Getting to Hiriketiya is easier than it looks, from private transfers and coastal trains to local buses and tuk-tuks. Here’s our experiences, what actually works, where to get off the train, and the option we’d choose.
Part of the appeal of Hiriketiya is that it feels a little further away than most of Sri Lanka's better-known south-coast towns.
The little horseshoe bay sits just outside Dickwella, beyond the well-worn tourist trail of Galle, Weligama, Mirissa and Ahangama, and until relatively recently getting here meant a slow journey along the coast road, or a number of forms of transport.
Today though, it's much easier.
We've travelled to Hiriketiya many times over the last 7+ years, and on almost every form of transport, be it by local bus, tuk-tuk, or car, and driven the reverse journey all the way from the bay to Colombo Airport.
Each has its own pros and cons, which we outline in our guide below, but for comfort, speed and ease, it’s very hard to go past a private transfer, especially if you’ve just arrived.
At the other end of the comfort level, we arrived by local bus from further Galle, and despite the constant fear of our lives ending, it was extremely affordable.
And if the train is your jam, several coastal trains now run from Colombo to Wewurukannala, a small station near Dickwella and only around 5–10 minutes by tuk-tuk from Hiriketiya, which can make the train potentially the best option.
Here's how to get to Hiriketiya from Colombo, southern hotspots, and beyond.
HOW TO GET TO HIRIKETIYA
MOST SCENIC | The coastal train to Wewurukannala (or Matara), followed by a tuk-tuk to Hiri, along Sri Lanka's southern coastline
BEST VALUE | Expressway bus from Makumbura to Matara, then a local bus towards Dickwella
CHEAPEST | Local buses along the south coast via Matara and Dickwella
OUR PICK | Private transfer straight from the airport, or if you're already travelling along the south coast, a tuk-tuk or private car
BOOK YOUR TRIP TO HIRIKETIYA BEACH
WHERE TO STAY | MOND, Jasper House, Le Cabanon & Dots Bay House · See our full guide to the best hotels in Hirketiya and Dickwella
TOURS & EXPERIENCES | Download the GetYourGuide app to book south-coast experiences - with 5% off your first app booking through our creator offer
GET TO HIRIKETIYA | Take the coastal train from Colombo or the Southern Coast for the experience, and use 12Go to compare trains, buses and private transfers
GET CONNECTED | Set up an Airalo eSIM before you fly and have data ready to go when you arrive in Sri Lanka
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Get a quote from World Nomads, with cover available for 150+ activities
SPEND SMARTER IN SRI LANKA | Get a Wise card to pay in Sri Lankan rupees and skip fees
HOW TO GET TO HIRIKETIYA | THE OPTIONS
PRIVATE TRANSFER
If you want the simplest way to get to Hiriketiya, this is it.
That’s particularly true from Colombo Airport, but we’d say the same if you’re coming from almost anywhere along the south coast. Galle, Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa are all straightforward door-to-door drives, and once you factor in luggage, hotel transfers, waiting around and the final tuk-tuk from a station or bus stop, the extra cost can be easy to justify.
We’ve done the highway run between Hiriketiya and Colombo Airport and, while there’s no pretending it’s short, it’s extremely manageable, especially when accounting for a few rest stops along the way.
We’ve also booked a PickMe/Uber from Ahangama to Hiri, and it was almost too easy: bags in the boot, air-conditioning on, arrive at the door.
The journey is around 200km and roughly three to three-and-a-half hours, depending on traffic and exactly where you're staying, and can cost around the mid-LKR 20,000s to low 30,000s.
You can pre-book, and upon arrival, the process is straightforward: your driver will usually be waiting in the arrivals hall with your name on a board, help you with your bags, then head off to collect the car while you wait outside near the pickup area.
It can take a little time when the airport is busy. Cars aren’t generally sitting directly outside arrivals waiting, so the driver will have to collect the vehicle from parking and loop back around to meet you. Nothing difficult, just worth knowing when you’ve stepped off a long-haul flight and are expecting to be moving immediately.
