Bentota
Beach

Bentota

West Coast

Bentota is the west coast's most appealing beach resort — less crowded than Negombo, more varied than Hikkaduwa, with a long stretch of golden sand, calm lagoon swimming, water sports and some of Sri Lanka's finest boutique hotels. The Bentota River forms a broad lagoon behind the beach that is home to monitor lizards, water birds and a river safari into the Madu mangrove system — one of Sri Lanka's most rewarding boat experiences. The village also contains the Geoffrey Bawa-designed Lunuganga estate — a garden of extraordinary beauty created by Asia's most influential architect.

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Destination guide

Experience Bentota

Sri Lanka's most refined beach destination — long sandy shores, boutique beach hotels, the Madu River safari and the legendary Geoffrey Bawa designed Lunuganga estate.

Key attractions

Bentota Beach — 3km of golden sand with gentle surf and palm shade

Madu River Safari — boat through mangrove forest with monitor lizards, kingfishers and islands

Lunuganga Estate — Geoffrey Bawa's private garden paradise, now open to visitors

Turtle Conservation Project — nesting hawksbill and green turtles on the beach

Bentota Lagoon — calm lagoon ideal for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking

Brief Garden — the extraordinary estate of artist Bevis Bawa, 15km inland

Water sports at the Bentota beach hotels — jet ski, windsurfing, kitesurfing

Things to do

Take a morning Madu River safari by wooden boat (2 hours, very peaceful)

Visit Lunuganga Estate for a guided garden tour — book in advance

Swim in the Bentota Lagoon — calmer than the open beach

Watch turtles nesting at night with a conservation guide (November to May)

Day trip to Colombo (90 minutes by train or road) for city sightseeing

Explore Beruwala and Aluthgama local fish markets early morning

Gallery

Glimpses of Bentota

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