Top 4 Hikkaduwa Surf Camp Packages for 2025 – Our Writer’s Picks
Discover the top Hikkaduwa surf camp packages for the coming year with this surfer’s guide. It’s got budget options, and lux ones. Enjoy!
Hikkaduwa is one of the original surf towns of Sri Lanka.
Closer to Colombo and Galle than many of the reefs and beaches that span the south coast, it was an obvious place for traveling surfers to hit in the 80s and 90s as the country was gaining traction as one of South Asia’s finest wave destinations.
Fast forward to 2025 and the reputation of Hikkaduwa has been somewhat diluted. It’s now probably known as much for its blonde beachfronts and oceaside curry house bars as it is its surfing but the quality of the breaks is undeniable.
Plus, there’s something for everyone. Easy reefs peel off the points. There are some heavy harbor walls that might work if the swell’s right. And you can hit multiple beaches for learning.
We’re constantly surprised how few surf camps there are on offer here actually. There are many, many more choices to be had in places like Ahangama and Weligama. The good news is that means there tends to be smaller crowds on learner breaks in Hikkaduwa, and the camps that are here get to do things their own way…
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Read our guide to surfing in Sri Lanka. Or read our guides to surf camps all over the world
Quick-book the best Hikkaduwa surf camp…
- Hippy Surf Camp – The best Hikkaduwa surf camp for 2025
- Sri Lanka Surf Tours – You get LOADS of surfing in this package
- Steffi’s Mandala – The best budget surf hostel in Hikkaduwa
- Riff Hikkaduwa – Not strictly a ‘surf camp’ but boy is it luxurious
For more inspo be sure to read our guide to the top surf camps in Sri Lanka as a whole
Hippy Surf Camp
Hippy Surf Camp / HostelWorldThere’s no better option in Hikkaduwa than the Hippy Surf Camp if you ask us.
Not one, not two, but a whole three of The Surf Atlas team agreed that this is the stand-out place to book here. We think you just gotta’ love their unique brand of laid-back, uber-welcoming surf camping.
Yep, it’s all about the good vibes at the Hippy Surf Camp. The people here are forever happy and smiling and ready to help.
The founders, Mia and Romy, actually met on the waves here a few years back – Mia had a long-established surf school on the beaches of Hikka and Romy was his student. One thing led to another, there was a marriage along the way, and then bingo: They create Hippy Surf Camp.
The origin story is kinda’ helpful because it shows how the guys running this place really understand what’s required from a surf camp. They make surfing accessible, bite-sized, and, above all, fun!
You’ll be staying in lovely beach cabanas that are probably just what you’ve been dreaming of when it comes to a tropical escape. Think driftwood porches and half al-fresco shower spaces. It’s also got a restaurant that serves lovely breakos come the morning – think dals and hoppers and spicy sambol.
This is an accomodation-only booking but don’t worry, you can easily sign onto thier surf courses, which run all the time and include daily lessons with guides in the Hikkaduwa area.
Sri Lanka Surf Tours
If you’re looking to pack in as much surfing as you can during your trip and want pretty hands-on teaching, then the Sri Lanka Surf Tours offering could be a good way to go.
These guys run a program that includes 2x lessons every day. That equates to as much as four hours in the water every day and a whopping 20 hours of guided surfing between Monday and Friday. Most camps do about half that!
They offer accommodation in a charming Sri Lankan villa just back from the coast. It’s got a lush, green garden with hammocks and a pool, plus spacious rooms with air-conditioning.
Breakfasts are included in the price and vary from international to traditional Sri Lankan. There are also 4x yoga classes, plus – and this isn’t to be underestimated if you like to keep your travels simple – a complimentary airport transfer at the end of the trip.
Steffi’s Mandala
On a bit of a tighter budget? Steffi’s Mandala is the ultimate hangout for surfers and yogis on Hikkaduwa’s Narigama Beach. We even rank it among our all-time favorite surf hostels in Sri Lanka!
This laid-back spot is perfect for relaxing, with a thatch-roof restaurant just steps from the sand. You can savor healthy Buddha bowls, fresh salads, or their renowned avocado toast, while lounging on beanbags or in cabana chill-out spots with the ocean rolling in only meters away.
The aesthetic is “hippy chic from top to toe – expect minimalist, whitewashed rooms adorned with handmade dreamcatchers and driftwood hangers.
Since it’s not a full-on surf camp but a nomad hostel, surfboard rentals and lessons can be had from the shacks on the beach. The good news is that there are plenty of those literally steps away and the people at reception can help organize surf classes if need be.
Riff Hikkaduwa
Fricking hell this one’s nice. So, yea, it might set you back $350/night but it’s the proverbial doggie’s balls of hotels on the Hikkaduwa beachfront. We mention it not because it’s a classic surf camp. We mention it precisely because it’s not.
Where to start? Oh, of course, the design.
Riff itself is one part Bauhaus masterwork, one part Le Corbusier homage, all framed by touches of Sri Lankan tropicality. Palms brush up against whitewashed walls. Rooms are angled perfectly to offer framed visions of the Indian Ocean waves.
AKA – this is a lux hotel with pizzazz that anyone will adore. Well anyone who loves SERIOUSLY GOOD hotels.
Of course, that means you will need to book surf lessons yourself on the side but the good news is that is easy-peasy in Hikka (there are way more surf schools here than surf camps!).
The upshot is that once you’re done with your surf for the day you can return to an uber-slick poolside, grab yourself a platter of artisan sushi at the restaurant, laze beside the infinity pool, or kick back with a cocktail on the rooftop. Niceee.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
