Jungle Yoga & Spice Planting Wellness Retreat in Sri Lanka's Hill Country

The Samadhi Centre occupies a hillside tea estate about 25 kilometres outside Kandy, looking across to the Knuckles Range. The property was rebuilt using traditional materials — mud walls, terracotta floors, repurposed antiques — and runs on a philosophy of sustainability and local heritage. Every room is different, many featuring open-air bathrooms, king-sized teak beds, and handwoven cotton linen.

Yoga classes run daily in a four-sided open shala where the jungle air comes right through. The resident teacher, Maheshe Kodikara, has over 40 years of experience in yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong, having trained in Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and India. Sessions cover multiple styles — Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and Dynamic yoga — and suit beginners through to advanced practitioners.

The spice planting component takes you into the centre's organic gardens, where you'll get your hands in the soil and learn about the herbs and spices used in Sri Lankan cooking and Ayurveda. Many of the herbs used in the on-site Ayurvedic treatments are grown right here. A cooking class teaches you to prepare traditional Kandyan dishes.

Walks take you to waterfalls and through jungle trails, with bird-watching along the way — the area is rich in tropical species. You can swim in the river that runs past the property. Optional excursions include trips to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and treks into the Knuckles Range.

Meals are served in a 360-degree open-air restaurant near the river. The kitchen uses organic produce from the property, including 13 varieties of heirloom rice grown in the centre's own paddy fields and cooked over traditional fires. It's genuine farm-to-table eating, not a marketing phrase.

The retreat accommodates up to 20 guests across various room types, from simple mud houses to antique-furnished classic rooms with balconies overlooking the jungle. The atmosphere is described as 'house-guest' style — informal, personal, with the traditional Sri Lankan 'Ayubowan' greeting as the standard.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation - 3 daily organic Sri Lankan meals - Daily yoga classes - Welcome drink - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Cooking class - Wifi connection - Parking - Luggage storage - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Bird-watching - Spice planting activities

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Ayurvedic treatments and spa services - Personal expenses - Travel insurance - International flights