Family dinners
One long table, whoever's in the house. Twice a week.
The quiet bay.
Happy Hammocks Hiriketiya
A social hostel a 10-minute walk from Hiriketiya's tropical cove. Quieter than the big surf towns, with a pool table, ice baths and Luna the dog.
9.6on Hostelworld · 524 reviews
Hostelworld rating as of 10 Oct 2026
Inside the house
A pool table, a mural and a proper kitchen.
A small, cosy outdoor common area built around a pool table, a lounge under the big painted mural, and a well-equipped kitchen to cook together. There's a laundry service too.
Who you'll meet
9 in 10 guests arrive alone.
Most people here are on a long trip, travelling solo and up for company. Here's how to tell if you'll fit in.
You'll fit right in if:
- you're travelling on your own
- you'd rather meet people over dinner than in a club
- you want the option to go out or stay in
- you're happy in a simple, shared dorm
You might prefer somewhere else if:
- you need your own space and new fittings
- you're travelling in a group of more than 4
- you're travelling with children: we're 18+
- you want the party inside the building every night
What we do together
Join in, or don't.
Everything is optional. This is what's on in Hiriketiya.
Beach volleyball
Teams pick themselves. Skill not required.
Sunset sessions
Down to the beach as the day ends.
Nights out
Pre-drinks at the house on party nights, then out together.
Pool tournaments and trivia nights
Bring your cue, or just your general knowledge.
Open mic and karaoke
Out in town, together. Bring a song, or just come to cheer.
Surf
We'll sort boards and lessons, usually for less than you'd pay alone.
Ice baths
A cold reset, then coffee.
Trips and safaris
Reception books day trips, safaris, taxis and scooters.
Social and sleep rules
Social, not a party hostel. You can sleep here.
Everything is opt-in
Join what you like. Skip what you don't. Nobody keeps score.
Quiet hours from 11pm
Common areas wind down so the dorms can sleep.
Party nights happen out
Pre-drinks at the house, then the party is somewhere else. Music off at 10:30pm.
Dark and cool at night
A blackout curtain at every bed, and the AC on from 6pm to 11am in the AC dorms.
The standard
Simple dorms, done properly.
Every bed in the Hiriketiya house comes with the same things.
Blackout curtain for privacy and proper sleep
Your own reading light
International sockets at the bed
A shelf for your things beside the bed
Ceiling fans in every dorm, on top of the AC
A locker for your valuables
- Every dorm has AC, on from 6pm to 11am
- All dorms but one have their own bathroom
- New washrooms and dehumidifiers
- Keycard main door: only guests get in
Dorm rules
- One person per bed
- Sleep in the bed you're given
- No visitors inside the house
- No smoking indoors; the outdoor areas are fine
The honest bit
We're not a hotel. If space and new fittings matter more to you than people, we're probably not your place, and that's fine.
Where we are
Here's where we are, and what's around.
On the headland between two beaches, just outside Dikwella town: Hiriketiya's horseshoe bay one side, Dickwella's long beach the other, each about 10 minutes' walk.
Beaches and surf
- Hiriketiya bayA sandy beginner wave inside the bay, and a fast reef left off the headland for intermediates and up. Busy in season, so go early.10 min walk
- Dickwella beachA long, wide bay for walks and swims. The surf here is usually small.10 min walk
- Talalla beachA quiet curved bay with gentler waves, more for lazing than surfing.15 to 20 min by tuk-tuk
Further along the coast
- Blue Beach IslandA small island off Nilwella, joined to the beach by a sandbar you can walk at low tide.10 min by tuk-tuk
- Wewurukannala ViharaA temple with one of the tallest seated Buddha statues in Sri Lanka.5 to 10 min by tuk-tuk
- Hummanaya blowholeSea spray shooting up through the rocks. Best when the sea is rough.15 min by tuk-tuk
- Mulkirigala rock templeCave temples on terraces up a rock, about 530 steep steps to the top.35 to 40 min by tuk-tuk
- Rekawa turtle watchGuided night walks to see sea turtles nesting, run by a local conservation project.45 min by tuk-tuk
Reception books trips, taxis and scooters, usually for less than you'd pay alone.
Eat and drink
- Malu PokeBuild-your-own poke bowls from a beach shack. The post-surf lunch.10 min walk
- MONDClifftop café: sea views, flat whites, smoothie bowls and good Wi-Fi.10 to 15 min walk
- Lemon Grass CafeCheap daily rice and curry in a simple wooden shack.15 to 20 min walk
- Smoke & BittersCocktails and a wood-fire smokehouse by the beach, for a big night.10 min walk
Everyday stuff
- Food City, DikwellaSupermarket in town, with ATMs nearby.15 min walk
- Dickwella bus standBuses along the coast to Matara and Tangalle.5 min by tuk-tuk
- Wewurukannala stationThe nearest train station, with trains to Matara, Galle and Colombo.5 to 10 min by tuk-tuk
Getting here
About 3 hours by taxi from Colombo airport (CMB), most of it on the Southern Expressway. Or the train from Colombo Fort to Wewurukannala (around 4 hours), then a 10-minute tuk-tuk.
- Address
- 22 Hiriketiya Road, Dikwella
- Arriving late or lost?
- WhatsApp the house on +94 77 548 3866.
Before you book
The small print, in plain words.
Paying
Cash on arrival, no cards. A 500 LKR key deposit and a 500 LKR towel deposit, both returned when you leave.
Check-in and out
Check-in from 2pm, check-out by 11am. Reception is open 9am to 8pm; message us if you'll arrive later. Arrived early? Use the common area and shower until your bed is ready.
Cancelling
Free up to 72 hours before arrival. No-shows pay for the full stay.
Christmas and New Year
From 23 Dec to 2 Jan we ask for a deposit to hold your bed.
Groups
We're built for solo travellers, so groups are capped at 4. Please don't split a bigger group across bookings.
Who can stay
A youth hostel for adults 18 and over. Not suitable for children or pets.
Staying somewhere else?
You're still welcome at our activities.
How social we are
Nobody stays a stranger for long.
Every day there's something on: beach volleyball, sunset sessions, pool tournaments and trivia nights, plus open mic and karaoke out in town. Family dinner is on Mondays and Thursdays, ice baths are Thursday afternoons, and on party nights it's pre-drinks at the house before heading out together.
What guests say about Hiriketiya
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