T
ropical comeback – we've been longing for this – and this winter, it's finally happening. We're returning to a place we love, a place we've missed. We're staying right by the Indian Ocean – our wonderful beach house is located in the small beach village of Madiha, at the very southern tip of Sri Lanka.
We're hosting week-long surf & yoga retreats from December 21st to January 25th.
This winter, we’ll show you the way to nirvana. If the surfing doesn't take you there, the yoga and meditation certainly will. The best of both worlds. A setup that treats your body, soul, and mind as if there's no tomorrow.
Picturesque Sri Lanka feels both familiar and welcoming, yet exotic and exciting at the same time. And the waves, dreamy peelers.
Sri Lanka is multicultural, but primarily Buddhist, and the world’s mecca for Ayurveda. The climate is wonderfully tropical, and the waves keep coming – never too big or tricky – but always playful. The focus is on long, clean waves – perfect for longboarding. We offer an instructor-led surf session every day – where tuk-tuks take us to the beach with the best waves for the day. Since we're a small crew of around 15 participants, we divide into small groups based on experience, ensuring that you develop in the best and most fun way possible. We combine in-water coaching, working with certified locals, along with plenty of photo and video analysis throughout the week, led by Jens & Peter. The whole concept of our retreat in Sri Lanka is that the setup feels tailored for both beginners paddling out for the first time and for those refining their noserides. If you’ve surfed before, you'll have two classic waves – a faster left-hander, and a mellow right just a short walk down the beach.
At sunrise, before the day’s first surf session, or just as the sun sets, we’ll ground ourselves with our very own yogini – sometimes yoga, sometimes meditation, sometimes breathwork – the best way to prep for surfing and connect with yourself.
The best brunch awaits us after the morning surf.
I
n the charming little beach town Madiha, we’ve found our Winter home.
We stay together in the boutique and absolutely stunning beachfront Villa Legacy, overlooking the waves rolling in from the Indian Ocean.
There are two different accommodation options: if you book the Academy's signature SURF & YOGA RETREAT, you’ll share a double room; if you book CHILL ONLY, you’ll share a room with two or three other lovely participants. All rooms have ocean views and air conditioning.
We cool off under the palm leaves or in our private pool. If the mood strikes, the restaurant and coffee spot, Doctor's House, is just a 10-minute walk away. Almost forgot to mention – we have our own restaurant where we set up dining right by the shoreline.
A short tuk-tuk ride will take you to the charming village of Mirissa or, in the other direction, to our favorite surf beach, Meddawatte.
We practice yoga under the open sky, either before the sun rises above the palm trees or when the stars guide us through the poses at sunset. And of course, we also have our own yoga shala.
F
rom Stockholm and Copenhagen, there are plenty of airlines to choose from to get you to Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.
Flights
It’s getting easier and easier to reach Sri Lanka – drop in on Momondo to explore different flight options.
Transfer to Madiha
From Colombo Airport to Surfakademin’s retreat at Villa Legacy, it’s an easy road trip of just over two hours, costing 150 Euro round trip per person. Surfakademin’s shuttle departs when most participants have landed, often times early morning on Saturdays. If there’s a big time gap between arrivals, we’ll of course arrange a separate transfer for those arriving later. On the return trip, the shuttle leaves in the evening. If your flight doesn’t align with our transfer times, we’ll still help you out – just let us know!
urfing is far from a sport, rather a lifestyle but above all a pure form of play. Surfakademin is not just a surf course, surf school or surf camp but a holistic surf experience.
In addition to the magical waves, we provide you with the theoretical basics of surfing, covering water safety, wave theory, style, and etiquette. We capture photos and videos throughout the week for a film feedback session.
To avoid learning how to catch your first wave the hard way (read a lot of wipeouts!) we carefully go through both surfing theory and etiquette before we hit the water. We also love talking about surfing’s rich history and everything from how waves are formed to how to score serious style points. Just because you are a beginner doesn’t mean you have to look like one.
Peter & Jens lead pep talks, surf philosophy discussions, and share their surfing adventures.
T
his winter, all flights lead to Surfakademin’s Surf & Yoga Retreat in Madiha, Sri Lanka.
Times & Prices
Surfakademin’s Surf & Yoga Retreat includes a wonderful week (changeover days are on Saturdays) with accommodation at the beachfront Villa Legacy (seven nights), one instructor-led surf lesson per day with transportation to the best surf spot of the day, access to equipment between surf sessions, many theory classes on wave formation, surf history, board theory, and feedback through video and photography led by Jens & Peter. You’ll also enjoy a delicious brunch every day, along with daily yoga and meditation sessions. Accommodation is in a double room with ocean views and AC. If you want to maximize the fun and stay for two weeks, you’ll get a great discount by emailing jagvillsurfa@surfakademin.se. Of course, you can also stay for three weeks – you can never get enough of magical Sri Lanka.
If you book Surfakademin’s Chill Only, you’ll stay at Villa Legacy in a shared room for three or four people, with ocean views and AC. You can also purchase brunch and other add-ons if you feel like it.
For exact prices and dates, head over to our booking system.
Medication
Better safe than sorry – contact your nearest vaccination center to double-check that you have the recommended vaccinations.
Insurance
Surfakademin recommends making sure that your travel insurance is linked to your home insurance – it’s nice to have peace of mind in case something unexpected happens along the way.
True facts
Time of application. You don’t need to submit your passport to the embassy. Also, make sure your passport has at least two blank pages and is valid for at least 6 months after your return.
Cash is king – Sri Lanka operates in an old-school way, so it’s a good idea to exchange money for Sri Lankan Rupees before you go. There are, of course, ATMs available on site.
Sri Lanka is 4 ½ hours ahead of Swedish time.
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, and during the winter, you can expect pleasant temperatures of 25-30°C both in the air and the sea.