Planning your trip | Ashtanga Lanka

Planning your trip:

We wish you a smooth and pleasant journey. If you have additional questions or concerns please contact us.

Sri Lanka is now fully open for tourism. Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are welcome. If you’re vaccinated you’ll need to show proof of vaccination before boarding your flight. If you’re unvaccinated you’ll need a PCR or Rapid antigen test before departure. Self-tests are not allowed.

** Please check with your airline and the Sri Lankan government travel website for up to date information.

Planning your trip:

We wish you a smooth and pleasant journey. If you have additional questions or concerns please contact us.

** Please check with your airline and the Sri Lankan government travel website for up to date information.

Frequently asked Questions:

Where do I fly?

Colombo International Airport (CMB) which is 30 km north of the city center.

We recommend you travel directly to us after arrival. It’s actually more exhausting to stay by the airport or in Colombo. The most simple thing is hoping in a taxi and getting directly on the highway. You’ll completely bypass the hectic and crowded city of Colombo and arrive at our house in less than three hours.

Do I need a Visa?

At least one week before departure complete the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) form.

For the form click: HERE

It is possible to complete the ETA on arrival but it will cost you more and take extra time.

Can beginners join?

Yes. We love sharing this practice with new people. We recommend that you commit to at least two weeks. You will leave feeling more empowered and go home with a self practice that you can continue anywhere. One week is possible however.

I'm on a special diet. Is this a problem?

Our daily breakfast is vegan with dairy options on the side. The Sri Lankan diet is riced based and it’s easy to be gluten-free. Please email us your exact dietary needs. We will do our best to accommodate you.

There are many nearby cafés and restaurants with additional vegetarian and vegan options.

Is there A/C and hot water?

We have overhead fans in all the rooms and with the high ceilings the heat is not bad.

There is no hot water in the rooms but the air is plenty warm and humid.

What day trips are possible?

There are some nearby attractions (blow hole, temples) to visit during the week, we recommend to go on longer excursions (national parks, Galle Fort) after the last weekly practice and the rest day.

How do I get to Ashtanga Lanka?

We can arrange a taxi pick-up for you at the airport or you can use public transportation and find your way. See the directions below for details.

Can my non-yogi partner join?

Yes. You can both stay in the house as long as you share a room and one person participates in the yoga program.

Are smoking and drinking allowed?

Ashtanga Lanka is a smoke, drug and alcohol free area. If you want to enjoy a cold beer or cocktail there are many options by the beach with great views.

Is there beginner surfing?

Hiriketiya’s waves are fun for beginner and advanced surfers as there are several spots in the bay. It can get crowded though, so please watch out not to hurt yourself or anyone else with the surfboard. We recommend taking a few surf lessons with the local surf teachers and ride on softboards at the beginning.

If you are a confirmed surfer and you want to surf on the reef you might want to bring reef boots. There are plenty of boards to rent, but you might want to bring a good leach.

How should I dress to respect the culture?

At the beach, it is no problem to wear western beachwear like bikinis, but topless is not allowed.

As soon as you step back from the beach, please cover yourself. Shorts, skirts, dresses and T-shirts and sleeveless tops are okay as long as it is not too revealing. To be on the safe side it is always better to cover up more than less. Bring a shawl for example to cover your shoulders if needed.

Can my kids come with me?

Please contact us for details. We may be able to host might your family or we can recommend nearby options.

Is there an ATM nearby?

ATM’s and Banks are available in Dickwella. It’s about a 20 minute walk from our house.

Finding us:

Address & Phone number

“Breath House” Samara Hiriketiya, Dikwella

Sri Lanka, 81200

Phone number: +94 77 669 7323

Taxi Pick-Up @ the Airport

We can arrange a taxi pick-up for you at the airport. This is the quickest and most simple way to get from the airport to Ashtanga Lanka. The price is one-way and the car fits 3 people plus the driver. Check with us for the current price.

The drive is less than 3 hours door to door. The driver will have a sign board with your name (or Ashtanga Lanka) and greet you INSIDE the welcome hall. Please do not go outside. If you don’t see the driver right away keep looking around be patient. If you go outside it gets extremely difficult for the driver to find you.

By Train

Sri Lankan Railways offers train service from Colombo down the south coast. It can be a fun way to come down south but first you’ll need to go into the city center. Catch a train at “Colombo Fort” and get off at “Wewrukannala” or “Matara.” There are more options going to Matara but it’s about a half hour further from us.

From either station you can hire a tuk-tuk for the final journey. (400 LKR from nearby, and maybe 1200 LKR from Matara).

See this link to view the daily train schedule: http://www.railway.gov.lk/

If you can purchase a 2nd class reserved or 1st class ticket you are guaranteed a seat. Otherwise you may end up standing the whole way.

By public bus

You can use public buses to reach us. This is by far the most affordable and in many ways adventurous. The first place you need to get to is: “Kadawatha” bus station. From there you can catch highway buses heading down the “Southern Expressway.” Take a bus to Matara or Tangalle. When you arrive hire a tuk-tuk or use a local bus to Hiriketiya and our home.