If you’re planning a trip away somewhere tropical, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer. Sri Lanka is home to great weather, beautiful beaches, and rolling surf.
La Point is based in the southern province of Ahangama, Sri Lanka. With big rooms, plenty of communal areas, and a large pool in the backyard, their villa offers everything you could possibly need for an epic trip. Additionally, they offer a range of coaching for a range of skill levels, from beginner to advanced surfers.
Enjoy delicious meals prepared by in-house chefs, including freshly made breakfast, lunch and dinner! Kabalana Beach sits just a short walk from the camp and numerous other spots are within a short tuk tuk ride along the coast.
Their surf camp package (level 1) includes:
7 nights accommodation
7 breakfasts
5 dinners
7 days with surf equipment
Level 1 Beginner Surf Course 5 x 2 hours
Surf theory
Walk or transport (depending on surf location) to surf lessons
Situated in Weligama Bay, Sri Lanka, Solid Surf House is a short walk to the nearest surf spots. This includes the reef breaks Jungle Beach and Turtle Bay which are 500 meters away from the huge sandy beach break in Weligama Bay that’s perfect for beginners.
Offering surf packages for surfers of all skill levels, you’ll be sure to make a tonne of unforgettable memories at Solid Surf House.
Whatever your surfing ability, Ticket To Ride Surf House has a world class surf coaching programme. The house is based in Ahangama Town, opposite one of the most consistent waves on the South West Coast, tucked 50m into the jungle. It’s truly a surfer’s paradise!
The house has a team of local chefs and has tailored its menu to cater to ensure a balanced, energy-focused diet for your stay. The dining area is social to encourage a friendly, social atmosphere. There are remote working areas to allow you to stay connected while you are away.
The full package includes:
7 nights accommodation in either triple, twin, double or single room.
Elsewhere Surf Camp is all about a sense of community. If you’re a solo traveller, this is the perfect option for you!
Situated halfway between Weligama and Midigama, the area is quiet and unknown to many tourists which will give you an authentic Sri Lankan experience.
There are 40 custom boards exclusively available to Elsewhere customers, as well as free soft boards to help you get up on your feet on the board as a beginner!
Located just behind Ahangama town, Lanka Living Surf offers surfing lessons for everyone. No matter where you’re at in your surf journey, the world class instructors work incredibly hard to make your experience the best it can be!
Additionally, there are no minimum stays or strings attached. So, you can plan your trip around the best flights, the sights you want to see to make it the best possible experience.
Kima Surf is surrounded by lush vegetation and is situated a couple of minutes walk from the beach breaks and surf in Weligama.
Enjoy breakfast 7 days a week and dinner 5 nights a week when you stay with Kima Surf Sri Lanka. The meals are delicious and unique and are designed and prepared by their in-house chef to provide you with the best nutrition for your stay.
If you’re a solo traveller looking to make some friends for life, Safa Surf Camp is for you. Based out of Sand Dune hotel – Safa Surf Camp is just a 5 min drive from Arugam Bay.
Suitable for surfers of all experience, the right-hander offers up some epic long rides and is even home to a few surf competitions, too.
Soul and Surf Sri Lanka is a luxury surf camp and is a great option if you want a more laid back experience.
If you’re looking for a soulful surf and yoga experience, then Soul and Surf is the perfect place for you. Giving you a glimpse into the tropical soulful surfing life cherished in Sri Lanka with a luxurious twist, you’re sure to make unforgettable memories in this surfer’s paradise.
Budget Planning
Meal Price Range
The meal price range in Sri Lanka can vary depending on where you’re eating. It ranges from very cheap meals to more expensive restaurants. That being said, the average cost of food in Sri Lanka is LKR1,407 per day.
However, a lot of surf camp packages include many of your meals. This means that the cost of food will already be included in the calculation of the overall cost.
Equipment Rental
It is highly likely that your surf camp will provide all of the equipment that you’ll need for the duration of your stay in Sri Lanka.
If this isn’t the case, then the average price to rent a surfboard in Sri Lanka is 1000 – 1500 LKR (Sri Lankan Rupees) a day or 300 – 400 LKR for an hour. However, if you’ve bought a package with your surf camp then I doubt you’ll need to worry about this. Always make sure you check before you head out to rent equipment.
