11 Days Lively Surf Camp in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

Facilities

During this surf camp, you will be accommodated for 10 nights. You can choose to stay in a single or double room. Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned options are available.

Your surf coaching will start at 07:30 every day. The ratio for your surfing lessons has an upper limit of 1: 3 instructor-to-student ratio. Also, it's important to note that ability levels will not be mixed, therefore you will feel more comfortable with your instructions.

After completing this surf camp, you can keep all your surfing photos and video footage as it's your right to have them. Arugam Bay Surf Camp will Dropbox you the images and videos once they are processed, usually before 30 days after your departure. This comes absolutely free of charge with the surf camp packages.

• Notes: Being able to swim to learn surfing is not a must, but an advantage to feel confident in the water, as well as maximize your progress and enjoyment.

This surf camp will take place in Arugam Bay. Arugam Bay is regarded as a top ten surfing destination in the world. Many people say there is a unique vibe in Arugam Bay, which is hard to find anywhere else in the world!

Arugam Bay Surf Camp offers a range of breakfast options, as well as coffee, homemade deserts, and healthy smoothie bowls.

After surfing at 07:30, you can take day trips from Arugam Bay to see:

• Old ruins
• Panama sand dunes
• Tea plantations
• Waterfalls
• Wildlife in Kumana

Lahugala National Park

Located about 16 kilometers inland to the west of Potuvil is the 1554-hectare Lahugala Kitulana National Park. The Pottuvil-Monaragala trunk road runs through the south-eastern sector of the park. It is 2 kilometers off the main Monaragala-Pottuvil road, some 5 kilometers from Potuvil.

The park lies between larger wildlife reserves of Gal Oya National Park to the north and Ruhuna Yala National Park to the south. The Lahugala park is part of the protected 'Elephant Corridor' for the elephant population to move freely across the south-eastern part of the island initiated by the government as a part of its nature and wildlife conservation project.

Magul Maha Viharaya (ancient site)

Located in the north to the edge of the park is Magula Maha Viharaya, an ancient temple built by King Devanmpiyathissa in the second century BC which also attracts tourists. This temple has a historic vihara. It is said to be the location the King married Princess Vihara Maha Devi. The foundations of the “Magul Maduwa” where the wedding ceremony took place can still be seen in the vihara premises.

The entire vihara complex had covered an extent of around 10,000 acres where ruins of a palace, moonstone, monastery, bo-maluwa, stupas, ponds, etc. are found scattered all over. The moonstone here is said to be unique in the country as this is the only location where elephants are carved with their mahouts in the moonstone.

Muhudu Maha Viharaya

Alongside the Arugam Bay in Pottuvil is an inconspicuous but ancient temple called Muhudu Maha Viharaya. Many archaeologists believe that this spot, also known as the Samudra Maha Vihara, in fact, marks the place at which Princess Devi set foot in the Ruhuna Kingdom. According to a stone inscription that was found in the vicinity of the shrine, this place had also been called Ruhunu Maha Viharaya in the past.

The temple site which has of late been encroached upon by villagers has been reduced to a small shrine with three granite statues. The central statue is of the Buddha with two more sculptures believed to be those of royalty facing it. Believed to have been built in the 5th century AD during the reign of King Dhathusena, many believe the royal figures depicted in worshiping position are in fact those of King Kavantissa and his Queen Vihara Maha Devi.

Okanda

Okanda hilltop has by long tradition been cited as one of the places where a divine katir from Lord Skanda struck. Veddas preserved the sanctity of the place with a simple shrine of stick and ola leaves. According to another myth, the third ray from Vakura Hill reached here and came to rest on this hilltop, making it a favorite site for Murukan worship.

There is yet a third myth according to which, Valli and Murukan arrived in separate stone boats (which still rest on the beach) to reside on top of the Ukantai Malai. The temple is located along the eastern shores of the country, along which the pilgrims walk to Katirkamam. In places like Panama and Kumana, which are close to Ukantai, Tamils and Sinhalese lived in harmony even down to the present day.

Panama

Panama village and region still preserve traces of an agrarian tradition that is many thousands of years old, composed of highly skilled and knowledgeable farmers. The region is also home to an extraordinary genetic diversity, particularly renewable forest products from perennial species and from plants of known medicinal value. Many Panama villagers still maintain the cultural knowledge associated with this region.

During this surf camp, you will be pampered with 2 massages which are included in the price.

• 2 massages
• 9 surfing lessons
• 10 nights' accommodation
• All surfing equipment
• Daily breakfast

• Air tickets
• Airport transfer
• Insurance
• Lunch and dinner

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Transfer from and to this airport is available upon request for 158 USD (6-seater van from the airport) and 189 USD (15- seater van from the airport).

You can use Cinnamon Air which has regular flights to Batticaloa with a stopover in Sigiriya for 258 USD per person, 4 times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Cinnamon Air also provides an air taxi service where you can charter a water plane to land in Arugam Bay Lagoon. The air taxi seats a maximum of 8 people and the price is 3360 USD one way.

Arrival by bus

Local buses from Colombo’s main bus terminal will depart regularly every hour. The price is 400 - 600 LKR. It will take 10 - 12 hours, depending on how many stops. There will be 1 or 2 shifts. Direct bus, No. 98, departs twice a day from Colombo to Pottuvil at 05.00 a.m. and 08.00 p.m. and the journey will be around 8 - 9 hours. The price is 400 - 600 LKR.

Direct private AC bus from Colombo departs daily from Maradana Zahira College car park (opposite Maradana Railway Station) at 08.00 p.m. and arrives at Pottuvil bus station around 03.45 a.m. The price is 1500 LKR, and if you have extra luggage they will charge you 500 extra. A tuk-tuk from the bus station to Stardust will be around 300 LKR. It is necessary to book a seat beforehand.

Arrival by train

Train from Colombo Central Railway Station to Ella will take 9 hours or Badulla will take 10 - 11 hours. From Ella to Arugam Bay, you can take a private van which takes around 3 - 4 hours and the price will be around 80 USD. Meanwhile from Badulla, you can also take a private van which takes 4 - 5 hours. The price will be around 95 USD. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Pottuvill, which will take 6 hours (sometimes 1 shift). Thereafter, you can take a 10-minute tuk-tuk drive to Arugam Bay.

• A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.