Arugam Bay Surf Camp – 5 Top Options for 2025

Arugam Bay Surf Camp

The best Arugam Bay surf camp for the 2025 season

The simply named Arugam Bay Surf Camp does exactly what it says on the tin.

It’s a well-rounded surf-orientated getaway that helps you make the most of a trip to the Eastern Province, all without breaking the bank – in-season (April-September) packages start at $1,450-ish for a full 15 days of surf camping!

They have a couple of options on the menu, from short 4-day surf taster programs to week-long options that are good for all levels. However, we’re big fans of their two week package.

It’s a way to really make mates and feel like a local in A-bay, and offers time to surf most of the region’s top spots a few times over.

Over 15 days (that’s 14 nights’ accommodation), you’ll do 13x surf lessons with theory and feedback and video analysis, plus get 13 yoga classes to match. They also throw in surfboards, gear, and board insurance, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any dings or whatever.

Check prices and availability at the Arugam Bay Surf Camp

Star Rest Surf Camp

The best surf camp for long stays

A lot of nationalities will get a month-long visa for Sri Lanka (check this applies to you), which means you can legitimately fit in four weeks of surfing nonstop if you wanna’.

Now, in the western monsoon season, when it’s raining in Southern Province, there’s really only one place to surf: Arugam Bay.

That’s where Star Rest Beach Hotel’s 26-day balance package comes in.

It’s tailored to those who want to make the most of the eastern surf months (April-September), by offering 25 nights of accommodation, 21 individual group surf lessons, and use of all equipment throughout.

All that’s packaged up for a price tag that’s rather irresistible: <$2,500 per person if you book in advance.

You’ll be staying in a really authentic cluster of beach bungalows nestled between the Arugam Lagoon and the main beach.

It’s walkable to Baby Point and Main Point but you’ll have access to a minibus to help you get there each morning, or out to other great learner spots like Elephant Rock (south) and Whisky Point (north).

Oh yea, and the deal includes all breakfasts and dinners, so you can focus on the surf, plus a trip to the incredible Kudumbigala Hermitage, which sits on a dramatic rock bluff above the jungles to the south.

Check prices and availability at Star Rest Surf Camp

Arne’s Place The Friendliest Hotel

Best budget surf stay in A-bay

When we put together our selection of the top surf camps or surf stays in any given location, we like to drop in something a bit different to offer another way to go for travlelers who might not be so inclined to go for a complete package that offers lessons and everything in one.

Here, Arne’s Place The Friendliest Hotel is it.

This spot is pretty legendary in A-bay. It’s got a great location, down a little sandy side street literally 50m from the main beach and maybe 15-20 minutes’ walk to the paddle out point for Baby Point.

As the name implies, it’s all about the vibe.

The crew here will welcome you like family and treat you like it from start to finish. It’s a proper low-cost backpacker hangout with the vibes to match. Hammocks are aplenty, there are slacklines for practicing that core strength on, and rooms are simple and clean.

Like everywhere in A-bay, they’ve got their own stash of boards that they rent out but they also do lessons. For us, it’s one of the top surf hostels in town and a great choice if the budget is a bit tight.

Check prices and availability at Arne’s Place The Friendliest Hotel

Paddyway Resort

Best surf camp for a more hotel-style feel

The guys at the Paddyway Resort now run a surf camp out of their rather lovely hotel. It’s a great option if you don’t want to dispense of the creature comforts of 3- or 4-star living but do want to do several surf lessons during your time in A-bay.

The price – which is a very reasonable $1,200 or so per person for a whole week – includes your accommodation (six nights) and surf lessons every day. The team also have their own surf photographer for those hard-earned shots of you ripping, and offer video feedback on surfing after every session.

The stay itself is the main USP here. It’s a nice, multi-room hotel with a swimming pool and spacious suites, some with views over the jungle tops around the Arugam Lagoon.

Check prices and availability at the Paddyway Resort

Whisky Point Resort

For a tropical island vibe right on the wave

Here’s the deal: Whisky Point Resort isn’t your classic surf camp. They don’t offer pay-for-all packages with lessons included and all. Instead, they do one thing and they do it VERRYY well…

Fantastic accommodation that’s literally steps from one of the best all-level breaks in A-bay: Whisky Point.

We’re throwing this one in as a bit of a left-of-field option for those travelers who aren’t so keen on more organized itineraries that demand you get up and travel to surf spots chosen by the instructors.

This is a fine place to be if a) you love being out of the bustling center of town and b) you like to plan your own surfs and learn at your own pace.

You essentially book yourself a bungalow on the beach and walk to the surf points for morning dawnies and evening sessions, or whatever you want.

The stays are fantastic. They are all classic island pads made from bamboo and driftwood. Some even have decks with views over the Indian Ocean.

There’s an on-site restaurant and access to Arugam town is about 20 minutes by tuk-tuk.

Check prices and availability at Whisky Point Resort