01
Pigeon Island National Park
A coral-fringed marine park a short boat ride out, with snorkelling and reef sharks.
Nilaveli
A long white beach and a coral island offshore.
What makes Nilaveli.
Nilaveli is the calmest and most beautiful of Trincomalee's beaches — a long sweep of pale sand and shallow turquoise water, far quieter than the south coast at its best. It is the launch point for Pigeon Island, a small marine national park ringed by living coral, reef fish and blacktip reef sharks a short boat hop away. Low-rise resorts and guesthouses line the shore, the swimming is gentle, and a small offshore islet at the river mouth adds to the sense of seclusion. Together with neighbouring Uppuveli it makes a relaxed, low-key base for the eastern dry season from May to September.
A long white beach and a coral island offshore.
- May – September (north-east dry season)Best time
- 6Spots to see
- ~150KVisitors / year
What to see
Where to explore in Nilaveli.
The landmarks and corners worth carving out time for. Each one a reason this place earns its place on the route.
02Nilaveli Beach
A long, pale, shallow-water beach — among the calmest swimming on the coast.
03Coral & reef-shark snorkelling
Clear shallow reefs alive with coral, tropical fish and harmless reef sharks.
04Uppuveli Beach
The neighbouring beach to the south, an easy walk or ride for a change of scene.
05Nilaveli lagoon & river mouth
A quiet backwater and islet behind the beach, good for a sunset paddle.
06Scuba diving the eastern reefs
Dive sites and the wreck-strewn waters off Trincomalee within easy reach.
Find Nilaveli on the map.
Where Nilaveli lies within the East Coast, and the landmarks clustered around it, so you can picture how it threads into the rest of a tour.
Make Nilaveli yours.
We weave it into a private, tailored trip around how you want to travel.