Trincomalee is a great little town on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It offers some of the best and most beautiful white sand beaches in Sri Lanka. It has a much quieter vibe than Sri Lanka’s southern beaches which is the perfect reason to go! The best time to visit Trincomalee is between February to April, as the climate is perfect for those who would like to soak in the sun. In this guide to Trincomalee, you’ll find some insight into our lodging, where to eat, and things to do in the area!
During our time in Trincomalee, we stayed at Trinco Relax Hut for two nights and loved it. The place is relatively new and the rooms are nicely built, modern, clean and comfortable. We also enjoyed our breakfasts which was included in our room rate. It’s a very short walk to the beach, close to various restaurants and also a short tuk-tuk ride to Nilaveli Beach. The staff were all so great and welcoming as well. We highly recommend staying at Trinco Relax Huts.
If you’re looking for other budget friendly options, check out:
- Hotel Sun Blue – $23 per night, breakfast included, new property, excellent reviews
- Anandas Beach Resorts – $40 per night, located on the beach, excellent reviews
- J7 Villaj Resort – $40 per night, excellent reviews, breakfast included, pool
If you love the beach, Trincomalee is the perfect place to be a sun bum! Here are some things to do during your time in Trincomalee:
Uppuveli Beach – This area is where most travellers will use as their base to explore the area. The beach is not crowded and you can easily find a secluded spot to lay out and relax.
Fernando’s Beach Bar – A really great atmosphere and a perfect place to hang out in Uppuveli. You can relax on a bamboo daybed or stop by for lunch and fresh juice drinks.
Nilaveli Beach – Depending on where you stay, you can take a quick tuk-tuk ride to Nilaveli Beach and spend the day in the sun. This beach is also not crowded and you’ll see more locals than tourists.
Whale Watching – Trincomalee is famous for its whale watching. The best time to go is between March and August.
Snorkel at Pigeon Island – Only a 10-minute boat ride from Nilaveli Beach, Pigeon Island is a small island with super clear water and a small white sand beach. It’s great for a morning or afternoon snorkeling tour! Along with the cost of the tour, there is an entrance fee of 1,500LKR/$8USD.
Sri Pathrakali Amman Kovil – This beautiful and colorful Hindu temple is located in town and dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakhali. It’s a pretty interesting site and a nice way to spend a morning or afternoon.
If you’re traveling anywhere in Asia, TripAdvisor is without a doubt the best place to check out restaurant reviews. Dan’s TripAdvisor page has a more robust amount of reviews and pictures of our meals.
Gomesz’s Pasta Hut – We came here for dinner and had some very good pasta. The owner was really friendly as well.
Be Cool Juice Bar – We loved this little spot! They have cheap dishes like delicious fried rice, fresh juices, and breakfast options. The owners are lovely as well!
Restaurant Tuna – On our way to the beach, we tried this place out for a late lunch. We had the fried calamari appetizer which was delicious and the kothu roti which was not our favorite Sri Lankan dish but decent.
Rea Beach Restaurant – We had lunch at this restaurant and had yummy Sri Lankan food. The owner was nice and friendly as well.
Unfortunately, we don’t know of any volunteer opportunities in the Trincomalee area. If you do, we would love to feature it on our page. Reach out to us via email at jetsetforgood@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram (@jetsetforgood).
That’s our guide to Trincomalee but like always, all opinions are entirely our own. Above all, enjoy Sri Lanka!
Disclaimer: We have no financial incentive to promote lodging or any other services. This recommendation comes solely from personal experience.
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