Prepaid SIM Cards
To make sure that you can call, text, and surf the web, you’ll need to make sure you get your hands on a SIM card that works in Sri Lanka. Finding a SIM card to buy in Sri Lanka is incredibly simple. Data cards and SIM cards are very easy to buy, you can even pick one up at the airport out of convenience.
However, if you’d prefer to sort your SIM card before you land in Sri Lanka, ONESIM is a great option. It offers phones and SIM cards that work in 200 countries, has free incoming calls, saves up to 85% on roaming fees, and can be sent out ahead of time before your trip to Sri Lanka.
If you do decide to buy your card somewhere other than the airport, English is widely spoken in Sri Lanka and you can top up at any convenience store. Additionally, there are a lot of phone shops if your phone breaks or you need a spare charger.
Public Transport
The public transport available to you in Sri Lanka will depend on where you are staying. Generally speaking, people tend to travel around in tuk tuks, buses, trains, and on mopeds.
Research the location where you’ll be staying to find out which is the most convenient option!
Gas Prices
Gas is incredibly cheap in Sri Lanka. According to Global Petrol Prices, the current average price for gasoline in Sri Lanka as of June 2021 is 184.000 Sri Lanka Rupee and 696.515 per gallon.
Types of Risks
Tuk Tuk Scams
The most common scam in Sri Lanka involves tuk tuk overcharging. While most drivers are decent people who offer a fair service, others will demand grossly overpriced fees while behaving aggressively. Be sure to clearly agree on a set price before getting into the tuk tuk. Alternatively, use apps like PickMe, which is similar to Uber.
Buses
Buses in Sri Lanka are not overly safe or well maintained, and they’re driven by drivers intent on speeding everywhere. There’s generally no safety protection, especially if you’re required to stand for periods of time.
While the bus driver’s driving can feel dangerous, there’s not much you can do about it apart from embracing it. However, if you’d prefer to not put yourself in a position of potential danger, steer clear of the buses in Sri Lanka.
Currents
Sri Lanka is a surfers paradise, but it’s also got super strong currents, rips and high waves. Bearing this in mind, you need to be cautious when swimming at places like Mirissa, Weligama, Arugam Bay, or Hiriketiya.
How to Prepare
Visas
Before travelling to Sri Lanka, you will need to make sure that you have a tourist visa in place.
Tourist visas are generally issued for a 30-day period, and it’s best to organize them via ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) before you arrive in the country.
If you decide you want to stay for longer, you can renew your 30-day visa twice, and for 30 days each time.
Vaccines
When you are travelling to Sri Lanka, WHO recommends that you have the following vaccinations up to date: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies (there are a number of stray dogs), MMR, and Tetanus/Diphtheria.
The majority of travelers will have had some of these over the course of their life already, so it’s worth checking with your doctor for what you might need before you go.
Sri Lanka is home to more than 3 million stray dogs, so you need to be careful when walking around. If you do get bitten by a stray dog in Sri Lanka, seek medical advice straight away to be safe.
Language and Currency
Several languages are spoken in Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese language is one of the two official languages of Sri Lanka. Tamil is the second official language of Sri Lanka. Besides the two official languages in Sri Lanka, several minority languages are also spoken. Sri Lankan Creole Malay is the native language of around 46,000 speakers.
The principal foreign language spoken on this island nation is English. It is spoken by around 10% of the population and is primarily used for business purposes.
As for currency, you will require Sri Lankan rupees to spend for the duration of your stay.
Checking Surf Forecast
One of the best places to check out the surf forecast for your trip is Surf Line. This website has live streaming webcams to indicate what the swell is like. Additionally, you can access a handy daily report of the conditions. This includes factors such as the wind direction, wave height, the tide, and the swell period.
Travel/Surf Insurance
It goes without saying that when you travel anywhere in the world, travel insurance is crucial to obtain.
This is especially important when you’re travelling somewhere unfamiliar or doing activities that are out of the ordinary. For instance, when doing activities such as surfing, paddleboarding, or taking questionable local transport such as tuk tuks or bus rides – you’re naturally at more risk than usual.
