Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

General information about Trincomalee

Trincomalee (also Trinco, Trincomalee, Trincomalee) is a city in Sri Lanka on the northeast coast 240 kilometers from Colombo airport, the most popular resort in the east of the country (Trincomalee on the map of Sri Lanka). Located in a cozy Bay that protects the city from the winds, and compared to other resorts in Sri Lanka, the climate here is drier and hotter, and when other resorts are out of season, there is beautiful weather.

The Bay of Trincomalee was discovered by the English Admiral Nelson, and it is considered the deepest in the world. Now Trincomalee, despite the remoteness from the International Airport (8-12 hours drive), has earned the love of many tourists. And let it be sparsely populated and not very developed infrastructure, Trinco has its own admirers and admirers.

So what attracts Trincomalee tourists? Why are they coming here? Definitely not for entertainment. Party-goers and lovers of Nightlife will be bored here. If you want to have fun, then you at least go to the west coast of Sri Lanka, and maybe to another country. Trincomalee also attracts with its quiet rest, pristine nature and, of course, long and wide beaches. According to some tourists, the beaches here are the best in all of Sri Lanka.

The best and most developed beaches of Trincomalee are Uppuweli and Nilaveli. The first is 6 kilometers from the city center, the second is even further, 15 kilometers. Long, wide, with soft yellowish sand and calm ocean, where waves do not interfere with swimming - these are the main criteria that attract tourists to these areas. Another area where you can stay is the city center, but it is not very suitable for a beach holiday. For more information about Trincomalee districts and where to stay, see here...

The infrastructure in Trincomalee is not very well developed, you should not expect even the level of resorts on the west coast of Sri Lanka, what can we say about comparison with Thailand, for example. However, Trincomalee is by local standards a city that has almost everything you need. In the center you will find banks, currency exchange, shops, markets. Unfortunately, there are no large supermarkets and shopping centers here, but you can buy the most necessary things. There are pharmacies, but it is better to take a first-aid kit here. There are no international hospitals, you will have to go to Colombo for qualified medical care.

In the resort areas of Uppuveli and Nilaveli there are no banks and shops, but you can find a currency exchange, rent a motorbike, hire a tuk-tuk. There are also restaurants and cafes for tourists, including late-night bars on the beach. There are no travel agencies with excursions, but their functions are performed by private distributors, tuk-tuk drivers, daviving centers. Also, you can order a few options for excursions or a tuk-tuk transfer at the reception of hotels or at the owners of guest houses.

What most vacationers lack in tourist areas is alcohol shops. Alcohol in Sri Lanka is sold only in specialized alcohol stores, the nearest of which is in Trincomalee quite far from Uppuveli, and quite far from Nilaveli. Therefore, it remains either to go to these stores every time for a cold beer, or to buy at a large mark-up in restaurants and cafes.

Trincomalee weather, tourist seasons

Sunny weather is here almost all year round. Rains are few and not protracted. But the high and low season stands out.

High season (aka dry season) in Trincomalee runs from March to August. At this time, a minimum of rain, winds are not strong, respectively, the waves are not strong.

Low season (aka rainy season) lasts from September to February. And if at the beginning or at the end of the low season you can neglect the precipitation and come here for a rest, you clearly should not do this in November and December. These are the most unfortunate months, as monsoons are added to the torrential rains, creating large waves.

By the way, if you want to see how the locals celebrate the New Year, then come here in mid-April. True, there is never an exact date, it is influenced by the solar cycle, and the date of the holiday is determined by astrologers.

Seasons in Trincomalee by month, when is the best time to go

Current Trincomalee weather and forecast

How to get to Trincomalee

Trincomalee is about 270 kilometers from Colombo and 240 from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport. The city is well connected by public transport with other resorts and major cities of the country, but sometimes to get from somewhere, you have to make transfers. Within one light day you can get to Trincomalee from almost anywhere in the country, the main thing is to leave early and plan the route correctly. Here is a brief description of the ways to get from different places in the country:

• Colombo airport. Go directly by taxi, or transfer to a bus or train via Colombo.
• From Colombo. You can get there by direct bus or night train, 8-10 hours on the way. Buses leave every 30-60 minutes during the day, and several times at night. You can also take the day train to Batikaloa, and there change to the bus.
• From Negombo. Several times a day there are buses, 7-9 hours on the way. By train only connecting via Colombo.
• From the resorts of the south and South-West (Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Galle, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Tangale, etc.). There is a direct bus number 49 from Tangale via Colombo that goes through all the resorts on the coast, departs twice a day early in the morning. Or go to Colombo with a transfer by train or bus.
• From Kandy. At least 7 times a day there are direct buses No. 45, 5-7 hours on the way.
• From Anuradhapura. Very frequent bus service, 2-3 hours on the way.
• From Badulla. Direct bus #218.
• From Jaffna. There are direct buses, or you can get there with a transfer by train+bus or bus+bus via Vavuniya or Anuradhapura.
• From Ella. Direct bus once a day at 17:50, or take a bus or train to Kandy, and change to a bus there.
• From Nuwara Eliya, Haputale and other cities of the center. Take a bus or train to Badulla or Kandy and change to a bus there. It is also possible to take a bus to Guadaloa, and change the bus there.
• Arugam Bay. With a transfer by bus to Batikaloa or Kalmunai, go often and quickly.
• Dambulla, Sigiriya. There is a passing bus from Kurunegala twice a day.
• Polonnaruwa. There is no direct transport, take buses with a transfer in Anuradhapura, or go to Habarana where you take a passing bus from Kurunegala.

