Sri Lanka seems made for deep rest. This Indian Ocean island combines tropical beaches, tea-covered hills, generous nature and a long Ayurvedic tradition. A yoga retreat there often takes on an additional dimension, that of body care. Here is how to plan a trip further afield with a complete change of scenery.
The main regions to know
A number of retreats are concentrated on the south coast. Around towns like Galle, Weligama or Mirissa, the beaches lined with coconut trees welcome places focused on yoga and surf, in a tropical and relaxed atmosphere. This is the most accessible region for a first trip to the island.
Inland, the island has a completely different character. The hills of the Kandy and Ella regions, green and cool, house more natural venues, between tea plantations and forests. This is an ideal setting for combining practice, walking, and calm at high altitude. Some venues, finally, specialise in Ayurveda and offer real, supervised wellness programmes, in line with what we describe for the Ayurvedic wellness programme in Kerala, its large Indian neighbour.
When to go
Sri Lanka experiences two monsoons that affect opposite coasts at different times, which makes the season important to choose. For the south and west coasts, the best period runs from December to March, with dry and sunny weather, ideal for beaches. For the east of the island, the season is reversed and runs rather from May to September.
In practice, it is almost always possible to find a region with good weather, provided you match your destination to the season. It is therefore better to decide on the departure period first, then choose the coast accordingly. The heat remains tropical all year round, tempered by the altitude as soon as you go up into the hills.
The atmosphere you will find there
Sri Lanka is notable for the warmth of its welcome and the richness of its nature. The atmosphere is peaceful, the fragrant and vegetarian cuisine is easy to find, and the cost of living is lower than in Europe, which makes the stay on site more affordable once the flight has been paid for.
The alliance of yoga and Ayurveda is the true asset of the island. Massages, treatments and adapted food often complement the practice for a complete recovery experience. It’s a destination for those who want to go far, take their time and take care of their body in depth. As it is a long-haul journey, our article on slow travel will help you make it a real rest trip rather than a rush.
To discover our verified venues, go to the Sri Lanka page. We only present venues where the seriousness of the practice and the welcome is confirmed by their official source.