All yoga and meditation opportunities are completely optional on this journey.

You will have the opportunity to enjoy Jill’s all-levels Blissology Vinyasa yoga class that will awaken a deep joy inside of you and build a harmonious relationship with your body-mind, personal relationships, and the beautiful country we will be traveling in.

Jill will also be guiding you in the amazing practice of Yoga Nidra, a meditation practice. This will awaken a deep wisdom inside of you that will enable you to tap into the quietness within and connect with the awe of the beautiful country we will be traveling through.

We’ll take advantage of the beautiful surroundings on this journey and enjoy our practice in innovative spaces, from rooftop terraces, poolsides, and grassy patches, to a lovely dedicated yoga hut at The Mud House. 

Please note that this trip is priced in Australian Dollars (AUD), based on double occupancy. 

The trip’s price is a sliding scale, based on how many guests join, anywhere from $4625 AUD down to $3599 AUD  (that’s $3235 to $2550 USD). As more guests register, we will update the current price in this tab.

• At our minimum of 6 guests, the trip is $4625 AUD per guest
• @ 7 guests: $4399 AUD per guest   ($3235 USD)  **CURRENT PRICE
• @ 8 guests: $4199 AUD per guest
• @ 9 guests: $4049 AUD per guest
• @ 10 guests: $3999 AUD per guest   ($2799 USD)
• @ 11 guests: $3849 AUD per guest
• @ 12 guests: $3749 AUD per guest
• @ 13 guests: $3699 AUD per guest
• @ 14 guests:  $3599 AUD per guest  ($2550 USD)

We encourage you to tell your friends about this trip–the more the merrier AND a great value!

• A $1000 AUD deposit holds your space.   (Deposit is $700 USD)
• The second installment of $1500 AUD is due by September 20, 2019 (150 days before the start of the trip)
• The balance is due by November 19, 2019 (90 days before the start of the trip).  

If you prefer to have your own room, the single supplement is $899 AUD ($650 USD) and will be added to your last payment. (Click here to understand why this single supplement is necessary). Please note that we cannot guarantee you a roommate for this trip, and if you room alone, you will be responsible for the single supplement. A single room MAY not be available the two nights in Anamaduwa (at The Mud House), due to the communal aspect of this rural property. 

Price Includes:

• Sri Lanka visa fee
• Private Sri Lankan guide
• Internal transportation within Sri Lanka, including airport transfers
• Daily meditation or yoga sessions with Jill Ayres
• All accommodation
• Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner (from dinner on February 17th until breakfast on the 28th)
• All site entrance fees
• Two jeep safaris
• Train trip from Kand to Bandarawela
• All tips to hotel and restaurant staff

Price does not include:

• International airfare (although we can and will be more than happy to help you decide on arrangements)
• Travel insurance (required)
• Optional whale watching tour in Mirissa
• Souvenirs, laundry fees, alcoholic beverages, snacks and beverages outside meal times

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

• There is a minimum of 6 guests that must sign up in order for this trip to take place. We will hold your deposit & payments until the minimum number of guests have signed up.  Please do not purchase any airfare until you receive notice from RetreaTours that we’ve reached our minimum number of participants.  

• If the minimum number of guests have not signed up 3 months prior to the departure date, we’ll give you the option to transfer your reservation to another tour or fully refund your money.

Please refer to the Price tab for specific information about price & what is included on your journey.

Please note that all ALL PRICES ARE IN AUD (Australian Dollars).  If you are using another currency, please email Lauren for payment instructions.

• A $1000 AUD deposit holds your space
• The second installment of $1500 AUD is due on September 20, 2019
• The balance (including single supplement, if applicable) is due November 19, 2019. 

Our Australian guests can pay via TransferWise or bank wire. Using Transferwise will save you a lot of money on currency conversion fees as they always use the day’s actual mid-market exchange rate (as opposed to paying via credit card with PayPal, which charges you 4% for currency conversion). 

Click here to learn more about TransferWise.

Sign up here to get your first $900 AUD transfer for free.

Click here for our bank details to send money via TransferWise.

If you prefer a bank wire, please write Lauren for more information. 

