The Secrets of Sri Lanka Retreat - Only 1 space left £1,200 (sharing a triple en-suite room)

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After exploring the southern part of Sri Lanka with my husband back in 2021,  I'm really excited to be heading back again to share some of my favourite places and things to do with you,  This time I will be accompanied by the lovely Lisa Dunn (Lisa Dunn Yoga) my wing woman in all things yoga, breathwork and meditation on this retreat and I can assure you, we are truly in great hands.  The retreat property itself is located off the beaten path in an oasis of calm and tranquillity, with views across the paddy fields from the yoga platform and surrounded by countryside.  It is a hidden gem - the perfect place for us to feel part of traditional Sri Lankan Village life, while only being a short tuk-tuk ride away from the local beaches and a short taxi to Galle which is the provincial capital and largest city of Southern Province a must-visit in my opinion, hence including it in our itinerary.  

Expect to make new friends (and laugh a lot), expect to learn about Sri Lanka's history and way of life whilst also enjoying precious time to yourself in a wonderful environment.  Across the week, Lisa will also help us use our bodies and our breath for contemplation and transformation through a combination of yoga asanas (all abilities welcome) on the yoga platform and breathwork and sunset meditations in the garden, keeping in mind that everything is optional on a Gin & Yin Retreat.

To get a taste of what we'll get up to, put the kettle on, or make yourself a G&T and read on: 

Saturday 24th February

Complimentary transfers to meet the Sri Lanka flight UL504 dept Friday 23rd February @ 20.40 landing into Colombo on Sat 24th Feb @ 12.35 (Direct flight) – Transfer time approx. 2.5 hours  (Or flights landing around that time). 

Check-in – Welcome drinks and snacks.   Let your shoulders drop, take a nice deep breath and take in the view, we made it!  

Afternoon at your leisure to relax, unpack and take a look around your new home for the week.

5 pm - Our first 'Restorative Yoga 'class to help release any travel tensions and slow down our minds and our bodies while facing out across the paddy fields

6.45 pm - Welcome G&Ts (enjoy the local gin with local garnishes - v. special) followed by supper at Sri Devi.

Sunday 25th February

8 am - Morning tea, juices and fresh fruit.

8.30 am – Guided Meditation and Yoga with some heart-opening sequences to welcome in the next few days with open hearts and minds to enjoy everything on offer here. 

10.30 am - Brunch followed by an intention-setting workshop making full use of all our senses. Afternoon at your leisure to do whatever your heart desires, read your book, write your journal, sunbathe, enjoy a treatment, or simply sleep.

4 pm – Evening Yoga Flow Class.

7 pm - Supper at Sri Devi.

Monday 26th February

8 am - Morning tea, juices and fresh fruit.

8.30 am – Breathwork and Yoga Class.

10.30 am – Slow brunch.

12 noon – Transfers to Galle for a full afternoon out.

We’ll start this afternoon at Galle an atmospheric 17th-century fort, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.  It’s truly like taking a step back in time.  We’ll then enjoy a traditional 6-course Sri Lankan cooking class.  What better way to make new friends than to cook together?  We’ll learn about the local spices along with recipes that have been passed down by generations.  We’re in for a delicious treat.  Plus, we'll have time to shop at the beautiful boutiques and enjoy a G&T at one of the historical properties in Galle before we head back.

7.30 pm – Transfer back to Sri Devi.

Tuesday 27th February

8 am - Morning tea, juices and fresh fruit.

8.30 am – Meditation and Yoga Class.

10.30 am – Brunch.

Afternoon at your leisure to do whatever your heart desires and if that means sleeping on a sunbed, then so be it.

7 pm – Supper at Sri Devi.

Wednesday 28th February

8 am - Morning tea, juices and fresh fruit.

8.30 am – Breathwork and Yoga Class.

10.30 am– Brunch – Followed by a check-in session (Part 2).

12 noon – Depart for a trip to the Local 'Virgin Tea Plantation.'

This afternoon we’ll venture out to the only tea estate situated in the coastal belt of Sri Lanka.  We’ll learn about the artisanal process involved in manufacturing ‘virgin white tea’, and how they’ve coped with the changing climate.  Their tea, cinnamon, vanilla, and pepper plantations are grown in an eco-friendly environment, plus some tea and cake to finish, well why not indeed.

4 pm – Yoga for Longevity class.

7 pm – Supper at Sri Devi.

Thursday 29th February

8 am - Morning tea, juices and fresh fruit.

8.30 am – Meditation and Yoga 

10.30 am – Brunch.

