Pigeon Island, Koneswaram temple, whale watching and quiet beaches. A practical Trincomalee travel guide for summer visitors.
Stand at Swami Rock in Trincomalee and you look down 130 metres into one of the deepest natural harbours in the world.
This Trincomalee travel guide covers the beaches, sights and seasons of the east coast's most interesting town.
From roughly May to September, when the south-west coast is rougher, Trincomalee has calm seas and sunshine. It is ideal for European summer holidays.
Uppuveli is closest to town, with guesthouses and beach cafés.
Nilaveli is longer, quieter and the base for trips to Pigeon Island.
Marble Beach, south of town, has clear, calm water and few people.
A short boat ride from Nilaveli, Pigeon Island National Park has coral, reef fish and small blacktip reef sharks in the shallows. Go early before the boats arrive. Our diving in Trincomalee page has more.
Built on Swami Rock above the sea, this Hindu temple is one of the island's most important Shiva shrines. Visit for the evening puja, when bells, drums and oil lamps fill the temple.
Originally Portuguese, later Dutch and British, the fort is still used by the military. You can walk through to Koneswaram. Look out for the spotted deer that wander inside.
Blue whales and sperm whales are sometimes seen offshore, mainly from around March to August. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Try fresh fish curry, Tamil-style dosa and vadai for breakfast, and sweet milk tea at a roadside kade.
Travelling back to Colombo, many routes can include Ratnapura, the centre of Sri Lanka's gem tourism, to see sapphire mines in action. Our Classic Gem Journey shows how.
Trincomalee is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Sigiriya or 6 hours from Colombo by road. It combines well with the Cultural Triangle and Batticaloa.
Sri Lanka Travel Tours plans summer itineraries that link the Cultural Triangle with Trincomalee's beaches. Tell us your dates and we will build your east coast escape.
Tell us what you're picturing and we'll build a trip around it.
