THE EXPEDITION
7 DAYS OF SURF, MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES & SRI LANKA EXPLORATION
Discover southern Sri Lanka on a unique 7-day guided surf and motorcycle expedition.
Ride 125cc scooters along secluded jungle roads, far from the busy main routes, exploring hidden locations, tropical landscapes and places most tourists never see.
Combine unforgettable motorcycle adventures with incredible surf spots, stunning beaches, wildlife and authentic Sri Lankan culture.
THE MAP
“Why don’t you show the road map?”
We keep the exact routes of our Sri Lanka motorcycle expedition a secret for a reason. Before creating Shore & Trail, we spent countless hours exploring southern Sri Lanka on two wheels, taking wrong turns, following secluded jungle roads and discovering hidden villages, tropical landscapes and incredible places far away from the busy main roads and usual tourist routes.
Rather than following an itinerary copied from other motorcycle tours, we've created our own journey from the adventures we've experienced firsthand. Every winding road, hidden stop, activity, local food experience and unexpected detour has earned its place on our 7-day surf and motorcycle expedition because it's something we genuinely loved ourselves.
We want everyone who joins Shore & Trail to experience that same sense of discovery. We'll tell you what to expect from the expedition, but some of the most unforgettable parts of exploring Sri Lanka are the surprises waiting around the next corner.
SURF SPOTS
Sri Lanka’s stunning south coast is home to some incredible surf spots, with waves for every ability. From gentle beach breaks perfect for beginners to powerful reef and point breaks for experienced surfers, there’s something for everyone.
Throughout our 7-day Sri Lanka surf and motorcycle expedition, we explore a variety of beautiful coastal locations, discovering mellow bays, consistent waves and unforgettable surfing experiences.
We believe the surf should suit you, not the other way around. If the waves or conditions at one beach aren't up to your standard, we have the flexibility to go to alternative surf spots along the coast, helping you find waves that match your ability and preferences.
Whether you're catching your first wave or searching for your next favourite break, our expedition combines the freedom of exploring Sri Lanka with the excitement of surfing its tropical coastline.
No matter your experience, we'll do our best to find the right waves for you.
AHANGAMA:
Ahangama is one of southern Sri Lanka's most varied surfing destinations, offering everything from mellow beach breaks to powerful reef waves. Its coastline is dotted with different surf spots, each with its own character, making it a great location for surfers looking to improve their skills or explore new waves.
The area is particularly popular for its reef breaks, with both left-hand and right-hand waves. Spots such as Marshmallows offer softer, more forgiving take-offs and enjoyable peeling waves, while Sticks provides longer, more defined walls that suit intermediate surfers looking to practise their turns.
For experienced surfers, Kabalana's famous The Rock delivers a powerful A-frame reef break, producing both lefts and rights with steeper take-offs and faster sections when the swell is working. Nearby sandy beach breaks provide gentler conditions for beginners.
Ahangama is where we start and finish our expedition, giving you the opportunity to experience some of Sri Lanka's most exciting and varied surf.
WELIGAMA:
Weligama is one of Sri Lanka's most popular destinations for beginner surfers, famous for its wide, horseshoe-shaped sandy bay and gentle, rolling waves. Unlike the more challenging reef breaks found elsewhere along the south coast, Weligama offers a forgiving beach break with a soft sandy bottom, making it an excellent place to learn and build confidence.
The bay produces both left-hand and right-hand waves, with different peaks forming along the beach depending on the sandbanks, swell and tide. On smaller days, the slow, mellow waves and consistent whitewater provide ideal conditions for practising your pop-up, balance and basic turns.
As surfers progress, they can move beyond the whitewater to catch unbroken green waves, practise riding along the face and begin linking turns. When the swell increases, some sections become faster and more powerful, although larger swells can cause waves to close out.
Weligama is an excellent choice for beginners and improving surfers, offering plenty of opportunities to develop their skills in Sri Lanka's warm tropical waters.