Once the car arrives, you load the bags into the boot and head south.
With young kids, surfboards or a lot of camera gear, this would usually be our first choice.
THE DETAILS
Cost | Around LKR 24,000 – 32,000 for a small car or sedan; allow around LKR 33,000 – 40,000+ for a van
Time | Around 3–3.5 hours
Good to know | Check whether expressway tolls are included and tell the operator in advance if you're carrying surfboards
BOOK | Private transfers via 12Go
GETTING TO HIRIKETIYA BY TRAIN
We absolutely love Sri Lanka's coastal railway.
It's slower, hotter and less predictable than getting in a car, but for long stretches south of Colombo the railway runs beside the Indian Ocean, through picturesque stations, colourful villages and some of the most gorgeous stretches of coast you'd otherwise fly straight past.
And unlike the famous Kandy–Ella train, most of the people around you are simply going home or to work.
If we're already in Colombo and want to save money and enjoy a truly local experience, we’d catch the train.
But there are a few things you need to know before you plan your journey via train, which we outline below:
WHICH STATION SHOULD YOU USE FOR HIRIKETIYA?
So this is the most important question you need to answer, because it will define how you plan your train travel, and how much it may cost.
WEWURUKANNALA | OUR PICK
Wewurukannala is the closest railway station to Hiriketiya, on the newer Matara–Beliatta extension of the coastal line.
From the station, Hiriketiya is only around 5–10 minutes by tuk-tuk, with current local fares roughly LKR 400–700.
That makes far more sense than getting off at Matara, provided your train actually continues to Wewurukannala.
As of October 2026, there are generally four or five direct Colombo Fort–Wewurukannala trains each day, depending on the day of the week.
Current services take anywhere from around 3 hours 40 minutes to just under five hours, so this is one journey where checking beforehand is smart.
Wewurukannala is a small station rather than a busy transport hub, so ask your accommodation to arrange a tuk-tuk pickup rather than relying on finding one the second you step off the train, although you’re unlikely to struggle to find transport.
MATARA | THE OTHER OPTION
Matara is still completely viable, and in some circumstances easier.
It's a large station in a large coastal city with tuk-tuks and buses readily available, and far more trains terminate here than continue to Beliatta.
From Matara, either take a tuk-tuk or jump on a local bus towards Dikwella. The Matara–Dikwella 346/1 bus currently costs LKR 131 and takes around 45 minutes, after which Hiriketiya is another short tuk-tuk/walk away.
If the Wewurukannala timetable doesn't work for your arrival, don't stress; Matara remains a perfectly good plan B.
THE DETAILS
Time | Around 3.5–5 hours from Colombo to Wewurukannala
Final leg | 5–10 minutes by tuk-tuk to Hiriketiya
Best for | Travellers already in Colombo who want the journey to be part of the trip
BOOK | Check Colombo to Wewrukannala trains and reserve tickets with 12Go
CAN I BOOK THE TRAIN TO HIRIKETIYA IN ADVANCE?
Yes.
The easiest option is 12Go, which currently sells Colombo to Wewrukannala tickets on selected Sri Lanka Railways services, including reserved first-class seats. Check trains and book tickets here.
Not every coastal train or class can be reserved, and most second and third-class carriages remain unreserved and are much cheaper if you buy directly in Sri Lanka.
If having a guaranteed seat matters to you, we'd book the reservable option ahead.
WHERE SHOULD YOU SIT?
On the right-hand side heading south.
For much of the journey between Colombo and Matara, that's the ocean side.
If your train originates at Maradana, boarding there before it reaches Colombo Fort can also improve your chances of finding an unreserved seat.
Don't blindly go to Maradana for every train, though - check where your chosen service actually starts first.
BUS TO HIRIKETIYA
There are two very different versions of getting to Hiriketiya by bus.
One involves air-conditioning and the expressway.