Afternoon at your leisure.

6 pm - Tuk-Tuks for Sundowners & Supper at Angel Beach.  Tucked away in Unawatuna’s turquoise beaches, Angel Beach combines wellness-by-day and beach club-by-night with live music.

Friday 1st March

8 am - Morning tea, juices and fresh fruit.

8.30 am – Breathwork and Yoga.

10.30 am – Brunch, followed by a reflective session (Part 3) to review our thoughts, feelings and shared experiences across the week.

Afternoon at your leisure today to read that last chapter, write a little more in your journal, head out for a walk, or take a tuk-tuk back down the ocean for a final swim and cocktail.

7 pm – Sundowners and a special farewell supper at Sri Devi.

Saturday 2nd  March

7 am – A complimentary group transfer back to the airport to catch the Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 503 12.55 back to London Heathrow.

** Please note, this itinerary may be subject to some minor changes, depending on external factors, the final itinerary will be sent to everyone nearer the retreat date, however any questions, please just ask.

What’s Included:

7 nights’ accommodation in either a twin or double en-suite villa; group transfers to and from the airport to match the flight times detailed below; welcome drinks; all yoga; breathwork and meditation classes.  All breakfasts and 5 evening meals; an authentic 6 Course Sri Lankan cooking class; well-being discussions; a guided walking tour of Galle and a local tea plantation tour, tea and cake.  All of the villas are spacious and have an elegant simplicity which is fitting for the natural surroundings, incorporating traditional Sri Lankan elements with beautiful colonial furniture and modern-day comfort.  Each villa comes with a bar counter with a fridge and tea-making facilities, along with a generous walk-in closet, a safe, a fantastic terrace with wonderfully tranquil views and our own private pool.   Ayurvedic floral and herbal treatments are also available, including chakra massages among other things, which I'd also say are an absolute must try during our stay for the full Sri Lankan experience.

What’s Not Included:

Your return flights to Sri Lanka.  Any massages/treatments, or additional food and drinks ordered at Sri Devi, along with any tuk-tuks to the local beaches/sightseeing spots.

What’s the Cost?

7 nights at £1,650 pp based on 2 ladies sharing an en-suite twin villa.  Or if you’re seeking a little privacy and space for yourself, we have 1 private double en-suite villa at £1,950 based on single occupancy, or if you'd like to come with your friends/mum/daughter, we also have a 'triple' villa for £1,200 pp, with 2 single beds and 1 very comfortable 'day bed'.  We will also need an E-Visa to visit Sri Lanka (Electronic Travel Authorization - ETA). The ETA is issued through an on-line system. No passport copies, documents or photographs are required. There is no requirement to endorse the ETA on the passport.  The cost is currently approx. 50 US Dollars, however, I will confirm all the necessary information and walk everything through it (which is straightforward believe me) nearer the time.

Suggested Flights:

Some of us are on the following flights:  Sri Lanka Airlines flight UL504 dept Friday 23rd February @ 20.40 landing into Colombo on Sat 24th Feb @ 12.35 (Direct) and returning on Sat 2nd March on Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 503 @ 12.55 back to Heathrow landing@ 19.10.  The complimentary transfers will be organised around these flight times, however, if you wish to arrive earlier, or like to extend your stay, that's also fine, however, you will need to cover the cost of your own transfers, just let me know and I can give you a quote.

How Can I Secure My Place  and Payment Terms & Conditions:

A deposit of £400, non-refundable, is required to secure your booking, with the full balance to be paid by 20th January 2024.

Cancellations:  Whilst we wish to treat cancellations sympathetically, spaces are limited and the following charge must apply. Cancellation for your holiday, for whatever reason, should be notified to us directly in writing.  Full Payments: For places paid in full and then cancelled the following applies:- More than twelve weeks before the start of the retreat: 100% refund minus the deposit.- eight -twelve weeks before the start of the retreat: 50% refund minus the deposit.- Less than eight weeks before the start of the retreat no refund can be given.  

Travel Insurance:  Is strongly advised that you take out travel insurance which would cover you financially not only for unforeseen events that may occur whilst on the retreat but also in the event of your needing to cancel.

Instalments:  If you’d like to send payments in instalments to keep this retreat viable for you, that’s absolutely fine, a number of ladies also do this so just drop me a line at hello@ginandyinretreats.com and we'll work on a plan.

Bespoke Retreat

If this doesn’t sound quite right, or you’d like to host something like this for a group of friends or maybe for your family, drop me a line at hello@ginandyinretreats.com and we can discuss some ideas and work on something together.