Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is based in the Eastern Province (Sri Lanka) | Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

About Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. The bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination. Many of the buildings were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami.

Travel to Arugam Bay

Travel by Bus

Frequent buses from Colombo to nearby Pottuvil (4 km). Most are via Ratnapura, Welawaya, Buttala, Monaragala.

A luxury aircon bus (Rs.1100, new Yutong buses, ~8 hr) leaves to Colombo Airport and Fort at 8:15PM from nearby Akkaraipattu. A tuktuk to from Arugam Bay costs around Rs.2000 an takes 1½ hr. Tickets are sold by "Al-Rasith Travel (Pvt) Ltd."). Galaxy Lounge can reserve seats.

From Batticaloa: two daily direct buses at 6AM and 10AM. Rs.135, 5-6 hours. Stops for 1 hour in the town of Akuraivili. Tuk-tuks offer to take travelers directly from there to Arugam Bay for Rs.1500, but you could just wait for an hour for the bus to continue and not spend any additional money. The bus ride ends in town of Putuveli, which is about 3-5 kilometers to most Hotels in Arugam Bay. Tuk-tuks ask for Rs.200-300, but Rs.150 is a fair price. Or you could walk if no luggage; it's friendly and flat.

Travel by train to Arugam Bay

Nearest train stations are Ella or Badulla on the Mountain line and Batticaloa using the inland line via Polunaruwa. All three stations are about 135 kilometers from Arugam Bay.

Fly to Arugam Bay

Sri Lankan Airlines operates Air Taxi services on demand landing directly on the Arugam Bay lagoon.

Best way to travel in Arugam Bay by a Taxi

Private taxi services can be arranged at any time of day or night. The transit time from the main international airport to Arugam Bay is 7 hours for the 350 km trip

What to See

Since the 1960s Arugam Bay's main surf point has been the main attraction. It is a righthand reef break, famous for long, constituent runs up to 750 meters.

Muslim Travel Tips

• Surfing , Board from Rs.500/half day, course Rs.4500/2 hr/2people - Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka's most popular surf spot and one of the best in Asia. Many points exists, e.g. main point and baby point in Arugam Bay, Crocodile Rock, Panama, Okanda in the south, Whiskey Point in the north. Crocodile Rock is mainly used by beginners from sunrise on. Boards can be rented virtually everywhere, tuktuks are readily available to transport surfer and board to the points nearby.

• Tuk Tuk safari , Rs.3900 per tuk tuk - Arugambay Tours offer tuk tuk safaris. They will drive through Yala East National Park, but not into the boundaries of the park. Along the street down to Panama and further on into the park you might spot monkey, elephants, crocodiles and many other animals. As with any game drive, spotting animals is based on luck and the season, time of the day, etc.

What to buy in Arugam Bay

The nearby market town of Pottuvil (4 km to the north) has the only proper, air-conditioned supermarket. A new branch of Cargill's Food City. Other small shops are in the Bay itself. The perhaps best equipped and stocked one is "Home Needs" in the centre of the Bay.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Arugam Bay

Most restaurants are either directly on the beach (such as Emma Restaurant or Friends Indeed) or on both sides on the primary street. Many restaurants have their fish (e.g. tuna or marlin, without cooling) shown, but check twice if it is really fresh or from the day before.

There is no legal or drink shop in or anywhere near Arugam Bay. Palmgrove Holiday Inn caters for local patrons and has a licensed café. Meena's Fruit Juices Cafe also, but is restricted to bottled organic juice only (no drink). Opposite, part of the old Siam View Hotel, Asia's perhaps oldest MicroBrew Pub existed. They produced famous All Natural Arugam Bay Surfer's Fruit Juices on draft (only). Due to strict licensing laws their operation could not legally continue after the 2009 end of the 30 year war. Hideaway resort operates a secluded café in their garden.

A café close to Galaxy Lounge plays electronic music till sunrise every wednesday.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Arugam Bay, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Arugam Bay. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Arugam Bay and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Arugam Bay. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Arugam Bay. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Arugam Bay: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Arugam Bay.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Arugam Bay: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Arugam Bay, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Arugam Bay.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Arugam Bay, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Arugam Bay, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Arugam Bay and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Arugam Bay, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Arugam Bay, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Arugam Bay without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Arugam Bay is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Arugam Bay.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Arugam Bay is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Arugam Bay, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Arugam Bay Media: info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in Arugam Bay

Ramadan 2025 in Arugam Bay

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are approx. 70 establishments in Arugam Bay offering lodging. Most are simple, family run cabana style low budget places. In total there are only about 120 somewhat better equipped rooms available with a working air-conditioning and a few basic luxuries. The most popular hotels are, as follows, coming from the bridge/Pottuvil end: #01 Stardust, #03 Galaxy, #05 Beachhut, #15 Tsunami Hotel, #32 Tristar Hotel, #37 Hideaway, #39 Arugam Bay Surf Resort, #50 Siam View Hotel (SVH). Only the latter (SVH) is air-conditioned throughout.

• Emma home-stay emma@ Panama Road, Arugam Bay 6.843285,81.831797 ☎ +94 777644565 Check-in : 7AM / Check-out: 1PM US$10-60 This place is straight on the beach. There are simple regular rooms, 2 bungalows on the beach and 2nd floor with 2 rooms, private terrace with ocean view and a kitchen. It is a home-stay with flexible local host, nice guys run this place and you can survive the heat in the chillout with fan and hammock.

Where to travel next from Arugam Bay

• Panama (13 km S) – Crocodile Tank and Radella Tank
• Kudumbigala Monastery (22 km S)
• Okanda (30 km S) - Kovil and Beach
• Kumana National Park (45 km S)
• Matara. One daily bus at 6AM. Rs.305, 7-8 hours. Arugam Bay bus stop is in the nearby town of Putuveli (3-5 kilometers from most Arugam Bay guesthouses). Note that the bus does not start in Putuveli. When it arrives in Putuveli at 6:00-6:30AM, most seats are taken; you might have to stand for 1-2 hours until the people get off at the bigger towns.
• Batticaloa

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