From Arugam Bay · about 9 hours
Kumana safari from Arugam Bay
Birds, elephants and the odd leopard, with few other jeeps
$69
per person for two, from Arugam Bay, tickets included
Pottuvil lagoon, a surf lesson and Elephant Rock at sunset
Pottuvil lagoon, a surf lesson and Elephant Rock at sunset is Majeste's private day tour from Arugam Bay. It takes about 12.5 hours door to door and costs $67 per person for two, including your own car with an English-speaking driver and surf lesson at Arugam Bay, with the lagoon canoe paid there. Prices checked 7 Nov 2026. Nothing to pay now.
Mangroves at dawn, the sea in the afternoon, a rock for sunset.
At a glance
About this tour
A split day around Arugam Bay: a dawn canoe through the Pottuvil lagoon mangroves with local fishermen, where crocodiles, birds and sometimes elephants are seen; the ruins of Muhudu Maha Viharaya on the beach; a rest through the heat; then a private surf lesson and the short climb up Elephant Rock for sunset. The lagoon canoe is community-run and paid directly to the boatmen.
- Pottuvil lagoon mangrove canoe at dawn, paid directly (about USD 55 per boat on one 2026 listing)
- Private surf lesson at a beginners' break, included
- Elephant Rock at sunset; elephants are sometimes seen on the plain below
Your day
Planning times from Arugam Bay, not promises.
Pickup in Arugam Bay; the lagoon jetty is ten minutes away.
Lagoon canoe with local fishermen, about two hours. Paid directly to the boatmen.
Breakfast at a Pottuvil cafe, paid directly.
Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Buddhist ruins in the dunes north of Pottuvil.
Back to your hotel for the hot hours.
Private surf lesson, about 90 minutes.
Elephant Rock: a short climb for sunset over the bay.
Drop-off at your hotel.
What is in the price
Included
- Private air-conditioned car or van with an English-speaking driver for the day
- Fuel, expressway tolls and parking
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Arugam Bay or Pottuvil
- Every activity listed under tickets and fees
Not included
- The lagoon canoe, paid to the community boatmen
- Breakfast
- Lunch is at a local restaurant, paid directly, about USD 5 to 15 a head
- Tips for the driver and any local guide, at your discretion
- Drinks, snacks and personal spending
Tickets and fees
Surf lesson at Arugam Bay
$57.14
LKR 9,500 (about USD 29) for a private session, from one coach's published list.
Source
- Arugam Bay surf coach price list, checked 7 Nov 2026
Amounts are for two adults. Entrance fees for Sri Lankan residents differ. Message us and we price them for you.
Entrance fees last checked 7 November 2026. Activity prices last checked 7 November 2026. Rupee fees converted at LKR 332.5 to USD 1 (XE mid-market rate, 6 Nov 2026).
Good to know
- The lagoon canoe price is from a single 2026 marketplace listing (about USD 55 per boat); we confirm the local rate before you go and you pay it on the spot.
- Elephants are seen on some evenings at Elephant Rock and in the lagoon, not all; keep your distance if they are on the track.
- Most surf camps close from November to April.
Good months: May, June, July, August, September.
Harder months: October, November, December, January, February, March, April.
Read more
- Sri Lanka entrance fees 2026: Sigiriya and parks
Sigiriya is USD 35, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura USD 30, the Temple of the Tooth LKR 3,000; a park ticket for two is USD 71.86. Checked 7 November 2026.
- Best time to visit Sri Lanka: month by month
January to March is driest on the west and south coasts, in the hills and the Cultural Triangle; May to September suits the east. Checked 7 Nov 2026.
Where the figures come from
- Arugam Bay surf coach price list, checked 7 Nov 2026
- Majeste rate card, checked 7 Nov 2026
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