“Keep pace with the slow life of Arugam Bay”
15 Day Surf and Yoga Holiday in Arugam Bay
Surf Camp Arugam Bay, Mafaza Mosque Road, Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Surf and Yoga Holiday in Sri Lanka
All difficulty levels
Maximum 5 participants
Breakfast & dinner included
Airport transfer available
Find balance through surfing and yoga while keeping pace with the slow life in Arugam Bay. You will receive the best of what Arugam Bay Surf Camp has designed. They made sure that everything on the surf courses are done well so that you get the most out of your surfing during your stay. The yoga program is suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced; the camp instructor will adapt the postures taking advantage of a spiritual experience. Take your chakra with you, and come and explore your mind and body with confidence!
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- 13 yoga classes
- 13 surf lessons + video analysis
- All surf equipment and rash vest
- Transfer to and from the beach
- Surfboard insurance included
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- 14 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
14 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 5 participants
Airport transfer available:
Bandaranaike International Airport (US$ 166 per person)
Bandaranaike International Airport (US$ 166 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Shopping
- Café
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lobby
- Lounge
- Restaurant
- Smoke-free property
- Special menu request
- Terrace
- Yoga shala
- ATM / banking
- Board rental
- Car rental
- Currency exchange
- Free parking
- Laptop rental
- Laundry
- Library
- Tour assistance
The rooms
Arugam Bay Surf Camp is composed of a total of 15 rooms. The rooms are comfortable and all have a private balcony or terrace, making it the perfect place to chill after your surf classes.
The rooms are decorated in the most simple way to make it feel like your own Sri Lankan home. All the rooms are equipped with mosquito nets, ceiling fans, cold water, and hair dryers. A/C is available in certain rooms.
Looking for a cozy and fun space on your doorstep? This is what Arugam Bay Surf Camp can offer you here. They are so lucky to be situated just next to the biggest surf spots on the east coast and to have the space to kick back and relax in the center of Arugam Bay town. Giving you the best of both worlds.
For those of you that are looking for a cooler vibe, listening to the wind blowing through the palm trees and the golden sunshine warming your skin makes it the perfect place for practicing yoga/meditation. Meet your new family here and spread the good vibes in the camp, lounge in the shade on the hammocks, or enjoy a fresh drink from the camp kitchen.
Program
Surfing
The surf programs are comprehensive in that it not only includes plenty of time in the surf, but video analysis and feedback and surf theory classes, delivered by Arugam Bay Surf Camp's team over the stay. Each surfing session is progressive and goal oriented for each of the participants, and at the end of the surf session, your coach will be discussing with you how you progressed learning that new skill taught on the beach.
Arugam Bay Surf Camp is careful not to mix ability levels. Therefore there will be a maximum of 5:1 student instructor ratio at all times. This will also mean that you will never have to wait for others to keep up, or feel left behind looking at the good surfers.
Location and surf check
Sri Lanka’s south west coast is a wave garden with more than 15+ surf spots within easy reach from the camp, with most of the breaks located within 10 minutes. They have a comprehensive list of surf spots listed here.
Every morning they will do a surf check online and with the local surfing friends and decide which beaches to head to. This will depend on factors such as ability level of each group, and the swell conditions. This means that the chances are high that you’ll have ideal conditions whatever level of surfer you are.
Your first surf lesson
Some people are extremely confident in the waves, while other people are intimidated by just being in the ocean environment, but everyone, without exception, enjoys their first day surfing.
The location of your first surf lesson is Weligama beach break. Arugam Bay Surf Camp is blessed to have one of the finest beginner surfing beaches in south Sri Lanka. The water is warm, perfect sandy bottom, shallow water, and no dangerous sea life or rip current makes this the ideal start point for your surfing vacation.
First element of your first surf lesson will be on the beach warming up, introducing you to the surf break and your beginner board. The trainers will move on to teach you laying on the board at the correct position, paddling on the board, and pop-up (the jump), or, if this is not available for you, another relevant method of getting up such as a 4-step method.
Now you’re ready to enter the water and enjoy the surf, but not before you learn the necessary safety techniques.
Your first day of surfing will finish with a summary of the skills which will be covered during the upcoming days, as well as what they will lead on to and that’s where the fun starts… For most of you, within five days you can aim to go out and start catching waves all on your own!
Video analysis and surf theory
In addition to plenty of time in the water, all of the guests will also receive theory lessons as well. Depending on which package that you book, you also have the option to get your surfing videos free or at an additional charge from the photographer.
