the best-quality wave on Rathgama Beach is this left-hander reef, which has a nice bowly shape. It’s playful and very mellow, rewards boards with lots of volume and invites big tailend turns and a bit of trimming when it’s larger.
Just around the corner from the south end of Rathgama Beach, you can also find the patch of reef at Rillamba Surf Point. It’s withing walking distance and also usually completely empty, at least of traveling surfers. It’s got multiple peaks that offer fast lefts and longer rights over a shallowish reef. It’s a better spot for more advanced surfers but isn’t mega difficult either.
Other things to do in Rathgama
When we recall our days on Rathgama Beach, we can’t help but relax. This is a place that’s primed for chilling and recharging. Plus, you can use it as a base to visit some of the region’s top draws…
Chill on the beach
Rathgama is mainly famous because it’s one of the longest and widest beaches between Galle and Hikkaduwa. It’s also nowhere near as developed as other beaches in the region, which means it’s a place where you can still get that tropical island feel.
We like to walk up form Owakanda surf point about 500m or so, which is where the hotels drop away and local homes pop up on the grassy platforms behind the sand. There’s a cemetery there too and a little park, and hardly any other tourists around.
Be careful if you want to swim. The rips can be heavier here than in more protected areas of the southwest shore.
Visit Galle
If you’re not one for big cities or town living and prefer to bed down with the sounds of the waves and beautiful sunsets, then stay in Rathgama and visit Galle on a day trip. It’s super easy – just hail a tuk-tuk and they can have you in the historic fort town in under 25 minutes.
A self-planned walking tour is good. Be sure to take in the 16th century fort walls and the cricket ground on the roundabout. Even better is a guided tour, which will reveal some of the more enthralling historical tales about a city that was fortified by the Portuguese way back when.
If you really can’t be bothered to plan anything, there are day tours that include a walk-though of Galle, visits to local beaches, and a trip to a turtle sanctuary.
The best hotels in Rathgama
Honestly, one of the best parts of Rathgama is the hotels. Remember we said this is prime chilling? Well the hotels know that and really make the most of it.
Beach-front stays with pools and sunning areas are the norm and some of them are seriously fantastic…
- Crystal Sands Hikkaduwa – There’s simply no better hotel on Rathgama Beach than the five-star Crystal Sands. From the outside it looks a touch resorty but you’ll soon forget that when you see the sleek modern interiors, the grassy lawns with their stooping palms, and that exquisite pool. (The other major bonus? This one’s right by the main surf points at the southern end of the beach).
- Aditya Resort – This lovely hotel channels a bit more of a local Sri Lankan style. It’s at the north end of the beach, in a private plot in the sleepy side streets. The pool is great and the rooms are super spacious. For couples, it’s a perfect choice.
- Bandulas Beach House – The budget choice is this family run B&B on the north side of the beach. It’s simple but the welcome is a hearty Sri Lankan classic. They serve really nice breakfasts and you’re a short walk from the beach.
For more inspo on hotels in Sri Lanka, check our guide, which lists the best stays for surfers across the whole island!
When to surf in Rathgama?
Visit Rathgama for surf – or sunbathing and chilling – between November and March.
That’s the peak season, when the monsoon is stuck over on the eastern side of the island and the beaches of the west and the southwest are in their prime. During this time, you can expect daily highs in the region of 100 F (30-40 C) and loads of sunshine. As winds dip and storms subside, it’s also when the waves will be at their cleanest.
We do not recommend a monsoon trip to Rathgama, or anywhere on the southwestern coast for that matter! It can rain a lot between May and August here and the seas are pretty rough. In fact, most of the local surf schools and even the hotels will shut up shop for the low season, opening again around Oct or November.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
