Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness Escape in the Sri Lankan Highlands

The Samadhi Centre occupies a former tea estate in the hills above Kandy, surrounded by jungle and paddy fields. The main building and a scattering of mud houses and classic-wing rooms are spread across the property, all furnished with antique Sri Lankan pieces — four-poster teak beds, old bathtubs, handwoven cotton linens. The aesthetic is somewhere between a gallery and a grandmother's house, full of objects with history.

Yoga sessions take place each morning in a four-sided open shala. The instructor, Maheshe Kodikara, has been teaching yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong for over 40 years, with training in Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and India. Classes run about 90 minutes and cover a mix of styles depending on what guests want — Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga, or Yin. There's no set curriculum; Maheshe reads the room and adjusts.

The Ayurveda program includes a consultation with the on-site doctor and two one-hour treatments over the course of the stay. The spa uses herbs grown on the property for treatments like Shirodhara (the warm oil-on-forehead technique) and synchronized two-therapist massages. The approach is traditional Sri Lankan Ayurveda, which draws on indigenous plants and local medicinal knowledge.

Meals are served in the open-air restaurant overlooking the river. The food is organic and farm-to-table, much of it grown in the centre's own paddy fields — they cultivate 13 varieties of heirloom rice and cook over traditional fires. Vegetarian, vegan, and non-vegetarian options are available. There's also a cooking class included, so you can learn to make some of the dishes yourself.

Beyond the scheduled activities, there's a jungle trek available (about 2–3 hours, guided), a walk to a nearby waterfall, and the option to bathe in the river. The centre can also arrange excursions to the Knuckles Range or the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, though these aren't included in the base price.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily yoga classes - Welcome drink - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Cooking class - Guided nature hike - WiFi connection - Parking - Luggage storage - 2 x 1-hour Ayurvedic massage treatments - Ayurvedic consultation - Pre and post retreat support

What's not included

- Airport transfers (can be arranged at extra cost) - Travel insurance - International flights - Visa fees - Additional Ayurvedic treatments beyond the included massages - Personal expenses