Elephant Rock, Arugam Bay

Elephant Rock, Arugam Bay, Arugam Bay Overview

Elephant Rock in Arugam Bay is a famous beginner's surfers point. The location offers the tourists a chance to explore the island, the untouched beaches and even see elephants roaming nearby. It is a fantastic sea-facing rock surrounded by an isolated beach.

It derives its name, not just by the elephants that roam around the rock in both morning and evening but also because of the resemblance in shape with that of an elephant. The beach is in its raw form, not tampered by the public. The beach doesn't get very crowded as the place is quite far from the mainstream cities, and the way to reach it is along a sandy dirt track. However, this makes Elephant Rock a very particular and offbeat destination in Sri Lanka.

Activities at Elephant Rock

The main attraction at Elephant Rock is surfing. The place is kid friendly and has a lot of surf shops. These shops sell all the safety equipment needed and even have professional trainers for those who want to learn surfing. For the ones that don't want to surf, they can climb up the Elephant Rock to see a magnificent view of the whole area. Tourists can enjoy the gorgeous sunset from the top of the rock. It is considered to be the best location in the entire country to catch the evening, and that is why tourists visit it despite being quite secluded.

Wildlife at Elephant Rock

The free-roaming elephants are the main attraction of this place. However, besides the elephants, Elephant Rock also has crocodiles, peacocks and many exotic birds. The crocodiles are not spotted frequently, but tourists should keep an eye for warning signs before going swimming or surfing. During the winter, this place attracts many migratory birds.

Nightlife at Elephant Rock

Elephant Rock has by many beaches surrounding it which host spectacular beach parties. There are very few bars around in the area; however, the hotels and resorts serve delicious food. The cuisines are both traditional Sri Lankan and international. The place also has some luxury restaurants that offer an exceptional dining experience.

Tips while Visiting Elephant Rock

Guests are advised to follow the safety guidelines when it comes to surfing and other water sports. Some Tuk-Tuk drivers refuse to go into the area after sunset due to the sandy terrain and risk of running into an elephant. The beach can get very hot due to the lack of shady spots so tourists should carry enough water and sun protection. There are a few drink stalls at the destination.

How To Reach Elephant Rock, Arugam Bay

Elephant Rock is about 3-4 kilometres from Arugam Bay. The easiest way to get there is taking a Tuk-Tuk ride. As it is in a very sandy region, the Tuk-Tuk ride can cost up to LKR 1000. The nearest airport to the area is the Batticaloa Airport. If travelling from Colombo, you can take a bus which will take about 9 hours to reach Arugam Bay. From Arugam Bay, it may bring about 15 minutes to reach the destination.