Complete Guide Koggala Lake Sri Lanka 2025

Nestled along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline is one of the country’s largest lagoons, Koggala Lake. Dotted with many small islands and home to a thriving wildlife ecosystem, the lake is a sanctuary for birds, lizards and fish. Local fishermen, who’s families have fished the lake for generations, now offer tours around waters, showing tourists the several attractions and glimpses into traditional Sri Lankan life. 

The town of Koggala itself is often overlooked by travellers rushing between the more famous destinations along the southern coast, yet it’s home to some beautiful spots. Koggala Beach is a two-mile stretch of golden sand, perfectly sandwiched between the Indian Ocean and thick Sri Lankan jungle. In our two month trip, this was arguably one of the most pristine and less crowded beaches we saw, having the whole place to ourselves every evening for sunsets, as the sun pierced through the mist from the sea creating the iconic Indian beach landscape.

Just a short tuktuk drive away from Koggala Lake is the Traditional Stilt Fishermen Viewpoint, where locals perch on stilts sitting in the sea, an iconic photo opportunity in Sri Lanka. In this blog we uncover everything you need to know before visiting Koggala Lake, how to get there, what's included in the tour and if it's worth the money.

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Where Is Koggala Lake?

Located on the popular south coast of Sri Lanka between Galle Fort and Ahangama, Koggala Lake is easy to reach by train, bus, tuktuk or car. 

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Koggala Lake Description

Koggala Lake is one of the most scenic lagoons on Sri Lanka’s south coast, the wide and calm lake is surrounded by dense mangroves and dotted with small islands, each offering something unique, from cinnamon farming to temples.

We visited Koggala for 3 nights and stayed just next to the lake in a homestay, a perfect base for exploring the area in the day. During our stay we were also lucky enough to fly with Cinnamon Air and took off from Koggala Lake to fly to Colombo, the water take-off was certainly a unique experience!

There’s no big resorts around Koggala Lake, just raw beauty and an authentic glimpse into local Sri Lankan life on the water.

Koggala Lake Boat Safari

By far the best way to explore Koggala Lake is by taking a boat safari, a laid back tour that lets you explore the lake’s islands and wildlife in one of the local fishing boats. Tours usually last 1 hour and are booked on the spot near the main bridge or via your guesthouse.

Important Tip: Something we wished we knew before visiting, is that locals sit in their tuktuks before the turning down to Koggala Lake on the main road (just in front of the airbase sign). They then haggled us over and tried to get us to book a tour with them. Just continue driving down to the lake and you’ll come to the bridge, here there will be a few fishermen who will immediately start selling to you. We acted not interested in the beginning and the price went from 20,000 lkr to 5,000 lkr. If you let them, they will rip you off!

Don't get scammed! There are so many reviews of people getting scammed by the locals for the Koggala Lake Boat Tour! Make sure to book through a real tour.

Most of the boat tours include the following:

• Cinnamon Island: Watch a local family demonstrate how cinnamon is harvested and processed, then enjoy a fresh cup of cinnamon tea. You can also buy some from here however it is very overpriced.

• Temple Island: Visit a small Buddist temple tucked away on its own island, with beautiful lake views.

• Herbal Garden Island: Some tours stop at a small herbal garden offering local remedies

• Wildlife Spotting: Along the way, keep an eye out for water monitors, monkeys, kingfishers, herons and maybe even some crocs.

Tip: Some of the fishermen selling the tours have got pretty bad reviews online, make sure to get an enthusiastic tour guide as it will completely transform the experience, booking through your homestay is the best way to do this.

How To Get To Koggala Lake?

Train

Trains run regularly from Colombo, Galle Dutch Fort and Weligama, making Koggala Lake very accessible. It’s located along the scenic Colombo-Matara coastal railway line and we rode the train from Colombo to Koggala, from the station, Koggala Lake is just a short walk or tuktuk ride away.

Bus

Buses run frequently along Galle road, passing right by Koggala Lake. You can catch a bus heading towards Galle if you’re in Ahangama, Midigama, Weligama, or vice versa. Just let the driver know you want to get off at Koggala Lake.

