Hikkaduwa is a seaside resort town in southwestern Sri Lanka. It's known for its strong surf and beaches, including palm-dotted Hikkaduwa Beach, lined with restaurants and bars. The shallow waters opposite Hikkaduwa Beach shelter the Hikkaduwa National Park, which is a coral sanctuary and home to marine turtles and exotic fish. Inland, Gangarama Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple decorated with hand-painted murals.

Nearby, Hikkaduwa Lake supports wildlife like monitor lizards and birds. To the north, on a small island just off the coast, is the revered temple of Seenigama Vihara. Nearby is the Hikkaduwa Turtle Farm and Hatchery, a sanctuary for several endangered turtle species, including hawksbills and leatherbacks. In the village of Telwatta, the Tsunami Photo Museum exhibits photos and salvaged items from the 2004 tsunami, which devastated this coastal area. Northeast is the Moonstone Mine, where mine shafts and a factory illustrate the process of mining the gemstone.