Sri Lankan Tea Estate Yoga & Cooking Escape

The Samadhi Centre sits on what was once a working tea plantation, now gone back to jungle. The main building and scattered rooms are filled with antique furniture, handpicked by the owners over years of collecting — teak beds, old copper, local artwork. The open-air restaurant looks out over rice paddies and the river.

Yoga here is taught by Maheshe Kodikara, who has been teaching yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong for over 40 years. Sessions run in a shala open on all four sides, so you're practicing in the middle of the landscape rather than looking at it through a window. Expect a mix of Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga, and Yin depending on the day and the group.

The cooking class takes you through traditional Sri Lankan dishes — you'll select ingredients yourself and learn to cook over traditional fires. The centre grows many of its own vegetables and herbs, and serves 13 varieties of ancient heirloom rice that most visitors have never tasted before.

Walks on the property and surrounding tea estate are led by a guide who knows the trails. You can also arrange (separately) trips to the Knuckles Range or the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. For guests wanting Ayurvedic treatments, there's an on-site doctor and treatment room — traditional therapies like Shirodhara and synchronized massage are available, using herbs grown on the grounds.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily yoga classes - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Welcome drink - Cooking class - Free wifi - Free parking - Nature hike with a guide

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Ayurvedic treatments - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional excursions to Knuckles Range or Temple of the Tooth