Find your level
Level 1.1: Total beginner
You have never tried surfing, but able to swim. At this stage the focus is on teaching you the fundamentals of surfing which includes a dry session on the beach focusing on:
- Introduction to the surf board and equipment
- Correct position on the board
- Paddling technique
- How to protect yourself, board, and others in the water
- Surf etiquette
- Passing the white water
- Correct pop up
- Correct stance
Level 1.2: Tried surfing before
Beginner who has tried surfing a couple of times before. This is a challenging stage for both – you and the coaches – because in some surf schools you had before, the techniques used differ from the ones that Arugam Bay Surf Camp uses. Therefore, they stick with the ISA method of teaching.
At this stage, you focus on:
- Reviewing the basics with you and comparing it with the methods you learned before (level 1.1)
- Working on your stance for more balance and improving on your pop up and paddling technique
- Teaching you on the basic stages of a wave and the shape of a wave at the particular beach
- Talk about positioning in the line up to catch unbroken waves
- How to do the angle take off and get into an unbroken wave to the left or right
- Learning how to slow down or accelerate according to the section of the wave
- Correct stance
Level 1.3: Advanced beginner
You have surfed more than a couple of days by now and understand the wave and board mechanics and you feel comfortable in the water most of the time. You have more control on catching the waves and your stance, but only able to go straight.
At this stage you focus on:
- Reviewing the basics of level 1.1 and 1.2
- Working on wave reading and positioning in the line up
- Improving on the angle take off and stance
- Learning the basics of trimming on a wave
Level 2.1: Beginner intermediate surfer
At this stage, you have pretty good control over your paddling, are able to go out the back and catch unbroken waves, and go left or right. You also understand about the waves, surfing, and ocean conditions.
The focus on you at this stage is:
- Generating speed on the wave
- Improving on the wave reading ability
- Duck-diving
- Improving the stance for more mobility
- Bottom turn and top turn fundamentals
Level 2.2: Advanced intermediate surfer
At this stage, you have very good control over your board, are able to make turns to change the direction. You are also riding a short board or a mini-mal surf board.
You will focus on:
- Surfing and speeding down the line on different type of waves
- Correct positioning to catch different types of waves
- Learning to cutback
- Technical analysis of your top turn and bottom turn
- Small floaters to pass the sections
- Duck dive improvement
Note
If you aren’t sure what level you are, have no fear! The instructors will assess your level once you arrive and allocate you to the correct group.
Yoga
Yoga at Arugam Bay Surf Camp will be done on the lawn in the shade of palm trees, or you will have sunset yoga on the rooftop. Full moon yoga, evening classes, SUP yoga, and private sessions are available upon request. All yoga props including mats, blocks, and belts are provided so you can flow through your class.
Come and practice a gentle and intense flow of yoga with Arugam Bay Surf Camp everyday at 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the rooftop overlooking the jungle.
Instructors
Priyal Kiramage
1 Certificate
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Priyal created surf and yoga, Mirissa with passion and love. He is an ISA Level 1 certified surf coach. He likes to have great conversations with his guests. Regular footed but he prefers left-hand point breaks.
Anupa
1 Certificate
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Anu has been with the team since the start. Since a young age, aquatic sports such as swimming have been in his blood therefore he took up surfing. You will find his lessons technical and enjoyable. He is an ISA level 1 certified surf coach.
Sandun
Sandun has many many hours of surf coaching experience and he is undoubtedly the best surfer in the team. He is also the head of smoothie balls.
Lalaka
Lala fell in love with Surfing and Arugambay five years ago when first came to Arugambay and tried out surfing for the first time. Ever since Lala and surfing have been inseparable. So just ask him anything about surfing and they will tell you.
Location
Fancy taking a step into the wild, whilst keeping your comfort? When visiting the surf camp, you can enjoy the beauty of the wildlife, just a drive away from the eastern coast of Arugam Bay. The camp is situated just a 5-minute walk away from one of the many beaches in Arugam Bay where you can catch the waves, do some swimming, relax, and sip some fresh coconut.
If you are looking to disconnect and re-center yourself, the sunset yoga classes should hit the spot. The great vibes flowing through the camp, the short distances to the best eastern surf points, and the most beautiful landscapes make Arugam Bay the place to be in Sri Lanka.