Learn more about all the ways to get to Trincomalee here...

Transport

To move around Trincomalee transport is not needed, the city is not very large. But since the main resort area is on the beaches of Upuveli and Niaveli, transport will still be needed.

There is no car taxi in Trincomalee, it is replaced by tuk-tuks. A trip by tuk-tuk within the city should not cost more than 100 rupees, from the center to Upuveli 400, Nilaveli from 1000. But with the drivers of tuk-tuks you need to bargain, tourists are called inflated prices.

It is much cheaper to travel between the beaches by local bus Trincomalee-Pulmodai. He goes from 04:30 to 19:30 hours with a frequency of 30-60 minutes on the main road, the beaches themselves do not call. Travel costs from 44 rupees depending on the distance. Payment is made to the conductor in the cabin, you need to name the destination.

In Trincomalee, you can rent a low-power motorcycle (Motobike). There are many places to rent, but not in the city itself, but on the beaches of Nilaveli and Upuveli. The standard price is 1500 rupees per day, but if you bargain or search, you can find it for 1200. As a pledge, they usually do not ask for anything, the contract is not concluded, everything is on your word of Honor.

Learn more about transport in Trincomalee here...

Hotels In Trincomalee

In Trincomalee, on the neighboring beaches of Nilaveli and Upuveli, there are quite a lot of accommodation options of different categories, ranging from single hostels to five-star hotels with their own territory. There are also private guest houses where rooms are rented.

Many facilities offer an included simple breakfast in the form of scrambled eggs or pancakes to choose from with tea or coffee. If you will stay in the areas of Nilaveli or Upuveli, it is best to choose accommodation with breakfast, because it is not always possible to find where to eat in these areas inexpensively.

It is also very important for a comfortable stay that the room has air conditioning, because it is simply impossible to sleep in such heat. The cheapest accommodation options offer a fan and a mosquito net, but this almost does not save from the heat.

The order of prices is approximately as follows:

• Accommodation in the hostel - from 3000 rupees (approximately 9.14 USD, see currency of Sri Lanka)
• Budget room for two with a fan - from 5000 rupees (approximately 15.23 USD)
• Budget room for two with air conditioning - from 7000 rupees (approximately 21.32 USD)
• A good hotel room with air conditioning, swimming pool - from 10000 rupees (approximately 30.45 USD)

Payment in guest houses and hostels is only in cash in local currency, only a few expensive hotels accept cards. Some accommodation options are ready to accept dollars, but the exchange rate will not be profitable.

You can find and book accommodation in Trincomalee 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 Trincomalee on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Trincomalee on Trip.com (💥 our choice)
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Attractions and entertainment in Trincomalee, what to see

In addition to a beach, relaxing holiday in Trincomalee, you can find something interesting for lovers of history and excursions. This city combines several cultures and religions: Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Buddhism. Accordingly, each of them left its contribution and imprint in the history of the city. Walking around Trincomalee and exploring its surroundings, you can find a Muslim mosque, a Buddhist temple, the ruins of an ancient Hindu settlement, a functioning Catholic Church. There are two museums (maritime history and military), the ancient fort Frederick and the very important Koneswaram temple on its territory. And 45 kilometers away is the Archaeological Park Girihanu Seya Rajamaha Viharaya, which is believed to be the world's first built Buddhist stupa and the oldest temple in Sri Lanka.

In addition to architectural attractions, Trincomalee is home to the Kanniya Hot Water Wells. According to legend, they were created by the Indian god Vishnu to fight demons. Therefore, the place where the springs are located is considered sacred by the Hindus and there are always a lot of people here. The springs are open-air baths, where seven square wells contain warm water. Swim entirely in them will not work, you need to collect thermal water in buckets and pour it.

Relatively nearby are popular sightseeing spots in Sri Lanka: Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa. You can visit them with excursions or by renting transport. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa require at least two days to visit.

A variety of activities in Trincomalee can be enjoyed by diving or snorkeling. For this, it is best to go to the coral island of Pidgeon (Pigeon Island). In the Marine surroundings of the island is a beautiful underwater world, all kinds of fish scurrying in the water column among the corals. Another top entertainment is boat trips to the open ocean to watch dolphins.

In the evening, in the tourist areas of Uppuveli and Nilaveli, you can sit in a restaurant or cafe, or join a beach party that takes place every evening in beach bars. There is no more entertainment in Trincomalee.

Learn more about Trincomalee attractions and entertainment here...