Tourist information about Koggala and Habaraduwa

General information about Koggala and Habaraduwa

Koggala (also Kogala, Koggale, Koggala, Koggale) and Habaraduwa - small resort villages in the south of Sri Lanka, on the coast of the Indian Ocean (Koggala on the map of Sri Lanka). The port city of Galle is 17 km away, while Unawatuna resort is 10 km away. Actual the capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo located 130 km from Koggala. The small local population lives on income from tourism. There are several factories in the vicinity. Koggala is also known for the Koggala Airport located here, through which you can get to the southern resorts from Colombo International Airport.

West of Koggale and Habaraduwa is a popular resort Unawatuna and the city of Galle, some more small beaches. If you move east, the chain of beaches continues Midigama, Veligama, Mirissa , etc. until Tangalle.

The resort was seriously damaged during the strongest tsunami in 2004. But today it has been restored almost completely. The decline in tourist activity was replaced by a new upswing. Today, the resort can not be considered one of the most popular and developed, but everything is basic for recreation here. It should be considered as an option if the noisy Unawatuna does not suit you and you want to stay away from the crowds of tourists. Although, frankly, in perfect silence you will not find yourself here, because through the entire resort, just a couple of hundred meters from the shore, there is a busy Matara Road.

Koggala is a beach holiday. It is believed that this is a resort with beaches, little affected by civilization. This is true if we take the underdevelopment of the infrastructure for untouched. The local beach is good, and people come here to escape from the hustle and bustle and enjoy a relaxing holiday on wide and gentle sandy beaches, among coconut palms and mangroves. The sandy coastline is very long, and in general from Koggala to Habaraduva the beach stretches for almost three kilometers. There are conditions for surfing. From October to March, diving centers operate. You can go scuba diving along the coral reefs. Tourists go water skiing, travel on yachts. But all this is ideal, and if you do not look for entertainment and activities yourself, you will have to limit yourself to lying on the beach. There is nowhere to even walk outside the hotels – only the beach and the main road.

The infrastructure here, as already mentioned, is poorly developed. All life is concentrated along the Matara road, where there are shops and a bank with an ATM. Currency exchange is possible only in the bank, there are no separate exchangers.

There are few attractions in Koggala. A popular tourist hobby is coastal fishing. Caught fish will be cooked in any restaurant. Tourists visit the village ethnographic Martin Wickramasinghe Museum (Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum, entrance fee 200 rupees), the famous writer of Sri Lanka; make excursions to the turtle farm and cinnamon plantations; visit the city Galle and the Fort. Five kilometers from the resort village is the ancient Buddhist temple Kataluwa Purwarama Temple, which is famous for its unique frescoes. In the vicinity of Koggala is the lake of the same name, the largest in Sri Lanka. Priozernye rocky islands are inhabited by exotic birds, boat trips on the lake are very popular. Habaraduwa is home to one of the best turtle farms in the South.

Weather in Koggala, tourist seasons

Koggale is a year-round resort. If you want to relax here in almost perfect weather conditions, it is best to avoid visiting the resort in low season.

High season lasts from November to May. And the best time is from January to April. There is almost no rain during this period, the sky is always clear.

Low season lasts from June to October. At this time there may be rains, the sky is often overcast. You can relax even at this time with comfort, but in general the probability of bad weather is much higher.

Tourist seasons in Kogal by month, when it is better to go

Current weather in Kogal and forecast

Hotels in Koggala

Along the ocean coast there are hotels of various levels, but there are very few of them. There are a couple of budget guest houses (there is opposite the airport). The hotels have outdoor swimming pools, fitness centers, tennis courts, golf courses, bars and restaurants (expensive). It offers, as a rule, free Wi-Fi and cable TV.

Find and book accommodation in Unawatuna/You can search on these sites or through the search form. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language customer support, a lot of reviews from real guests.

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Unawatuna/Kogale on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Unawatuna/Kogale on Trip.com (💥 our choice)
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Hotels and beaches of Koggala on the map

Coggal map with full screen hotels.

How to get to Koggala

From Colombo airport it is most convenient to get to Kogala or Habaraduwa by taxi. The cost of the trip is from $ 60, in time a little more than 3 hours. You can order a car in advance through the search form, or at the counter at the airport.

A much more economical option is to take buses or by train. True, it will have to spend half a day of time, and make several transfers.

To get started, you need to get from the airport by bus number 187 to the Colombo bus station (to continue further by bus) or to the Colombo Fort Railway Station. For more information about this stage of the Route, see here.

At the bus station you will need to find a bus to Matara or Tangalle, and he will drop you off just in Koggala, making a stop along the way. You can also go to Galle, and there again change to the bus to Matara or Tangalle. To find the right bus at the bus stations, just ask the local or drivers for help, telling them the destination, they will direct you or take you to the right bus. Tell the conductor or driver that you need to go to the station, and you will be dropped off there.

If you decide to use the train, then take bus number 187 to Railway Station in Colombo (this is the next stop after the bus station), and there buy a ticket for the nearest train. There are two stations in Koggala/Habaraduwa – Habaraduwa Raiway and Koggala Raiway and only three and four trains stop there daily. Much more often trains go to Galle( Galle), but when you get there, you will have to change the train again for a bus to Matara or Tangalle. The bus station in Galle is a short walk from the railway station. Train schedules can be obtained here - https://eservices.railway.gov.lk.

Well, another way to get here is by plane through Koggala airport. Flights here are operated by light aircraft and helicopters from Colombo airport by the company Cinnamon Air and Millennium Airlines (aka Simply), from Colombo-Ratmalana airport to FitsAir and again Millennium Airlines. The cost of a one-way flight - from $ 230.