Planning a SALTY fitness retreat in Sri Lanka? Here is what you need to know before you fly, from the highlands to the south coast.

November through April is the season for Sri Lanka's south and west coasts: dry and sunny, with the best surf conditions of the year in the Ahangama-Weligama belt. It's also whale-watching season out of Mirissa. SALTY runs its trip inside this window, so both the highlands and the coast show off.

Fly into the airport named on the retreat page. For Sri Lanka that means Colombo, the country's main international hub, served from most major cities with one stop. SALTY runs scheduled shuttles from Colombo, and all ground transport for the rest of the trip, from the highlands to the safari to the coast, is included. There are three scheduled inbound shuttle times; if your flight lands outside those windows, you'll arrange and pay for a private transfer to catch up with the group.

Sri Lanka is an established and famously hospitable travel destination, and the areas on this trip, Ella, Udawalawe, the southern surf coast, and Galle, are its most visited regions. You're travelling as an organized group with SALTY coaches and local partners, with all transport handled, which removes the main friction points of independent travel. If you have any concern before you fly, message us and we will talk it through.

Sri Lanka requires an online ETA before you fly. It's a short online application, usually approved within minutes, and you should apply before you travel rather than on arrival. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. Check the official Sri Lankan ETA site for current requirements by nationality.

Sri Lanka's currency is the rupee. Cards are accepted at larger hotels and restaurants, but smaller shops, tuk-tuks, cafes, and market stalls in Ella and along the coast run on cash, so carry rupees for day-to-day spending.

Expect dry, sunny days on the south coast with warm ocean temperatures, and cooler, mistier mornings in the Ella highlands. The trip is timed for the best conditions in both regions.

Highland meals at the eco lodge are slow-cooked and locally grown, and coastal nights bring rice and curry spreads, kottu, hoppers, and just-caught seafood. A Sri Lankan cooking class is on the options list if you want to take the habit home. Spice levels are negotiable; enthusiasm is not.

Beginners get a full surf package with five lessons and over 10 hours of instruction on a coast famous for learner-friendly waves. Intermediate surfers get a break directly in front of the bought-out beachfront property, plus other breaks nearby to explore. Boards live on-site.

This trip moves through three different worlds inside one country: tea plantations and mist in Ella, a dawn safari in Udawalawe National Park, and a Galle Fort day trip through Dutch-colonial streets and ramparts. It's built for anyone who wants to actually know a country by the end, beyond its beach.

Beyond the standard SALTY packing list, bring a light layer for cool highland mornings and modest clothing for temple visits. See "What to Pack for a SALTY Retreat" for the full list.

Read the full destination page at getsaltyretreats.com/destinations/sri-lanka, and see the retreat page at getsaltyretreats.com/retreats/sri-lanka-fitness-retreat for dates and pricing.

Message us at [email protected], or on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/14318291135. Nate or Erin will get back to you as soon as possible.