We’ll be staying in a wide variety of hotels on this journey, reflecting the different landscapes we’re experiencing. Here are the websites of the hotels you’ll be staying in: 

• Negombo (one night upon arrival): Suriya Resort
• Anamaduwa (2 nights): The Mud House
• Sigiriya (2 nights): Kaveri Ayurveda Resort
• Kandy (1 night): Thilanka
• Bandarawela (2 nights): Orient
• Yala (2 nights): Jetwing Yala
• Mirissa (2 nights): Paradise Beach Club
• Colombo (1 night): Dwell Hotel

Please note that The Mud House does not offer wifi or air-conditioning; in fact, the actual huts have no electricity, although you can charge phones/batteries, etc, at the main house. 

There is no air-conditioning at Orient, but it is at a slightly higher elevation and should be a comfortable temperature.

There is wifi everywhere except The Mud House, although it may not extend all the way to the rooms and will be stronger in the common areas (lobby, restaurant, etc). 

Please click here or the green button below to access the registration questions via Google Forms. Your spot is considered reserved when you have completed these questions and submitted your deposit. 

Click here to complete your registration questions
Please click here to download a copy of the contract for your records. 

• Passport and Visa information
• Food
• Health & Vaccines, Altitude, Travel Insurance
• Money & How to Get Local Currency
• Communication

PASSPORT/VISA

• What do I need to know about the visa?    

First and foremost, your passport MUST be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of the trip (that is, August 28, 2020), and you’ll need two empty pages in the Visas section of your passport (make sure they are in the Visa section, not the Amendment or Endorsement section). 

As a convenience to you, we will be applying for the Sri Lankan visa on your behalf before the trip and the fee is included in your trip price.

FOOD

• I have special dietary needs—can I be accommodated?

Vegetarians and vegans will find plenty of delicious curries and dal available along with local rice and other starches. Celiacs and those avoiding gluten will also enjoy the abundance of rice, meat proteins, and vegetable options, as well. Part of your registration includes asking about dietary allergies and special needs, but please feel free to contact us beforehand if you have any specific questions or concerns about Sri Lanka food.

You can read more about the specialties of Sri Lanka cuisine here. 

• Can I drink the water?

In a word, No. Although many cities around the world are getting more advanced public water systems, we don’t recommend it.  Not only from a pathogen standpoint, but it’s a different set of bacteria than your body is used to. Why risk an upset stomach if you don’t have to? We recommend drinking only bottled water, and you will want to rinse your toothbrush off in bottled water.

HEALTH

• What vaccines do I need?

None are required to enter Sri Lanka, but we suggest you work with your physician or your area’s travel health expert to decide what options are best for you.  You can read what SmartTraveller.gov.au has to say about visiting Sri Lanka here. You can read the American CDC’s Sri Lanka recommendations here and the Scottish NHS Sri Lanka recommendations here.

• What about malaria? What about Zika?

As always, we request that you work with your physician or travel doctor when making these choices. Please see our blog about this topic for more information about malaria.

The World Health Organization declared Sri Lanka free of malaria in September 2016.  Here is a link to the Scottish NHS Malaria risk map of Sri Lanka.

Please click here to learn more about the CDC’s recommendation about Zika in Southeast Asia (please note that Sri Lanka is not currently listed as a country of concern).

   *All of the information here is for reference purposes only and is not intended to substitute for advice from your licensed health care professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any health condition or disease. If you are experiencing medical issues, you should contact your medical health care provider.

• Do I need travel insurance?

We require that our guests carry travel insurance because it just makes sense. It’s a relatively small expense but affords huge peace of mind!  When choosing a travel insurance policy we require that you are covered for emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, and repatriation. We also highly recommend you take out trip cancellation insurance, as this may cover cancellation penalties in certain circumstances if you have to cancel your trip unexpectedly due to illness, injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

Please see RetreaTours.com/Travel-Insurance for more information.

MONEY

• How much money should I bring?

Only what you need for extras (souvenirs, alcohol, massages, whale watching, extra safari, etc) since everything else on this trip is included. We have included all base tips, but we would never take away the opportunity to tip more if you feel moved to do so.

• How do I get the local currency?

The local currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR). You can either exchange cash in Sri Lanka or use a local ATM (which we prefer) to get LKR. Just make sure you call your bank and credit card company to let them know you’ll be traveling in Sri Lanka, so they don’t put a hold on your card when they see it being used halfway across the world. You do NOT need to exchange money before you arrive in Sri Lanka, as exchanging money while still in your home country usually has a very poor exchange rate.

