Jungle, Village & Yoga Escape in Sri Lanka

This retreat runs out of Polwaththa, a family-run eco-lodge set on 15 spread-out bungalows in the jungle 19km east of Kandy. The program is built around daily yoga – Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and meditation – held in a forest shala that you reach by a short trek through the trees. Instructors adapt every class to whoever is in the room, so complete beginners and longtime practitioners get something out of it. The week also gets you out of the lodge: guided treks through local villages and rice fields, a hike that ends at a waterfall with a swim and lunch, and a cooking class led by women from the closest village where you cook traditional Sri Lankan food on a wood hearth. There's also a chance to help locals practice their English and to plant a tree with the Forest Healing Foundation, which buys land for reforestation. The lodge itself keeps things simple – basic comfort, ensuite bathrooms, balconies facing the jungle – and the food is cooked fresh from ingredients bought within 5km of the property. The hosts, including Remon Ellegala who runs the place with his family, are open to chats about Sri Lankan culture, Sinhalese phrases, and basic Buddhist ideas. Because the retreat sits inside a working village, guests get a window into daily life here that most holidays never show you.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in private or shared cabanas - Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner (dinner only on arrival day) - Daily Hatha/Vinyasa and Yin yoga classes - Jungle trek and village walk with waterfall swim and lunch - Local cooking class with village women - Plant a tree (subject to conditions) - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Guided exploration of Polwaththa and its projects - Free pickup and drop from Digana town - Unlimited tea, coffee, and water - Group excursions and activities - Use of leech socks and spray on treks

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional drinks and meals - Massages - Additional excursions - Additional treatments - 1-1 meditation or Buddhism session with a former monk