I’ve always loved the popular saying about cycling – in order to keep our balance, we have to keep going.
I guess that can be said about many things, but none more important to me than surfing, which I discovered last November against the beautiful backdrop of learning to surf in Sri Lanka for a week.
Rewind my first attempt at surfing a few months ago, in Mauritius, and the instructor told me – it’s easy. You’ll eventually get to where you’re focused. So if you keep looking down, you’re going to keep falling and splashing into the water.
So I fell. For most of the next 90 minutes. The moment I caught the waves and focused on the shoreline, the sunset behind us lit up yellow and gold as I rode the waves to the beach.
It had to be one of the best feelings in the world, and the fact that all it took was a board to glide through the waves of tropical waters left me craving more.
Planning a trip to Sri Lanka? We’ve worked hard for you on your Sri Lanka trip here!
Learn to Surf in Sri LankaTry it again with a week of surf camps booked through Soul and Surf Sri Lanka , a surf and yoga resort of theirs. Founded by a pair of dream travelers, originally set up in Kerala, India, they are actively involved in supporting the local community.
Located near Ahangama on the south coast of Sri Lanka, Soul and Surf is the ideal location to enjoy a beautiful beach holiday. The nearby Welligama and Ahangama beaches are just a 10-15 minute drive away, with waves crashing straight onto the beach – perfect for those who are new to surfing and keen to learn to surf in Sri Lanka. If you’re coming independently, there are also surf schools that offer lessons (although we can’t attest to the quality).
The best wave season in Sri Lanka is April to October, coinciding with the monsoon on the south and west coasts of Sri Lanka. We came in early November when the weather was better and there were plenty of waves to catch (they were probably better than monsoon swells for us newbies anyway). For the biggest waves, surfers tend to head east to Arugan Bay on the east coast of Sri Lanka.
For a week, we ate too much amazing fresh local food, didn’t take a yoga class, stayed in a beautiful villa, and took a luxurious tuk-tuk to Ahanghama on the south coast of Sri Lanka twice a day to battle the waves.
I mean fighting.
At least for me. Others are more like ducks. Me, more like a diving dolphin.
Because on the first day I understood a few things.
First of all, the honeymoon moment I had in Mauritius a few months ago during my lessons became so magical, partly because I was pushed into the waves by my instructor. Apparently this made it easier to pop out and then hopefully stay standing. So instead of paddling and riding the waves, my initial moments in the waves and afterwards were spent wading through white water, finding a good wave, climbing up my board and being thrown off the ocean seconds later.
Putting someone in a washing machine on a 30 degree cycle with the right amount of salt may result in a similar experience.
So my first few days of surfing in Sri Lanka were a test of my muscles and my dedication.
Stay at Soul and Surf Sri Lanka
Considering the physical resistance of surfing, we wanted to treat ourselves to an excellent surf camp in Sri Lanka – and with Soul and Surf, that’s exactly what we got. The team and staff were great and the villa accommodation was very high end. The only regret? I didn’t get to lounge around in bed and enjoy it!
The rooms were beautiful and centered around two different pool areas: the old house and a more modern pool area with rooms in a separate courtyard. We paid for an extra special room that provided us with a luxurious roll-top tub (honestly, I wish I had more time to use it!) and an outdoor shower with a cobblestone floor and slatted windows that can be easily opened for the feel of the shower stall. Some rooms have outdoor showers.
Share this post on Pinterest!
Surfing with Soul & Surf twice a day (although evening surfing is optional for those with sore limbs from morning onwards). Surfing in the evening quickly became my favorite time of day as we had to ride (or dive) the waves as the sky turned pink behind us. Yoga is also offered daily, and a full day mid-week to explore Galle along the coast for shopping or whale watching in Mirissa.
Massages and wellness treatments are usually offered as well.
Perhaps the best part of Soul and Surf Sri Lanka is – the food! It really is on the 5* level, offering different eating options and a mix of Sri Lankan and Western cuisine. Different specialties are served every day for brunch and delicious dinners. Despite the hard work in the water, I still gained a few pounds from eating too much :-/
