Uppuveli Beach is nestled in the northeast of Sri Lanka in Trincomalee Bay, and was the second stop during our 2-month Sri Lanka road trip.
Less frequently visited due to its remote location, Uppuveli Beach Sri Lanka was the perfect destination for us to experience authentic Sri Lankan culture. We had the opportunity to meet friendly locals, even sharing a homemade dosa on the beach (more on this later!)
One main draw of Uppuveli is the magnificent coastline, long, sandy beaches make the perfect location for relaxing, sunbathing and swimming. There are also snorkelling opportunities at Pigeon Island National Park and local attractions such as Fort Frederick, Lover’s Leap and Kanniya Hot Springs nearby.
Uppuveli Beach offers the perfect contrast to Sri Lanka’s busy south coast beaches and is the ideal off-the-beaten-track destination for travellers seeking authentic beach experiences in Sri Lanka.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Uppuveli Beach.
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Where Is Uppuveli Beach, Sri Lanka?
Uppuveli Beach is located just 5 minutes from Trincomalee town in northeastern Sri Lanka. While it’s further from the popular south coast beaches, this hidden gem is absolutely worth the extra travel time for authentic Sri Lankan experiences.
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What To Expect At Uppuveli Beach & Our Experience
Uppuveli Beach is the perfect base to explore the rest of Trincomalee, as it is located in the centre of Trinco Town and Nilaveli Beach.
The vibe in Uppuveli is relaxed, perfect for lazy beach days. We found the community here to be super friendly. As we trundled along in our tuktuk a motorbike pulled up beside us and invited us to dinner on the beach cooked by his mum. We accepted the offer and enjoyed homemade Masala Dosa by moonlight.
The beach at Uppuveli is a long stretch of sand lined with small fishing boats, an unspoiled paradise. Unlike the crowded beaches of Sri Lanka’s south coast, Uppuveli Beach offers space for everyone. We found the water perfect to swim in, with some crashing waves to make it enjoyable and provide excellent body surfing.
Watersports are also popular at Uppuveli Beach, they offer, water skiing, jet skiing, paddle boarding and canoeing!
Visitors congregate at Fernando’s Beach Bar, a lively collection of food trucks and bars set directly on the sand behind rows of sun loungers. At night, Fernando’s transforms with crackling campfires, live music, and an irresistible vibe that keeps travellers coming back night after night.
There’s plenty of things to do from Uppuveli including snorkelling at Pigeon Island, going on a whale watching tour and heading into the busy local town of Trincomalee.
One of our favourite excursions from Uppuveli was visiting the Kanniya Hot Springs. This hidden gem is a series of hot springs of different temperatures that are said to have healing properties.
Best Places To Stay In Trinco
$ Budget
Breeze Guesthouse
We chose to stay at Breeze Guest House in Uppuveli when visiting Trincomalee and found it was the perfect budget friendly choice. Our room was spacious with a fan, mosquito net and large bathroom.
$$ Mid-Range
Lobster Inn
Lobster Inn is a friendly, laid-back guesthouse just minutes from Uppuveli Beach. Known for its relaxed vibe and great seafood, it offers clean, comfortable rooms and an on-site restaurant.
$$$ High-End
Uppuveli Beach by DSK
Uppuveli Beach by DSK offers clean, modern rooms just steps from the sand. The amenities here look incredible, with some villas having private plunge pools, a large infinity pool, gym and bicycles to get around.
Spacing
Best Places To Eat In Uppuveli
Rice ‘n’ Curry
The best Kottu in Sri Lanka is served here! A delicious dark Kottu that was our first and best of the trip came from Rice ‘n’ Curry which is a popular place to eat in Uppuveli. We also recommend the deviled chicken here, a tangy sauce with peppers and chicken similar to sweet and sour!
Fernando’s Beach Bar
If you’re craving western food there is a delicious looking food truck at Fernando’s Beach Bar! You can also get a variety of drinks here including King Coconuts, coffee and beer.
Cafe on the 18th
If you’re looking for Vegan-friendly options then Cafe on 18th serves healthy bowls on the beachfront, plus they have coconut milk available for coffees. If you have non-vegan friends they serve a variety of fresh seafood.
How To Get To Uppuveli Beach?
If you’re using public transport the easiest way is via a bus to Trincomalee bus station followed by a short tuktuk taxi (5 minutes) to your accommodation in Uppuveli.
From Sigiriya
Either head into Dambulla (20-minutes) or to the Inamaluwa Junction where you can flag down the no.49 bus which heads to Trincomalee and takes 3 hours.
From Dambulla
The easiest way to get to Trincomalee from Dambulla is via bus. Head to the Dambulla bus station where several buses a day head to Trincomalee which takes 3.5 hours and costs 600 LKR.
From Anuradhapura
There are a few buses a day that run between Anuradhapura and Trincomalee, which takes 3-4 hours.
From Jaffna
Again there are several buses per day running between Jaffna and Trincomalee, the journey takes 5 hours and costs 900 LKR.
From Colombo
There is one train a day that runs between Colombo Fort Station and Trincomalee. The journey takes 8 hours.
The Journey by the no.49 bus takes 7 hours or travel overnight on a private bus that leaves at 11pm.
By Plane
Cinnamon air offers flights from Colombo to Trincomalee that take just 60-minutes! We travelled with Cinnamon air from Koggala Lake to Colombo and it was one of our most memorable experiences during our trip.
Our Recommended Way To Reach Uppuveli
While public transport works well, we’d highly recommend hiring a tuk tuk for the journey. Not only does it give you flexibility to stop at viewpoints and local spots along the way, but it’s also an authentic way to experience Sri Lankan travel culture. We hired ours for 2 months and it became one of the highlights of our trip, the freedom to explore hidden corners of Sri Lanka was incredible.
Book your tuktuk here!
Uppuveli Beach Common Questions
Best Trincomalee Tours
Final Thoughts on Uppuveli Beach
Uppuveli Beach is the perfect town to base yourselves in while visiting Trincomalee. There are some of the best restaurants including Rice ‘n’ Curry for the kottu and Fernando’s Beach Bar for the vibe. You can cool off in the sea and relax on the untouched beach or head off exploring some unique cultural sites such as the Kanniya Hot Spring and Fort Frederick.
Top Things To Do In Trincomalee
