Compare destinationsKitesurfing in beautiful landscape and culture
Tropical lagoon riding with warm reliable trade winds that blow daily; Kalpitiya is made up of 14 islands and is a laid back kitesurfing paradise waiting to be explored.
Kalpitiya is not only a top freestyle destination but with its spacious flat water that’s chest-deep, soft sand to stand on, reliable winds and protection from the ocean, it makes for a paradise to learn to kitesurf too. The palm-fringed beaches are uncrowded and unspoilt and provide the perfect sanctuary to relax and recharge between sessions, and you’ll feel wonderfully detached from the modern world and surrounded by nature.
There are two wind seasons in Sri Lanka and the months from June to September receive the strongest wind around 25 knots or more. The winter season from December to March gets much lighter winds, but the temperature is still on average around 30 degrees so you’ll be able to kite in boardshorts even in winter!
Ultimate guide for your trip
Guide overview
THE BEST KITESPOTS FOR KITESURFING IN SRI LANKA
TODO
KALPITIYA LAGOON
Kalpitiya lagoon is created by a 2.5km long spit of sand that cuts the ocean off from the mainland. It’s heaven for freestyle kiters as well as offers optimum conditions for beginners with lots of space to practice. Most of the accommodation is situated right at the lagoon just outside the town and allows more experienced kitesurfers to be able to literally kite from their door!
DONKEY POINT
This is the spot for fun in the waves that break on the sand bar accessible just across the other side of the spit. The wind blows onshore here and the spot is best reached by car which can be arranged easily from Kalpitiya lagoon.
VELLA ISLAND
Often referred to as the ‘secret spot’, Vella is one of the top spots in the world for butter flat water and freestylers won’t be able to get enough of the choice conditions. It’s a local uninhabited paradise accessible by car and boat that serves as the perfect backdrop for photoshoots when showing off skills or honing new tricks.
There are also exciting excursions that offer the chance to stay overnight on Vella Island, as well as plenty of downwind opportunities for a variety of levels ranging from a short hour-long guided downwinder accompanied by a safety boat, to mammoth 200km multiple day stretches that navigate further along the Sri Lankan coastline.
WEATHER & KITE CONDITIONS FOR KITESURFING IN SRI LANKA
Leave your wetsuit at home as you can enjoy warm water and air temperatures year-round in Kalpitiya! The warmest months are in summer between May to July where temperatures hover around 33 degrees with only a slight dip at night, although it can get quite humid. These months also receive the stronger more reliable winds that blow over 20 knots, and you can expect to be kiting most days.
In winter the wind direction changes and from December to March you may have a day or two without wind, and it won’t blow quite as strong (between 15-20 knots). However, it’s still ideal for 12m kites, much more stable, and foilers with shorter masts might even prefer it!
The kite spots in the area all have obstacle free sandy bottoms so you can walk without booties, but make sure you pack long sleeve lycras to cover up and protect yourself from the strong sun.
WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS IN SRI LANKA
Boat Tour
Throughout the November to March period, Kalpitiya is visited by thousands of dolphins as well as whales from February. Take advantage of a morning boat cruise to see the dolphins at their most active leaping in the air or even playing in the wake of the boat. There are a few different varieties to spot of both whales and dolphins including the largest mammal in the world; the blue whale!
Anuradhapura
The ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura is a UNESCO world heritage site that’s crammed with monuments and palaces and only about a 2-hour drive from Kalpitiya. Anuradhapura was the original capital city of Sri Lanka and was founded in the 5th century BC. One of the most famous monuments to visit is the sacred Bo tree which is said to have been cultivated from a cutting of the tree where Buddha achieved enlightenment. The historic city is a fantastic place to discover incredible early engineering while exploring the monasteries, bathing pools, reservoirs and ruins of an ancient civilisation.
