Sri Lanka · 11 days
The trip opens at Arana Eco Lodge, about 1,000 metres up in the hills around Ella. Arrival yoga helps after the long flights, and the group walks out to the Nine Arches Bridge. Day 2 is open. You can take the famous hill-country train ride, do a cooking class, visit a tea estate or stay put at the lodge. On day 3 you d…
Home › Sri Lanka › Sri Lanka Surf & Fitness Escape: Ella's Tea Hills to Ahangama's Beach Break
Sri Lanka · 11 days · From EUR 2850 (indicative)
The trip opens at Arana Eco Lodge, about 1,000 metres up in the hills around Ella. Arrival yoga helps after the long flights, and the group walks out to the Nine Arches Bridge. Day 2 is open. You can take the famous hill-country train ride, do a cooking class, visit a tea estate or stay put at the lodge.
On day 3 you drive south past temples and a waterfall to Wellawaya and stay there one night. The next morning you leave before sunrise for a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park, then carry on down to the coast.
The last seven nights are at Dreamsea Ahangama, and the whole place belongs to the group. Each day has 2–3 coached sessions. Expect strength work, MetCon circuits, boxing pads, yoga and Pilates, all run by the SALTY team. Surf lessons run alongside the workouts: five beginner lessons with more than 10 hours of in-water coaching plus theory, on the break right out front. Boards are free for the whole week, so you can paddle out again whenever the conditions and your arms allow.
This trip differs from a standard surf camp in a few ways. It moves through three very different parts of the country before you settle on the coast. The beachfront property is booked out, so you won't share the pool or the volleyball court with strangers. And the social side is part of the plan: a welcome reception, two hosted nights out, a finale dinner and a photographer recording all of it.
The hosts are Erin, who founded SALTY in 2023 and owns two yoga studios in Ottawa; Nate, a former CFL player who spent eight seasons in the league; and Jules, who teaches yoga and surf and has travelled to more than 40 countries.
February is dry season on the south coast, with daytime temperatures of around 28–32°C and warm water. Ella is cooler, so mornings up in the hills call for a layer.
- 2 nights at Arana Eco Lodge, Ella - 1 night in Wellawaya - 7 nights at Dreamsea Ahangama, booked out for the group - 2–3 coached sessions a day: strength, MetCon, boxing, yoga and Pilates - Daily breakfast - 5 lunches and 5 dinners at Dreamsea - Selected group dinners on the Ella leg - Beginner surf package: 5 lessons, 10+ hours of in-water coaching plus theory - Free surfboard rental for the Ahangama week - Udawalawe National Park safari - Full-day Galle Fort group excursion - Welcome reception - 2 hosted nights out and a finale dinner - Scheduled inbound shuttle from Colombo (CMB) - Outbound shuttle to Colombo (CMB) - All ground transport during the retreat - Private beach volleyball court at Dreamsea - Professional photography and video of the week
- International flights to Colombo (CMB) - Travel insurance (strongly recommended) - Sri Lanka ETA (free for most passports) - Meals not listed as included - Drinks beyond hosted events - Tips for staff - Personal expenses and shopping - Private transfers for arrivals after the last group shuttle - Optional Day 2 activities in Ella (train ride, cooking class, tea estate)