Surrounded by beautiful beaches and ideal waves to surf, Sri Lanka offers various locations to hone your surf skills.
Endless beaches and waves welcome tourists to Sri Lanka (Photo: Happy Go Island Surf School)
A tropical island, Sri Lanka edged by various types of waves that offer great surfing conditions. To the south, you’ll find surfers’ favourite spot Weligama; in the west, Kalpitiya has an excellent environment for kitesurfing and, heading east, popular surf spot Arugam Bay remains relatively small and undeveloped to ensure an authentic local experience for visitors. Year-round you’ll find a spot on this island to brush up on your surf skills. Below we’ve selected the top five based on guest reviews, location and value for money.
Surf & Yoga Mirissa
Located in Mirissa on Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, Surf & Yoga Mirissa offers both surf only and surf and yoga combination programmes. This surf aims to release and disconnect surfers by offering both regular and private camps hosted from four to fifteen days. Suitable for all levels, surfing instruction is given by certified surf coaches and guides. The combination camps include surfing lessons, surfboard hire, a variety of yoga session as well as much needed relaxing massages. Prices include accommodation in a six-room guesthouse, located in a tranquil garden lined by the jungle, as well as daily breakfasts and dinners. From €208.
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Star Rest Beach Hotel in Arugam Bay
Argum Bay nestles Yala National Park (Photo: BookSurfCamps.com)
Nestled on Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay, on the edge of Yala National Park, Star Rest Beach Hotel offers surf vacations at all levels. Whilst this surfers’ paradise might be well-known to surfers, it maintains its local charm with a community of only a couple of hundred people making it an authentic surf retreat. Visitors can enjoy surf packages from six days to two weeks, with some camps specifically oriented toward beginner and intermediate surfers. Surfers are lead by a professional team of ISA-certified instructors. This surf holiday includes equipment rental, daily surf lessons and accommodation, as well as daily breakfast and a complimentary massage and yoga lesson. Guests can select their room at the Star Rest Beach Hotel, where dorms and private rooms are both available. For an additional price, optional excursions to surrounding areas are also available. From €279.
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Surfers enjoy the waves of popular spot Weligama (BookSurfCamps.com)
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Margarita welcomes kite surfers along with regular surfers (Photo: BookSurfCamps.com)
In the small village of Margarita, an eco-tropical kitesurfing environment welcomes guests keen to develop their kitesurfing skills. Here you can choose to spend either four or eight days navigating the waves of Sri Lanka’s west coast. The year-round surf camps are designed for beginner level kitesurfers, with sessions taking place in a number of beautiful surfing spots near Kalpitiya, such as the Kalpitiya Lagoon, Dream Spot, Ilimpattivu Island and Vella Island. The surf school offers local villa-style accommodation as well as private tropical chalets. Daily breakfast is included in the price, as well as hire of equipment. From €860.
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Elsewhere Surf Camps host two to twelve in Sri Lanka’s popular surfing destination Weligama and is recommended for its social aspect, regularly hosting parties and dinners. The camp is located in a central spot of Weligama, complete with a swimming pool, bar and restaurant, based just a short walk from the beach. The price of the programmes include surfing lessons, surfing theory classes, surf board rental for the length of your chosen stay as well as a complimentary yoga session. Surfers are fueled by pre-surf snacks and post surf drinks, as well as all you can eat breakfasts and dinners that are included in the price. Guests can opt for private rooms or shared dorms. From €90.
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