Safari Tour
Wilpattu National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s largest wildlife reserves and is just 1.5 hours drive from Kalpitiya. The park is full of lakes and water holes that attract plenty of elephants, water buffalo and crocodiles, as well as being famed for its leopard population, bears and birdlife. The best chance to see wildlife is to take a guided jeep safari tour between the months of February to October, and animals are most active either in the early morning or late afternoon.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IN SRI LANKA BESIDES KITESURFING
Snorkeling and diving
Kalpitiya is actually a marine wildlife sanctuary and the reefs are a well-kept secret hidden away from mass tourism. Here are some of the best and most diverse dive sites in the world and the Bar Reef is the largest in the country stretching for 300km! Just 1 hr off the coast, this relatively shallow reef has a vast array of corals and marine life that even includes rays and turtles amongst others. There are several boat tours that offer snorkeling, as well as PADI certified dive schools in Kalpitiya itself.
Yoga
Whether your muscles are sore from too much kitesurfing, or you want to relax even deeper into your holiday, yoga is a great way to train your body and also reach new levels of relaxation. Daily yoga classes take place in the open air with views of the lagoon and you can even arrange private tuition on request.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN SRI LANKA
The main international airport of Colombo is around 150 km away but the transfer time will take approximately three to four hours by car depending on the traffic. Sri Lanka has a network of public buses and trains but it’s best to book a taxi or minibus which can be arranged when booking your accommodation. Once in Kalpitiya, tuk-tuks are a great, cheap and very local way to get around and can be hailed very easily.
KITEWORLDWIDE LAGOON LODGE
This newly built lodge was the concept of a German builder and his Sri Lankan wife who fused modern comfort together with Sri Lankan charm. It’s situated right next to the lagoon where lovely thatched roofed modern buildings are surrounded by gardens. They each have four rooms with their own terrace overlooking the water (the upper floor rooms have the best views in town!). All the rooms are en suite and comfortably furnished in traditional style with air conditioning to ensure a good night’s sleep.
The modern central pool area has plenty of sun loungers and both palm garden and lagoon views. Communal chill out areas are dotted around and there are also hammocks to enjoy.
The Lodge has its own separate restaurant area as well as a volleyball court at the back, and the kite centre even has storage facilities for you to keep your gear safe, and your rooms sand-free!
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR KITE TRIP TO SRI LANKA
You will need a visitor visa to enter Sri Lanka but this is easily obtained in advance online. In addition, you need to ensure that your passport has at least 6 months of validity remaining.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF KITESURFING IN SRI LANKA LOOK LIKE?
After a full breakfast we make our way to the spot and go kitesurfing until noon. We then take a short break for lunch - either right at the spot or we go back to the lodge. After lunch we go out on the water again and kite until sunset. Back at the lodge we have dinner. Afterwards we always like to sit together and play cards and drink one or two beers.
TOP RESTAURANTS, CAFES UND BARS IN KALPITIYA
Kalpitiya is not a mass tourist region and there are a limited number of restaurants available. However, most hotels offer a full board catered package and also welcome drop-in customers too.
Coco Breeze is a small restaurant with great reviews just a short tuk-tuk ride away offering up curries and local specialities in a humble setting. You may need to wait a while for the food to arrive but the taste and experience is well worth the wait!
General information
Regular flights to the international airport of Colombo run directly from London with plenty of connecting flight options. The transfer time to the resort is around 3 hours via private taxi or minibus arranged by your accommodation.
The nearest banks and ATM machines are 10 km away accessible via taxi or tuk-tuk. Please note that card payments are not accepted at the lodge.
Kalpitiya is a small village and most nightlife is therefore centered around hotel bars.
The lagoon is protected with standing depth flat water and reliable winds perfect for learning to kitesurf.
Most locals speak Tamil or Singhalese, but English is widely spoken in Kalpitiya and most schools and hotels also have German speakers.
The hotels offer a wide variety of food with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables including international and local dishes. Local eateries in nearby villages serve traditional curries and other spicy foods which are fantastic to try if you can handle the heat!
The golden sandy beaches are warm and palm-fringed away from the hustle and bustle and perfect to unwind on.
Sri Lanka is a relatively safe country to travel around with very little incidence of violent crime. However, it’s always best to be on your guard in case of petty crime opportunists.
Wifi is available in most common areas of hotels but the connections are not normally the fastest or most reliable. It’s a great excuse to disconnect from the busy modern world!
Visas are required to enter Sri Lanka and it’s best to apply online in advance of travel. You will also need a passport with at least 6 months validity remaining.
