Sri Lanka: Hiriketiya > Unawatuna > Colombo

Apr 11-13 2025 |

The last leg(s) of my Sri Lanka journey, with overnight stops in Unawatuna, Colombo and Negombo Many tourists come solely to this legendary stretch of coastline on their Sri Lanka visits. But I visited Hikiduwa, Galle, Unawatuna 2x before, so this time I fast-tracked this sector.

Hiriketiya > Unawatuna

Ride: 61 km / 2 hrs

Stay: Dunes Garden Hotel $40 ****

Epic coastline along the beaches to world-famous locales like Mirissa, Weligama, and Taprobane Island. I was lucky to have visited these places in 1999, before the mass tourism of today. Weligama is one of the premier learner surf beaches on the planet. And it shows, as there are hundreds of people in the water. Places like Ahangama appear to be less crowded and developed, I would give that place a look next time. One intersting stop was Matara, it has a couple of Dutch forts and crumbling old buildings.

I stayed one night in Una, at Dunes Hotel. The area is still amazing, heavily Russian these days. Incredibly, the house I stayed at in 1999 is still standing, on prime property, though it is uninhabited and is soon to be redeveloped. The small house beside it was Arthur C. Clark's home for many years, as he spent much of his time in Una, so the story goes. I rode over to Galle and cruised around the fort, a truly world-class destination worthy of an extended visit by anyone visiting this area.

Unawatuna > Colombo

Ride: 125 km / 4.5 hrs

Stay: Ivy Lane Hotel Colombo $30 ***

Though I tinkered with staying an extra night in Una, the weather report was rain, rain, more rain. So I skipped town and headed to Colombo. While the road runs along the coast and you get some great views, it is also one of the island's main thoroughfares, and packed with all forms of 2 to 20-wheelers, along with farm animals, etc. I stopped at Tsunami Honganji Viharaya memorial, dedicated the 1700 people who died on a train disaster during the 2004 catastrophe. The last stretch into Colombo was along a rail line on the coast (arguably not the best use of prime property today). I stayed 1 night, rode around a bit to take in the sights. Colombo seemed better than I expected. And: I didn't experience any rain on this ride...

Colombo > Negombo

Ride: 48 km / 2.5 hrs

Stay: Lion Den * (not recommended)

While this seemed like a breezy 90 minute ride north, I somehow turned out to be much longer as a result of me following the coastline, instead of the more direct and better main road on Google Maps. There is not much to see on coast here. I returned the bike at Motorbike Rent Sri Lanka, stayed near the airport, and departed early the next morning Colomob-Dehli-Saigon. My back was greatful after suffering 3-weeks on the Aprillia 150 scooter.