The pristine shore of Passikudah on the East coast of Sri Lanka is fast becoming the ultimate destination for those who prefer to escape to an isolated beach – with nothing but miles and miles of pure white sands and days of sheer idleness.

Here, the coastline is wide as it is long and the waves still and calm; and beneath the clear waters of the bay, a unique coral reef system thrives with myriad species of tropical fish. The shallow reef stretches towards the outer bay with scattered groups of corals within the bay itself, it is also connected to similar reef systems further south towards Kalkudah. This is one of the best-known reef systems in the region and is now a proposed Marine Sanctuary. Passikudah is very popular among visitors – both local and foreign, but being far away from the main cities of the West and the South, it is far from crowded.