12 Days Mindful Journey, a Unique Combination of Culture and Yoga through Sri Lanka
Mindful Journey Sri Lanka Tour
2 memorable weeks in Sri Lanka...that will surely stay in your memory! Are you ready for a time out just for yourself, deep dive into Yoga and Meditation and at the same time exploring the emerald island of Sri Lanka with its millenia-old ruins, lush tea plantations, endless beaches and delicious cuisine? This trip is a unique combination of cultural explorations, adventures and Yoga. You stay in selected Eco-lodges, immerse ourselves in the diverse culture and start or end the day with holistic practices.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- Journey to the most beautiful corners of Sri Lanka
- Daily Yoga, Pranayama and meditation
- Hike through the Knuckles Ranges
- Learn more about Ayurveda and get a traditional oil massage
- Cooking class with a local family
- Lion's Rock, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Ritigala Monastery
- Get close to elephants during a Safari
- Train ride through tea plantations and the highland
- Visit Art Galleries and Hipster places in Galle
- Enjoy remote Talalla Beach and see turtles
- 11 nights in selected eco-lodges and retreat centers
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
Accommodation
Accommodation in carefully selected eco-lodges and retreat centers, that place great emphasis on sustainability. Most of the accommodations have a beautiful Yoga shala and you will enjoy local vegetarian meals:
- 4 nights in the cultural triangle: Kuwera Eco-Lodge
- 3 nights in the mountains at Welikande Estate
- 1 night at Banyan Camp
- 3 nights on pristine Talalla Beach at Talalla Retreat
Program
You travel in a small group to the most beautiful places and take time to immerse yourselves in the country and culture. Experience the hospitality of the locals, learn more about the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, hike through the Knuckles Ranges, look out of the train window at the endless tea plantations, encounter turtles and elephants and explore the street art & hipster cafés in Galle. Who‘s joining for a mindful trip through the emerald island of Sri Lanka?
9th October 2025: Ayubowan - Welcome to Sri Lanka
- (-/Lunch/Dinner)
Welcome to Sri Lanka! You‘ll be welcomed at the airport and start with a trip to the fascinating Cultural Triangle. On the way, you enjoy your first typical Sri Lankan meal and marvel at the impressive ruins of the Yapahuwa rock monastery. Walk up to the temple on shady forest paths, where you have a great view without any crowds of tourists. Spend the next 4 nights in the atmospheric Kuwera Eco Lodge.
10th October 2025: Lions Rock & village experience
- (Breakfast/Lunch/-)
Start the day with your first yoga class, which strengthens you for the upcoming highlight - the lion rock of Sigiriya. Step by step, you climb up to the impressive monolith and enjoy an incredible view from the top and a rock fortress full of stories and legends. Afterwards, take a traditional oxcart to a family in the village and help them prepare a delicious lunch - everything comes straight from the garden. A short catamaran trip rounds off the excursion. Afterwards, relax by the pool at the eco-lodge.
11th October 2025: UNESCO-heritage & elephants
- (Breakfast/Lunch/-)
After Yoga and breakfast, head out to explore. A very special highlight awaits you today - the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa. Kings resided here until the 13th century, when they abandoned their capital with its monasteries, temples and palaces. Polonnaruwa lay forgotten in the jungle for 500 years. Then the British stumbled across the ruined city and cleaned it up. Between statues, temples and palaces, we are seduced into ancient Ceylon. Particularly impressive: the reclining Buddhas made of stone. A traditional lunch on the way and then a contrasting program awaits you: go on safari by jeep in Minneriya or Eco Wildlife Park, depending on where the elephants roam at the moment.
12th October 2025: Forest Monastery & Cave temple
- (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
A relaxed start to the day awaits. After breakfast, drive to the mystical Ritigala forest monastery. There follow winding paths deeper and deeper into the forest in search of the Buddhist ruins. A special experience and, with a bit of luck, you may even be all alone in this place. In the afternoon, you can enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic massage or you can go on an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dambulla (optional) with its colorful rock paintings. The sunset here is particularly beautiful. Dinner together in a local restaurant.
13th October 2025: Spices & Mountains
- (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Today you start the day early and climb up to the Pidurangala rock in the dark. Meditation at sunrise with a view of Sigiriya, a special moment that will certainly remain in your memories for a long time. Back at the hotel, you enjoy a well-earned breakfast and then leave the cultural triangle and continue towards the mountains to the Knuckles Ranges. Along the way, learn more about the spices of the tropical island and enjoy your lunch in the middle of a spice garden. You arrive at the Welikande Yoga Retreat, where you spend the next three nights. The view of the surrounding mountains is fantastic.
