Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka's most famous surf destination—a long, peeling right-hand point break on the island's remote east coast. During the SW monsoon season (April-October), consistent swells wrap into this laid-back beach town, offering mellow but quality waves perfect for longboarders and intermediate surfers. The vibe is pure tropical backpacker paradise: coconut curries, beach shacks, and yoga retreats. It gets crowded in peak season, but the waves keep rolling.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to CMB, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Indian Ocean is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Indian Ocean — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Arugam Bay trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (180°)
- Direction range
- 150° - 210°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 2.0m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (315°)
- Offshore range
- 270° - 360°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 1.5m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: 5-6hr drive from Colombo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Arugam Bay?
Arugam Bay works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.5m and 1.5m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Arugam Bay?
Offshore wind at Arugam Bay blows from the NW (315°). Anything in the 270° to 360° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Arugam Bay?
Arugam Bay wants S swell (150° to 210°) between 0.8m and 2.5m, with a period of 14s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Arugam Bay?
The main season at Arugam Bay is Apr-Sep. A secondary window runs Oct. SW monsoon season. Best May-Sept.
How do I get to Arugam Bay?
Fly into CMB, then allow about 300 minutes by road. 5-6hr drive from Colombo.
What kind of wave is Arugam Bay?
Arugam Bay is a point break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 4/10.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Oct
SW monsoon season. Best May-Sept.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Hiriketiya
🌙 Horseshoe bay beauty • Sri Lanka's next big thing • Protected learning waters
Weligama Bay
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka's surf school • Stilt fishermen backdrop • Tropical learning waves
Ahangama
🎣 Stilt fisherman waters • Reef break step-up • Authentic Sri Lanka