The good news first: a surf and yoga week in Weligama is one of the lightest trips you will ever pack for. The water is 28°C so there is no wetsuit, the camp provides boards, leashes and yoga mats, and the dress code all week is a swimsuit with something over it. The bad news is that the sun is equatorial and the three things people forget are the three things that ruin a week. Here is the list.
In the water
Two swimsuits or pairs of boardshorts, so one is always dry. For surfing, something that stays on: a one-piece or a sports bikini with a rash vest over it, rather than anything with ties.
A long-sleeve rash vest or surf top. This is the single most important item on the list. The sun in Sri Lanka at ten in the morning is stronger than anything in a European summer, and two hours in the water with your back to it will burn through any sunscreen. The camp has some for sale, but bring your own so it fits.
Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50, in a stick for your face and a tube for everything else. Apply before you leave the room, not on the beach.
Surf booties are not needed in Weligama Bay, which is sand. If you are an intermediate planning reef sessions at Midigama, a thin pair is worth the space, but most guests never use them.
A cap or hat you do not mind losing, and sunglasses with a strap for the boat trips.
For yoga
Leggings or shorts and a top you can move in; the rooftop is warm in the morning and warmer at sunset. Mats are provided. A light layer for the sunrise session – it is the only cool moment of the day.
Out of the water
Two or three light outfits for the evenings – it is casual, and dinner is on the rooftop. A light cover-up or sarong for walking through town and for temples, where knees and shoulders are covered. Flip-flops for the camp and one pair of shoes you can walk in for a day trip.
A small day bag for the beach and boat trips. A dry bag is a luxury that pays for itself the first time it rains on the tuk-tuk.
Health and practical
Any prescription medication for the week plus a few days. Painkillers, plasters and antihistamine for the odd bite. Mosquito repellent for the evenings, though the coast is far less mosquito-heavy than the interior.
Rehydration sachets. Surfing twice a day in the tropics loses more fluid than people expect, and by day three it shows up as tiredness that feels like being unfit. A sachet a day fixes it.
Ear plugs if you are a light sleeper in a dorm, and swimmers' ear drops if you are prone to it.
A type G plug adapter (the UK three-pin) – Sri Lanka uses it alongside the older round-pin type D. Most camps have universal sockets, but not all cafés do.
A copy of your passport and your ETA (the online visa), printed or saved offline. You will be asked for both at the airport.
Money
Cards are accepted at the camp and in most cafés, but tuk-tuks, market stalls and small restaurants are cash. Bring a debit card that works abroad and take rupees from an ATM at the airport or in Weligama. Euros and dollars can be changed, but the rate at the airport is poor.
Do not bring
A surfboard, unless you are an intermediate who wants your own – the camp's quiver covers everything from soft-tops to shortboards, and airline board fees are more than the week's board hire. A wetsuit. A hair dryer (the rooms have them). More than one pair of proper shoes. A big towel – the camp provides bath and beach towels.
The three things people always forget
A long-sleeve surf top. Rehydration sachets. A plug adapter. Pack those and the rest sorts itself out.
Buy in town
Weligama has surf shops that sell wax, leashes, rash vests and sunscreen if you run out, and pharmacies for anything medical. Sarongs, hats and flip-flops are cheaper here than at home. If in doubt, leave it out and buy it on the first day.
Before you go
Have a look at the FAQ for the questions we get most before arrival – what level to book, what is included and how the airport transfer works – and the rates page for what each package covers. Then close the suitcase. It should be small.
Ready to ride?