HIRIKETIYA:
Hiriketiya is a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay on Sri Lanka's south coast, surrounded by tropical greenery and known for its distinctive surf breaks. The sheltered shape of the bay creates different surfing conditions within a relatively small area, making it popular with both learners and more experienced surfers.
The sandy beach break offers gentle, rolling waves, particularly on smaller swells, making it suitable for beginners learning to stand up, practise their turns and progress onto unbroken waves.
For more experienced surfers, Hiriketiya's famous left-hand reef and point break offers a very different experience. On the right swell, waves peel along the reef, producing longer rides, clean open faces and faster sections that reward confident surfers. As the swell increases, the take-off can become steeper and the shallow reef demands greater experience and awareness.
With its combination of mellow beach waves and a more challenging left-hand reef break, Hiriketiya offers an exciting contrast between relaxed surfing and more technical wave riding.
Whether you're progressing beyond beginner waves or looking for a quality left-hand point break, Hiriketiya has plenty to offer when conditions are right.
DICKWELLA:
Dickwella offers a quieter stretch of Sri Lanka's southern coastline, with a long sandy beach, tropical surroundings and a relaxed atmosphere away from the busier surfing hotspots.
Unlike nearby Hiriketiya's established reef and beach breaks, Dickwella Beach has less consistent surf, with smaller, shifting beach-break waves that depend heavily on the swell, sandbanks and tide. On suitable days, gentle waves can offer opportunities for beginners to practise their surfing away from the larger crowds.
The sandy-bottomed beach can produce both left and right sections, although waves are generally less defined and shorter than those at the better-known surf breaks along the coast. Conditions can also become unsuitable for surfing, particularly when stronger currents or unsettled swells develop.
The beauty of exploring Dickwella with Shore & Trail is the flexibility to find suitable conditions. If the surf isn't delivering what we're looking for, we can explore alternative beaches and breaks along the southern coastline, making the most of the day's conditions and each surfer's ability.
UNAKURUWA:
Unakuruwa is one of southern Sri Lanka's hidden surfing gems, offering a beautiful, secluded bay surrounded by tropical vegetation, swaying palms and dramatic rocky coastline. Away from the busier surf destinations, it's a place where the peaceful surroundings are almost as memorable as the waves themselves.
The main break, also known as Aga Point, is a right-hand reef and point-style wave that peels along the rocky edge of the bay. When the swell and tide line up, it produces a defined take-off followed by a smooth, enjoyable right-hand ride. The initial section can be relatively steep before the wave becomes softer towards the inside.
Unlike some of Sri Lanka's more consistent surf spots, Unakuruwa is highly dependent on the conditions. On smaller days, the wave can be mellow, while larger swells can create faster, more challenging take-offs. The rocky reef and sea urchins beneath the surface mean it's best approached with local knowledge and care.
Unakuruwa is one of our personal favourite stops on the expedition. With its secluded setting, beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere, it captures exactly what Shore & Trail is about: discovering remarkable places away from the usual tourist routes.
MIRISSA:
Mirissa is one of Sri Lanka's most picturesque coastal destinations, famous for its palm-lined beaches, turquoise waters and lively atmosphere. Its beautiful crescent-shaped bay offers a mixture of surf conditions, from gentler beach waves to more challenging reef breaks.
The best-known surf spot is Mirissa Right, a right-hand reef break that peels along the rocky western end of the bay. When a suitable southerly swell arrives, the wave can produce clean, open faces and enjoyable rides with more speed and shape than the gentler waves found at Weligama. It is particularly appealing to intermediate surfers who are comfortable navigating reef breaks.
Other areas around the bay can produce shorter left-hand waves and smaller beach-break peaks, giving surfers different options depending on the swell and tide. However, the reef can become shallow at lower tides, and sections around the rocks require additional care.
Beyond the surfing, Mirissa is one of the liveliest stops on our Sri Lanka expedition. We arrive on a Saturday, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the beach bars, restaurants and nightlife after a day exploring the southern coastline.
