Surf camps in Sri Lanka are a great way to meet new people, improve your surfing and get to know the south coast. I’ve travelled to Sri Lanka 5 times and stayed at 5 different surf houses, from busy Weligama to sleepy Madiha. What starts as a week of surfing can easily turn into 3. Weligama is one of the most popular places to learn to surf, and I’ve written a separate guide on where to stay in Weligama if you’re considering spending some time there.

Surfing, yoga, meeting new people and spending your days barefoot. Sounds pretty good, right? But not every surf camp delivers. Some are more about partying than catching waves. Here are the surf and yoga retreats in Sri Lanka I’ve stayed at, a few still on my wishlist and practical tips you won’t find on their websites. Including why you might want to wear leggings on a soft top…

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Surfing the bay in Weligama

Why choose surf camps in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the easiest places in the world to learn to surf. The Indian Ocean is warm, the sandy bottomed bays are forgiving for beginner surfers and a week of surf lessons costs less than in most of Europe. Sri Lanka has more than 1,300 kilometres of coastline, but most surf camps in Sri Lanka sit on the south coast, between Weligama, Ahangama and Hiriketiya, a stretch you can cover by tuktuk in about an hour.

The surf camps in Sri Lanka where I stayed

I stayed at all 5 of these camps myself, most of them for a full week. Each one runs as a Sri Lanka surf and yoga stay, with lessons or surf guiding, yoga and at least breakfast included.

Kima Surf Hiriketiya: my favourite surf camp

Kima Surf Hiriketiya is my absolute favourite and the best surf camp I have ever stayed at. I spent a week here and would go back tomorrow. The camp sits on an acre of jungle near Hiriketiya Bay, with a pool, a cafe that makes the best smoothie bowls I had in Sri Lanka and the famous Kima surf jeeps. They are the heart of the daily programme, taking surfers of every level to the best waves of the day, and every jeep ride felt like a small party.

In the afternoon you float in the pool, in the evening there is a yin yoga class and on Friday the whole camp sits down for the BBQ night. So much fun! Surf guiding runs twice a day, 7 days a week, split by level from complete beginners to advanced surfers. Video analysis, surf theory, breakfast and buffet dinners 5 nights a week are included.

Your first time surfing? This Kima surf camp runs a 5 day Learn to Surf package. Rooms range from dorms to cabanas and deluxe rooms with a pool view. It is not a party place. I met so many lovely people here, which is exactly why it works so well when you travel solo. The camp is not on the beach itself, so you hop on a tuktuk or rent your own scooter to get into Hiriketiya. I loved the peace and quiet here!

Kima Surf Hiriketiya

Kima Surf Weligama: the social surf camp

This Kima Surf location draws a slightly younger crowd than its sister in Hiriketiya, and people go out a bit more. It is just as beautiful, and I had a great week here too. The camp is set in a colonial homestead of more than 150 years old, with over 140 fruit trees in the garden that end up on your breakfast plate.

Everything is designed with care, the pool is lovely and the food is very good. Good vibes all round, and you will make friends for life. The Kima Surf camp in Weligama, is within walking distance of the beach and the buzz of town. Rooms range from bunk rooms to doubles, all with air conditioning, and I had my own bathroom with my room.

Yoga runs Monday to Saturday, and here too the surf jeeps take you to the breaks that work best that day. Ice baths 3 times a week are included, in case you want to feel alive before breakfast. On rest days the camp arranges trips to explore Galle Fort, safaris in Yala National Park and a boat trip on Koggala Lake.

Solid Surf House: best surf coaching

Solid Surf House is another great option in Weligama, between Ahangama and the centre of town. Think good food, a beautiful pool and rooms with every comfort. I had a private room and it felt like pure luxury. Every morning a tuktuk with the surfboards strapped to the roof drives you to whichever break is working that morning.

I think I had the best surf instructors here of all the surf houses I stayed at: 2 surf sessions a day, and for my first 2 days I had the group entirely to myself. It is a little less central than Kima in Weligama, but the rooms are slightly more luxurious. Read my full Solid Surf House review for the week in detail.

