Elephant Rock Arugam Bay, A Hike and Sunset Viewpoint In Sri Lanka
Sometimes hard to find and with elephants blocking your path, this hike is sure to be an adventure. Elephant Rock in Arugam Bay is the perfect sunset or sunrise spot to relax, enjoy the view of grazing buffalo and perhaps spot a wild elephant.
If you’re visiting one of our favourite Sri Lankan towns with epic surf, insane wildlife and delicious food you should also add climbing elephant rock beach to your list. A quick pit stop on the way to or from Peanut Farm Beach, we think this mini hike is worth the detour.
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Where Is Elephant Rock Arugam Bay?
South of Arugam Bay Town around a 5 minute drive you will find the entrance down to the rock. Elephant Rock and Elephant Rock Beach is tricky to find as it is nestled down dirt tracks surrounded by military bases. Our blog will talk you through exactly how to get there and what to expect. The total drive will take you around 15 to 20 minutes.
How To Get To Elephant Rock?
We struggled to find the parking initially but we share the exact route you need to take below. The easiest way to reach Elephant Rock is via scooter or tuk tuk. You can hire a tuk tuk taxi driver who will know exactly where to go or head off on your own adventure in a rental.
Directions:
Head south out of Arugam Bay Town
Turn left off the main road when you see a sign for the special task force entrance. There was also a small Elephant Rock Sign Here
Keep left and follow the dirt track until you see a sign for the air force, take this right turning. (You can also go straight (red line on the map) but the road is hard to get past in a tuk tuk)
Follow the track and before the air base turn left, this should bring you to a small lake
Follow the lake around (this doesn’t look like a road)
At the end of the lake you should pull into a small, Sandy parking area
Walk towards the beach and you will find Elephant Rock
If those directions sound confusing don’t worry, there’s multiple different routes you can take but in the end you should find the beach, any local will be happy to point you in the right direction.
About Elephant Rock Arugam Bay
The rock is situated in-between the sea and a lagoon which makes a great lookout point to try and spot dolphins, elephants, crocodiles as well as get an uninterrupted view of Sri Lanka’s coastline. Unlike the south this coast feels wild and untouched, another reason we absolutely love Arugam Bay.
From the bottom of the rock head round towards the lagoon, this is the easiest place to start the climb. When we visited, two police officers were on watch at a checkpoint at the base of the rock. The climb is very short, perhaps ten minutes but you’ll want to visit in the morning or evening to miss the blistering midday sun.
The first part of the walk looks over towards Arugam Bay town and over crocodile rock, half way up you’ll reach a statue of Buddha and from here it’s a short climb across the rock to the top. The rock has a path for you to follow and we managed it easily in flip flops, Kate actually went barefoot.
The top of the rock is a great vantage point to try and spot any elephants that may be lurking nearby. Although we didn’t see any from the top, on our way around the lake we drove past a huge male elephant around 15 meters away!
Elephant Rock Beach and Surf Spot
You will also find Elephant Rock Beach at the base of the climb. Golden sand stretches far along the coastline and in high season you’ll find a good surfing spot here. The spot is normally less crowded due to the off-road access making it a great place to come, especially if you have your own tuk tuk.
The surf spot on Elephant Rock Beach is perfect for beginners with long gentle waves.
Elephant Rock Common Questions
How Much Is Entrance?
Free!
How Long Does It Take To Climb Elephant Rock?
The climb takes around ten minutes up and a little less down. However you need to remember the drive will be about 15 minutes from Arugam Bay Town.
When To Climb Elephant Rock?
Sunrise
If you're an early bird then this would be a great sunrise spot, just watch out for elephants on your drive to the beach, they are active in this area during dawn. The sun will rise from the east over the Indian Ocean making for the perfect morning hike.
Midday
We don’t recommend climbing the rock during the midday sun, it is unprotected from the burning rays and the UV index will be high.
Sunset
Another great time to come and enjoy the view plus the heat of the day will be cooling off. If you visit at sunset we recommend climbing down before it’s pitch black or bringing a head torch.
What To Bring To Hike Elephant Rock?
Water Bottle
Sun Cream
Camera
Final Thoughts on Elephant Rock, Arugam Bay Sri Lanka
Elephant Rock is a great short climb to get views over lagoons, the ocean and stretching golden sand. With the potential to spot wild elephants and a great sunset point this is not to be missed during your stay at Arugam Bay. Although the drive is a little off the beaten track and you may get lost on the way we think that’s part of the adventure!
Essentials You Need For Sri Lanka
 | Surfing Accessories
Sri Lanka is a surfers paradise and it's also great for beginners with multiple surf spots being a sandy bottom. Don't forget a zinc sun cream and surf hat!
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 | LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle
Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind plus you’re helping the environment!
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 | Binoculars For Safari Home to leopards, elephants and crocodiles having a pair of binoculars is a must to appreciate the wildlife Sri Lanka has to offer! |
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Top Tips For Travelling Sri Lanka
If you’re visiting Sri Lanka here are our top travel tips:
Rent a Tuk Tuk as Transport - This made our trip! Not only did we have complete freedom and flexibility it allowed us to have authentic relationships with locals. Use our code "KandM" for 5% off Tuktuk Rental
Stay in Homestays - Staying in local homestays meant we experienced authentic food and the local way of life. Everyone was extremely friendly and happy to help.
Don’t Forget the North - Many tourists stick to the south coast but if you have time explore places such as Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Arugam bay!
Embrace The Chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
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