The area - Arugam Bay
Originally known as “Arugam Kudah”, the town itself is a historic settlement of the ancient Batticaloa Territory. A small fishing town in East Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay very quickly grew into the main surf point of the east and now thrives thanks to a lot of surfer tourists.
Arugam Bay Surf Camp is located in the bay of Arugam Bay, a quiet corner of busy Arugam Bay beach. Surrounded by palm trees and fine sand it forms a stunning crescent beach, making it the perfect getaway for everyone. Besides the stunning beaches, you will be able to see plenty of Sri Lanka’s landscapes in just a short travel from the camp.
You can also observe the rich wildlife they have in Arugam Bay, such as elephants, buffalo, peacocks, etc. One of the best areas for exploring is a short drive away.
Food
During your stay at camp, you will be able to enjoy your daily breakfast and dinner with Arugam Bay Surf Camp. They know how important good food is for the soul. If you fancy cooking yourself there is also a shared open kitchen that you can use throughout your day. You can buy groceries from the stores nearby the camp and why not learn some new Sri Lankan cooking skills.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Detox juices
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Kumana National Park
Visit Kumana National Park to see Sri Lanka’s amazing wildlife including majestic leopards and elephants. This is an all-inclusive tour. The trip duration is around 8 hours long.
Lagoon safari
What about going on a 2-hour lagoon safari? This is one of the most popular things to do in Arugam Bay. The beautiful untouched lagoons, of Kottukal or Urani, are some of the most scenic views. Many wild animals live here including crocodiles, elephants can be spotted, and other wildlife.
Yala / Udawalawa safari
Visit Yala or Udawalawa National Park to see Sri Lanka’s amazing wildlife including majestic leopards and elephants. This is an all-inclusive tour. The trip duration is 8 hours.
What's included
- 13 yoga classes
- 13 surf coaching / guiding
- Board and wetsuit during lessons
- Video analysis
- Transfer included to and from the beach
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Surfboard insurance included
- 14 nights accommodation
What's not included
- Airport transfers
- Lunch
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CMB
Bandaranaike International Airport
218 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 166 per person
Arrival by airplane
Please arrange your flight to arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Cinnamon Air (DBA) has regular flights to Batticaloa with a stopover in Sigiriya for 258 USD per person 4 times a week - Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Cinnamon Air (DBA) also provides an air taxi service where you can charter a water plane to land in Arugam Bay Lagoon. The air taxi seats maximum 8 people and the price is 3360 USD one way.
They will happily arrange for a private driver to meet you at the airport if necessary.
Arrival by bus
All direct buses travel through the night, but if you want to travel by day, then there is an option to take the number 98-2 bus to Monaragala (some of these are AC), and then take the number 303-1 bus to Pottuvil or Panama. This journey will take considerably longer as there is much more traffic during the day.
In addition, it is possible to take any number 98 bus as they all route through Monaragala before turning north. In fact, some will take you as far as Siyambalanduwa which is the next town from Monaragala.
From here, there are local buses to Pottuvil and Panama. The last bus from Monaragala to Pottuvil leaves at 17:30.
Local buses from Colombo 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 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. and the journey will be around 8 - 9 hours. Price is 400 - 600 LKR.
Direct private AC bus from Colombo departs daily from Maradana Zahira College car park (opposite Maradana Train Station) at 8 p.m. and arrives at Pottuvil Bus Station around 3.45 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.
From Badulla or Ella to Arugam Bay:
- By private van from Badulla, 4 - 5 hours. The price will be around 95 USD
- By private van from Ella 3 - 4 hours. The price will be around 80 USD
- By bus to Pottuvil, 6 hours (sometimes 1 shift) and thereafter 10 minutes tuk tuk drive to A-Bay
Arrival by shuttle
The easiest way to get to Arugam Bay from Colombo is by car / van. The journey lasts about 8 hours depending on the traffic and the time of day you are travelling. Arugam Bay can arrange a pick-up in Colombo for:
- 6-seater van from Colombo City (142 USD)
- 6-seater van from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) (158 USD)
- 15-seater van from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) (189 USD)
This surf camp can also arrange transport (pick-up / drop off) to and from other destinations. Please inquire Arugam Bay Surf Camp for more details and costs.
Arrival by train
Train from Colombo Central Railway Station to Ella (9 hours) or Badulla 10 - 11 hours.
Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport
Airport transfer available:
Bandaranaike International Airport (US$ 166 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- 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.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookSurfCamps.com. All major credit cards supported.
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