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4 Ahangama
Many surfers stay in Ahangama and ride the
waves in Midigama. Stilt fisherman offshore
add colour, while the short commercial strip
has services and ATMs. Some of the guest-
houses are quite isolated.Haus Sunil GU eSThOUSe $
(%228 3988; [email protected]; Galle–
Matara Rd; r from Rs 3500; W) A little jewel box
of a guesthouse with two basic second-floor
rooms with the kind of ocean views (including
a small island) you can ponder for days. The
modest building is well off the road and there
is a tiny beach. Food is available. It’s just east
of the 137 Km marker.Azure Beach Villa GU eSThOUSe $
(%499 3844; Galle–Matara Rd, 136 Km marker; r
from Rs 4000; aW) Somewhat faded from it’s
once more ambitious self, this small guest-
house has two large rooms, one of which has
good views of the pounding waves. There’s
very little beach here and there’s no in-house
restaurant, but if you want wave-tossed soli-
tude, this is it.Ahangama Easy Beach hOTel $$
(%228 2028; http://www.easybeach.info; Galle–Matara
Rd, 136 Km marker; r US$45-80; aiW) Popu-
lar with surfers, the eight rooms here (some
fan-only) are decent and have nicely tiled
bathrooms and four-poster beds. All have bal-
conies facing the surf. The waterfront garden
has hammocks and tables for lounging about.
Note that there’s little in the way of a beach.4 Midigama
This tiny town has a few basic services and
a couple of worthwhile cheap guesthouses.Subodinee Guesthouse GU eSThOUSe $
(%228 3383; http://www.subodinee.com; off Galle–
Matara Rd; r Rs 1500-2500, cabanas from Rs 5000;
i) Longtime owners Jai and his wife Suma-
na offer 19 very different rooms, from hot
concrete cubes with shared bathrooms to
pleasing individual cabanas and rooms in a
modern building over the road with hot wa-
ter. Surfers are catered to. Turn inland off the
main road at the 139 Km marker and go just
past the clock tower and the train station.Rams Guesthouse GU eSThOUSe $
(%225 2639; Galle–Matara Rd; r from Rs 2000; i)
The 15 rooms at this ever-popular surfers’beachfront hangout are basic, but they are
clean and have private bathrooms, although
road noise is invasive. Many surfers barely
leave here for months on end, which gives it
a friendly community vibe. It’s located just
west of the 140 Km marker, right in front of
the best wave on the island.4 Midigama Beach
Just west of Weligama and right at the 140
Km marker, look for a tiny road heading 100m
towards the water from the main road. At the
end you’ll discover a splendid oasis of calm.
There’s a long beach and a wide grassy expanse
that’s kept tamed by a few cud-munching
cows. The several places to stay are all real
finds. The area is also called Gurubebila.oVilla Naomi Beach hiSTORiC hOTel $$
(%041-225 4711; http://www.villanaomibeach.com; Midiga-
ma Beach; r from €50; W) A beautiful colonial
villa with five whitewashed rooms, antique
furnishings, plush bathrooms and a verandah
with rattan rockers that’s perfect for a sun-
downer. All up it offers exceptional value for
money and looks out at the ocean through a
strip of coconut trees.Lion’s Rest GU eSThOUSe $$
(%225 0990; http://www.lions-rest.com; Midigama Beach;
r €50-90; W) This new hotel has eight very
attractive rooms set in a two-story complex
surrounding a pool. Upper-floor units have
ocean views across the green. The decor is
all whitewashed plaster and dark wood. Beds
are comfortable and the fittings are high
quality. There’s a small seafood restaurant.Villa Tissa hiSTORiC hOTel $$$
(%041-225 3434; http://www.villatissa.net; Midigama
Beach; r from US$90; Ws) Set in pleasant
beachfront gardens, the six huge and well-
appointed rooms line a colonnaded terrace
and recall bygone days. There’s a good large
swimming pool, a narrow patch of beach out
front and a cute little cafe.8 Getting There & Away
There are frequent buses along the coastal road
connecting Ahangama and Midigama with other
towns between Galle and Matara and points
beyond. The bus from Galle costs Rs 35 to Mi-
digama. Many Colombo–Galle–Matara trains
stop at Ahangama. Only a few local trains stop at
Midigama.
Cinnamon Air (www.cinnamonair.com; one-
way US$231) runs daily scheduled flights from
Koggala airstrip to Colombo’s Bandaranaike
i nternational Airport.