Tuktuk or Private Taxi

If you’re staying in one of the nearby towns, the most convenient way to get to Koggala Lake is by tuktuk or private taxi. Make sure to agree on a price before getting in or pre-book it online during peak season.

Car or Tuktuk Rental

During our two month road trip around Sri Lanka we rented a tuktuk in order to have the freedom and flexibility to explore at our own pace. While the roads were chaotic at times, it was worth it for the adventure and made our trip even more memorable. 

For families, a rental car would definitely be more comfortable and probably a better option to get around. 

Flight 

For a truly unique experience during your travels, consider taking a water landing or take-off with Sri Lanka’s domestic airline, Cinnamon Air. We chose to get the train from Colombo to Koggala, then opted for Cinnamon Air’s Koggala Lake Take-off to get back to Colombo. We highly recommend this experience as seeing the raw Sri Lankan jungle from above was an incredible experience. 

We have written more about our Unique Sri Lankan Experience Here.

Koggala Lake Common Questions

How Much Is The Boat Safari at Koggala Lake?

Prices vary massively depending on your bargaining skills! Expect to pay around 3k-6k for a 1 hour private tour, however locals will start their prices at 20k. The closer you are to the lake when you book, the cheaper the prices should be and booking through a guesthouse near the lake is advisable.

How Long Is The Koggala Lake Tour?

Most boat safaris are 1 to 2 hours long, the locals sell it as a 2 hour boat ride however you only need 1 hour to see everything.

What Wildlife Can You See At Koggala Lake?

Koggala Lake is home to a wide variety of bird species and you can spot: water monitors, monkeys, fruit bats, eagles, herons, kingfishers and the occasional crocodile. You’ll also see some traditional fishing boats and the local way of life on the lake.

Are There Crocodiles in Koggala Lake?

Yes but not many. While you have a chance of seeing crocs on the tour, it’s not very common compared to somewhere like Pottuvil Lagoon Safari.

Is Koggala Lake Safe For Swimming?

We wouldn’t recommend it, the muddy bottom and potential crocs won’t make it very enjoyable, so just stick to enjoying the views from the boat.

Can You Kayak or Paddleboard Koggala Lake?

There are a few guesthouses and eco-lodges around the lake which offer kayaking but it’s not as common as the boat tours. If you’re staying around the lake and looking for a quiet way to explore, it’s worth asking your accommodation.

What's The Best Time To Visit Koggala Lake?

The best time to visit is during the south coast dry season from mid-November to April, when the lake is calm and the skies are clear. The best time to spot wildlife will be early in the mornings and late afternoon.

Where To Stay at Koggala Beach

Best Place To Stay at Koggala Lake

Final Thoughts on Koggala Lake Sri Lanka

Although Koggala Lake is often skipped by many tourists visiting Sri Lanka, we decided to spend 3 nights here to get away from the chaos of Galle and other popular towns. If you don’t want to stay the night then you could do the lake tour while passing through before visiting the Stilt Fishermen, however we recommend staying and spending at least one sunset at Koggala Beach. 

In terms of the lake tour, the reviews are a mixed bag, it very much depends on the local guide you get as some are local fishermen who speak no foreign languages, making it not very fun as you aren’t learning while doing the tour.

We highly recommend the Unique Water Landing Experience with Cinnamon Air! That was amazing to be flying so low above Koggala Lake and seeing the epic views.

Top Tips For Travelling Sri Lanka

If you’re visiting Sri Lanka here are our top travel tips:

1. Rent a Tuk Tuk as Transport  - This made our trip! Not only did we have complete freedom and flexibility it allowed us to have authentic relationships with locals. Use our code "KandM" for 5% off Tuktuk Rental

2. Stay in Homestays - Staying in local homestays meant we experienced authentic food and the local way of life. Everyone was extremely friendly and happy to help. 

3. Don’t Forget the North - Many tourists stick to the south coast but if you have time explore places such as Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Arugam Bay!

4. Embrace The Chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!

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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!