Tailslide Surf House in Madiha: small and personal

Tailslide Surf House is still fairly new and run by friends of mine! Owner Podi grew up in a local family of fishermen in Madiha and is one of the best surfers in Sri Lanka, a member of the national team. If anyone knows the secret surf spots on this part of the coast, it is him.

Madiha is not that well known yet, which makes this small surf house with 7 beautiful rooms and a real family feeling feel like a find. Video analysis is included, and so is breakfast. Dinner happens outside the house, but The Doctor’s House is within walking distance. When I was there, there was no yoga shala, but since the recent renovation there is a brand new pool. A 3 night retreat with daily coaching starts at 345 euro.

The Salty in Hiriketiya: best yoga shala

I stayed at The Salty, then still called The Salty Pelican, a few years ago and loved it. It sits about 200 metres from the beach in Hiriketiya, the private rooms are beautiful and the open air shala, home to the in house yoga classes, is the most beautiful one in Hiriketiya. The surf lessons were a bit of a letdown for me, but we still had so much fun.

When I walked in for a drop in yoga class last year, the rates had gone through the roof. The place itself is still a gem. Restaurant El Grotto has a menu with Sri Lankan and Mexican influences, and my tip is the nachos by the pool; I could eat them every day. The reviews have dropped a bit since my stay, so check the latest ones before you book. More in my review of The Salty.

Surf camps in Sri Lanka on my wishlist

Two yoga and surf retreats in Sri Lanka are still high on my list. I have not stayed at either, but travel friends keep raving about both.

Soul & Surf in Ahangama

During my 5 visits I heard so many good stories about Soul & Surf from travel friends. In recent years I often spent my Sundays there for their Sunday Sessions, with good food and music. The retreat is a beachfront boutique hotel in Ahangama with 9 sea facing rooms, yoga, surf lessons and video analysis, and weeks run Saturday to Saturday. It is not the cheapest: all inclusive starts at 163 pounds a night.

Gota Dagua Surf Camp in Ahangama

Gota Dagua Surf Camp came up every time I asked people where they surfed. It sits close to Kabalana Beach in Ahangama, the rooms look beautiful and the reviews speak for themselves. Their surf camp packages usually mix lessons, free surf, yoga, breakfast and dinners, and the camp also has a sister location in Lisbon.

Surf hostels and budget surf camps in Sri Lanka

Looking for a surf hostel in Sri Lanka rather than a full retreat? Both Kima camps have dorm and bunk rooms, which is the cheapest way to get the full surf camp programme. If you want your own room on a budget, Lucky’s Surf Camp sits 70 metres from the sand in Weligama. It is a small camp with room for up to 12 guests, named after Lucky, one of Sri Lanka’s top surfers, with yoga classes and guests over 18 only. Bring cash: they do not take cards. More guesthouses near the beginner waves are in my guide to where to stay in Hiriketiya and my Ahangama hotel guide.

Best time for surf camps in Sri Lanka

The best time for surf camps in Sri Lanka on the south coast is November to April, when Weligama, Ahangama, Midigama and Hiriketiya get clean, offshore mornings and the southern coastline turns into a surfers paradise. December to March is the busiest stretch. From about May to October the swell switches to the east coast, and an Arugam Bay surf camp is the way to go.

Its main point is a world class right hand point break for experienced surfers, with easier spots nearby for beginners and intermediate surfers. The south coast still has surf in the green season, just wilder, with fewer people and lower prices. Plan your Sri Lanka surf trip around these 2 seasons and you can surf all year.

Solid Surf House Weligama

Choosing between surf camps in Sri Lanka as a solo traveller

Pick the vibe first. Weligama has sandy beach breaks with gentle beginner waves and the most nightlife. Ahangama has reef breaks for intermediate and advanced surfers, plus boutique hotels. In Hiriketiya you know half the line up by day 3; my Hiriketiya surf guide warns you about the sea urchins. I still remember the spine in my foot.

Most beginner surf camps in Sri Lanka teach small groups with a low student to instructor ratio. An absolute beginner surf package includes a soft top longboard and daily surf lessons, while capable surfers get surf guiding to the surf spots that work that day. Transport by tuk tuk or jeep is arranged, so you can enjoy surfing, and some camps add cultural excursions like temple visits or guided hikes.