Whether you're looking for enjoyable tropical waves, a spectacular beach or an evening soaking up Sri Lanka's nightlife, Mirissa offers a memorable combination of surf and adventure.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Our 7-day Sri Lanka surf and motorcycle expedition is about much more than incredible waves and secluded jungle roads. Along the way, we explore the island's fascinating history, vibrant culture, traditional villages and some truly unforgettable places.
Every destination featured on our expedition is somewhere we've personally explored and genuinely enjoyed. We've spent countless days discovering southern Sri Lanka on two wheels, following quiet roads, taking unexpected detours, listening to recommendations from locals and stopping wherever our curiosity takes us.
Not every temple, tea plantation, museum or hidden attraction we discovered made it onto the itinerary. We've carefully chosen the experiences that stayed with us long after we left. These are the places we return to ourselves and can't wait to share with others.
Rather than simply visiting the most popular tourist attractions, we want to introduce you to a more authentic side of Sri Lanka, from its cultural traditions and historic landmarks to the everyday experiences that make travelling through the island so special.
We'll give you a glimpse of what's waiting along the way, but some of the best discoveries are worth keeping a surprise.
Tea is an essential part of Sri Lankan culture, and we couldn't imagine exploring the island without experiencing one of its beautiful tea plantations. Although Sri Lanka's most famous tea estates are found high in the cooler central mountains, our expedition takes you to a working tea plantation much closer to the southern coastline.
Surrounded by lush tropical scenery, we'll explore the plantation grounds and discover how Ceylon tea is grown, harvested and produced. You'll have the opportunity to walk among the tea plants, learn about the other crops and spices cultivated on the estate, and step inside the factory to see the traditional tea-making process, from freshly picked leaves to the finished product.
One of our favourite moments is taking time to relax overlooking the plantation, enjoying a freshly brewed cup of Sri Lankan tea and a slice of cake while soaking up the peaceful surroundings.
Before we leave, you'll also have the opportunity to sample a selection of teas produced on the estate, discovering the different flavours and varieties that have made Ceylon tea famous around the world.
It's a fascinating glimpse into Sri Lanka's tea-growing heritage and a chance to experience a tradition that has shaped the island's culture for generations.
TEA PLANTATION
One of the most fascinating cultural stops on our Sri Lanka expedition takes us to the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum in Koggala, a remarkable place dedicated to preserving Sri Lanka's rich history, traditional way of life and cultural heritage.
Named after Martin Wickramasinghe, one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated writers, the museum is set within beautiful tropical grounds surrounding his historic ancestral home. The preserved house offers a glimpse into the writer's childhood and the rural surroundings that inspired much of his work.
What makes this experience so special is the opportunity to discover how Sri Lankan people lived, worked and celebrated their traditions for generations. The museum's extensive collection includes traditional farming and fishing equipment, handmade tools, pottery, folk art, ceremonial masks, musical instruments and religious artefacts. Each exhibit reveals something about the customs, skills and everyday lives of rural communities across the island.
Beyond the museum itself, we'll have the opportunity to explore the peaceful gardens and historic buildings, including the family home where Wickramasinghe grew up. It's a wonderful contrast to the beaches, surfing and motorcycle adventures that make up the rest of our journey.
This is one of our favourite cultural experiences in southern Sri Lanka. It offers much more than a conventional museum visit, bringing the island's traditions and history to life and giving you a deeper appreciation of the people and culture you'll encounter throughout our expedition.
MARTIN WICKRAMASINGHE FOLK MUSEUM
One of our favourite discoveries while exploring Sri Lanka is a remarkable hidden temple, tucked away from the usual tourist routes and surrounded by breathtaking countryside.
Unlike the busy temples and famous attractions found in most Sri Lanka travel itineraries, this peaceful location offers a more personal experience. The adventure begins with a climb up a hillside, following a pathway lined with impressive statues that guide you towards the summit.
As you make your way upwards, the surrounding landscape gradually reveals itself. With every step, the views become more spectacular, opening up across lush tropical greenery, distant hills and the beautiful Sri Lankan countryside.
Reaching the summit is an unforgettable experience. Alongside the temple's striking statues and spiritual atmosphere, you'll discover panoramic views stretching for miles across the surrounding landscape. It's the perfect opportunity to appreciate Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage and the natural beauty that makes this island so special.
