To the north of Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s east coast stretches a largely deserted shoreline  of white-sand beaches, and the fishing village of Kuchaveli is scattered behind a particularly beautiful section, backed by lush tropical scrub. The sea here is calm and ideal for bathing (outside the monsoon period), and the nearby Pigeon Island Marine Reserve offers some of the finest reef snorkelling and wreck diving in the Indian Ocean. If you’re seeking peace and quiet, well away from the brouhaha of the tourist boom, this is our recommended option.