The Best Surfing And Yoga Camp In Weligama: The Surfer Sri Lanka

The whispers of perfect beach breaks, stunning reef spots and surf communities right on the beach bring backpackers and travellers from all around the world to Weligama. Sri Lanka is one of the best places to learn to surf for beginners due to the consistent break along the sandy beaches on the south coast. 

We were looking to improve our surf skills while travelling and we heard Weligama was the place to be, so we checked into The Surfer Surf Camp which is conveniently placed by the beach with one of our favourite surf spots out front. 

There’s no shortage of surf schools in Sri Lanka, however we think we’ve found a pure gem, so below we share with you our experience of staying in The Surfer Weligama. 

Contents

Introduction To The Surfer Surf Camp Sri Lanka 

The Surfer team pride themselves on giving you the perfect surf and yoga stay in Weligama, and to be honest, we have to say they fully delivered on this statement! 

You can choose the perfect package for your surf goals - whether you’re looking for two surf lessons a day, a surf and yoga package, or a more relaxed one lesson a day option. Your surf lessons will be with no more than six people, meaning you’ll get priceless feedback consistently throughout your time on the surf. 

This isn’t what stole our heart though, the relaxed vibe and people we met from all over the world at the Surfer rooftop made our experience extra special. This was made possible through the daily social events put on by the camp, more on this below! We also love that the camp and business is owned by a local Sri Lankan, Lahiru, who is always around the camp, a qualified instructor and has created a very special place in our hearts. 

Accommodation At The Surfer Surf Camp 

There’s lots of options for accommodation at The Surfer, from private rooms, dorm beds and even a more budget friendly second camp, TS2. All the accommodation looked amazing and there’s a variety of fan and air con rooms. 

The main Surfer Beach Camp has rooms with air con and balconies which are perfect for drying out swimwear and towels, plus they have a swing seat that overlooks the pool, the interior design is also spot on with a surfer theme. Upstairs is the shared café and restaurant area where you can chill out and relax throughout the day. 

At TS2 you’ll be a short five minute drive from the main camp where you will have your yoga, surf and meals. 

Food At The Surfer Rooftop Restaurant

Let's talk food! You’ve been out all day on the water or exploring Weligama and you’re starving, The Surfer has you sorted. Each night your dinner is included (unless it’s a restaurant night), sometimes it’s from their menu, other nights it's a special dinner which means a BBQ or Sri Lankan Curry Buffet, everything is amazing. We had some of the best food here, we recommend the eggplant shakshuka, burgers and wraps, they were extremely flavourful and exactly what you need after a day paddling. 

Your breakfast is also included and there’s lots of choice. From 8-11am you can help yourself to coffee, tea and toast plus you can choose a breakfast item off their menu. During my stay, I tried all the breakfast options and can recommend the smoothie bowl, Italian twisted eggs and fruit & curd.

Surfing Lessons At The Surfer Weligama

You’re here for one thing, no it’s not the amazing food, but beach breaking waves perfect for beginners and intermediates to learn to surf. You can choose a surf package right for you, either one or two lessons a day. Each evening you’re emailed the surf schedule which will let you know your lesson time and instructor. 

Meet at your given time, grab a board and head one minute down to the beach, surfboard balanced on your head. All instructors start the lesson with a well needed warm up before talking through some surf theory if necessary for the day's lesson. 

It’s time to hit the water and start practising your pop up, posture and paddling. During the lesson the instructors give valuable feedback that you can work on immediately. All the instructors we experienced were patient, knowledgeable and fun to work with. Here we must give a special thanks to Matty and Reshan for getting us to finally catch our own waves and turn effectively across small green waves. 

Each evening, or sometime during the day you’ll have video analysis, this is where you watch clips of your day's surf. One of the instructors will chat through your clip and give tips on what you should work on in your next session. This was amazing and definitely led to us learning quicker during our stay. 

Yoga Weligama

We had a surf and yoga package meaning we could attend two yoga sessions a day, sunrise and sunset, however, another reason we love The Surfer is that even the regular surf package allows you to attend two free yoga sessions each week. 

The sessions take place on the open roof top, giving you a first class view of the sunset while you stretch out in warrior pose. One thing we loved was finishing Savasana while looking up at the stars, a truly magical moment in Sri Lanka.

About Camp Life And Daily Routine 

Your day may look like: 

8:30 Surf Lesson 

10:00 Breakfast 

12:30 Explore Weligama town and grab lunch 

3:00 Relax in the Pool or practise techniques on the surfboard 

5:30 Sunset Yoga

7:00 Video Analysis 

7:30 Dinner 

8:00 Camp activities 

Evening Social Activities At The Surfer 

Each evening The Surfer puts on social activities so you can make lifelong friends during your stay. Activities include, club nights, bonfires, quiz nights, karaoke and surf theory. 

Why not recover from a surf with an ice bath or sauna at Ice Weligama!

Where Is The Surfer Weligama? 

The Surfer is located on the east of Weligama bay, although it’s not in the main town this means the surf spot is quieter and normally it was just The Surfer Lessons in the water when we attended, this was a real bonus! 

There are a few restaurants near to the camp, Grand Family Restaurant and Sri Lankan Kussiya but you can always get a tuk tuk into town, they line up at the end of the road making it super easy to pop into the busier sections or down to Mirissa. 

How To Get To The Surfer Weligama 

Tuktuk Rental or Hire Car

We hired a tuk-tuk from tuktukrental.com for our stay meaning we could drive to Weligama and have complete freedom during our time in Sri Lanka. Use the code KandM for 5% off your booking!

Public Transport 

If you don’t have a tuk, the public transport in Sri Lanka is really good. You can get a bus or a train from Colombo/Galle to Weligama then hire a tuk taxi to take you the rest of the way. 

If you’re coming from the other amazing surf town, Hiriketiya then take a bus heading to a Galle and jump off at Weligama, then walk or hire a taxi to get you to The Surfer Camp. 

Airport Pickup

If you’re coming straight from your flight, The Surfer can arrange pick up from the airport for €75, the drive takes two hours. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What To Pack For A Surf Camp? 

You don’t need much as the camp provides all surf equipment including rash vests. Just pack all the normal stuff plus zinc or a good waterproof sun cream.

• Surfing Zinc for the best face protection

• Waterproof Suncream for the rest of your body

• Surfing Hat for any really hot midday sessions

• UPF Rash Vest (Male) if you would like to wear your own. Tip: Wearing your own will make sure it fits tight which is key to efficient paddling. (Female Version)

How Much Does The Surfer Cost To Book? 

Each package and accommodation has a different price but it varies from, €250 - €700 for a 7 night package.

Final Thoughts On The Surfer Weligama Surf Camp

If you're a beginner or intermediate surfer, a camp is the best way to learn. Having lessons everyday means you can work on specific skills and see improvement over a short time. For us, The Surfer was one of our favourite things we did in Sri Lanka. We met lifelong friends, caught our own waves and enjoyed the luxury of the main camp, exactly what was needed after 8 months of backpacking.

A local run business, we feel confident in recommending you The Surfer Weligama, a Camp with a welcoming community and enthusiastic instructors. Lahiru, the owner, has created the most perfect camp that focuses on surfing but has the extra touch of yoga and social activities. Book now and you too could be catching waves in the Indian Ocean, joining in with sunset yoga on the roof, making friends from across the globe and cooling off in the beautiful pool. What are you waiting for?

*Some links in this article are affiliate meaning we may earn a small commission with no extra cost to you! It helps grow the blog so thank you for supporting us. We would also like to say a huge thank you to The Surfer for having us for 5 days and working with us!