The other involves open windows, loud music, very enthusiastic driving, and occasionally wondering whether this is how it all ends.
We've done both, and despite everything, we'd probably choose option B.
THE CIVILISED VERSION | EXPRESSWAY BUS
From Colombo, head to Makumbura Multimodal Centre at Kottawa and take an air-conditioned expressway bus south to Matara.
The current fare is LKR 1,170, with the expressway leg taking around 1 hour 45 minutes on a good day.
From Matara, continue to Dickwella Bus Station on the local bus, then take a tuk-tuk down to Hiriketiya.
The annoying part is reaching Makumbura from central Colombo in the first place. Allow another 40–60 minutes depending on traffic, via a tuk-tuk.
From Makumbura itself, however, this is excellent value. We suggest a few snacks for the drive, although it’s not that long.
THE FUN VERSION | LOCAL BUS
Local buses run all along the south coast (and to every single corner of Sri Lanka for that matter), and if you're already in Galle, Weligama, Mirissa or Ahangama, they're an extremely affordable way to continue east towards Dickwella.
In the past, we've arrived this way and can confirm it is not relaxing.
Bags get shoved wherever they'll fit, you’re rushed through the doors while the bus is still moving, music is played at a deafening level, and the bus moves with a level of commitment only seen in F1.
It's brilliant.
Depending on where you're starting, you may find a through bus towards Dickwella or need to change at Matara. Ask the conductor before getting on, and they'll point you in the right direction.
If you've got a large suitcase, small children or several thousand dollars of camera equipment, we'd probably pick something else.
THE DETAILS
Express bus | Makumbura – Matara, LKR 1,170, around 1h45
Then | Matara – Dikwella local bus, LKR 131, around 45 minutes
Final leg | Short tuk-tuk into Hiriketiya
Best for | Backpackers, budget travellers and anyone who considers the journey part of the entertainment
GETTING TO HIRIKETIYA FROM ELSEWHERE ON THE SOUTH COAST
FROM AHANGAMA
If you're visiting both surf towns, this is a very standard trip and can be easily arranged by PickMe/Uber or via public transport.
Hiriketiya is around 45 – 55km east of Ahangama, with the road journey taking around an hour. Expect to pay between LKR 7,000 – 12,000 depending on whether you organise a local driver or book through a larger transfer platform.
The train is another good option: Ahangama sits on the same coastal line, and some services continue directly to Wewurukannala in around an hour.
PLAN | Read our complete Ahangama guide
FROM GALLE
Galle to Hiriketiya is around an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes by car, depending on traffic.
We've also done it by tuk-tuk. Was that the fastest way? Absolutely not.
Was it an excellent way to travel down the coast with a lovely driver who repeatedly pulled over for king coconuts? Very much so.
Again, the train works well too. Take a southbound service from Galle to Wewurukannala, then finish with the short tuk-tuk into Hiri.
PLAN | Read our Galle Fort guide
FROM MIRISSA
Hiriketiya is only around 35–50 minutes by car from Mirissa.
A private driver is easiest; by bus, travel east towards Matara and Dikwella (same deal as Ahangama or Galle), changing at Matara if required.
PLAN | Read our Mirissa guide
FROM WELIGAMA
Allow around 45–60 minutes by car.
You can also take the train east towards Wewurukannala if the timetable lines up, or a local bus along the coast.
FROM TANGALLE
Tangalle is practically next door by south-coast standards, only further to the east.
Allow around 20–30 minutes by car or tuk-tuk, making it an easy day trip or onward stop from Hiriketiya.
GETTING TO HIRIKETIYA FROM ELLA
Ella to Hiriketiya is much easier by road than many older guides suggest.
A direct car takes around three hours, although we'd allow 3–4 hours once stops, weather and traffic are involved.
One option is to turn the transfer into a safari day.
A number of operators will pick you up around Ella, take you through Udawalawe, then continue down to Hiriketiya afterwards. It's more expensive than simply hiring a driver, but maximises a transfer day and makes it something memorable.