COMMUNICATION

• How can my family get ahold of me in an emergency?

Before the trip begins we will give you the contact information for our hotels to pass along to your loved ones. If you choose to bring your cell phone or tablet, you can use VoIP services such as Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime to connect with your loved ones at home, as well.

We highly recommend that all guests download and set up WhatsApp before leaving home, so that it is an easy way to stay in touch with each other while at the hotels on tour. 

Early Arrival

This journey will officially begin at dinner on February 16. If you wish to arrive early, we can help you make arrangements at our starting hotel or elsewhere.

Please remember that if you arrive in the wee hours of February 16 (~2 to 5 AM), you’ll still need a place to rest your weary head, necessitating a room the night of February 15/morning of February 16. Otherwise, you may have to wait until 2 PM to check in.

No fear if you can’t arrive until after dinner on February 16; we’ll make sure you are caught up to speed and know when to meet the group for departure on the 17th and you can meet everyone at breakfast!

Early Departure

You will arrive back in Colombo in the late afternoon of February 28. Dinner and your hotel room that night are included, as well as breakfast on February 29. If your preferred flight leaves late on the night of the 28th or early in the pre-dawn hours of the 29th, you will still have a hotel room to repack and freshen up before your flight.

Weather Notes

The average temperature in your travels around Sri Lanka will be between 22 and 33°C (72 and 91°F) with a relative humidity between 65% and 90%. Although this is not the rainy season, rain can still occur, so you’ll want to bring some protection from the sprinkles (or the sun!)

Here is a suggested packing list, clothing first and accessories second.

Considering the warm weather, you’ll want to opt for lightweight fabrics, like cotton or linen. Although it is not at all necessary for tourists, it is still worth noting that Sri Lankans traditionally wear all white when visiting sacred sites.

For any excursions at dawn or dusk, you’ll want to wear lightweight long sleeves and pants in order to prevent mosquito bites. Although there is no malaria in Sri Lanka, you don’t want to be itchy the whole trip!

We’ll be visiting a few sacred temples along the way and you’ll want to approach your wardrobe with relative modesty, with shorts and skirts below the knee. You must cover your shoulder at sacred sites, so bringing a lightweight cotton scarf for a quick wrap solution is a fantastic idea. If you choose to wear shorts above the knee, you can also use a sarong/scarf to cover up during your time in the temple.

Please use this clothing list as a mere suggestion, and wear what you feel comfortable in! You will have the opportunity to have laundry done at your own expense at the hotels; please confirm with the hotel that the laundry will be down by the time you have to check out in each location.

• 10+ pairs undergarments; you can always have them washed or wash them in your bathroom
• 3-5 pair light cotton pants or long skirts.
• 4-5 cotton t-shirts, blouses, or shirts.
• Comfortable clothes to wear for yoga/meditation.
• Sleeping attire
• Comfortable walking shoes. Boots aren’t at all necessary and can be cumbersome when going in & out of and temples (where you’ll have to remove shoes). Sneakers, comfortable slip-ons, or walking sandals (like Tevas, Chacos, or Keens) are great.
• A pair of sandals or flip-flops, if you wish.  They’ll be convenient for around the hotels, local excursions, and the drives.
• Scarves/sarongs are super handy for so many reasons (men and women, as outlined above, for cover-ups at temples)
• A bather/swimsuit or two for your time on the beaches or hotel pools. You may wish to bring a cover-up for lounging.
• A heavier shawl or light to mid-weight cardigan for your air-conditioned vehicle rides and restaurant meals, if you are easily chilled.

Accessories:

