The northwest coast of Sri Lanka was off-limits to tourists during the Civil War, which explains why this exquisite shoreline of golden sand and palm trees has largely escaped the attentions of the bulldozers. A 30-kilometre isthmus lapped by the open sea on one side and sheltered Puttala Lagoon on the other, it’s fringed by endless, windswept beaches. Kite surfers flock to the former in the monsoons, while pods of dugong and rare pink dolphins frequent the latter year round. The choice of hotels is limited for the time being, but includes some real gems. If you’re looking for somewhere wild and windy for a beach break, this could be just the place.