Before you book, check for private rooms or only dorms, and how many dinners are included. Pack leggings against board rash, and ask about a generator if you work online: power cuts happen. Travelling alone as a woman? Read my solo travel Sri Lanka guide, or compare with my favourite surf and yoga retreats around the world.

Best surf camps in Sri Lanka at a glance

The best surf camp in Sri Lanka for me is Kima Surf Hiriketiya: calm, social without the party and with daily yin yoga. Here is my pick per type of traveller:

Overall winner and solo favourite: Kima Surf Hiriketiya
Social surf camp in Weligama: Kima Surf Weligama
Surf coaching and private rooms: Solid Surf House
Surf house with a family feel: Tailslide Surf House in Madiha
Yoga shala: The Salty in Hiriketiya
Budget surf stay: Lucky’s Surf Camp in Weligama

Tailslide in Madiha

Best things to do in Sri Lanka between surf sessions

Your arms will need a day off at some point. The best things to do between surf sessions are a cooking class, a day trip to Ella and a safari in one of the national parks. It is the easiest way to see all the highlights of southern Sri Lanka on a surf holiday.

Surf lessons and a cooking class in Weligama

Not ready for a full camp? Try a surf lesson with professional photo experience in Weligama Bay first, so you finally have proof for the people back home. On a flat day, this Sri Lankan cooking class starts at the local market and ends with you eating what you made. My cafes and surf schools in town are in my Weligama surfing guide.

Day trips to Ella and Udawalawe

A day trip to Ella takes you past tea plantations and the Nine Arch Bridge. I spent 5 nights in Ella; my top hotels in Ella cover every budget, and for a treat there are the best luxury hotels in Ella. Combine it with a Udawalawe National Park safari to see wild elephants roaming freely. Yala National Park is the best national park for leopards, and from November to April the whale watching boats leave from Mirissa. Never visit a park where elephants are ridden or chained.

Galle, Kandy and the rest of the south coast

Galle Fort is about an hour from Weligama, and a tuktuk is the best way to find the stunning beaches and remote coves along the way. The galleries, shops and cafes are in my guide to things to do in Galle. Going inland after your surf week? Read about my stay in Kandy. In Ahangama my Ahangama tips lead you to the best cafes and reef breaks. Hungry in Hiriketiya? These are the best restaurants in Hiriketiya, and all my other stories are in the Hiriketiya travel guides.

Getting to your surf camp

Visiting Sri Lanka for the first time? Most flights land in Colombo, about 2.5 hours by car from Sri Lanka’s south coast. Arrange your airport transfer via WelcomePickups and you skip the haggling after a long flight. Between surf towns, renting your own tuktuk at TukTuk Rental is the most fun way to hop between breaks; if you prefer an independent scooter rental, ask your camp. I always travel with a Saily eSIM, so I can message the driver the moment I land. Surfing comes with the odd scrape, so I never travel without insurance; I use SafetyWing, which covers surfing as a travel activity.

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Surf camps in Sri Lanka: frequently asked questions

What is the best surf camp in Sri Lanka?

Kima Surf Hiriketiya is the best surf camp in Sri Lanka in my experience, thanks to twice daily surf guiding, yin yoga and a social crowd without the party. For coaching, Solid Surf House in Weligama had the best teachers I have surfed with.

When is the best time to surf in Sri Lanka?

November to April is the best time to surf on the south coast, in Weligama, Ahangama and Hiriketiya. From about May to October the waves move to Arugam Bay on the east coast.

Are surf camps in Sri Lanka good for beginners?

Yes, surf camps in Sri Lanka are great for beginners. The water is warm, Weligama Bay has gentle waves and most camps group you by level, with surf theory and video analysis included to build your surfing skills fast.

How much does a surf camp in Sri Lanka cost?

Expect anything from around 75 euro a night at a small surf house to 163 pounds a night for an all inclusive surf package at a boutique retreat. Dorm beds at bigger camps are cheaper, and a surf lesson on its own is the easiest way to try before you commit.

Are surf camps in Sri Lanka good for solo female travellers?

Yes, surf camps in Sri Lanka are one of the easiest ways to travel solo as a woman. You arrive to a group, eat together and surf together. At Kima Hiriketiya I met so many people that I never felt alone for long.