Back in 2001 Hikkaduwa was the first beach in Sri Lanka to have kitesurfing grace its shore. It has a perfect climate with the temperatures being anything from 26 – 30+ degrees. So Hikkaduwa kitesurfing is even more of a pleasure as you only need a short wetsuit or board shorts. The make up of the beach here is pure sand making it perfectly safe for beginners as they practice waterstarts and relaunching.
The wind here is predominantly from the SW during the UK summer months and then turns to a typical NE in the winter months when outside of the monsoon season. Most people will be riding 9 and 12m kites between May and September and then you might want to take an additional 14m during December through to March. As with most islands within Indian Ocean you will find shallow flat waters enclosed by a reef with surf breaks further out.
There is plenty of accommodation to choose from for a Hikkaduwa kitesurfing holiday, most of which are all inclusive beach front hotels. You will however find the off traveller style accommodation nestles into the palm trees.
Flights go direct to Colombo from the UK taking around 10.5 hours with a 1.5/2 hour transfer from there. Hikka surf School is worth getting in touch with to see about any local knowledge as they run regular surf tours. So they know all of the local spots.
The main seasons are May to September and then December to March. The wind in the summer months on average hits 22mph. Be prepared with your 9 or 12m kites. In the winter months the wind can drop to 14mph so take a larger kite. All riding levels can enjoy Hikkaduwa kitesurfing due to the wide range of spots available.