FROM UDAWALAWE OR YALA
Allow around two hours from Udawalawe.
From the Yala area, somewhere between two and three hours is more realistic depending on which entrance, lodge or town you're starting from.
A private driver is the obvious option for both, but there’s a direct local bus from Tissamaharama to Hiriketiya.
GETTING AROUND HIRIKETIYA
One of the reasons we enjoy Hiriketiya so much is that, once you've finally got there, you forget about how to get around and just walk.
ON FOOT
From almost anywhere around the bay, you can walk to the surf, breakfast, coffee, drinks and dinner. Even accommodation higher up the lanes is generally only a few minutes away.
It's a big part of why staying here is so easy.
BY TUK-TUK
For Dikwella, further beaches and anything outside the immediate bay.
Dikwella itself is only around 5–10 minutes away, with around LKR 400–700 a reasonable current fare for the trip.
As always in Sri Lanka, agree the fare before leaving unless you're using an app.
BY SCOOTER
Scooters are super useful if you're staying for longer and want to explore Mawella, Tangalle, Dondra or the surrounding coast.
Foreigners now need a licence that is legally valid for the relevant vehicle class in Sri Lanka, which means either a valid International Driving Permit, a Sri Lankan licence, or your home licence with the official Department of Motor Traffic conversion/translation certificate. Police have been actively checking this in the Southern Province since 2026.
Also check your travel insurance before renting one, because most don’t cover scooters.
BOOK YOUR AHANGAMA TRIP
STAY | Booking.com - search and compare every hotel, villa and guesthouse in this guide, with free cancellation on most
GET THERE | 12Go helps you book your train tickets, buses and private transfers from Colombo to Galle in minutes, with instant confirmation
TOURS & EXPERIENCES | Download the GetYourGuide app to book tours and experiences in Sri Lanka, and get 5% off your first booking through our link
GET CONNECTED | Pick up an Airalo eSIM before you fly and skip the airport SIM queue and be online the moment you land
TRAVEL INSURANCE | STAY SAFE IN SRI LANKA
Honest take: if something goes wrong - a medical emergency, a missed ferry, a scooter accident on a coastal road - travel insurance is the difference between a stressful story and a catastrophic one.
After 10+ years of full-time travel, here's what we use:
WORLD NOMADS | Offers travel insurance for independent travellers and intrepid families. Their policies cover 150+ activities, plus emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
GET A QUOTE | World Nomads
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO HIRIKETIYA
EXPLORE HIRIKETIYA & THE SOUTH COAST
To plan the rest of your Sri Lanka trip, here are our specific guides:
START HERE | 31 incredible things to do in Sri Lanka, our essential three-week Sri Lanka itinerary, a shorter 7-day Sri Lanka itinerary, and 39 things to know before visiting Sri Lanka
SOUTH COAST | Our guides to Galle, Hiriketiya and Mirissa, plus where to stay in Ahangama, Hiriketiya and Galle
CULTURAL TRIANGLE | Everything you need to visit Sigiriya, climb Pidurangala Rock, explore the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura
WILDLIFE | Our safari guides to Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, and Hurulu Eco Park, plus where to stay in Yala
HILL COUNTRY | Explore Kandy and Ella, including the Nine Arch Bridge, Diyaluma Falls, the best hotels in Kandy, and where to stay in Ella
SRI LANKA WITH KIDS | Plan a family trip with our Sri Lanka family itinerary, plus our pick of the best family-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka
OTHER DESTINATION GUIDES | Our in-depth guides to Colombo and Jaffna
GETTING AROUND SRI LANKA | Ride the iconic Kandy to Ella train, or how to get from Colombo to Kandy and Colombo to Galle
DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF SRI LANKA WITH OUR GUIDES
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That, and you're officially a legend.
Getting to Hiriketiya is easier than it looks, from private transfers and coastal trains to local buses and tuk-tuks. Here are our experiences, what actually works, where to get off the train, and the option we’d choose.