Hi viewers,
Looking at doing something a little different with the family this time round. Sri Lanka ticks a lot of boxes for a family, culture and history experience but obviously with the view of getting some wave at the same time! My only concern is the place looks likes it's overrun with Euro and Insta kooks now? Anyone been there lately, thoughts??
Cheers
Paul

Following........

Going in November

euros and kooks yes but some fun waves to be had, mirissa can be great ( coffee-Barista Lavazza right across the laneway u access the surf at ) and around ahamgama at the rock near La Point surf camp

Was there in may for a few weeks
Pretty mellow crowd, but was kinda between seasons.
Hikkaduwa beach area was fun.
Arugam bay is so much fun.
But
Speaking to the guys we stayed with, peak season is russians and Israelis, not only is it impossible to find somewhere to stay in the bay, you can't even find a board to rent.
Which blew me out, there must have been 1000 snapped, repaired and waterlogged NSPs' for rent in arugam.
But it's still worth it.
Stay at the galle face
Train to ella
Car to arugam
Car through the national park back to marrisa/hikkaduwa.
Sri Lankan food is the best
But you gotta go look for it
Worse than Bali for pizza and burgers everywhere you look

go shoulder season - plenty of instakooks but also plenty of set ups away from main named breaks.

The israelis arent too popular with anyone there - the locals are totally over them - but they are fine once you get to know them a bit (a general rule of travelling) - I think its the older generations fault for putting their young kids in a bad situation. most of them are very young - probably coming off a horrible experience with national service.

Way better to have 20 Israelis out dodging the sets that 10 hungry Aussies or Brazilians relentlessly paddling into every peak that comes in.

Food is AMAZING -
local's level of education and style is very high
a little bit of local mafia activity around Mirissa - use your instincts - but generally the people are great



East coast may September
West coast october - march

If its anything like the maldives these days re crowd factors with high euro kook and isreali rating then I would say avoid it. The combo of constant snaking and kook drop ins gets real tired real quick.

At least in sri lanka there are more breaks to try and get away from this **** but in maldives you effectively have 3 or 4 breaks where beginners to pros all pile in together.

Best thing the indos ever did was deny isreali surfers visas IMHO

Thanks all for the comprehensive replies.

Food for thought..

Cheers!

Jam lanki Lanks and hit India... before the word gets out. Taiwans a great one to

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Bara said..
If its anything like the maldives these days re crowd factors with high euro kook and isreali rating then I would say avoid it. The combo of constant snaking and kook drop ins gets real tired real quick.

At least in sri lanka there are more breaks to try and get away from this **** but in maldives you effectively have 3 or 4 breaks where beginners to pros all pile in together.

Best thing the indos ever did was deny isreali surfers visas IMHO

maldives has a lot more then 3 or 4 breaks .... went to the south male and got waves with 3 or 4 guys out a lot of the time.

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pinho said..

Bara said..
If its anything like the maldives these days re crowd factors with high euro kook and isreali rating then I would say avoid it. The combo of constant snaking and kook drop ins gets real tired real quick.

At least in sri lanka there are more breaks to try and get away from this **** but in maldives you effectively have 3 or 4 breaks where beginners to pros all pile in together.

Best thing the indos ever did was deny isreali surfers visas IMHO

maldives has a lot more then 3 or 4 breaks .... went to the south male and got waves with 3 or 4 guys out a lot of the time.

Where did you stay Pinho or were you on a boat?

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IFocus said..

pinho said..

Bara said..
If its anything like the maldives these days re crowd factors with high euro kook and isreali rating then I would say avoid it. The combo of constant snaking and kook drop ins gets real tired real quick.

At least in sri lanka there are more breaks to try and get away from this **** but in maldives you effectively have 3 or 4 breaks where beginners to pros all pile in together.

Best thing the indos ever did was deny isreali surfers visas IMHO

maldives has a lot more then 3 or 4 breaks .... went to the south male and got waves with 3 or 4 guys out a lot of the time.

Where did you stay Pinho or were you on a boat?

kandooma resort for 10 days with family, and after a week on a boat.

Beware of kandooma if it's is a sole surf trip crew are epic waves are perfect ( when the swell gets in there)
if pasta and jails are four foot kandooma is two.

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Razzonater said..
Beware of kandooma if it's is a sole surf trip crew are epic waves are perfect ( when the swell gets in there)
if pasta and jails are four foot kandooma is two.

went in july and got waves everyday. couple of 2 foot days but the rest 4 foot. was a great trip

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pinho said..

Razzonater said..
Beware of kandooma if it's is a sole surf trip crew are epic waves are perfect ( when the swell gets in there)
if pasta and jails are four foot kandooma is two.

went in july and got waves everyday. couple of 2 foot days but the rest 4 foot. was a great trip

Hey Pinho,

We are looking at a 2 week family trip next year between May and July. How was the cost when you were actually there? Was just thinking that as you are essentially at their mercy from a food and drink perspective the prices could be pretty inflated.

Thanks

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Salty Sea Dog said..

pinho said..

Razzonater said..
Beware of kandooma if it's is a sole surf trip crew are epic waves are perfect ( when the swell gets in there)
if pasta and jails are four foot kandooma is two.

went in july and got waves everyday. couple of 2 foot days but the rest 4 foot. was a great trip

Hey Pinho,

We are looking at a 2 week family trip next year between May and July. How was the cost when you were actually there? Was just thinking that as you are essentially at their mercy from a food and drink perspective the prices could be pretty inflated.

Thanks

i went thinking the same.. but quite surprising the prices were fair considering you are in the middle of the ocean.. beers and drinks were $ 5 dollars each... we got the package that included breakfast and is a pretty big table with anything from cereal, fruits to actually curry's as well so we were actually taking some food to the room so we didn't have to pay for lunch... at night we were having pizzas and burgers and all around 17 to 20 bucks....

All of Maldives are usd as well

I've heard a lot of stories of people loving Sri Lanka. Never been myself, but while running my own surfcamp, I meet many surfers who have been to some pretty amazing places and they are always wanting to share their favourite places.

It's always been a place of interest for me, but running my own business get a bit busy, it's a great thing that I like it.