HIGH TIDE SRI LANKA
a surf-led retreat rooted in community and local knowledge
High Tide is based in Sri Lanka, operating seasonally in Weligama and Arugam Bay. Our retreats are a blend of all of our favourite things: the ocean, shared meals, time outdoors, and the kind of connection that happens naturally when a small group comes together in the right place.
Our approach is simple and local, prioritising a personal, family feel. Our surf sessions are led by those who know this coastline best, our days move to the rhythm of the sea, and our evenings are shared around the table. Whether you’re learning to surf for the first time, building confidence in the water, or simply looking to spend time somewhere warm and open with like-minded people, High Tide offers a slower, more grounded way to step away from the every day.
Joining High Tide means becoming a part of our growing circle of people who value time outdoors, shared experiences, and a good community.
THE RETREATS
Our signature experience is a small group retreat based seasonally between Weligama on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, and Arugam Bay on the southeast.
We follow the rhythm of the island’s surf seasons, spending the winter and spring in Weligama, and moving east to Arugam Bay as the seasons shift. This allows us to work with the ocean at its best, rather than against it.
High Tide is rooted in local knowledge and community. Our surf sessions are led by our founder Madhu, and our days revolve around time in the water and shared meals, with space for yoga, rest, creativity, and exploring beyond the beaches.
Our retreats don’t follow a rigid itinerary. Instead, they are intentionally group led, meaning that the rhythm of each week shifts depending on the people who join. Some groups lean into early surf checks and sunset sessions, others into longer mealtimes, slower mornings, and nights spent in or out. We move with the conditions, and with each other.
At its core, High Tide is about community and connection, gathering in the right place at the right time, moving with the seasons, staying close to the ocean, and building something small and meaningful together.
Madhu was the best surf teacher I could ask for! Really good in explaining and teaching, so helpful, and a funny person. I had the best time with him. He also really believed in my surfing and always pushed me. I will definitely come back another time!
