Hambantota

OVERVIEW

Hambantota

Hambantota, on Sri Lanka's arid southeastern coast, is a region of surprising contrasts. Once a sleepy fishing town, it has grown into a modern hub while retaining its wild, windswept character. The district is flanked by some of the island's finest national parks — Yala and Bundala — and is home to salt pans that have been harvested for centuries, dramatic blow-holes along the coast, and a new international port and convention centre. Luxury safari lodges have sprung up in the surrounding scrubland, making Hambantota an ideal base for wildlife exploration.

Hambantota is the perfect base for combining wildlife safaris with beach time. Its strategic location between Yala and the south coast makes it an efficient and scenic stopover, and the region's untouched landscapes feel genuinely remote.