This is exactly the kind of hidden gem we love sharing on our expeditions. Far removed from the crowded tourist attractions, it's a place where the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination.
And just like many of our favourite discoveries, we're keeping its exact location a surprise until you experience it for yourself.
TEMPLE
Alongside the main highlights of our 7-day Sri Lanka surf and motorcycle expedition, we've handpicked a collection of hidden gems, unexpected discoveries and memorable experiences that we found while exploring the island ourselves.
From secluded locations tucked away along quiet jungle roads to fascinating places rarely featured on traditional tourist itineraries, these are the little extras that make our adventure truly unique.
Sometimes, it's the unexpected stops that create the best memories.
We won't be revealing exactly where these adventures take you. Part of the Shore & Trail experience is discovering places for the first time, without knowing what's waiting around the next corner.
No photos. No videos. Some experiences are simply better discovered in person.
EXTRAS
THE WILDLIFE
One of the most unforgettable parts of exploring Sri Lanka is discovering the incredible wildlife that calls this tropical island home. From lush jungles and secluded countryside to coastal landscapes and peaceful villages, our 7-day Sri Lanka surf and motorcycle expedition takes us through environments rich in nature and wildlife.
Travelling along quiet jungle roads on our 125cc scooters gives us the opportunity to experience a different side of Sri Lanka, away from the busy tourist routes. Along the way, we may encounter playful monkeys, colourful tropical birds, monitor lizards and other fascinating animals that inhabit the island's forests and countryside.
It's often the unexpected moments that make the biggest impression. Spotting wildlife among the trees, hearing the sounds of the jungle or discovering animals going about their daily lives as we explore the island.
Every journey brings something different, and that's part of the adventure. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, the possibility of encountering Sri Lanka's remarkable animals makes exploring these secluded routes even more exciting.
Take a peek at the incredible wildlife you’ll meet on your journey!
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![Colourful wild peacock in southern Sri Lanka]()
Peacock
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![Asian water monitor lizard in Sri Lanka]()
Monitor Lizard
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![A group of monkeys sitting and standing on a mossy log in a lush green jungle with dense foliage.]()
Toque macaque monkey in Sri Lanka
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![A small monkey with light fur around its face sitting on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.]()
Purple Faced Langur Monkey in Sri Lanka
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![Wild water buffalo in Sri Lanka]()
Water Buffalo
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![A colorful tropical fish in Sri Lanka]()
Countless Species Of Fish
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A wild Junglefowl National Bird in Sri Lankas
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![Sea turtle swimming off Sri Lanka's south coast]()
Sea Turtle
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![A small marine mammal, possibly a sea otter, sitting on a rock surrounded by dry grass and stones, with a blurred natural background.]()
A wild Mongoose in Sri Lanka
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![A porcupine with sharp quills, sitting on rocks near grass.]()
A wild Indian Crested Porcupine in Sri Lanka
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![A wild Green parrot in Sri Lanka]()
Countless Species Of Birds
“WILL WE SEE WILD ELEPHANTS IN SRI LANKA?”
Sri Lanka is famous for its magnificent wild Asian elephants, and they're one of the island's most iconic animals. However, although elephants can be found in several parts of the country, they are not commonly encountered along the southern coastal and secluded jungle routes we explore during our 7-day surf and motorcycle expedition.
Sri Lanka's best known wild elephant populations are associated with protected areas and national parks, particularly further inland and towards the east of the island.
While seeing wild elephants during our expedition is extremely unlikely, that's part of the beauty of exploring Sri Lanka… nature is wonderfully unpredictable. We never know exactly what wildlife we might encounter along the way.
Our journey focuses on discovering the island's hidden roads, tropical landscapes, incredible surfing and local wildlife, with plenty of opportunities to appreciate Sri Lanka's natural beauty without visiting the major elephant safari destinations.
PROUDLY PARTNERED WITH REDCIRCLES
Supporting Shore & Trail's Sri Lanka motorcycle and surf expeditions.