• A print out of your RETURN airline ticket itinerary. You can also have it readily accessible on your phone (you may want to save it as a photo).
• Photocopy of your passport and your visa, just in case you need them.
• A yoga mat
• A hat with a brim is a great idea for your daytime adventures.
• Sunnies/Sunglasses
• Ear plugs and eye shades to help you sleep better and recover from jet lag more quickly. BJ swears by this! Click here for more of our tips on preventing and dealing with jet lag. Ear plugs are going to be important in the case of overeager roosters or street dogs in the middle of the night. 
• Good sunscreen.  Lauren prefers mineral-based ones like Devita: good for you, good for the environment. How do you know if it’s mineral based? If the active ingredient is either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide—that’s it. They might be a little pricier initially, but a little goes a long way.
• Daypack or camera bag. (If you need a recommendation on a camera, BJ would be happy to help, just email him. We can discuss what type of photography you like, how much you want to spend, and how much you want to lug around.)
• If you do bring your camera, don’t forget extra batteries and/or your charging cord! You may want to think about an extra memory card, too.
• You may wish to consider binoculars for your safaris (especially if you don’t have a zoom camera)
• Toiletries. Although our hotels will have shampoo and soap, you may wish to bring your own favorites, and don’t forget the hair conditioner!
• A few packs of travel tissues isn’t a bad idea, to keep on you for public restrooms.
• Wet wipes and/or hand sanitizer. Nothing replaces good ol’ hand-washing, but this will work in a pinch.
• Ladies will want to bring any necessary feminine hygiene products with them.
• Plug adaptor for electronics: Sri Lanka uses the “Type D” Indian 5 amp BS-546 or the European CEE 7/16 Europlug. Here’s a nice example of a great universal adapter and here’s one with USB ports, as well.
• A small travel umbrella; can work for rain (which we’re not expecting) OR as a parasol
• Small notebook and pen for journaling purposes, if you desire!
• A small flashlight (or the flashlight on your phone)
• Mosquito repellent. While there is no malaria in Sri Lanka, there is still dengue and the general nuisance of itchy mosquito bites. Prevention is the best solution!
• Enough of any prescription drugs you need, as well as over-the-counter needs.  We recommend Imodium (anti-diarrheal), a probiotic (Lauren is a BIG fan of Jarrodophilus EPS), as well as melatonin and Benadryl for jet lag purposes. 
• An extra pair of prescription eyeglasses and/or sufficient contact lenses.\
• We will have wifi at all of our hotels except The Mud House, if you want to stay in touch via your smartphone or tablet. Don’t forget your chargers! We recommend setting up Skype, FaceTime, or another wifi-based calling service before leaving home, and familiarizing your loved ones with it before you leave.

BJ and Lauren live out of their suitcases year round and they swear by packing cubes!  Rolling your clothes (instead of folding) and using packing cubes make packing a dream!

We require that each guest carries travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment, and emergency evacuation and repatriation. 

We suggest trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, we only suggest it highly.

Below you will find some options to look into, if this is a new world to you. However, we ask that you carefully consider your choice in travel insurance. What works for some people may not work for others, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions. Please do take the time to consider the best policy for your individual needs.

World Nomads provides medical coverage for guests under 70 that includes trip cancellation, as well. You can use the box on this page to get a quote and see coverage.

InsureMyTrip.com is a good place to see and compare many policies at once, and you can refine the options by what coverage you would like. This website includes options from companies like Allianz, Travel Guard, Trip Assure, April, GeoBlue and more.

It may also be a good idea to check with your credit card companies, especially American Express, to see if they offer any medical coverage for travel.

Please email Lauren@RetreaTours.com if you have any questions not addressed on this site. Thank you!

Although BJ & Lauren will not be with you on tour, you’re in good hands with our Sri Lankan partners (and we’ll be with you in spirit!)  We have designed a fun itinerary and are handling all of the details—your only job is to have a drink for us on the beach & tell the elephants hello! (That is us below in Minneriya National Park in 2017, on safari with a herd of elephants in the distance.)

Husband and wife team BJ Graf & Lauren Rathvon created RetreaTours in 2010 with one goal in mind: to make world travel accessible, authentic, and astounding. In order to focus fully on this passion, they moved out of the U.S. in January 2013 to reside full-time overseas. Each day is spent exploring new destinations, strengthening local ties & relationships, and creating memorable and transformative retreats and tours (aka, RetreaTours!)

BJ & Lauren craft each element of the trip with intention, and they understand that it is this careful attention to detail that sets them apart.  Fueled by their passion, armed with know-how, and supported by knowledgeable local professionals in all of their destinations, BJ & Lauren set the scene for the vacation of a lifetime. The dynamic duo are available to answer any and all questions before the trip begins. From giving advice on the best flights and travel insurance to providing a packing list, FAQ, and even a tiny “phrasebook,” BJ & Lauren pride themselves on these ‘nuts & bolts’ of personalized service.