Mirissa

Mirissa is a crescent of soft sand backed by palms on the south coast, and the island's best base for whale watching. Boats leave before dawn for the deep water off Dondra Head, where blue whales — the largest animal ever to have lived — feed within a few hours of shore, often alongside sperm whales and spinner dolphins.

Onshore the pace is unhurried: seafood grills on the sand, a gentle beach break for beginner surfers, and the much-photographed Coconut Tree Hill at the eastern end of the bay.