14th October 2025: Tea Plantations & Waterfalls
- (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Yoga with a view of the mountains and then you explore the surrounding tea plantations in a tuk-tuk and visit hidden waterfalls where you can take a refreshing dip. On the way, enjoy fantastic views and have the opportunity to chat with the tea pickers, who pluck up to 20 kg of fresh tea leaves every day. Return to your yoga retreat with a view.
5th October 2025: Heeloya Trekking & Ayurveda
- (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
In the morning, lace up your hiking boots and set off for the rarely visited Heeloya National Park. Thanks to your local guide, learn more about the herbs and spices that grow here. Hike through rice fields, tea plantations and pine forests and visit a village to learn more about everyday life there. In the afternoon, an introduction to Ayurveda awaits you, followed by a relaxing Ayurvedic oil massage (optional).
16th October 2025: Epic train ride
- (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
Drive to Ella, a popular traveler‘s town in the mountains. Time to buy snacks, have a cappuccino and explore the town. Afterwards, an impressive train ride from Ella to Ohiya, the most beautiful route awaits. You drive along tea plantations and see the clouds of mist in the highlands near Horton Plains National Park. You travel in 2nd or 3rd class and eat samosas and vadas (Sri Lankan street food) in the compartment like the locals. After arriving in Ohyia, transfer to the atmospheric Banyan Eco-Camp by the lake.
17th October 2025: SUP, Elephants & Beach
- (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
After yoga, head out onto the water in a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle board. It couldn‘t be more idyllic. At lunchtime, not only you but also the baby elephants eat in Udawalawe Park and you join them. Then the time has finally come - you reach the tropical south with its long sandy beaches. The last stop is peaceful Talalla Retreat on one of the most beauitful beaches in Sri Lanka.
18th October 2025: Beach, Galle & Turtles
- (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
Relaxing days on the beach with yoga and meditation. One afternoon you make a trip to the charming Old Fort of Galle. Great shopping opportunities, art galleries, cafés, home-made ice cream and sunsets on the old city wall await us there. And if you want, you can experience something very special here in the deep south of Sri Lanka - you visit a beautiful sandy beach where you can swim with sea turtles. Farewell dinner together on the beach.
19th October 2025: Goodbye Sri Lanka
- (Breakfast/-/-)
Yoga by the beach and a delicious breakfast before you part ways and say goodbye. Individual transfer to the airport or to your next destination.
Yoga & Meditation
Information on Yoga & Meditation: No previous experience is necessary. Sense of Shanti will adapt the practice to all levels and everyone is welcome to join. Experience a mix of relaxing and more flowing sequences, mindful breathing exercises, walking meditation on the beach or similar. The knowledge of Ayurveda will be integrated in the practice of modern Yoga.
- Yoga mats will be provided. Please take your own water bottle and comfortable clothes.
Instructors
Lisa Ressegatti
India has captured her heart since she first arrived 17 years ago and started learning about Yoga. Since then India and Yoga have been part of her life, teaching her many lessons and bringing her back to myself one breath at a time. Yoga is a path of freedom by surrendering to her practice and what keeps her grounded. Lisa practice Ashtanga, but loves to teach Hatha and Vinyasa Flow. She has been working in tourism for many years, creating customized itineraries for individual travels worldwide and traveling to unique destinations while working as a tour guide.
Retreat location
The retreat takes place in Sri Lanka. The tour starts in Colombo and then continues through Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Knuckles Mountains, Ella, Udawalawe National Park, Talalla Beach, and Galle.
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
Authentic Sri Lankan vegetarian cuisine. Meals according to the program are included. This varies day by day.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
What's included
- 11 nights accommodation in carefully selected retreat centers and eco-lodges in double or single rooms
- Tour guiding by Lisa Ressegatti and a local guide
- Yoga and meditation classes
- Transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned bus
- Meals as per program
- Jeep safari in Minneriya National Park
- Village experience with cooking class and ride on a bullock cart
- Speedy tuk tuk ride through tea plantations to a waterfall
- Hike through Heeloya National Park
- Entrance to Yapahuwa rock fortress, Sigiriya lion rock, Ritigala forest monastery, Polonnaruwa UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit to a spice garden incl. lunch
- Canoe or kayak trip at Udawalawe National Park
- Impressive train ride through the tea plantations
- Cooking course and Ayurveda introduction
- Excursion to Galle
What's not included
- Travel to and from Sri Lanka
- Visa for Sri Lanka (USD 50.- for 30 days)
- Tips for local tour guides
- Dambulla entrance fee (USD 10.-)
- Travel insurance
- Spa treatments
- Personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Bandaranaike International Airport
132 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by plane
Please book your flights to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
Visa
An electronic visa (ETA) is required to enter Sri Lanka and can be applied for online.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.