Weligama Surf Camps: 5 Great Options for 2027
If you’re a complete beginner and want to do a surf camp in Sri Lanka, do it in Weligama. Simple.
Let me tell you why: This town and its long horseshoe beach is the single best place to learn to surf in the whole country. Hell, we even rank it as one of the best places to learn to surf in the whole wide world.
It’s got sand-bottomed waves aplenty, good wind protection, easy access, and a range of reef and beach breaks in the surrounding area for when you do want to progress.
If that doesn’t sound like a town tailor-made for surf camps then we don’t know what is!
What’s more, a lot of the fine Sri Lankan surf camps make thier home along this stretch of the southwest shore, and Weligama has become a bit of a hub for learners.
It’s best visited in dry season between November and March and it has waves for everyone.
Here’s a glimpse of the places we often reccommend.
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!
>>This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Sri Lanka
Quick-click links to our top surf camps in Weligama
- Elsewhere – Social vibes, meeting people, and partying
- Lucky’s – Locally owned
- Kima – Consistently one of the highest rated in Weligama
- Layback – Locally owned and run for an authentic Sri Lanka experience
- The Surfer Surf Camps – One of the original Weligama surf camps
>>Also check out our guide to Sri Lankan surf hotels for more hotel-style stays close to surf on this island
Elsewhere
Social vibes, meeting people, and partying
Elsewhere Surf Camp is one of the more established outfits in Weligama these days. Since starting life in a little five-bedroom colonial house back in 2015, they’ve grown and grown into a pretty well-known name on the scene.
These days, they tout a beachfront location, swimming pool, gym and rooftop bar overlooking that wide sweep of Weligama Bay (where, as a learner, you’re likely to be doing the bulk of your day-to-day surfing – it’s one of Sri Lanka’s top learner spots).
Where this one seems to shine is one the social front. There’s something happening every evening, from karaoke and trivia nights to rooftop parties. It’s like those city hostels that do shizzle every night to get the group gelling, only right behind a tropical beach that gets super-consistent beginner-level surf.
The surfing is still pretty comprehensive. Packages include two daily sessions, with proper coaching in the mornings and guided free surfs in the afternoons. (It’s a balance that I’ve come to really like – surf camps that do this tend to give you the grounding of techcnique, but also lots of time to practice at your own pace).
Beginners can make use of the sandy-bottomed waves of Weligama right out front, while improvers can head to the reefs around Midigama and Ahangama – they’re 10-20 mins in a tuk tuk away, so easy peasy.
There’s daily video analysis, theory lessons and access to a quiver of over 60 boards. Accommodation ranges from shared dorms to private rooms, while packages include meals and drinks.
Remember: This is an adults-only, decidedly sociable setup, so probably not the one for those after a quiet retreat.
Lucky’s
Locally owned
If you like your surf camps with a bit of style then you’re going to love Lucky’s.
The place started life as a humble surf camp that was run under the guiding hand of one of Sri Lanka’s very best surfers (the namesake Lucky himself).
Since then it’s grown and grown and can now boast one serious fine base right next to the big old Marriot hotel in the very beating heart of Weligama Bay.
Expect a super-cool whitewashed villa space with wood-banister-fringed terraces and polished concrete throughout, effortlessly mixing with the cheese plants and palm trees, the wicker lights and real-wood chairs and tables. It looks LOVELLLLY.
There’s a rooftop for sunset watching, cold Lion beer in hand, ofc. Rooms range from budget doubles to seaview suites, but they’re all niccee.
You can book into surf lessons on site or after you reserve your room.
Kima
Consistently one of the highest rated in Weligama
Kima is one of the bigger names in the surf camp world, with multiple locations across Bali and Sri Lanka now in operation.
Their Weligama setup is particularly impressive, occupying a 150-year-old colonial property surrounded by tropical gardens, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the beach.
The real draw is the flexibility of the surfing programme. Guests can join two guided sessions every day, with groups divided using Kima’s six-star ability rating system.
Beginners have the forgiving sand-bottomed waves of Weligama Bay on their doorstep, while more experienced surfers can jump in a tuk-tuk to the reefs around Midigama and Ahangama, and even Madiha and Mirissa as options.
There’s video analysis and surf theory included, although complete novices might want to consider the dedicated five-day Learn-to-Surf course, which really homes in on the basics, and should get you going from beach practice to better confidence levels across the course of the five days.
Accommodation ranges from air-conditioned dorms to private rooms, with a swimming pool, free yoga six days a week and even ice baths for post-surf recovery.
Layback
Locally owned and run for an authentic Sri Lanka experience
Layback has been doing its thing in Weligama since 2017, and there’s a lot to like about this locally owned surf camp, particularly when it comes to coaching.
The team is made up of Sri Lankan surfers who know the south coast inside out, including two female coaches, which is still something of a rarity on the island (and generally across surf camping everywhere if you ask me – you wouldn’t believe the amount of times female friends have said this should totally be a thing everywhere!).
All packages include five coached sessions with small groups (just two or three learners per instructor for beginners), video analysis, surf theory and even in-pool training.
Lessons can take place on the mellow beach breaks of Weligama or further along the coast at Midigama and Ahangama as you progress, so you shouldn’t feel stuck here.
There are three seven-night packages to choose from, starting at €349 for a dorm stay. We’d probably plump for Standard, which adds five yoga classes and free board rental outside lessons.
The accommodation looks pretty stylish, too, especially the upgraded private rooms at Layback Swim Club, which has its own saltwater pool. One catch: stays run strictly Sunday to Sunday, so there’s not much flexibility with dates.
The Surfer Surf Camps
One of the original Weligama surf camps
The Surfer Weligama is like what Icebergs is to Bondi…It’s been here since the start and you can almost hardly imagine the one without the other.
It’s hardly a surprise that they’ve expanded in the last few years to open a whole second branch, and then a third branch, of accomdation. They now have their main hub – known as The Surfer Beach Camp – and another building – TS2 Weligama – that’s now used to offer more budget accommodation choices for those who want to keep costs low. Plus, they’ve added a boutique surf camp known as Soul Surfer Camp for those who want some more pizzazz in thier lodge.
You can choose either when you book. (We’d say go for the Beach Camp or Soul if you can afford. They have a pool, sunny lazing areas, rooftops – things like that).
The package with The Surfer also tend to be good value for money. Average rates are around $400-$500 per person, and include a surf lesson per day, a 2x yoga each week, daily breakfasts, and video analysis.
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!
